External Borders Fund

The External Borders Fund (EBF) 2007-2013 is one of the four funds under the General Programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows. Its main purpose is to support the protection and surveillance of EU external borders through co-operation among authorities and the establishment of common rules and practices to facilitate both a secure border as well as smooth movement of legal travellers across the borders. Up to €1,820 million have been made available for the period 2007-2013 to cover such area.

Click here​ to access Decision 574/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the External Borders Fund for the period 2007-2013 as part of the General Programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’.

The fund is operated through shared management – in essence the European Commission allocates funds to the National Responsible Authority of participating Member States (including Malta) on an annual basis. The Responsible Authority would consequently issue calls for proposals, adjudicate projects, monitor their implementation and effect payments to the beneficiaries.  Subject to the availability of funds, up to a maximum of 75% of the projects’ eligible costs can be co-financed out of the Fund.

 A control mechanism is in place to ensure that funds are managed properly – expenditure is certified by the Certifying Authority and audited by the Audit Authority.

 The funds allocated to Malta are as follows:

​Year                                                 Amount € 

	​
​2013	​21,095,346
​2012	14,931,533
​2011	​ 2,709,034
​2010	​ 8,991,668
​2009	​ 7,317,501
​2008	​ 9,743,356
​2007	​ 5,653,278

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