FinMin: Estonia to be able to use residual EU support to aid refugees

TALLINN - The European Union is in the process of mobilizing the residual funds from structural support for the 2014-2020 budget period to resolve the migration problems caused by Russia's military aggression, according to the Estonian Ministry of Finance.

"This means that we'd be able to expand the implemented labor market services, social services, adjustment services to new immigrants and food aid measures to also include war refugees from Ukraine,"  spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance Siiri Suutre told BNS.

Suutre noted that it must be taken into consideration that the implementation period is about to end and nearly all of the budget of structural support has been planned and covered with projects. The Ministry of Finance is currently analyzing the options for redirecting resources that are about to be freed up.

The European Commission is also in the process of redirecting resources from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund to cover the expenses pertaining to the granting of temporary protection to war refugees from Ukraine. Under this change, Estonia would be able to deploy an additional 2.9 million euros, according to Suutre.

"We will also review our state budget options for covering the costs relating to refugees, and use our reserves and supplementary budget options, if needed. At the moment, we're still analyzing the volume of expenditures and possible sources for covering them," she said.