According to the CIP Decision, the Framework Programme is open to the participation of:

• All EU Member States;
• European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA), in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein);
• Candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, FYROM) benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of these countries in Community programmes established in the respective Framework Agreement and Association Council Decisions;
• Countries of the Western Balkans (Serbia, Montenegro, Albania), in accordance with the provisions to be determined with those countries following the establishment of framework agreements concerning their participation in Community programmes;
• Other third countries, when agreements so allow.

Participation in the CIP is open to a wide range of organisations and individuals, but the exact eligibility criteria differ from one funding scheme to another (and is provided in the specific Call for proposals under the 3 operational programmes of the CIP).