EU funding

Call for proposals: Europe for Citizens Programme - Action 1, Measure 2.1: Citizens' projects

14.12.2009

Deadline

01.06.2010

Budget line / available budget

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Objectives and supported actions in the field of ENAR's work

A major challenge of the European Union today is to bridge the gap between the European citizens and the European institutions. In this framework this measure aims at exploring innovative methodologies and approaches to encourage citizens’ active participation at European level and to stimulate the dialogue between European citizens and European institutions. This measure is built on the basis of the Pilot Action of 'Citizens' Projects', run by the European Commission in 2006-2007, which proved to be successful. This experience proved also that a thematic approach in this type of projects is needed to better use the potentials of those activities and assure interaction with the decision makers.

Under this measure, a variety of projects of a trans-national and cross sector dimension, directly involving citizens, will be supported. Priority is given to projects aimed at encouraging local level participation.

In particular, this measure aims at supporting citizens' projects which enable to:

collect the opinion of citizens on some key European challenges for the future;

explore new methodologies capable of promoting active interaction and discussion between citizens on matters related to EU policies that affect their daily life;

create mechanisms that allow European citizens to develop civic competences, to formulate their views and opinions on the European integration process in the form of recommendations for policy makers at European level;

encourage the dialogue between European citizens and the institutions of the EU, empowering citizens as regards EU policies and their impact, and ensuring appropriate follow up of citizens' opinions by the EU institutions.

These objectives can be reached using different formats and different methodological approaches. The formula of 'citizens' panel' is a valid option. A real bottom up approach in the preparation and implementation of the project has to be encouraged and the citizens participating to such projects should be able to formulate recommendations that could be fed into the policy process at European level.

The citizens' recommendations resulting from these processes represent valuable inputs for the European Commission, because they are different and additional to the kinds of inputs that the Commission receives through the conventional consultation channels.

The Directorate General for Education and Culture is willing to play its part by being a receptive interlocutor and a real partner for the organisations involved in the organisation of citizens' panels. Therefore this Directorate General undertakes to provide information and expertise on the themes chosen by the selected projects, to facilitate access to other European experts and to give appropriate follow up to the citizens' recommendations resulting from the project.

Applicants

The applicant must be

a local authority, or
a non profit organisation of the civil society with a legal status (legal personality)

It must be established in one of the countries participating to the Programme.

A project must involve at least 200 participants.

At least 20% of the participants of the project must come from countries other than the country that hosts the event.

Legal basis

Decision 1904/2006/EC of 12 December 2006

Community contribution

The amount of the grant will be calculated on the basis of a balanced, detailed forecast budget, expressed in euro. The grant awarded may not exceed 60 % of the total amount of the project's eligible costs. The minimum grant will be EUR 100 000. The maximum grant eligible for a project within this measure is EUR 250 000.

Publication reference

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/funding/2010/index_en.php

Contact

eacea-p7-civilsociety@ec.europa.eu

General remarks

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/funding/2010/index_en.php

The official application form is available at: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm

Guidelines: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/programme/programme_guide_en.php

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