Portugal only implemented half of European support for refugees – Observer
You have free access to all Observer articles by being our subscriber.
In 2015, the European Union allocated Portugal an amount of 80 million euros to participate in the refugee crisis that arrived in countries like Italy and Greece in what was the peak of the refugee crisis. The program that was eventually revised downwards (to 68 million) but from which only 40.3 million were acquired, news this sunday the public newspaper.
Questioned by the newspaper, the Ministry of Internal Administration says that 12 of the 165 projects that were scheduled to end by December 2020 have been closed. in progress, added the cabinet of Minister Eduardo Cabrita.
Among the funds from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI) 28 million to be executed. But, prevails the Government, “approved candidacies always have a certain period of execution that in some cases goes up to December 31, 2022 ″ and these cases” have not yet been researched reflection in the execution funds ”..
However, speaking on behalf of some refugee associations such as Forum Refúgio Portugal and the Union of Refugees in Portugal, an ISCTE researcher cited by Público, Dora Rebelo, speaks of discontent and lack of transparency. “There are several refugees saying that some of the fundamental issues are not being met, for example, access to Portuguese classes and access to a decent home”, he says.
“The most widespread complaints tell us that there are many flaws related to the support management model that is assumed at the national level. There is a lack of transparency in the model and this does not allow an active participation of refugees to be improved”, concludes the researcher.