IP/06/410
Brussels, March 31 2006
Integrating third-country nationals: Commission financing for 15 new projects under the INTI 2003-06 programme The Commission has agreed to co-finance 15 new projects in connection with the call for proposals under the INTI 2005 programme to the tune of some EUR 4.3 million. INTI is a European Union programme set up in 2003 with a view to financing preparatory measures designed to promote the integration of third-country nationals. To give the programme a truly transnational dimension, partners from at least five Member States must participate in INTI projects. The programme sets out to foster above all cooperation between Member States by exchanging experience and good practice. It has provided support for the setting up of partnerships and transnational networks.
"The European Union must step up its efforts to foster integration of the immigrants of today and those of tomorrow," according to Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, the Freedom, Security and Justice Commissioner, who added, "This must be done by promoting dialogue with civil society and by exchanging best practice and information between Member States and between all stakeholders."
The Commission received 139 grant applications as part of the INTI 2005 call for proposals. After the vetting process, only 15 projects have been selected for co-financing because of the limited budget available. Most of the beneficiaries stress the important role that this programme has to play in developing innovative, holistic approaches on a European scale. The grants apart, INTI is also financing the production of a handbook on integration and will provide support for an integration website.
A total of 37 projects have received grants under the INTI 2003-04 programme amounting to some EUR 10 million in four main areas:
support for network and exchange of information and good practices; information and dialogue; improved knowledge of integration issues; support for innovative projects.
2006: last year for INTI
An amount of EUR 5 million has been set aside for 2006, the last year of the INTI programme. The 2006 call for proposals will be launched before the summer. The priorities will be determined on the basis of experience in previous years and will be consistent with the Common Basic Principles for integration adopted by the Council and expanded on in the Commission communication on a common agenda for integration (COM(2005) 389 final).
From 2007 onwards, the framework programme "Solidarity and management of migratory flows for the period 2007-13", which comprises four Funds (European Refugee Fund, Fund for Integration of Third-Country Nationals, Return Fund and External Borders Fund) will cover the needs in these areas, while basing Community intervention on the concepts of solidarity and burden sharing. Information on the INTT programme and the call for proposals is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/inti/funding_inti_en.htm
