Integrated Border Management Fund – Border Management and Visa Instrument (2021-27)

The Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) is part of the Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF), together with the Custom Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI).

IBMF is set up for the period 2021-2027 with a total of EUR 7.37 billion. The current allocation reserved to BMVI corresponds to EUR 6.7 billion for the same period.

BMVI’s mission is to ensure a strong and effective European integrated border management at the Union’s external borders, ensuring a high level of internal security within the Union while safeguarding the free movement of persons within it.

BMVI will contribute to the achievement of two specific objectives:

to support an effective European integrated border management at the external borders, implemented by the European Border and Coast Guard as a shared responsibility with the national authorities responsible for border management, to facilitate legitimate border crossings, to prevent and detect illegal immigration and cross-border crime and to effectively manage migratory movements
to support the common visa policy, to ensure a harmonised approach with regard to the issuance of visas and to facilitate legitimate travel, while helping to prevent migratory and security risks

Funded actions under BMVI

Actions funded through BMVI can include a wide range of initiatives, such as:

improving border controls, in line with the European Agenda on Migration and in compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, enhancing the cooperation at EU level for tasks carried out at borders
funding efficient services to visa applicants, while maintaining the security and integrity of visa procedures
investing in common large-scale IT systems in the area of borders management and visa policy, including in their interoperability
investing in infrastructure and equipment, systems and services, training, exchange of experts, deployment of immigration liaison officers, innovative solutions and new technologies, studies
providing operating support for the implementation of the European integrated border management and of the common visa policy

Implementation of BMVI

BMVI will be implemented under:

The largest share will be allocated to the national programmes under shared management.

Thematic Facility

Building up on the implementation of the 2014-2020 ISF-Borders and Visa instrument, the BMVI will introduce more flexibility with part of the funding dedicated to a Thematic Facility. With this instrument, funds can be allocated to emerging or unforeseen needs and steered towards the changing EU priorities and evolving challenges.

Funding under the Thematic Facility will be allocated during the programming period through:

Shared management
Direct/Indirect management: including Union Actions and Emergency Assistance.

Union Actions comprise Calls for proposals, procurement, direct awards and delegation agreements.

For the components of the Thematic Facility, the Commission approves Work Programmes defining the priorities and objectives:

BMVI beneficiaries

Examples of beneficiaries of the programmes implemented under this Instrument can be:

constituent elements of the European Border and Coast Guard, i.e. national authorities of Member States responsible for border management
state and federal authorities
local public bodies
non-governmental organisations
international organisations
Union agencies
private and public law companies
networks
education and research organisations

Annual Performance Reports from the Member State programmes

Starting in 2023 and for every subsequent year, all the Member States participating in the BMVI are required to submit to the European Commission an annual performance report providing information on the progress of their shared management programme. The scope of the report is defined by article 29 of the BMVI Regulation and detailed in the related Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/168. This report complements with qualitative information the periodic quantitative reporting on the progress that is made by all Managing Authorities (available on the Open Data Platform). The report helps to assess the programme’s performance, any issues affecting it as well as the related remedy strategies. In addition, its information feeds into the evaluation cycle and helps the Commission in its supervisory role.

Before its submission, the report must be approved by the Monitoring Committee of Member State programme. This process creates an opportunity to systematically assess and discuss the programme’s implementation among its key stakeholders.

In line with article 29(2) of the BMVI regulation, the Commission ensures that the summaries of the annual performance reports provided by the Member States are translated in all EU languages and made publicly available.