General Information on EIF
The general objective of the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals (EIF) (applicable as of 1 January 2007) is to support the efforts of Member States to enable third country nationals to fulfil the conditions of residence and to facilitate their integration into European societies in accordance with the Common Basic Principles for immigrant integration policy in the European Union.
The Fund is targeted primarily at newly arrived third country nationals and is intended for actions supporting the integration process of such persons in Member States. It also supports enhancing the capacity of Member States to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate all integration strategies, policies and measures for third country nationals and the exchange of information, best practice and co-operation in and between Member States.
It does not cover integration of refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection or persons resettled under the UN resettlement programme as such actions fall under the European Refugee Fund nor does it cover the integration of EU nationals who move to another Member State.
On the basis of Community strategic guidelines and in dialogue with the Commission, each beneficiary Member State develops its own multi-annual programming strategy (2007 – 2013) on the use of the resources they receive each year. The strategy will constitute the framework for the implementation of actions through annual programmes. The European Commission has approved Ireland’s multi-annual programme and its annual programmes for 2007 and 2008.
The rate of European Community co-financing applicable to Ireland is generally 50% but, for actions implementing specific priorities of the strategic guidelines, 75% of the cost can be met by the Fund. The remainder of the cost is borne by the promoter of the assisted project.
