Lisaraha eraldamine ISF-Bordersile. Mid-Term Review - ISF National Programme - finalisation of the exercise

Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL MIGRATION and HOME AFFAIRS Directorate E : Migration and Security Funds; Financial Resources and Monitoring Unit E.3: National Programmes for North and West Europe; Evaluations; MMF

Brussels, HOME/E3/StH

Ms Tairi Pallas

Estonian Ministry of the Interior

Pikk 61 15065 Tallinn

Estonia

Subject: Mid-Term Review – ISF National Programme – finalisation of the

exercise

Dear Ms Pallas,

I would like to thank you for the fruitful discussions in the framework of the mid-term

review of the ISF National Programme (NP), which allowed us to identify the policy

priorities and the implementation issues to be addressed during the remaining period of

implementation of the NP.

As regards ISF-Borders and Visa, the NP needs to be revised to include the extra

allocation foreseen under the mid-term review (Article 6.1(c) of Regulation (EU) No

515/2014)). Please note that, following a budgetary reinforcement 1 , the amount to be

added to the NP is 1.959.416 EUR, (instead of 1.581.191 EUR as communicated in the

note to the Members of the AMIF/ISF Committee (ref. AMIF-ISF/2017/20)).

Further to our exchange of letters 2 and videoconference held on 13 February 2018, we

would propose that the extra allocation is used to continue on the objectives in the

national programme and to the implementation of the Entry-Exit-System (EES) and

ETIAS.

We invite you to revise your national programme in SFC2014 accordingly and submit

the revision as soon as it is approved by the Estonian government to allow for the

approval of the revised programme and the commitment of the related funds timely

within the budgetary year 2018. Besides the descriptive part, please be reminded to

update the indicative timetable under section 3, the common indicators as applicable

under section 5 and the financing plan under section 7.

Please bear in mind that, as already communicated previously, additional funding may

become available later this year under the ISF Borders and Visa NP, notably for the

implementation of the different IT systems such as the EES.

1 Contributions from Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein following the signature of the respective agreement on their

contribution to the ISF-Borders and Visa instrument. 2 Mid-Term Review ISF– Needs Assessment follow-up, 11 January 2018, Ares(2018) 180713

Ref. Ares(2018)2110007 - 20/04/2018

2

As regards ISF-Police, and considering that no extra funding is foreseen for the moment

in the framework of the mid-term review, we would recommend, as discussed, that

Estonia fully exploits the resources available under the NP to adequately cover the

relevant policy priorities, including through a revision of the NP, if necessary. However

it would be an opportune moment to review the targets for the common indicators and the

timetable of projects.

Please be informed that the Commission will include an assessment of the mid-term

review in the interim evaluation report on the implementation of AMIF and ISF to be

submitted to the European Parliament, to the Council, to the Economic and Social

Committee and to the Committee of the Regions by 30 June 2018.

I hereby propose to conclude this mid-term review exercise and I would like once again

to thank you for the fruitful cooperation.

The responsible desk officer, Stephanie Hardy ([email protected]), remains

at your disposal for any further clarifications that might be necessary.

Yours sincerely,

[e-signed]

Francisco GAZTELU MEZQUIRIZ

Head of Unit