Instrument for Stability (IfS)
The Instrument for Stability (IfS) is a strategic tool designed to address a number of global security and development challenges in complement to geographic instruments. In force since 1 January 2007, it replaces several instruments in the fields of drugs, mines, uprooted people, crisis management, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
What does it cover?
The instrument has two components: one short-term (managed by Directorate General External Relations) and the other long-term (priorities 1 and 2 managed by EuropeAid, priority 3 managed by DG RELEX).
The short-term component (‘Crisis response and preparedness’) aims to prevent conflict, support post-conflict political stabilisation and to ensure early recovery after a natural disaster. It can only be triggered in a situation of crisis or emerging crisis, in order to re-establish the conditions necessary to the implementation of the Community's development assistance under other long-term instruments.
Activities under this component include: support for the development of democratic and pluralistic state institutions, support for international criminal tribunals, promotion of independent and pluralist media, aid for the victims of the illicit use of firearms and support to relieve the impact on the civilian population of anti-personnel landmines.
In the context of stable conditions for the implementation of EU co-operation policies in third countries, for the long-term component, three mainpriorities have been identified:
- fighting and protecting against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
- strengthening response capacities of non-EU member countries to cross-border threats such as terrorism and organized crime, including the illicit trafficking of weapons, drugs and human beings,
- enhancing pre- and post-crisis preparedness capacity building.
How much money is available?
The IfS has a budget of € 2.062 billion for 2007-2013, allocated as follows:
- short-term component: €1,487 million (72% of the total)
- long-term component: €484 million (23% of the total)
The remaining funds are allocated for administrative expenses.
This allocation reflects the intention that the IfS should primarily be an instrument for crisis response, and that long-term measures under this Instrument should not be a substitute for those that could be more effectively delivered under country or regional strategies funded from the main geographic financing instruments (like EDF, DCI and ENPI).
Measures may be co-financed by Member States, other donor countries, international and regional organisations, companies, firms, other private organisations and businesses, other non-state actors, partner countries and regions in receipt of funding, and other bodies eligible for funding.
While the assistance provided through the short-term component cannot be
programmed, the assistance provided in the context of stable conditions for
cooperation is programmed in a Strategy Paper 
[144 KB] covering the period 2007-2011, an Indicative Programme [98 KB] covering the period 2007-2008 and an Indicative programme [401 KB] 2009-2011.
Who is eligible for funding?
The entities which are eligible for funding are:
- partner countries and regions,
- joint bodies (partner regions and the Community),
- international organisations,
- European agencies,
- bodies of any Member State, partner country, partner region or any other country contributing to the objectives of this instrument.
In the majority of cases the funding for the Instrument for Stability, long term component, is allocated using the negotiated procedure, direct award, administrative arrangements or joint/contribution agreements with International Organisations. Calls for proposals will be used only in rare circumstances. In case of call for proposals and tenders: each of them will specify in related documents the eligibility criteria for that specific call or tender.