Ref. Ares(2019)3258814 - 17/05/2019
MINUTES
of the 1st Operational Committee for the North of Africa Window of the EU Emergency Trust
Fund for stability and addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in
Africa (the EU Emergency Trust Fund)
I. Introduction
On 16 June 2016, the Operational Committee for the North of Africa Window of the EU Emergency
Trust Fund held its first meeting. It followed the official launch of the EU Emergency Trust Fund at the
Migration Summit in Valletta on 11 and 12 November 2015, and a meeting of the Operational
Committee common to the three Windows (Sahel and Lake Chad, Horn of Africa and North Africa) held
on 16 December 2015 to present the state of play of contributions and discuss the rules of procedure.
The objective of the Operational Committee for the North of Africa Window was to have a first
exchange on a forward-looking perspective for the implementation of the EU Emergency Trust Fund in
the North of Africa region, on the one hand, and to decide on 3 action documents for a total amount
of €27.5 mil ion submitted by the Trust Fund Manager, on the other hand. The agenda of the meeting
is enclosed in Annex 1.The meeting was attended by EU Member States, European donors ,partner
countries from the North of Africa region and the regional organisation Union for the Mediterranean.
I . Agenda Items Discussed
I .1 The state of play of the operational programming
Representatives of the Commission and the External Action Service introduced the North of Africa
window's purpose as a flexible financing instrument for migration management projects. They
emphasised that coordination between services and with existing actions will be central to the Trust
Fund's work. They noted that actions under the Trust Fund wil respond to the priorities of partner
countries.
The manager of the North of Africa window of the Trust Fund gave an overview of the state of play for
the North of Africa window (see Annex 1), including the methodology for project formulation and
implementation. She explained that the focus of this window is on migration management, in line with
the decision taken at the Val etta Summit, because countries in the region are both countries of transit
and destination and of origin. Root causes of irregular migration are being addressed under ENI funding
and will also be addressed via actions of the Trust Fund where there is a strong link to migration. The
Strategic Orientations of the North of Africa window are based on five main axes. The first four of these
match the Valletta Action Plan. The fifth axis addresses the migratory routes. This is the main added
value of the Trust Fund and is also a cross cutting issue in the Valletta Action Plan. Going forwards,
action documents will highlight which pillar of the Valletta Action Plan is being addressed to improve
clarity on this. The manager also explained that EU Delegations are working on operational guidelines
for each country which wil be presented to the next operational committee. The latter will translate
on a country-by-country basis the regional operational framework annexed to the Constitutive
agreement of the Trust Fund.
Members welcomed the addition of the North of Africa window to the Trust Fund, as well as the
emphasis on coordinating existing actions and actors in the region and noted the strategic importance
of the region for managing migration. Members welcomed the alignment of the Trust Fund with the
Valletta Action Plan, as well as its role in supporting the Khartoum and Rabat processes. The Tunisian
and Algerian representatives noted that their countries have put forward proposals to the respective
EU Delegations and seek to work closely with them to ensure that projects are comprehensive, in line
with the preference for larger programmes.
The Egyptian Ambassador highlighted the efforts the African Union is making to tackle trafficking of
human beings and migrant smuggling. He stressed that Egypt is under increasing pressure as a country
of destination and transit for migrants and refugees and welcomed the EU's assistance in migration
management and support for refugees. The Chair agreed that the increase in refugees in Egypt is a
source of common concern. He commended Egypt and the Egyptian population for their spirit of
hospitality towards refugees. The Chair also noted that the Trust Fund is one among several
instruments that can be used to support refugees and assist with migration management. The French
representative asked that the question of unaccompanied minors in Egypt be addressed through the
Trust Fund.
Partner countries emphasised the need for national ownership of projects and of the operational
guidelines, and Members agreed on the need for increased coordination. Members were also in
agreement on the need for both regional projects within the window and transregional projects
between windows under the Trust Fund and of an increased attention drawn on strong monitoring
and evaluation frameworks. This is an important added value of the Trust Fund. Moreover, it is
important in the context of the limited funding available for the window.
The Chair closed this part of the meeting, agreeing that there is a need to formalise coordination with
Member States and other donors in partner countries where this is not already the case.
II.2. Presentation of projects for approval
The Trust Fund Manager presented the 3 action fiches on the Agenda submitted for the approval of
the Operational Committee (see Annex 2). Individual action fiches are enclosed from Annex 3 to Annex
5.
A. Egypt: Enhancing the Response to Migration Challenges in Egypt (ERMCE) - €11.5 million
Summary
This project has two components. Component 1 aims at building the capacities of the Egyptian
administrations and institutions dealing with migration issues at national and local level. Component
2 aims at increasing protection and socio-economic opportunities for communities, in which a high
number of Egyptians are prone to migration, and for returnees, as well as for migrants and refugees.
The project will last for 54 months and responds to the priorities of the Egyptian government that are
not already addressed through ENI funding and other EU instruments. It is in line with the revised
European Neighbourhood Policy and responds to the priorities outlined by Egypt in the Khartoum
process.
Comments
Members of the Committee welcomed the dual emphasis on migration governance and protection to
vulnerable migrants. The Belgian representative noted that "Médecins Sans Frontières Belgique" do
significant work on protection in Egypt and should therefore be involved in the coordination of actions.
The Danish representative indicated that the analysis of risks and assumptions was limited.
The Trust Fund manager clarified that the difference in funding allocation between Components 1 and
2 is due to the difference in resource needs. The institutional component (Component 1) is less costly
since it consists in capacity building delivered through a peer-to-peer approach. This component is a
starting point for possible future additional actions in this area. Actions for this project will be
coordinated with projects funded by ENI also addressing root causes (for example the programmes
supporting the education and vocational training sectors) and local coordination within the EU
Delegation and between the EU Delegation and other actors wil be a priority.
The Egyptian Ambassador expressed his concern that neither the Egyptian government nor the
Egyptian embassy in Brussels had had time to assess the Action Document prior to the meeting of the
Committee. The Chair noted that the programme had been discussed in meetings between the EU
Delegation and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, notably on 18 April, and that it had been discussed with
Egyptian migration authorities, among which the National Coordinating Committee on Preventing and
Combating Illegal Migration (NCCPIM) which is an interinstitutional Committee chaired by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and the National Coordinating Committee on Combating and Preventing Trafficking
in Persons (NCCTIP) at the Ministry of Justice as well as the Ministry of Manpower. The programme
had been discussed as well at coordination meetings with Member States.
Conclusions
The Action was adopted "in principle" by the committee, subject to further consultation with the
Egyptian authorities on the programme. Should Egypt request substantial changes affecting the scope
of the current programme, a written procedure would be introduced or alternatively the revised
programme would be submitted to the next Operational Committee.
B. Libya: Strengthening protection and resilience of displaced populations in Libya - €6 million
Summary
The action aims to strengthen protection and resilience of displaced populations in Libya (including
refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities) and to
build the capacity of local authorities to manage migration flows in a protection sensitive manner. It
aims to improve the access of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, IDPs and host communities to basic
services, including, in particular, protection, health and psychosocial support. It also aims to raise
awareness of displaced populations about the risks of perilous land and sea journeys and their rights
and services available in Libya, including social cohesion with IDPs and host communities, and to
enhance capacity of relevant stakeholders to manage migration influxes in a protection sensitive way.
Comments
Members supported the programme and praised the emphasis on improving the access of refugees,
asylum seekers, migrants, IDPs and host communities to basic services. Germany and Sweden are
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working with UNICEF on improving access to services for displaced persons and noted that
coordination will be important.
Some members were concerned that the ability to implement actions wil be highly dependent on the
security situation. However, the EU is already funding local projects in Libya, so there is an existing
basis for actions. Sweden expressed some concern that the focus on local activities might undermine
the Government of National Accord (GNA) by creating alternative structures. The political situation in
Libya is evolving. However the GNA does not currently have the capacity or the institutional structures
in place to provide services that are urgently needed. Actions will be properly articulated with the
government, to ensure that they support the GNA's credibility and legitimacy.
Members emphasised the need for a rights based approach, particularly in actions related to migration
management. This approach is fully integrated into the programme and wil also be supported through
the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP). In relation with the report issued
recently by Amnesty International, it was recalled that training of the Libyan coastguard is in the
mandate of EUNAVFOR MED, and comes under the remit of CSDP missions. However, EU funds are
mobilised to build the capacity of the Libyan coastguard on human rights issues. Migration governance
will be key, but it will depend on the political situation.
On the security situation, International Medical Corps UK is one of the few international NGOs with
international staff in Tripoli. Libyan Red Crescent Society is the main partner but it will be important
not to overstretch its capacity, as it is a major partner for other projects and donors as well. The Danish
Refugee Council also has local staff. Save the Children is likely to carry out work in the south of Libya.
This is an evolving context so it is necessary to assess where action will be possible and effective. This
is why locations have not yet been identified within the action document.
Conclusions
Action fiche approved.
C. Regional: DEV-pil ar of the Regional Development and Protection Programme in the North of
Africa - €10 million
Summary
The programme will reinforce the development pillar of the RDPP. Result 1 of the RDPP aims at
assessing the needs and enhancing the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs), including media,
dealing with migration issues. This result is already being addressed by a project adopted under ENI
last year. Result 2: improved interactions at community level and better access to migrant-friendly
services. Result 3: creating a business friendly environment for migrants and host communities,
including through skil s matching. Result 4: improved knowledge and information sharing including at
regional level. RDPPs are fully in line with the recently approved EC communication "Lives in Dignity:
from Aid dependence to Self-reliance
1".
Comments
1 COM(2016) 234 final
Members supported the programme, welcoming the inclusion of a regional programme and the
partnering with IOM. They emphasised the need for coordination of actions. The national needs
assessments will be carried out by IOM, which has presence in all five countries of the North of Africa
window. These wil be shared with partner countries' national authorities when the draft documents
have been prepared. The RDPP is a regional programme but decisions about specific national actions
wil be made by the EU Delegations and will be shared with the countries concerned.
In working with CSOs, organisations will be selected on a case by case basis and no selection has been
made in advance. The EU Delegation, alongside stakeholders and partner countries, will take CSOs'
capacities and expertise into account when deciding which organisations to work with. The aim is for
example to take advantage of the Trust Fund's flexibility in order to continue successful actions rather
than awarding grants through the lengthy call for proposals process.
The RDPP will not intervene where there are existing bilateral actions or programmes. Cross border
actions are often challenging to implement. However the RDPP will focus on regional actions where
possible, such as a crowd funding website for smal businesses and the internet portal for self-
employment, as well as knowledge sharing-related activities.
Headquarters and EU Delegations will work with Italy and the members of the RDPP steering
committee to ensure that coordination is carried out with the AMIF-funded protection pillar and that
the development component is integrated into the steering committee's work. Belgium has recently
signed a new cooperation agreement with Morocco. Coordination between these actions will also be
ensured.
The Commission hopes to hold the first RDPP regional workshop in the second half of 2016, where it
wil be possible to share the needs assessments, national action plans, locations for work at the
community level, and to present the tools.
Conclusions
Action fiche approved.
I I. Any other business
In future, documents for the Operational Committee wil be sent to non-EU members by email.
Agreement of action documents from partner countries will be sought in advance of meetings of the
Operational Committee for future programmes.