Call for proposals to support awareness raising and information campaigns on the risks of irregular migration in selected third-countries

Call summary and aims

As underlined in the most recent Commission Communication on the Delivery of the European Agenda on Migration [1] an EU strategic communication approach needs to be developed, incorporating the already on-going and future EU and Member State awareness raising and information campaigns, to increase potential migrants' capacity to make decisions in their best interests and to reduce the demand for and the risk of being smuggled and falling victim to human trafficking. Such provision of information must equally promote legal pathways, once established, to provide safe and structured alternatives for human mobility.

The EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling [2], that accompanied the adoption of the first ever European Agenda on Migration [3] in 2015, stated that raising awareness of the risks of smuggling and of irregular migration is crucial for preventing prospective migrants and asylum seekers, including people in more vulnerable situations such as children and women, from embarking on hazardous journeys towards the EU. The Action plan foresaw the launch of information and awareness raising campaigns in key countries of origin or transit for migrants.

The Joint Communication on Migration on the Central Mediterranean route [4] and the subsequent Malta Declaration by the Members of the European Council underlined the importance of conducting information campaigns in the countries of origin and along the migratory route, calling for enhancing similar outreach activities addressing migrants in Libya. In fact, it echoed the Council conclusions on migrant smuggling adopted on 10th March 2016, which called on Member States to "increase awareness of the risks of irregular migration and migrant smuggling among the general public, vulnerable groups and professionals that could come into contact with smuggled migrants, by for instance developing a counter-narrative in the media and to share best practice. These campaigns should be targeted at specific groups and contain a balanced message, possibly involving the diaspora community".

In the same Conclusions, the Council requested the Commission to "review the results of the EU pilot information campaigns in Ethiopia/Sudan [5] and Niger [6] together with EU Member States and Agencies with the aim of rolling out such information and awareness raising activities in other countries of origin and transit" [7].

In order to contribute to the development of the common Union policy on asylum and immigration and to the strengthening of the area of freedom, security and justice in the light of the application of the principles of solidarity and responsibility - sharing between the Member States and cooperation with third countries, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) was set up. It aims at supporting actions to contribute to the efficient management of migration flows and the implementation, strengthening and development of a common Union approach to asylum and immigration.

Legal basis for AMIF are the following regulations:

• Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (OJ L 150, 20.05.2014, p. 168).
• Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (OJ L 150 of 20 May 2014).

The AMIF Regulation sets out four specific objectives, respectively to common specific objectives:

• to strengthen and develop all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension;.
• to support legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, such as labour market needs, while safeguarding the integrity of the immigration systems of Member States, and to promote the effective integration of third-country nationals;.
• to enhance fair and effective return strategies in the Member States which contribute to combating illegal immigration, with an emphasis on sustainability of return and effective readmission in the countries of origin and transit;.
• to enhance solidarity and responsibility-sharing between the Member States, in particular towards those most affected by migration and asylum flows, including through practical cooperation.

In conformity with Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 Article 6(2), in order to implement the AMIF, the Commission has adopted, on 26 April 2017, the 2017 Annual Work Programme for the financing of Union Actions, which includes this Call for Proposals.

More information is available in the Call for Proposals document.

[1] COM(2017) 558final

[2] COM(2015) 285final

[3] COM(2015) 240final

[4] JOIN(2017) 4final

[5] http://tellingtherealstory.org/

[6] https://www.iom.int/countries/niger

[7] EU information campaigns pilot projects funded by AMIF under the 2014 Annual Work Programme included the project "Supporting Informed Migration Decision in Niger", HOME/2014/AMIF/AG/INFO/01, implemented by IOM; and the project "E-Platform Information Campaign: Telling the Real Story", HOME/201/AMIF/AG/INFO/02, implemented by UNHCR.