| 22 January 2009 The Commission has adopted the multiannual programme under the European Fund for the integration of third country nationals 2007-2013 for Sweden for an estimated amount of € 13.4 million as the Community contribution, together with the first two annual programmes 2007 and 2008. Vice President, Jacques BARROT, responsible for the Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio, welcomed the adoption of the first multiannual program for the implementation of the European Integration Fund. "With the launch of its multiannual program, Sweden has shown its commitment towards the integration of third country nationals". Sweden has chosen to emphasize three of the Fund's four strategic priorities: - Putting into practice the "Common Basic Principles for immigrant integration policy in the European Union";
- Development of indicators and evaluation methodologies to assess progress, adjust policies and measures and to facilitate co-ordination of comparative learning;
- Exchange of experience, good practice and information on integration between Member States;
Among the projects financed in the 2007 and 2008 annual programmes in Sweden: - Civic education and information for third country nationals about Swedish society
- Improving health of newly arrived third-country nationals;
- Initiatives on intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.
The European Fund for the Integration of Third country nationals is one of the four financial instruments of the general programme on "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows" which encourages a fair share of responsibilities between Member States arising from the introduction of integrated management of the external borders and from the implementation of common policies on asylum and immigration. The other three Funds are: the External Borders Fund, The Return Fund and the European Refugee Fund. The European Fund for the Integration of Third country nationals is an expression of a dynamic process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents of Member States. Concretely, it sustains the efforts of Member States: - Enabling third-country nationals of different economic, cultural, religious, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds to fulfil the conditions of residence and to facilitate their integration into European societies, and
- Enhancing the capacity of Member States to develop and implement national integration strategies in all aspects of society.
The overall budget of this fund for 2007-2013 is €825 million distributed as follows: - 93% distributed among Member States: the distribution key expresses solidarity on the basis of the number of legally staying third country nationals;
- 7% directly managed by the Commission and dedicated to Community actions. The call for proposals for 2008 Community actions has been published. Transnational projects such as setting up networks, pilot projects, awareness-raising campaigns, studies in the field of integration could be supported.
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