Against the background of a Europe experiencing a backlash against immigration, a second phase of the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM), comprising foundations active in this field, has recently been launched. EPIM was originally set up under the auspices of NEF in 2005. The recent addition of new partners such as the Oak Foundation and the Barrow Cadbury Trust has increased the number of participating foundations to 11. All these have committed themselves to the programme for a four-year period to 2011, and will provide grants to help improve the lives of migrants. The first call for proposals was launched in January, with the first round of grants for up to three years to be made in the autumn.

The second phase of EPIM will concentrate on strengthening the role of NGOs active on integration issues in advocating a European agenda that mainstreams migrant interests and the needs of the countries of both provenance and destination of migrants. The grant scheme will support NGO activities focusing on: access to fundamental rights for undocumented migrants; the involvement of migrants’ views in developing and implementing policies; the role of the host communities in encouraging integration; and strategic use of the media and communication to encourage integration.

Parallel to the grants programme, grantees will be given the opportunity to network and to exchange experiences and ideas in order to reinforce specific aspects of their project or organization management (communication and advocacy).

EPIM partners include: Atlantic Philanthropies, The Barrow Cadbury Trust, Compagnia di San Paolo, European Cultural Foundation, Freudenberg Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Foundation Bernheim, Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian, Oak Foundation, and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The initiative is chaired by the King Baudouin Foundation. New partners from countries such as Spain, France and Eastern European countries, where migration is a particularly important question, are invited to join.

Network of European Foundations
Director: Peggy Saïller
T +32 2 235 24 17
peggy.sailler@nefic.org
http://www.nefic.org