Schengen Facility

SCHENGEN FACILITY

Schengen Facility

The Schengen Facility was created in accordance with Article 35 of the Schengen Agreement in an effort to financially assist new EU Member States with actions needed to secure and effectively control the external borders of an enlarged European Union as well as to ensure that Schengen legislative acts are being applied to all border crossing issues. 

To ensure implementation of the Schengen Facility a three-way agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Interior, the leading institution of the Schengen Facility program, the Central Finance and Agreements Agency, the implementing institution, and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the recipient of funding. The signed agreement details the rights and responsibilities of each of the above institutions for the course of the implementation of the Schengen Facility. 

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs is responsible for incorporating priorities set out by the Indicative Implementation Plan, in accordance with the project description as approved by the leading institution, with the signed agreement and with legislation of the Republic of Latvia and the European Union. 

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs has singled out 3 priorities, namely, raise the level of foreign language proficiency of its personnel, establish and maintain a visa information system, and renovate and equip the server room for the OCMA. 

The project evaluation work group of the leading institution has approved all three project proposals submitted by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: 

 

To ensure successful implementation of the projects the OCMA has formed the Management and Control Committee that includes the OCMA Deputy Head, a Projects Counsellor, one representative each from Finance and Accounting Division, Purchase and Contract Division, and Department of Population Register. The mandate of the Management and Control Committee covers the following responsibilities: 
 

• within the area of expertise of the OCMA, manage, control and oversee the program during the course of its implementation;
• within the area of expertise of the OCMA, ensure that program targets are met within timeframes and funding allotted;
• evaluate and approve amendments to the Indicative Plan, as required, before submitting them to the leading institution;
• inform project managers of any required modifications to the project during its course of implementation;
• submit to the Head of OCMA for approval proposals regarding allocation of funding for program administration;
• submit to the Head of OCMA proposals regarding forming and/or changing a project team;
• review project descriptions and appendices before they are submitted to the leading institution;
• evaluate results of each phase of the project, verify project progress reports;
• liaise with the leading institution and the implementation institution in accordance with the April 6, 2005, Agreement No. 7/2-14/3 on Implementing Schengen Facility;
• manage media coverage;
• assign other tasks to project managers that would ensure efficient use of funding.