What is the specific problem?

Existing EU funds used to support the integration of third country nationals (AMIF, ESF+, and ERDF) can be accessed by local authorities through the national and transnational funding programmes. However, the access to direct funding within these programmes varies. While there is a landscape of different funding programmes, these do not often interact with each other, nor are they designed in a way that could seamlessly support migrants’ integration journeys.  

Moreover, some funds can be used to support certain groups of individuals according to their legal status, whereas migrants with differing legal statuses seeking to access the same integration services in a city cannot be covered through the same funding. This makes it difficult for local authorities to understand how they can use the different EU funds to meet their needs and the needs of the local population.  

Transnational funding also often focuses on innovative approaches to integration, for which local authorities sometimes struggle to find funding to continue these practices and integrate them into their local systems. This may lead to a cycle where funding is awarded only to innovative ideas, that subsequently prove unsustainable without continuous funding. 

What is the goal of this action?

The action will review examples of innovative practices using existing funding programmes and explore how funding programmes may be better aligned, both with respect to the target groups and the timeframes that they cover. It directly relates to the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, as it aims to provide increased funding opportunities to support migrants by ensuring that available funding is structured in a manner that aligns with on-the-ground needs. It will build partnerships among different stakeholders from government, banks, local authorities and civil society stakeholders that implement projects.