Commission Implementing Decision of 20 September 2012 amending Decision 2008/458/EC laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Return Fund for the period 2008 to 2013 as part of the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’ as regards Member States’ management and control systems, the rules for administrative and financial management and the eligibility of expenditure on projects co-financed by the Fund (notified under document C(2012) 6408) (Only the Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic) (2012/718/EU)

Commission Implementing Decision

of 20 September 2012

amending Decision 2008/458/EC laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Return Fund for the period 2008 to 2013 as part of the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’ as regards Member States’ management and control systems, the rules for administrative and financial management and the eligibility of expenditure on projects co-financed by the Fund

(notified under document C(2012) 6408)

(Only the Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic)

(2012/718/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Decision No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the European Return Fund for the period 2008 to 2013 as part of the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’(1), and in particular Article 35(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The general objective of the European Return Fund is to support the efforts made by the Member States to improve the management of return in all its dimensions taking into account Union legislation in this field and in full compliance with fundamental rights.

(2) In accordance with the specific objectives indicated in Article 3(1)(c) of Decision No 575/2007/EC, the Return Fund shall contribute to ‘the promotion of an effective and uniform application of common standards on return in line with policy developments in this field’.

(3) In that context, the Return Fund provides support to Member States for the implementation of Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals(2) (the Return Directive) by co-financing a wide range of measures.

(4) In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Return Directive by Member States, it is appropriate to further reinforce the support of the Fund by extending the scope of eligible measures, in particular, to address the needs relating to Article 16 of the Return Directive requiring that detention take place as a rule in specialised detention facilities. Moreover, in the light of the experience gained since the launch of the European Return Fund and in order to reinforce the capacities of Member States to ensure effective transportation of returnees during return procedures and return operations, it is appropriate to give the possibilities under the Fund to finance necessary means of transport, such as buses.

(5) Considering that the 2011 and 2012 annual programmes of the Member States under the European Return Fund are still ongoing, it is appropriate that the modified rules apply from the 2011 annual programme onwards.

(6) In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the United Kingdom is bound by the basic act and, as a consequence, by this Decision.

(7) In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Ireland is bound by the basic act and, as a consequence, by this Decision.

(8) In accordance with Article 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not bound by this Decision or subject to the application thereof.

(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the common Committee ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’ established by Decision No 574/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(3).

(10) Decision 2008/458/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 45.

(2)

OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98.

(3)

OJ L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 22.