The "Europe for Citizens" programme aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the EU by providing instruments to promote active European citizenship.
The general objectives of the programme are to contribute to citizens’ understanding of the Union, its history and diversity, and to foster European citizenship and to improve conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level.
In line with the general objectives, annual priorities are defined by the European Commission. For 2014, the following priorities have been adopted:
- Strand 1: European remembrance of causes of totalitarian regimes in Europe and other defining moments and reference points in recent European history which are to be commemorated in 2014
- Strand 2: Democratic engagement and civic participation with particular regard to the elections to the European Parliament that will be held in all Member States from 22 to 25 May 2014.
Operating grants
Also called structural support, operating grants provide financial support to costs necessary for the proper conduct of the normal and permanent activities of an organisation that makes a tangible contribution to the above mentioned priorities.
The structural support is granted in the form of framework partnerships for four years (2014-17) awarded further to this call for proposals. Framework partnerships are cooperation mechanisms established between a particular organisation and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. Under these framework partnerships annual operating grants will be awarded every year.
Eligible applicants
A. Civil society organisations for European remembrance (strand 1) with members or activities in at least 12 eligible countries;
B. Civil society organisations working at European level (strand 2) with members or activities in at least 12 eligible countries;
C. European public policy research organisations (think tanks) (strand 1 and 2);
D. Platforms of pan-European organisations (strand 2) with at least 20 umbrella member organisations, who must each have members in at least 15 Member States, and which, taken as a whole, cover the 28 Member States.
To be eligible for an operating grant, these organizations must:
- be a non-profit organisation;
- play an active role in the field of European citizenship (European remembrance and democratic engagement and civic participation);
- have been established legally and have had a legal personality for at least four years (on the date of submission of their application) in an eligible country;
- perform their activities in eligible countries.
Eligible countries
- EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom;
- EFTA countries, the acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries are eligible, provided that have signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Commission during 2014. In this case, applicants from these countries may apply for a framework partnership for three years from 2015 to 2017 by 31 December 2014.
Eligible actions
The activities of the applicant organisation must make a tangible contribution to developing and implementing the general and programme objectives.
The applicants must provide:
- a strategic work programme for a period of four years starting in 2014;
- a detailed annual work programme for a period of 12 months starting in 2014.
The applicant organisation's strategic work programme should cover its statutory activities, including conferences, seminars, round tables, representation, communication and valorisation, and their other recurrent European activities related to the activities of the ‘Europe for citizens’ programme.
In order to submit an application, applicants will have to register their organisation in the Education, Audiovisual, Culture, Citizenship and Volunteering Participant Portal and the applications have to be submitted using only the currently available grant application electronic form (eForm).
Deadline: was 20 December 2013 at 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)
We will keep you informed when a new call is published.
Opportunity offered by: European Commission DG Education and Culture
