Budget flexibility, agility and readiness to meet demands: Countries’ experience with regard to immigration REPUBLIC OF CROATIA June 2016

According to official data of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia, 658,068 migrants entered Croatia from the very start of the migration crisis until 04 March 2016, out of which 558,724 came in 2015 Almost all of them left Croatia and continued their journey towards West Europe, while 162 persons requested asylum in Croatia until April 2016 Due to a significant inflow of refugees and migrants from Serbia in the early Autumn, sometimes as much as 10,000 people a day, a reception centre was opened in Opatovac (near the Serbian border) Due to nearing Winter, the reception centre in Opatovac was closed and a new one was opened in Slavonski Brod, through which around 340,000 migrants have passed

Hundreds of policemen and members of numerous civil institutions and services have been engaged for the reception of migrants, creating significant costs Those costs refer to transport, consumed buffer stock, provided healthcare services, workforce costs – policemen, members of the national rescue service, Red Cross costs... Required funds have been provided from: amendments to the 2015 State Budget budget reserves donations European Union aid

In the 2016 State Budget the funds for migrant housing and assistance have been planned on the following items: Ministry of Interior Ministry of Social Policy and Youth Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs National Protection and Rescue Directorate Buffer Stock Directorate Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities

On 1 December 2015 the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia and the European Commission signed agreements on allocation of funds from Emergency assistance under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Internal Security Fund – external borders Utilisation of 6 months – from 16 September 2015 until 15 March 2016 Total amount EUR 16,431,487.08

The agreements clearly define activities eligible for funding from the approved funds in the amount of 90% expenditure exclusive of VAT Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund – project “Meeting the demands related to mass inflow of third country nationals who may be in need of international protection” total allocated amount of EUR 12,436,485.41 Internal Security Fund – project “Strengthening external borders related to irregular mass inflow of third country nationals” total allocated amount of EUR 3,995,001.67

In December 2015 Croatia received from the European Commission 80% of the allocated amount of HRK 100.3 million (EUR 13.1 million EUR): HRK 75,896,885.72 from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund HRK 24,424,002.04 from the Internal Security Fund The total of HRK176.1 million were spent for refugee crisis costs in the period from 15 September 2015 until 14 April 2016, out of which HRK 102.9 from budget reserves HRK 73.2 million from EU funds (from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund)

On 11 March 2016 the Ministry of Interior sent a request to the European Commission to prolong both agreements on emergency assistance Deadline for utilisation of the Internal Security Fund has been prolonged by one month because the allocated funds have been almost fully utilised Deadline for utilisation of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund has been prolonged by six months (until September 2016) – some EUR 6.7 millions have not yet been utilised

Croatia undertook to participate in the European programme for relocation and resettlement of third country nationals or stateless persons meeting conditions for receiving international protection Several ministries and state institutions, forming a cross-sectoral task force, participate in the development of a systematic solution to resettlement, reception and integration of asylum seekers The task force’s task is to develop an Operative plan for programme implementation of housing and integration of persons to be granted international protection The Ministry of Social Policy and Youth’s task is to develop a relocation plan per counties on the entire Croatian territory according to two criteria – number of county residents and GDP amount

A person who has been granted international protection, provided he/she does not have any income, assets or does not support any dependant persons, will be recognised right to accommodation in the duration of up to two years from the date of receiving such status The State Office for Reconstruction and Housing Care is in charge of accommodation A person who has been granted international protection status will have all the rights arising from the social care system, under the same conditions as other citizens with permanent residence in Croatia

Accommodation is expected to be arranged for the first group of foreign nationals, and until the end of 2017 the total of 1613 persons should receive housing under two programmes: relocation from one EU member state into another and resettlement from third countries (Turkey, Jordan) into EU The State Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities is coordinating the integration process of persons who have been granted international protection In Croatia, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Social Policy will participate in the reception programme

Apart from accommodating migrants in transit and asylum seekers, Croatia is also participating in joint operations in other countries The Ministry of the Interior deployed police officers to the Frontex joint operation Poseidon Rapid Intervention, launched in order to return illegal migrants from the Greek island of Chios to Turkey Police vessel Sveti Dujam participated in the Poseidon Sea 2015 operation at the Greek-Turkey sea border, assisting the Greek in searching and rescuing migrants and refugees in the East Mediterranean Our police officers on the Andrija Mohorovičić ship have also participated in the Triton rescue operations