The European Commission has launched a new programme to co-operate with third countries in the areas of migration and asylum with a budget of €380 million for 2007-2013. Building on the experience of its predecessor, AENEAS, the programme will seek to support third countries in their efforts to ensure better management of migratory flows in all its dimensions. The focus will be countries along the Southern and Eastern migratory routes towards the European Union, although other migratory routes as well as South-South migrations will also be covered.

“This programme is the visible expression that the Commission takes migration issues very seriously and considers it a priority in our relations and co-operation with third countries. I believe that it will contribute to a better and more balanced management of migration in a true spirit of partnership with other countries, which for us also includes the fruitful exchanges between our citizens and cultures." - Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

“At the start of the 21st century, migration and how to manage it in a true partnership with third countries is one of the key global challenges for the EU, its Member States and countries of origin and transit. The new Thematic Programme for the Co-operation with third countries in the field of asylum and migration will provide the EU with tangible means to underpin and promote its global and comprehensive approach to immigration and asylum policies, as endorsed by the European Council.” added Vice-President Franco Frattini.

Thematically speaking, the programme covers all the essential aspects of the migration phenomenon:

* fostering the links between migration and development;
* promoting well-managed labour migration;
* fighting illegal immigration and facilitating the readmission of illegal immigrants;
* protecting migrants against exploitation and exclusion; and
* promoting asylum and international protection.

The programme is specifically adapted to capacity building and to encourage co-operation initiatives in which countries of origin, transit and destination will develop and share experience and working methods on the various aspects of migration.

For the first four years (2007-2010), the Programme will dispose of an allocation of €205 million to be distributed as follows:

* Southern Migratory Route (Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa), €70 million
* Eastern Migratory Route (Eastern Europe, Russian Federation and Central Asia), €50 million
* Middle East and Gulf Countries (Eastern Mediterranean European Neighbourhood Policy countries, Iran and Iraq), €5 million
* Southern and Eastern Asia and the Pacific region, €16 million
* Latin America and the Caribbean, €16 million

There will also be five horizontal initiatives addressing various dimensions of the migratory phenomenon that will benefit all regions:

* Migration and Development, €10 million
* Labour Migration, €8 million
* Asylum and Refugee Protection, €4 million
* Smuggling of and Trafficking in Human Beings, €3 million
* Illegal Immigration, €3 million

The programme also includes specific provisions to react to urgent needs and emergency situations related to migration which may appear in the countries eligible for the programme. A budget of €20 million has been allocated for these "special measures".

Following an evaluation that will take place in 2009, the programme will enter in its second and final phase in the period 2011-2013 with an additional allocation of €175 million.