The European Programme on Critical Infrastructure Protection offers a comprehensive framework and contributes to the development of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) as well as policy measures aiming at upholding, and/or guaranteeing security and public order during a crisis situation.

The general objective of the programme is to support Member States' efforts to prevent, prepare for, and to protect people and critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks and other security related incidents. Furthermore, the programme is intended to contribute to ensuring protection in the areas such as the crisis management, environment, public health, transport, research and technological development and economic and social cohesion, in the field of terrorism and other security and safety related risks within the area of freedom, security and justice.

The programme is generally dedicateed to EU member states, but candidate countries are subject to limited eligibility within the framework of transnational projects, i.e. projects which must:

• have a true trans-national nature and involve participants from, and/or have activities located in, at least two Member States, or at least one Member State and one candidate country; and
• establish a partnership which involve eligible partners in at least two Member States or
• in at least one Member State and one other country which is an acceding or a candidate
  country.

Source and further information: http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/cips/funding_cips_en.htm, as accessed on February 2, 2009.