Question for written answer E-004273/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Paulo Rangel (PPE), Lídia Pereira (PPE), José Manuel Fernandes (PPE), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE), Álvaro Amaro (PPE), Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)
Subject: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
Under the 2018 and 2019 refugee relocation and resettlement programmes, Portugal admitted around 409 people. In support, the Ministry of Internal Administration received (via the Foreigners and Borders Service) roughly EUR 4 million from the Commission. The Portuguese press reports that around one million of this money went astray and never reached its intended recipient: the High Commission for Migration, which is responsible for receiving refugees.
Meanwhile, in 2018, the Portuguese Court of Auditors found further discrepancies with the implementation of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF): EUR 16 million were authorised for payments, which is five more than the declared expenditure (amounting to a meagre 25% of the total sum mobilised).
In the light of the above:
1. Is the Commission monitoring this case or has it already referred it to the European Anti-Fraud Office?
2. What implications might these alleged irregularities have for Portugal’s access to funds under the multiannual financial framework?
3. What is the current implementation rate for the AMIF, both overall and for Portugal?