COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Third Annual Report on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey
Date: 2019-04-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU financial instrument, EU migration policy, Türkiye, activity report, aid to refugees, coordination of aid, migrant, migration control, refugee

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 10.4.2019 COM(2019) 174 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Third Annual Report on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey   
 
 
Table of Contents 

1. 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3 
1.1 Turkey and the refugee crisis ............................................................................................ 3 
1.2 The EU response to the crisis and the establishment of the Facility ................................ 3 
2.  The functioning of the Facility ........................................................................................... 4 
3.  Financial capacity, duration and nature of funding ............................................................ 6 
4.  The second tranche of the Facility ...................................................................................... 7 
Programming .......................................................................................................................... 7 
Implementation of the Facility ............................................................................................ 8 
5.1 Humanitarian assistance ................................................................................................... 9 
5.2 Development assistance .................................................................................................. 10 
6.  Monitoring & Evaluation .................................................................................................. 14 
7.  Audit ................................................................................................................................. 15 
8.  Communication and visibility ........................................................................................... 16 
9.  Conclusion and next steps ................................................................................................. 17 

5. 

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1.  Introduction 

In accordance with Article 8 (1) of the Commission Decision of 24 November 20151 on the 
coordination  of  the  actions  of  the  Union  and  of  the  Member  States  through  a  coordination 
mechanism  ("the  Decision"),  the  Commission  shall  keep  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council regularly informed about the implementation of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey 
(hereinafter  'the  Facility').  Article  8  (2)  of  the  Decision  provides  that  the  Commission  shall 
report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of the 
Facility. The first Annual Report on the Facility was published in March 20172. It described 
the  functioning  of  the  Facility,  the  first  actions  undertaken  in  view  of  its  implementation, 
monitoring,  the  evaluation  system,  as  well  as  related  communication  activities.  The  second 
report was published in March 20183. 

1.1 Turkey and the refugee crisis 

Due  to  its  geographic  position  Turkey  is  a  prominent  reception  and  transit  country  for 
refugees and migrants. As a result of an unprecedented number of people arriving in Turkey 
mainly  due  to  the  conflicts  in  Syria  and  Iraq,  the  country  has  been  hosting  over  4  million 
refugees and migrants, the highest number in the world. This includes 3.6 million registered 
Syrian refugees4, of whom around 155 000 reside in thirteen camps established by the Turkish 
government,  and  more  than  296 000  registered  refugees  and  asylum  seekers  mainly  from 
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Somalia5. While Turkey continues to make commendable efforts 
in  receiving, supporting  and hosting  high numbers of  refugees  and migrants,  these numbers  
have had a significant impact on the host communities. 

1.2 The EU response to the crisis and the establishment of the Facility 

In  2015,  the  European  Union  and  its  Member  States  decided  to  step  up  their  political  and 
financial  engagement  to  support  Turkey  in  its  efforts  to  host  refugees.  A  comprehensive 
cooperation  based  on  shared  responsibility,  mutual  commitments  and  delivery  between  the 
European  Union  and  Turkey  was  agreed  within  the  framework  of  the  18  March  2016  EU-
Turkey Statement6 (hereafter 'the Statement'). The meeting of Heads of State or Government 
with  Turkey  on  29  November  2015  activated  the  EU-Turkey  Joint  Action  Plan7  to  help 
Turkey address the consequences of the Syria conflict. 

In response to the call from EU Member States for significant additional funding to support 
refugees  in  Turkey,  the  Commission  established  on  24  November  2015  the  Facility  for 

1 Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24.11.2015 on the coordination of the actions of the Union and of the 
Member  States  through  a  coordination  mechanism  –  the  Refugee  Facility  for  Turkey,  as  amended  by 
Commission Decision C(2016)855 of 10.2.2016.  
2 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-
enlargement/sites/near/files/170302_facility_for_refugees_in_turkey_first_annual_report.pdf 
3 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-
enlargement/sites/near/files/14032018_facility_for_refugees_in_turkey_second_annual_report.pdf 
4  3,607,563  "Syrians  under  Temporary  Protection"  were  registered  on  29  November  2018,  source  Turkish 
Directorate 
http://www.goc.gov.tr/icerik6/temporary-
protection_915_1024_4748_icerik   
5 A specificity of the Turkish asylum system is linked to the fact that the country has signed the 1967 New York 
Protocol  of  the  1951  Geneva  Convention  with  a  reservation.  Accordingly,  the  vast  majority  of  refugees  in 
Turkey  cannot  apply  for  fully-fledged  refugee  status  but  for  "Conditional  Refugee"  status  only,  which,  if 
granted, limits the stay in the country until the moment a recognised refugee is "resettled to a third country". 
6 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-turkey-statement/  
7 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5860_fr.htm 

Management: 

Migration 

General 

for 

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Refugees  in  Turkey8.  The  Facility  is  a  mechanism  that  coordinates  the  mobilisation  of 
resources  made  available  under  both  the  EU  budget,  and  additional  contributions  from 
Member  States  integrated  into  the  EU  budget  as  external  assigned  revenue.  Contributions 
amount to  a total  of EUR 6 billion, with  EUR 3 billion  committed for the  years 2016-2017 
and a further EUR 3 billion committed for 2018-2019. Since 2011, the EU and Member States 
mobilised collectively almost EUR 10.4 billion in response to the Syrian crisis; of which EUR 
4.8 billion from the EU Budget. 

The  Facility  complements  and  scales  up  existing  EU  funding  under  the  EU  Regional  Trust 
Fund  in  Response  to  the  Syrian  Crisis9  (EU  Trust  Fund),  the  Instrument  contributing  to 
Stability and Peace, and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance national programmes, all 
of  which  have  contributed  to  the  work  on  refugee-related  matters  with  key  partners.  It  also 
complements the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights10. 

The  implementation  of  the  Statement  continued  to  play  a  key  role  in  the  course  of  2018  in 
ensuring  that  the  migration  challenge  is  addressed  effectively  and  jointly  by  the  EU  and 
Turkey.  The  Statement  continues  to  deliver  concrete  results  in  reducing  irregular  and 
dangerous crossings and in saving lives in the Aegean Sea.  

In  2018,  the  total  number  of  arrivals  from  Turkey  into  the  EU  was  50 789,  compared  to 
41 720 arrivals in 2017 (a 22% increase). This included 47 939 arrivals to Greece (of which 
32 141  by  sea  and  15 798  by  land),  2 383  to  Italy,  349  to  Bulgaria,  and  118  arrivals  from 
Turkey  by  boat  to  the  government-controlled  areas  of  Cyprus.  The  total  number  of  arrivals 
from Turkey into the EU in 2019 (as of 5 March 2019) is 5 094, compared to 3 153 arrivals in 
the same period last year. This includes 5 054 arrivals to Greece (3 509 by sea and 1 545 by 
land) and 40 to Bulgaria.11. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 
3 migrants have so far lost their life in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019 (174 persons lost 
their lives in whole 2018, 62 in 2017 and 434 in 2016).  

Resettlements  from  Turkey  to  the  EU  under  the  one-for-one  arrangement12  foreseen  in  the 
Statement continues. The total number of resettlements since 4 April 2016 reached 20 002, of 
which 1 362 in 2019, 6 929 in 2018 and 8 975 in 2017.  As for the Voluntary Humanitarian 
Admissions  Scheme,  further  to  the  endorsement  of  the  Standard  Operating  Procedures  in 
December  2017,  all  elements  and  conditions  are  now  in  place  for  the  activation  of  the 
Scheme, as set out in the Statement.  

The  full  and  sustained  implementation  of  the  Statement  requires  continuous  efforts  and 
political determination from all sides.  

2.  The functioning of the Facility  

The  Facility  is  a  coordination  mechanism  that  allows  for  the  swift,  effective  and  efficient 
mobilisation  of  EU  assistance  to  refugees  in  Turkey.  The  Facility  ensures  the  optimal 
mobilisation  of  existing  EU  financing  instruments,  either  as  humanitarian  or  development 

8  Commission  Decision  C(2016)  855  final  of  10.02.2016  on  the  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey  amending 
Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24.11.2015. 
9 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/neighbourhood/countries/syria/madad_en  
10 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/finance/eidhr_en.htm_en 
11 Data on arrivals provided by EU Member States and EBCGA. 
12 According to the EU-Turkey Statement, for every Syrian being returned to Turkey from Greek islands, another 
Syrian is resettled from Turkey to the EU taking into account the UN Vulnerability Criteria.  

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assistance,  to  address  the  needs  of  refugees  and  host  communities  in  a  comprehensive  and 
coordinated manner13. 

The Steering Committee of the Facility provides strategic guidance on the priorities, the type 
of  actions  to  be  supported,  the  amounts  to  be  allocated  and  the  financing  instruments  to  be 
mobilised and, when appropriate, on the conditions relating to the implementation by Turkey 
of its commitments under the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan of 29 November 201514 (hereafter 
the  ‘Joint  Action  Plan’).  In  2018,  the  third  year  of  implementation  of  the  Facility,  three 
Steering Committee meetings took place, on 9 March, 18 June and 30 November 2018. The 
next (12th) Steering Committee meeting is planned for May 2019. 

The  key  principles  guiding  the  Facility's  implementation  are  speed,  efficiency  and 
effectiveness,  while  ensuring  sound  financial  management.  Sustainability  of  Facility 
interventions  and  co-ownership  by  the  Turkish  authorities  are  also  important.  The 
identification  of  priority  areas  for  assistance  is  based  on  a  comprehensive  and  independent 
needs  assessment15,  paying  particular  attention  to  vulnerable  groups.  The  needs  assessment 
was updated in 201816. 

The  Facility  coordinates  financing  from  the  following  external  financing  instruments: 
humanitarian aid17, the European Neighbourhood Instrument18, the Development Cooperation 
Instrument19, the  Instrument  for Pre-accession Assistance  20 and the  Instrument  contributing 
to  Stability  and  Peace21.  Measures  financed  by  the  Union's  budget  are  implemented  in 
accordance  with  its  financial  rules  and  regulations  applicable  to  both  direct  and  indirect 
management.  

13 Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24.11.2015, Article 2 – Objectives of the Facility.  
14 See Article 5 (1) of Commission Decision C(2015) 9500, as amended by Commission Decision C(2016)855. 
15 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/2016_needs_assessment_.pdf 
16 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/updated_needs_assessment.pdf 
17 Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid , OJ L163, 2.7.1996, p. 1. 
18  Regulation  (EU)  No  232/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a  European 
Neighbourhood Instrument, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 27.  
19  Regulation  (EU)  No  233/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a  financing 
instrument for development cooperation, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 44. 
20 Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Instrument for 
Pre-accession Assistance, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 11. 
21  Regulation  (EU)  No  230/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  an  instrument 
contributing to stability and peace, OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 1. 

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Under  the  first  tranche  of  the  Facility,  the  breakdown  of  funding  per  EU  instrument22  is  as 
follows:  

43% 

46% 

10% 

1% 

EUTF

ECHO

FPI/IcSP

IPA

Implementation  of  assistance  is  conditional  upon  strict  compliance  of  Turkey  with  the 
undertakings of the Joint Action Plan, and the Statement. 

3.  Financial capacity, duration and nature of funding  

The total  budget  coordinated by the  Facility is  EUR 6 billion (EUR 3 billion for the period 
2016-2017 and EUR 3 billion for the period 2018-2019). The first tranche, mobilised EUR 1 
billion  from  the  EU  budget,  and  EUR  2  billion  from  the  Member  States23.  For  the  second 
tranche, the EU budget provides EUR 2 billion and the Member States EUR 1 billion24.  

Of the EUR 1 billion from the EU budget for 2016-2017, EUR 250 million was mobilised in 
2016 and EUR 750 million in 2017. Of the EUR 2 billion from the EU budget for 2018, EUR 
550 million was mobilised in 2018, with the balance to be mobilised in 2019. 

For the first tranche, Member States contributed EUR 677 million to the Facility in 2016 and,  
847  million  in  2017  and  EUR  396  million  in  2018.  The  remaining  EUR  80  million  will  be 
paid  in  2019.  For  the  second  tranche,  Member  States  contributed  EUR  68  million  in  2018, 
with the remaining payments planned for 2019-2023. Member States' contributions are made 
directly  to  the  EU  General  Budget  in  the  form  of  external  assigned  revenue  pursuant  to 
Article  21(2)(a)(ii)  of  the  Financial  Regulation  and  assigned  to  the  budget  lines  of  the 
Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance and humanitarian aid. 

A satisfactory match between the rate of Member States' payments of their contributions into 
the  Facility  and  the  rate  of  disbursements  financed  by  those  contributions  from  the  Facility 
continues. 

22 The European Neighbourhood Instrument and the  Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) contributions 
were respectively transferred to and implemented under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance and the EU 
Trust Fund. In principle all Facility contributions to the EUTF (from IPA and to a minor extent from DCI) were 
implemented as non-humanitarian assistance. 
23 The total distribution of Member States' contribution is available at 
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/03/refugee-facility-for-turkey/. 
24 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/29/facility-for-refugees-in-turkey-member-
states-agree-details-of-additional-funding/  

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4.  The second tranche of the Facility 

The  mobilisation  of  the first  tranche  of  the  Facility  has  been  a  success,  with  EUR  3  billion 
under the 2016 and 2017 budgets contracted25 and fully operational by the end of 2017. The 
March 2016 EU-Turkey Statement indicated that once these resources were about to be used 
to  the  full,  and  provided  all  commitments  were  met,  the  EU  would  mobilise  additional 
funding for the Facility of an additional EUR 3 billion up to the end of 2018.  

Given  that  the  first  EUR  3  billion  had  been  fully  contracted  at  the  end  of  2017  and  with  a 
view  to  ensure  the  continuity  of  Facility  projects  and  uninterrupted  support  to  refugees,  the 
Commission, in March 2018, adopted a Decision on a second allocation of EUR 3 billion for 
the  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey,  with  the  same  distribution  of  contributions  as  the  first 
tranche26.  Following  an  agreement  with  the  Member  States  on  the  Updated  Common 
Understanding  on  18  July  2018,  the  Commission  adopted  a  modified  Decision  on  24  July 
2018  mobilising  EUR  2  billion  from  the  Union  budget  in  2018-2019,  with  Member  States 
making up the balance of EUR 1 billion as external assigned revenue27. 

Programming 

In  order  to  build  on  the  tangible  results  of  the  first  tranche  of  the  Facility,  and  to  ensure  a 
smooth  and  efficient  continuation  of  programming  of  the  second  tranche,  Member  States 
endorsed  an  updated  Strategic  Concept  Note28  at  the  meeting  of  the  Steering  Committee  in 
June 2018. The latter took into consideration the findings of the updated needs assessment29, 
conducted  through  extensive  stakeholders'  consultations  in  the  first  half  of  the  year30,  and 
other relevant documents31.  

The updated needs assessment report identifies the priority needs and remaining gaps in the 
refugee response and provides a valuable guide for the programming of the second tranche of 
the  Facility.  The  report  provides  an  update  of  the  assessment  commissioned  by  the 
Commission  in  June  2016.  It  takes  stock  of  refugee  and  host  community  needs  as  they 
developed  since  2016  and  identifies  areas  requiring  further  assistance.  It  concludes  that 
protection,  basic  needs  and  livelihoods,  health,  education  and  municipal  infrastructure 
continue to be key areas of focus. 

The Strategic Concept Note (herafter ‘the Note’) sets out to provide a strategic framework for 
the  programming  and  implementation  of  the  second  tranche  of  the  Facility,  with  a  special 
focus  on  inclusion  and  self-reliance  as  main  objectives.  The  Note  confirmed  the  need  for 
close  cooperation  between  government,  development  and  humanitarian  instruments  to 
identify  more  sustainable  and  durable  solutions  in  the  context  of  a  protracted  crisis,  and 

25 Except for some EUR 20 million ongoing administrative expenditure, technical assistance, communication, 
monitoring, evaluation and audit expenditure that may be committed and contracted during the entire lifespan of 
the Facility. 
26 Commission Decision C(2018)1500 final on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey amending Commission 
Decision C(2015)9500 as regards the contribution to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey -14.3.2018 
27 Commission Decision C(2018)4959 final on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey amending Commission 
Decision C(2015)9500 as regards the contribution to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey - 24.7.2018 
28 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/updated_facility_strategic_concept_note.pdf 
29 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/updated_needs_assessment.pdf 
30 The final report of the updated needs assessment was issued on 31 October 2018 
31 In particular the 2016 ‘Lives in Dignity’ Communication on forced displacement and development 
(COM(2016) 234 final) and its accompanying Council Conclusions (Council conclusions on the EU approach to 
forced displacement and development, May 2016 

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beyond  the  life-span  of  the  Facility  and  the  disbursement  of  EUR  6  billion.  This  implies  a 
strategic  shift  from  humanitarian  to  development  assistance  under  the  Facility.  Particular 
attention  would  be  given  to  the  provision  of  sustainable  socio-economic  support  and 
livelihood  opportunities,  and  strengthening  the  capacity  of  host  communities  to  accomodate 
refugees  while  supporting  social  cohesion.  The  Turkish  authorities  and  the  Commission 
would work to ensure the sustainability of the Facility’s projects , after the Facility has come 
to  an  end.  Moreover,  the  Turkish  national  system  would  need  to  be  prepared  to  take  over 
implementation of Facility assistance to ensure sustainable solutions and equitable access to 
rights and services. 

The programming of the second tranche aims to  reflect the recommendations of the Special 
Report on the Facility of the European Court of Auditors32, issued in November 2018 (see also 
under  Audit  below).  The  Court  put  particular  emphasis  on  the  need  for  a  joint  strategy  to 
mobilise the humanitarian and development strands of the Facility, to anticipate the transition 
from  Facility  funding  to  the  national  authorities  and  to  ensure  the  sustainability  of  Facility 
achievements beyond the lifespan of the Facility.  

As  a  first  step  in  the  mobilisation  of  additional  support  under  the  second  tranche  of  the 
Facility, a Special Measure on education was adopted by the Commission in July 2018 after 
consultation  of  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance  (IPA)  management  committee. 
The Special Measure allocated EUR 400 million for continued access to quality education for 
refugees33.  The  objective  is  to  further  increase  access  to  qualitative  and  inclusive  education 
services for refugees residing in Turkey, including for adults, and to support their integration 
into  the  Turkish  education  system,  thus  promoting  social  cohesion.  It  builds  on  previous 
support in the education area, notably the first direct grant of EUR 300 million to the Ministry 
of National Education, "Promoting Integration of Syrian Children into the Turkish Education 
System" (PICTES).  

The Special Measure was modified in November 2018 to include additional funding of EUR 
100 million for much-needed school infrastructure, so as to be able to cover needs in terms of 
classrooms and educational spaces34. In December 2018, two Calls for Expression of Interest 
were  launched  in  the  area  of  socio-economic  support  and  municipal  infrastructure,  with  an 
allocation of EUR 465 million and EUR 380 million respectively. The Commission launched 
its  Humanitarian  Implementation  Plan  (HIP)35  for  2018,  identifying  available  funding  and 
potential  partners  for  the  humanitarian  strand  of  the  Facility.  Preparations  for  further 
assistance in the areas of socio-economic support and health continued in parallel and should 
be confirmed in the course of the second quarter of 2019, with a particular focus on ensuring 
the  transition  from  cash-transfer  support  to  self-reliance  and  active  labour  market 
participation.   

5.  Implementation of the Facility 

The Facility is implemented as humanitarian and development assistance, with roughly EUR 
1.4 billion and EUR 1.6 billion allocated to the respective strands under the first tranche. 

Humanitarian  assistance  supports  the  most  vulnerable  refugees  through  the  provision  of 
predictable and dignified support addressing basic needs and protection. It also addresses gaps 

32 ECA report: https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR18_27/SR_TRF_EN.pdf 
33 Special Measure on Education C(2018)4960 final of 24.7.2018 
34 Amended Special Measure on Education C(2018)8254 final of 11.12.2018 
35 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/echo-site/files/echo_tur_bud_2018_91000_v2.pdf  

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in  service  provision  through  specialised  agencies  and  partners  in  health  and  education  in 
emergencies. 

Development assistance supports the longer-term needs in the fields of health, education and 
socio-economic  development  of  refugees,  notably  in  terms  of  access  to  public  services  and 
livelihood  opportunities.  It  also  focuses  on  vulnerable  groups  and  includes  a  gender 
dimension in the interventions, e.g. protection of women and girls against sexual and gender 
based violence and improving access to sexual and reproductive health care.  

Particular attention is paid to non-Syrian refugees and asylum seekers. Facility interventions 
always aim to involve the local communities hosting refugees.  

The  EUR  3  billion  under  the  first  tranche  of  the  Facility  for  2016-2017  have  been  fully 
committed and contracted36, with 72 projects rolled out, showing tangible results. At the end 
of 2018, more than EUR 2.072 billion out of the EUR 3 billion had been disbursed, with the 
balance to be disbursed in the course of implementation of Facility projects through to mid-
2021. 
Full details can be obtained from the online projects table37. 

Out  of  the  EUR  3  billion  under  the  second  tranche  of  the  Facility  for  2018-2019,  EUR  1.2 
billion has been committed as of February 2019, with EUR 450 million contracted and EUR 
150 million disbursed at the end of 2018. 

Facility assistance is mobilised throughout Turkey, but is at its most concentrated in the ten 
most affected provinces - Istanbul, Sanliurfa, Hatay, Gaziantep, Mersin, Adana, Bursa, Kilis, 
Izmir, and Kahramanmaras38. Facility assistance tends to be mainly provided to out-of-camp 
refugees and migrants. 

5.1 Humanitarian assistance 

EU humanitarian aid  is guided by the European  Consensus  on Humanitarian Aid of 200739, 
which stipulates that the EU as a humanitarian actor adheres to the humanitarian principles of 
humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as set out in Article 214 of the TFEU) 
and in the Humanitarian Aid Regulation (No. 1257/96)40, 41.  

Under the humanitarian strand of the Facility, in the first tranche, EUR 1.389 billion has been 
allocated and all 45 humanitarian projects have been contracted with 19 partners, covering the 
response to basic needs, protection, education, and health for the most vulnerable refugees in 
Turkey.  EUR  1.11  billion  has  been  disbursed  to  date,  benefiting  a  total  of  1 561 940 
refugees42.  Under  the  second  tranche,  EUR  690  million  has  so  far  been  allocated  to  basic 
needs, protection, education and health. The first EUR 50 million of projects were contracted 

36 Except for some EUR 20 million ongoing administrative expenditure, technical assistance, communication, 
monitoring, evaluation and audit expenditure that may be committed and contracted during the entire lifespan of 
the Facility 
37 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/facility_table.pdf   
38 The distribution of Syrian refugees per province is available at: http://www.goc.gov.tr/icerik6/temporary-
protection_915_1024_4748_icerik  
39 Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.  
40 Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid. 
41  The  European  Commission's  humanitarian  aid  is  based  on  annual  country-specific  Humanitarian 
Implementation Plans. The framework for cooperation between the Commission and its partners in the area of 
humanitarian aid is established by the Commission's Financial and Administrative Framework Agreements with 
international organisations and Framework Partnership Agreements with non-governmental organisations. 
42  Including  both  refugees  which  benefited  from  the  Emergency  Social  Safety  Net  as  well  as  previous  similar 
programmes 

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in  2018,  through  11  projects  in  the  fields  of  health  and  protection.  The  Humanitarian 
Implementation Plan for 2018 included EUR 51.17 million of humanitarian funding under the 
Facility  (EUR  50  million  from  the  second  tranche,  and  EUR  1.17  million  reallocated  from 
unspent  funds  under  first  tranche  projects)43.  Some  of  the  main  humanitarian  aid 
achievements in 201844 can be found below. 

The Emergency Social Safety Net 

The  EU  has  continued  to  address  the  needs  of  refugees  with  high  socio-economic 
vulnerability  via  the  Emergency  Social  Safety  Net.  This  is  a  humanitarian  social  assistance 
programme consisting of a debit card that delivers monthly, unrestricted, multi-purpose cash 
directly  to  vulnerable  refugees.  As  of  January  2019,  over  1.5  million  beneficiaries  had 
benefited from monthly cash transfers through the programme.  

Education in emergencies 

The EU continues to facilitate access for refugee populations to formal education systems by 
reducing  barriers  and  providing  the  means  for  at-risk  children  to  be  able  to  go  to  school. 
Launched  in  2017,  the  Conditional  Cash  Transfer  for  Education  programme45  is  the  largest 
ever  programme  financed  by  the  EU  on  education  in  emergencies  and  it  is  surpassing  its 
initial  targets.  As  of  February  2019,  the  families  of  over  470 000  children  attending  school 
received financial support through the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education programme. 
Furthermore,  as  of  December  2018  an  average  of  6 768  children  per  month  benefited  from 
school transportation support and 9 267 refugee children benefited from non-formal education 
activities. Such activities include provision of non-formal education courses in Turkish and/or 
Arabic,  accelerated  learning  programmes,  home  learning  initiatives  and  homework  clubs. 
These  programmes  will  facilitate  the  children's  entrance  to  formal  education  at  their  age-
appropriate grade. 

Health 

The EU has focused on filling potential gaps in primary health care service provision as well 
as providing services specifically needed by refugees and other persons of concern. From the 
start of the Facility to October 2018 a total of 873 365 primary health care consultations were 
delivered  to  refugees  in  heavily  refugee-populated  provinces.  In  addition,  40 705  pregnant 
women benefitted of 84 714 ante natal care (ANC) consultations, 105 315 refugees received  
mental  health  care  and  psycho-social  support  and  13 075  refugees  benefited  from  post-
operative and rehabilitative services.  

Protection 

The EU continues to fund projects to support refugees’ access to registration and services, and 
address needs of at risk groups and individuals. For example, with support from the Facility, 
the Turkey's Directorate General of Migration Management had verified the data of over 2.6 
million refugees living in Turkey. 

5.2 Development assistance 

Under  the  development  strand  of  the  Facility,  the  implementation  of  26  projects  contracted 
under the first tranche continues to show good progress with two contracts already completed. 

43 Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/financing-decisions-hips-2018_en  
44 Refugees may have received more than one service and the total figures do not account for overlap. 
45 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/blog/turkey-conditional-cash-transfer-education-programme-increases-school-
attendance-syrian-and_en 

10 

 
 
 
                                                           
Disbursements to implementing partners have reached EUR 943 million out of a total of EUR 
1.6  billion  allocated  to  development  assistance  under  the  first  tranche46.  Under  the  second 
tranche of the Facility, EUR 400 million has been contracted for the continuation of activities 
which increase access to quality inclusive education services for refugees residing in Turkey, 
as well as to support their integration into the Turkish education system and promote social 
cohesion. In addition, EUR 100 million has been committed to support school infrastructure 
to cover needs for classrooms and educational spaces. In the area of socio-economic support 
and  municipal  infrastructure,  EUR  465  million  and  EUR  380  million  have  been  allocated 
respectively.  

In  addition  to  the  allocation  managed  directly  through  the  Instrument  for  Pre-accession 
Assistance47,  the  development  side  of  the  Facility  supports  a  series  of  bottom-up  measures 
through 15 projects under the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis for a 
total of EUR 293 million.  

The breakdown of allocations of the non-humanitarian strand of the Facility per priority area 
is as follows: 

15% 

5% 

28% 

52% 

Education

Health Migration Management

Socio-economic Support

Education 

The  EU  is  supporting  all  stages  of  the  education  system,  from  early  childhood  to  higher 
education, in order not to lose a generation of young people. 
The implementation of the PICTES48 project - a EUR 300 million direct grant to the Turkish 
Ministry of National Education to promote the integration of Syrian children into the Turkish 
education  system  -  continued  during  the  2018  school  year,  over-achieving  the  action's 
indicator  targets  in  many  areas.  For  instance,  Turkish  language  teaching  culminated  in  a 
proficiency  examination  in  which  almost  400  000  students  participated  by  the  end  of 
September 2018. In total, more than 16 000 students received catch-up training and more than 
43 000  back-up  training.  The  number  of  teachers  and  Ministry  of  Education  administrators 
trained under the project exceeded 19 000 by the end of September 2018. These activities will 

46  This  figure  includes  also  disbursements  under  projects  implemented  by  the  EU  Regional  Trust  Fund  in 
Response to the Syrian Crisis, but not yet charged to the EU budget. 
47 Funds from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance under the Facility are managed in accordance with the 
rules  for  external  action  contained  in  Title  IV  of  part  two  of  the  Financial  Regulation  and  its  Rules  of 
Application. For more details, see the second Annual Report on the Facility. 
48 PICTES stands for "Promoting Integration of Syrian children into Turkish Education System". It is a EUR 300 
million  direct  grant  with  the  Turkish  Ministry  of  National  Education  to  promote  the  integration  of  Syrian 
children into the Turkish education system. 

11 

 
 
 
                                                           
continue under the PIKTES II49 contract, signed in December 2018. This action, worth a total 
of EUR 400 million, aims to ensure that refugee children residing in Turkey have access to 
quality,  inclusive  education  for  an  additional  three  school  years.  Moreover,  it  will  support 
children’s  integration  into  the  Turkish  education  system  while  promoting  social  cohesion 
including for adults. A second action of EUR 100 million will scale-up interventions in school 
infrastructure  in  areas  with  a  high  concentration  of  refugees.  The  construction  of  school 
building  under  existing  programmes  is  progressing.  The  construction  of  136  solid  structure 
and  50  prefabricated  schools  is  ongoing.  33  pre-fabricated  schools  were  completed  by 
December  2018.  Furthermore,  the  construction  of  three  solid  structure  schools  are  well 
advanced.  

In  addition,  as  of  December  2018,  almost  6 000  Syrian  volunteer  teachers  were  supported 
with  monthly  incentives,  over  14 000  children  benefitted  from  community  and  home-based 
early childhood education.  

To  provide  opportunities  for  refugees  in  higher  education,  476  students  are  receiving 
university scholarships through three projects and the number of supported pupils is expected 
to increase in the academic year 2019.  

Health 

The main pillar of assistance in the priority area of health is the SIHHAT project50, a EUR 300 
million  direct  grant  with  the  Turkish  Ministry  of  Health  to  ensure  refugees'  access  to 
healthcare services. As of December 2018, thanks to Facility interventions 2 569 medical staff 
are employed51 (69% of which are Syrian refugees) and are delivering services in 178 Migrant 
Health  Centres  (MHC),  out  of  which  45  are  Extended  Migrant  Health  Centres  (E-MHCs) 
delivering  basic  secondary  health  care  services.  The  implementation  of  health  infrastructure 
projects is also progressing, with tenders ongoing for the construction of two state hospitals 
(in Kilis and Hatay) that are expected to be opened in June 2021 and should provide a total of 
500 beds. 

Socio-economic support 

The work on livelihoods and socio-economic support plays a critical role in the integration of 
refugees into Turkish society and fosters much needed social and economic cohesion. As the 
language  barrier  is  a  major  impediment  to  effective  integration,  the  Facility  is  providing 
Turkish  language  classes  to  refugees.  Total  support  under  the  first  tranche  of  the  Facility 
reached EUR 196.6 million, through eight projects52. Support in this area should be increased 
significantly under the second tranche to ensure sustainability and further integration. A Call 
for Expression of Interest in the area of socio-economic support was launched in  December 
201853  allocating  EUR  465  million  for  projects  that  should  stimulate  refugee  resilience  and 
self-reliance.   

49 PIKTES “Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into Turkish Education System. It is a EUR 400 million direct 
grant with the Turkish Ministry of National Education to promote the integration of Syrian kids into the Turkish 
education system. 
50  SIHHAT  stands  for  “Improving  the  health  status  of  the  Syrian  population  under  temporary  protection  and 
related services” provided by Turkish authorities. 
51 118 Specialists, 482 Practitioners, 754 Midwives/nurses, 892 Bilingual patient guides, 323 Auxiliary staff 
52 See the projects table on the NEAR website, excluding projects listed as Education/Socio-Economic Support  
53 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/call_for_expression_of_interest_-_socio-
economic_support.zip 

12 

 
 
                                                           
A  EUR  50  million  project  run  by  the  Kreditanstalt  für  Wiederaufbau  (KfW)  provides 
increased access to inclusive quality vocational education and training (VET) for refugees and 
Turkish  adolescents  in  vocational  branches  with  a  high  demand  on  the  labour  market.  In 
parallel,  a  EUR  50  million  World  Bank  project  aims  at  improving  the  employability  and 
labour market  integration of refugees and host communities in  Turkey.  Institutional  support 
for employment services is strengthening the capacity of the Turkish employment agency to 
provide  counselling  and  job  assistance  and  the  capacity  of  the  Turkish  Ministry  of  Family, 
Labour  and  Social  Services  to  monitor  the  provision  of  work  permits  and  employment 
services.  Additionally,  Turkish  authorities  receive  support  to  enhance  the  capacity  to  assess 
demand for skills in selected provinces with high incidence of refugees, and to boost activities 
for job creation and entrepreneurship.  

Through the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, several projects cover 
key  areas  such  as  Turkish  language  learning  for  adults,  skills  certification  and  vocational 
guidance, job matching, support to SMEs, entrepreneurship and job creation, etc.  

Facility-funded community centres also provide an extensive range of services, from training 
courses  to  information  and  referral  services,  to  cultural  and  networking  events  in  order  to 
increase  the  resilience  and  self-reliance  of  refugees  and  host  communities.  Furthermore,  a 
conference on how to envisage a stronger Gender Sensitive Refugee Response in Turkey took 
place  in  January  2019,  in  the  context  of  an  ongoing  UN  Women  project  that  aims  at 
empowering  and  strengthening  resilience  of  Syrian  women  and  girls,  and  building  social 
cohesion with their host communities in Turkey.  

Gender aspects within projects under the Facility 

Gender  is  an  important  consideration  in  the  programming  of  projects  under  the  Facility  for 
Refugees  in  Turkey.  Facility  interventions  aim  to  promote  equal  opportunities  for  men  and 
women,  and  boys  and  girls,  wherever  possible.  Gender  disaggregated  data  is  collected  to 
monitor this and some dedicated actions have been developed in this area. Efforts have been 
made to align Facility actions with thematic objectives under the Gender Action Plan 2016-
2020. These  include  the  fight  against  violence  against  women  and  girls  (VAWG),  equal 
access for girls and women to quality education and vocational education and training (VET) 
free  from  discrimination,  and  support  to  women’s  organisations  and  civil  society 
organisations working for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. The Facility 
is  working  with  implementing  partners  with  solid  experience  in  this  area,  including  United 
Nations  International  Children's  Emergency  Fund  (UNICEF),  UN  Women  and  International 
Labor Organisation (ILO). For example, UNICEF offers essential social services to children, 
specifically to girls and women and their families, with an approach that gives a more holistic 
understanding of the gender roles within the family and society.  

Migration management  

The  Facility  has  covered  the  costs  incurred  in  the  management  of  returns  (transportation, 
hosting) of 212 Syrians and 1 076 non-Syrians, as well as logistical equipment and works for 
facilities  for  750  people.  From  August  2017  to  end-September  2018,  119 173  migrants 
received Facility-funded assistance in this way. EU support under the Facility has also helped 
increase the  capacity of  the Turkish  Coast  Guard to  carry out  search and  rescue operations. 
Six life boats were delivered in 2018 and 1 081 Turkish Coast Guard staff have been trained 
in  humanitarian  standards.  Both  projects  were  funded  under  the  Facility’s  first  tranche.  No 
specific budget allocation has been foreseen for this area under the second tranche. 

13 

 
 
 
6.  Monitoring & Evaluation 

The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system  of the Facility was designed to  be rolled out 
gradually.  

Results Framework 

The  Facility  Results  Framework  (RF)  reflects  the  intervention  logic  of  the  Facility.  It  is 
informed by the Facility’s strategic framework as well as by the programmed actions and their 
logical frameworks. The Results Framework was developed between August 2016 and March 
2017  in  consultation  with  key  stakeholders,  including  the  Facility  Steering  Committee, 
relevant Turkish authorities and Commission Services. A finalised draft was shared with the 
Steering Committee in March 2017.  

Based on the results of the pilot monitoring phase and on the finalisation of contracting, the 
Results  Framework  was  further  refined  in  2018,  in  consultation  with  the  operational 
stakeholders  and  an  updated  version  was  presented  to  the  Facility  Steering  Committee  of 
November 2018. 

Facility-level monitoring and reporting 

Facility-level monitoring was launched in spring 2017. Monitoring data are generated at the 
action-level by the implementing partners as per their obligation under each contract. A first 
request for monitoring data was issued in May 2017, followed by three pilot monitoring and 
reporting  cycles  launched  in  2017.  At  the  11th  Steering  Committee  meeting,  a  monitoring 
report covering the Facility’s achievements up to 30 June 2018 was presented54.  

The first few data collection cycles were designed as a pilot phase for the Results Framework 
output indicators. They were instrumental in familiarising implementing partners with Facility 
monitoring and reporting requirements, and to test the feasibility of the proposed indicators. It 
is important to note that a significant share of the Facility portfolio of projects was contracted 
towards the end of 2017 and that implementation of the corresponding actions started only in 
2018. 

Data  relevant  to  the  Facility  Results  Framework  indicators  are  reported  by  implementing 
partners to contracting authorities, i.e. the EU Delegation (EUD) to Turkey, the EU Regional 
Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (EUTF) and the Commission, using one common 
monitoring  template.  The  data  consolidation  process  is  technically  supported  by  an  internal 
IT-tool (Facility Monitoring Platform) that allows for the automatic aggregation, analysis and 
visualisation of data. The Platform is currently undergoing final testing.  

The  Contracting  Authorities  and  the  Facility  Secretariat  aim  to  standardise  data  collection 
processes.  Assessing  the  level  of  attribution  of  particular  results  to  the  Facility’s  actions  is 
equally  problematic  due  to  the  scale  and  diversity  of  the  interventions  and  the  multiple 
stakeholders  involved.  In  summary,  the  measurement  of  the  level  of  achievement  of  the 
Facility’s specific results remains challenging. 

Technical Assistance for monitoring 

A  Commission  Decision  for  a  Support  Measure  on  Monitoring,  Evaluation,  Audit  and 
Communication  of  the  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey  was  adopted  in  May  201755.  This 

54 The Facility Results Framework - Monitoring Report 
55 Commission Implementing Decision C(2017) 3378 final of 23.5.2017 on the support measure on monitoring, 
evaluation, audit and communication of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey  

14 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
enabled  the  procurement  of  technical  assistance  to  support  monitoring  and  reporting  on 
Facility Result framework and specific funded interventions. The technical assistance contract 
for monitoring was signed in January 2018 and is in full implementation. The assignment has 
two  distinct  parts.  The  first  consists  of  the  support  to  monitoring  at  the  Facility  level.  This 
comprises  a  periodic  review  of  the  Results  Framework,  the  review  of  baseline  and  target 
values and the indicator calculation methods and related guidelines. The technical assistance 
team is also in charge of supporting the Facility Secretariat in deriving first-level analysis of 
the monitoring data collected quarterly via the Facility Monitoring Platform and preparing the 
Facility Monitoring Reports. The second part of the assignment consists of supporting the EU 
Delegation in its duties to monitor Facility-funded actions/contracts, including verification of 
data  through  on-the-spot  checks  for  contracts  under  direct  management.  Indeed,  due  to  the 
size  of  some  Facility  interventions  and  the  geographical  spread  of  the  activities,  the 
Delegation  needs  support  for  on-the-ground  checks.  By  the  end  of  December  2018,  50 
monitoring  missions  had  been  completed:  16  of  these  were  performed  in  2017  (including  2 
result  oriented  monitoring  (ROM)  missions)  and  34  were  carried  out  in  2018  (including  3 
ROM and 8 by the technical assistance team). Over 35% of the monitoring missions targeted 
the direct grants to the Ministries of Education and Health in Turkey.  

Monitoring  of  all  actions  financed  under  the  Humanitarian  Implementation  Plans  was 
undertaken  by  the  Commission,  notably  Commission  field  staff  in  Turkey  and  the  regional 
Commission  office  in  Amman.  By  November  2018,  148  project-level  monitoring  missions 
had  been  completed.  In  addition  to  the  indicators  of  the  Results  Framework  under  which 
partners  are  reporting,  additional  indicators  on  protection  are  also  reported  on  periodically 
which is also reflected in the Monitoring Platform for Facility-level monitoring.  

Evaluation 

Eight  Facility  action-  and  portfolio  level  evaluations  have  been  completed  and  three  are 
ongoing56.  In  addition,  one  Facility-related  evaluation  is  completed  and  two  Facility-related 
evaluations are ongoing. The evaluations cover mainly humanitarian assistance and assistance 
provided under the EU regional Trust Fund in response to the Syria Crisis. In December 2018, 
the  Commission  launched  the  strategic  mid-term  evaluation  of  the  Facility,  which  will  take 
place in the course of 2019-2020. The objective is to assess the contribution provided under 
the Facility to the priority areas of education, health, socio-economic support and migration 
management in the period of 2016-2019/20. It is expected to provide an overall independent 
assessment  of  the  intermediate  results  measured  against  its  objectives,  to  capture  lessons 
learned and provide recommendations to improve current and future Facility actions.  

7.  Audit 

The  European  Court  of  Auditors  (ECA)  officially  launched  its  performance  audit  of  the 
Facility  on  17  October  2017.  The  publication  of  the  Court's  final  report  followed  on  13 
November 2018. The audit focused on the complementarity of assistance under the Facility, 
its delivery and monitoring, and a sample of ten humanitarian projects. The Court focused on 
the  management  of  the  first  few  projects  financed  by  the  Facility  and  on  the  results  so  far 
under its humanitarian strand. The Court found that, in a challenging context, the Facility had 
rapidly mobilised funds to provide a swift response, but that there was room to increase the 
efficiency  of  humanitarian  projects  and  in  particular  cash-assistance  projects,  and  that  the 

56 Examples: Evaluation of the European Union's humanitarian response to the refugee crisis in Turkey, 2016-
2017; Evaluation of the DG ECHO funded Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) in Turkey, November 2016–
February 2018; Mid-term Strategic Evaluation of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. 

15 

 
 
                                                           
to  deliver  greater  value  for  money.57  It  addressed  a  number  of 
Facility  needed 
recommendations  to  the  Commission,  which  the  Commission  has  fully  accepted  and  is 
already  implementing,  notably  in  terms  of  shifting  interventions  towards  development 
assistance (see under Programming). 

8.  Communication and visibility 

From  the  very  beginning  of  the  Facility,  visibility  and  communication  have  been  key 
priorities.  The  Facility  is  central  in  conveying  the  message  of  the  EU's  continued  strong 
support  to  refugees  and  host  communities  in  Turkey.  The  2017  communication  strategy 
remains  the  overall  framework  for  communication  activities,  with  the  aim  to  enhance  the 
visibility of Facility-funded actions.  

Several visibility activities took place in 2018, including a press trip with European journalists 
and  Member  State  representatives  in  Istanbul  and  Gaziantep  in  November  2018,  which 
generated  extensive  media  coverage.  The  trip  included  many  site  visits  to  Facility-funded 
projects  as  well  as  an  opening  ceremony  covering  a  project  in  the  socio-economic  support 
sector. In addition, the EU Turkey Delegation partnered up with the Turkish Red Crescent and 
Galatasaray  Football  Club  for  a  high  visibility  activity,  consisting  of  Syrian  and  Turkish 
children interacting with famous football players during training and then watching a national 
football game. The media outreach was 100 million people, with two videos shared through 
the Delegation’s social media channels58.  

Key  events  and  ceremonies  also  took  place  in  Turkey  and  in  Europe,  organised  in 
collaboration  with  the  humanitarian  partners.  In  July,  an  exhibition  took  place  at  Brussels 
airport,  organised  in  collaboration  with  UNICEF,  called  ‘Education  -  Our  Future’  which 
featured  pictures  of  refugee  children  benefitting  from  the  EU  funded  ‘Conditional  Cash 
Transfer  for  Education  Programme’  (CCTE)  in  Turkey.  The  exhibition  received  extensive 
press  coverage  both  in  Turkey  and  in  Europe,  with  a  social  media  outreach  of  260 000.  In 
September  2018,  World  Food  Programme  (WFP)  launched  a  communication  campaign 
‘Incredible  Ordinary’,  funded  by  the  EU,  raising  awareness  about  the  ESSN  programme 
between EU citizens. The impact of this support was presented to EU audiences through The 
#IncredibleOrdinary  pop-up  shop  in  Paris,  Milan,  Warsaw,  Berlin  and  Amsterdam,  which 
showcased the stories of eight refugee families who benefit from the programme. In their own 
words,  the  families  explain  how  a  seemingly  ordinary  item,  made  possible  thanks  to  ESSN 
support, had incredible meaning for them59. 

25 videos were produced to promote projects focusing on human interest stories with refugees 
given  the  chance  to  tell  their  story.  They  were  published  on  the  Delegation’s  and 
Commission’s  YouTube  channels  and  shared  through  the  social  media  channels  on  various 
occasions.60  Last  autumn,  Euronews  AidZone  outlet  aired  an  episode  on  EU  funded  health 
services for conflict-affected Syrian refugees which was shown all over Europe61.  

57 ECA report: https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR18_27/SR_TRF_EN.pdf  
58 180K views on FB, 65K views on Twitter, 1K likes on Youtube and 6K reach on Instagram. 
59 Incredible Ordinary webpage and example of testimonial: https://www.incredibleordinary.org/ 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80IhP3g4PiY&list=PL3xTi8eO-wuv5sFdgYdrGeI-DK7FtZz2f 
60   Dedicated Delegation YouTube channel with examples of videos: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6FP0xxlSG8xtesxTG_xjkg 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofRVziiCVss 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR6AgSF8AJ4 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McaZl5tZAOM 

16 

 
 
 
                                                           
 
In addition, the Commission issued five press releases and the Delegation issued another 17. 
Facility newsletters were distributed to the members of the Steering Committee on a quarterly 
basis  featuring  up-to-date  Facility  activities  and  a  selection  of  video  materials.  Articles  and 
blog stories featuring human interest stories were also published62 and there was considerable 
press coverage of high level EU visits related to the projects financed under the Facility. 

9.  Conclusion and next steps 

The operational envelope of the first tranche of the Facility has been fully contracted and over 
EUR  2  billion  disbursed  by  March  2019.  Important  progress  has  been  made  in  the 
mobilisation  of  the  second  tranche,  with  EUR  1.2  billion  committed,  EUR  450  million 
contracted and EUR 150 million disbursed by March 2019. The Facility continues to provide 
much needed assistance to refugees and host communities in Turkey. The next steps are the 
following: 

  Effective implementation of all projects to benefit refugees and host communities, in line 

with the principles of sound financial management.  

  Roll-out of the second tranche, with implementation of projects until mid-2025. 

  Fully-fledged monitoring system becoming fully operational. 

  Continued roll-out of communication activities.  

  The Steering Committee to meet at regular intervals. Next meetings are planned for spring 

and autumn 2019. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQXZUPgl6Hk 
61 Euronews AidZone episode: https://youtu.be/Sq3xkKXjBoc  
62 https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en/news/looking-inspiration-start-over-7487 
https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en/learning-language-key-new-life-7410 

17