The aim of the Europe for Citizens Programme is to contribute to citizens’ understanding of the EU, its history and diversity and to encourage the democratic participation of citizens at EU level. Call for proposals are still open for the following strands and measures of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme:

• Strand 2. Democratic engagement and civic participation

This strand will support activities that cover civic participation in the broadest sense with a particular focus on activities directly linked to Union policies, with a view to concretely participate in the Union policy-making process in areas related to the objectives of the Programme.

1. Measure Town Twinning

This measure aims at supporting projects bringing together a wide range of partner towns in a town twinning event around topics in line with the objectives of the Programme. By mobilising citizens at local and Union levels to debate on concrete issues from the European political agenda, this measure will seek to promote civic participation in the Union policy making process and develop opportunities for societal engagement and volunteering at Union level.

Eligibility and budget

Eligible applicants are: Towns/municipalities and/or other levels of local authorities or their twinning committees or other non-profit organisations representing local authorities. A project must involve municipalities from at least 2 eligible countries of which at least one is an EU Member State. A project must involve a minimum of 25 invited participants. Maximum duration of the town twinning event: 21 days. The maximum grant for a Town Twinning project is EUR 25 000.

2. Measure Networks of Towns

Municipalities and associations working together on a common theme in a long-term perspective may wish to develop networks of towns to make their cooperation more sustainable. Networks of Towns are expected to integrate a range of activities within at least 4 project events. A project should involve a minimum of 30% of invited participants.

Eligibility and budget

Eligible applicants are towns/municipalities or their twinning committees or networks; other levels of local/regional authorities; federations/associations of local authorities; non-profit organisations representing local authorities, non-profit civil society organisations. A project must involve municipalities from at least 4 eligible countries of which at least two are an EU Member State. Maximum project duration is 24 months. Maximum grant for a Network of Towns project is EUR 150 000.

3. Measure Civil Society Projects

This measure aims at supporting projects promoted by transnational partnerships and networks directly involving citizens. Those projects gather citizens from different horizons, in activities directly linked to Union policies, with a view to give them an opportunity to actively participate in the Union policymaking process in areas related to the objectives of the Programme. A Civil Society Project must include at least two of the following types of activities:

• Promotion of societal engagement and solidarity: activities promoting debate/campaigns/actions on themes of common interest in the framework of the rights and responsibilities of the Union citizens and making the link to the European political agenda and policy making process.
• Gathering of opinions: activities aiming at gathering the individual opinions of the citizens favouring a bottom up approach (including the use of social networks, webinars, etc.) and media literacy.
• Volunteering: activities promoting solidarity among Union citizens and beyond.

Eligibility and budget

Eligible applicants are: non-profit organisations, including civil society organisations, educational, cultural or research institutions, other organisations involved in the project can also be public local/regional authorities. A project must involve organisations from at least 3 eligible countries of which at least two are an EU Member State. Maximum project duration is 18 months. Maximum eligible grant for a Civil Society Project is EUR 150 000.

Deadline

Deadline for submission of applications is on 1 September 2020 at 17.00, Brussels time