In 2023, the European Commission publishes a series of exciting calls for proposals covering topics such as empowering citizen’s participation in the Unions life, combating hate crime and hate speech, whistle blower protection, strengthening the remembrance on genocide and war crimes or impacts and experiences of migration and de-colonisation. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) organises a set of online info sessions to present the calls and the application process in more detail.

Call for proposals to promote civil society organisations’ awareness of capacity building and implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

ONLINE INFO SESSION: 16 February 2023, 10AM

The Call for proposals to promote civil society organisations’ awareness of capacity building and implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (CERV-2023-CHAR-LITI) has a total budget of Mio €16 and is already open for applications on the Funding & Tender Portal of the EU. The deadline for submission is 25 May 2023.

Policy priorities:

1. Capacity-building and awareness raising on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
2. Promoting rights and values by empowering the civic space
3. Strategic litigation
4. Protecting EU values and rights by combating hate crime and hate speech
5. Supporting an enabling environment for the protection of whistleblowers

Call for proposals European Remembrance

ONLINE INFO SESSION: 7 March 2023 (Registration opens soon)

The Call for proposals European Remembrance (CERV-2023-CITIZENS-REM) supports projects aimed at commemorating defining events in modern European history, including the causes and consequences of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. The objective is to raise awareness among European citizens of their common history, culture, cultural heritage and values. An overarching aim is to highlight the role, representation and perspective of women in these important historical events and developments to allow a more gender-balanced and gender-sensitive understanding of history. The available call budget is Mio €10.2. The call opens on the 16 February; the deadline for submissions is 6 June 2023.

Policy priorities:

1. Democratic transition, (re-)building and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights
2. Strengthening the remembrance of the Holocaust, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity to reinforce democracy in the EU
3. Migration, de-colonisation and multicultural European societies
4. European integration and its defining achievements

Call for proposals to foster citizens’ engagement and participation

ONLINE INFO SESSION: 20 April 2023 (Join the Webex meeting directly via EACEA )

The objective of the Call for proposals to foster citizens’ engagement and participation (CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV) is promoting citizens' and representative associations’ participation in and contribution to the democratic and civic life of the Union by making known and publicly exchanging their views in all areas on Union action. The 2023 CIV Call will be published in March 2023. The available budget for 2023 is around €25 mio.

Policy Priorities*:

1. Promoting democratic participation through debating the future of Europe
2. Engaging citizens and communities in discussions and action related to our climate and environment
3. Engaging citizens and communities in discussions and action related to solidarity
4. Countering disinformation and other forms of interference in the democratic debate and promoting media literacy

*This list of priorities is not exhaustive. Applicants may address other priorities in all areas of Union action as long as these priorities are in line with the call objective to promote citizens engagement and participation

Background about the CERV Program

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme has a budget volume of €1,55 billion over the funding period 2012-2027. It aims to protect and promote Union rights and values as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It will contribute to sustain and further develop open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law.

The programme consists of four strands:

1. Union Values: to protect and promote Union values
2. Equality, Rights and Gender Equality: To promote rights, non-discrimination, equality, including gender equality, and advance gender and non-discrimination mainstreaming. Projects in this area will:
3. Citizens' engagement and participation: To promote citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union and exchanges between citizens of different Member States and to raise awareness of the common European history. 
4. Daphne: To fight violence, including gender-based violence.