Objectives
News 
The European Commission allocates non-reimbursable funds for the integration of migrants and refugees through the "Urban Innovative Actions" programme
Tudorina Mihai
17 February 2016
The European Commission launched the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme to fund innovative actions in the field of urban development, through which non-reimbursable funds totalling 372 million Euro will be granted from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for 2014 - 2020.
The first Call for proposals, for which an 80 million Euro budget was allocated, will cover innovative actions on the following topics:
- Energy transition
- Integration of migrants and refugees
- Jobs and skills in the local economy
- Urban poverty with a focus on deprived neighbourhoods
In this programme integration of migrants and refugees is considered an essential component of an efficient urban development. "If this integration into the urban fabric is poorly managed, it can result in multiple problems and ineffective solutions that completely fail to address basic needs, and lead to the exclusion of migrants from the labour market, housing, health and education services etc. This is a particular risk when cities are asked to deal with sizeable and sudden population movements that put sudden pressure on the services of the cities.", shows the applicant's guide.
The same document gives examples of a number of actions which may support the effective integration of migrants and refugees, such as:
- Investments in social and health infrastructure: community-based social care, community centres, shelters, prevention and primary care health services, etc.
- Investments in education infrastructure: kindergartens, schools, vocational schools, etc.
- Urban regeneration: physical and social regeneration of areas in which migrants/refugees are concentrated
- Housing infrastructure: social housing
Eligible applicants are the urban authorities or associations of urban authorities in towns with at least 50,000 inhabitants on the territory of one of the 28 European Union member states. The projects will be co-financed up to 80% of eligible costs.
The deadline for submitting project proposals for funding is 31 March 2016.
Sources:
The first Call for proposals, for which an 80 million Euro budget was allocated, will cover innovative actions on the following topics:
- Energy transition
- Integration of migrants and refugees
- Jobs and skills in the local economy
- Urban poverty with a focus on deprived neighbourhoods
In this programme integration of migrants and refugees is considered an essential component of an efficient urban development. "If this integration into the urban fabric is poorly managed, it can result in multiple problems and ineffective solutions that completely fail to address basic needs, and lead to the exclusion of migrants from the labour market, housing, health and education services etc. This is a particular risk when cities are asked to deal with sizeable and sudden population movements that put sudden pressure on the services of the cities.", shows the applicant's guide.
The same document gives examples of a number of actions which may support the effective integration of migrants and refugees, such as:
- Investments in social and health infrastructure: community-based social care, community centres, shelters, prevention and primary care health services, etc.
- Investments in education infrastructure: kindergartens, schools, vocational schools, etc.
- Urban regeneration: physical and social regeneration of areas in which migrants/refugees are concentrated
- Housing infrastructure: social housing
Eligible applicants are the urban authorities or associations of urban authorities in towns with at least 50,000 inhabitants on the territory of one of the 28 European Union member states. The projects will be co-financed up to 80% of eligible costs.
The deadline for submitting project proposals for funding is 31 March 2016.
Sources:
Back