Communication : First annual report on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey

In 2015, the European Union and its Member States decided to step up their political and financial engagement to support Turkey in its efforts in hosting refugees. Comprehensive cooperation based on shared responsibility, mutual commitments and delivery between the European Union and Turkey was agreed upon within the framework of the 29 November 2015 EU-Turkey Statement. The summit of 29 November 2015 activated the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan (JAP) to help Turkey address the consequences of the Syria conflict. The JAP aims to address the current migration crisis in two ways: (1) by supporting Syrians and their Turkish host communities, (2) by strengthening cooperation to prevent irregular migration. It commits Turkey to continue to protect and support Syrians, including by providing education and health and allowing them to work.

In answer to the call from EU Member States for significant additional funding to support refugees in Turkey, the Commission established the Facility for Refugees in Turkey by means of the Commission Decision of 24 November 2015. The Facility is a mechanism to coordinate the mobilisation of resources made available under both the EU budget and additional contributions from Member States integrated into the EU budget as external assigned revenue amounting to a total of €3 billion for the period 2016-2017. Member States committed politically to providing national contributions in the framework of the Common Understanding between EU Member States and the European Commission which was adopted by the representatives of the governments of the Member States on 3 February 2016. The Facility became operational on 17 February 2016.

This first annual report on the Facility describes the functioning of the Facility, its implementation, monitoring and evaluation system, communication activities and next steps. The report builds on the reports on progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement and the different information notes issued within the framework of the Steering Committee of the Facility. The Report also includes the review of the financial capacity, duration and nature of the funding required.