In 2014 the European Commission (EC) set up the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), a EUR 3.14 billion fund designed to assist European Union (EU) Member States (MS) to manage migration. The fund is designed to promote the efficient management of migration flows and the development of a collective approach to asylum and immigration. In addition, the EC established the Internal Security Fund (ISF), a EUR 3.8 billion fund to support law enforcement cooperation and the management of the Union's external borders. A large portion of the ISF budget has been allocated to reinforcing external border checks and border surveillance and strengthening health services and linguistic and intercultural mediation.

Italy is the main point of entry for refugees and migrants trying to reach other European countries, whereas a record number of asylum seekers reached Germany in the last two years. Both countries are among the main recipients of AMIF and ISF. Against this background, the EU Joint Research Centre, the European Commission's science and knowledge service, has instigated an evaluation of the above EU policies.

Dr Bove worked for the "Competence Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation (CC-ME)" to assess some of the concrete actions undertaken through the two programs. He assisted JRC researchers address some of the following iquestions:

a) Did the support provided to refugees affect their propensity to migrate to third countries?

b) Did the provision of information in non-EU countries on legal migration channels reduce the influx of asylum seekers?

c) Did the improvement of reception services for asylum seekers foster social integration?

d) Did education and language training for non-EU nationals improve cultural integration(i.e., religiosity, identity and general attitudes)?