Programme Priorities 2018
As with nearly all EU programmes, Europe for Citizens has a set of themes and priorities that it is currently promoting, encouraging organisations to create projects that are in line with these.
To help guide your project idea, Europe for Citizens has released the Work Prgramme for 2018. All Calls for Proposals will be linked to these. Read on for a summary. Note: Text below has been directly lifted from the Europe for Citizens Priorities document.
To help guide your project idea, Europe for Citizens has released the Work Prgramme for 2018. All Calls for Proposals will be linked to these. Read on for a summary. Note: Text below has been directly lifted from the Europe for Citizens Priorities document.
European Remembrance - Strand 1
1. Commemorations of major historical turning points in HIstory
For every year of application Europe for Citizens has identified key dates in history to be commemorated. So for example, if you are planning an application in 2018, the beginning of World War II is an event that you can build an interesting remembrance project around. Read more in the table below...
2018 |
Event |
1918 |
The end of World War I - rise of the nation states and the failure to create a European cooperation and peaceful co-existence |
1938/9 |
Beginning of World War II |
1948 |
Beginning of the Cold War |
1948 |
The Hague Congress and the integration of Europe |
1968 |
Protest and civil rights movements, invasion of Czechoslovakia, student protests and anti-Semitic campaign in Poland |
2019 |
Event |
1979 |
European Parliament elections; 40 years since the first directly elected European Parliament in 1979 |
1989 |
Democratic revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin wall |
2004 |
15 years of EU enlargement into central and Eastern Europe |
2020 |
Event |
1950 |
Robert Schuman Declaration |
1990 |
German reunification |
2000 |
Proclamation of the |
2. civil society and civic participation under totalITARIAN regimes
Under totalitarian regimes, democratic concepts such as 'civil society', 'freedom' and 'democracy' and 'democratic procedures' completely lost their meaning. Free social movements emanating from the civil society were often ostracised, threatened and repressed.
Applicants should reflect on the exploitation and manipulations of democratic practices notably by means of 'propaganda' and official media in the past and the current upsurge of populism. The objective is to show that civil society, free media and open debate are an indispensable element of democracy.
Through their projects, applicants should also reflect on the significance of contemporary democratic achievements such as rule of law, civil liberties, civic rights, and underline the fragility of civic rights (freedom of speech, right to vote…) without strong checks and balances. Read the full priorities document here.
Applicants should reflect on the exploitation and manipulations of democratic practices notably by means of 'propaganda' and official media in the past and the current upsurge of populism. The objective is to show that civil society, free media and open debate are an indispensable element of democracy.
Through their projects, applicants should also reflect on the significance of contemporary democratic achievements such as rule of law, civil liberties, civic rights, and underline the fragility of civic rights (freedom of speech, right to vote…) without strong checks and balances. Read the full priorities document here.
3. Antisemitism, Anti-Gypsyism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance: drawing the lessons for today
20th century's totalitarianisms deprived some of their citizens from their basic rights to the point of total exclusion and genocide. This was the case for the Jewish and Roma communities as well as other racial, cultural or ethnic minorities under Nazi regime, including LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexuel/transgender and intersexual) people.
Justified by misleading ideologies and supported by deceptive propaganda, exclusionary legislation as well as a repressive apparatus, these enabled those regimes to commit mass murders. Past manifestations of Antisemitism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance should be analysed and debated so as to inform the present.
Through their projects, applicants should address the following themes and questions: How to recognise a "scapegoat" and to deconstruct the discourse leading to exclusion and marginalisation? What are the educational tools at EU and national levels to prevent these forms of intolerance?
Justified by misleading ideologies and supported by deceptive propaganda, exclusionary legislation as well as a repressive apparatus, these enabled those regimes to commit mass murders. Past manifestations of Antisemitism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance should be analysed and debated so as to inform the present.
Through their projects, applicants should address the following themes and questions: How to recognise a "scapegoat" and to deconstruct the discourse leading to exclusion and marginalisation? What are the educational tools at EU and national levels to prevent these forms of intolerance?
4. Democratic transition and accession to the European Union
For Member States that experienced in their recent history a transition to democracy, accession to the European Union played an important role in supporting and consolidating democratisation. For example, through the system of "democratic conditionality", the pre-membership encouraged political changes and structural reforms, strengthened administrative capacity and improved minority protections.
Projects under this specific priority should analyse how the EU accession perspective influenced democratic standards and practices of the new democracies. While taking stock of the enlargements accomplished in the last two decades, the projects shall open the discussion on the desirability of future enlargements or on other kinds of partnerships with countries of the EU neighbourhood.
Projects under this specific priority should analyse how the EU accession perspective influenced democratic standards and practices of the new democracies. While taking stock of the enlargements accomplished in the last two decades, the projects shall open the discussion on the desirability of future enlargements or on other kinds of partnerships with countries of the EU neighbourhood.
Democratic Engagement and Civic Participation - Strand 2
This strand is of big interest to many NGOs looking to do a Civil Society Project. It also informs themes within Town Twinning and Networks of Towns projects. Remember: The European Commission rarely funds core costs. You need to engage with EU partners and develop a project...
1. debating the future of europe and challenging euroscepticism
Projects should give citizens an opportunity to express what kind of Europe they want and to outline their long term vision for the future of European integration. In this context the White Paper on the Future of Europe represents a point of departure.
The debate on the future of Europe should not be limited to those already supporting the idea of the European Union, but also reach out to citizens who reject or put in question the European Union and its achievements, or remain indifferent.
The Commission expects projects granted under this multi-annual priority to reflect on a new narrative for Europe, citizen-oriented, forward-looking and constructive, that would be more engaging for the younger generation in particular. Projects may lead to debates about concrete ways to create a more democratic Union, so as to enable citizens to reengage with the EU and develop a stronger sense of ownership of the European project. Read the paragraph on this priority in the 208 Work Programme document here.
2. promoting solidarity in times of crisis
What does solidarity mean within the European Union, especially in times of crisis? What are the legal, political, economic and even ethical limits of European solidarity?
Under this multi-annual priority of the Europe for Citizens programme, citizens will be given the opportunity to discuss the topic of solidarity and to assess existing solidarity mechanisms inside the EU. They shall reflect on policy areas where such common mechanisms could be useful and developed while considering other possible channels of European solidarity like volunteering, donations, foundations, civil society organisations, charities, crowdfunding, etc.
Projects developed under this multi-annual priority will contribute to overcoming national perceptions of crisis situations of the past years (such as the financial crisis of 2009 or the refugee crisis) by fostering a mutual understanding of the situation, and by creating fora where common solutions can be discussed in a constructive way. Read the paragraph on this priority in the 208 Work Programme document here.
Note: Projects under this priority are encouraged to include volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps.
Under this multi-annual priority of the Europe for Citizens programme, citizens will be given the opportunity to discuss the topic of solidarity and to assess existing solidarity mechanisms inside the EU. They shall reflect on policy areas where such common mechanisms could be useful and developed while considering other possible channels of European solidarity like volunteering, donations, foundations, civil society organisations, charities, crowdfunding, etc.
Projects developed under this multi-annual priority will contribute to overcoming national perceptions of crisis situations of the past years (such as the financial crisis of 2009 or the refugee crisis) by fostering a mutual understanding of the situation, and by creating fora where common solutions can be discussed in a constructive way. Read the paragraph on this priority in the 208 Work Programme document here.
Note: Projects under this priority are encouraged to include volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps.
3. fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding and combating stigmatisation of migrants and minority groups
Projects granted under this multi-annual priority will raise awareness on the richness of the cultural and linguistic environment in Europe and promote mutual understanding and tolerance, thereby contributing to the development of a respectful, dynamic and multifaceted European identity. Under this multi-annual priority a specific focus will be put on the situation of migrants in our society.
Today, in the European Union, extremist or populist movements regularly stigmatise 'others', 'migrants' or 'minorities' in their political discourse amalgamating distinct concepts (crisis and migration; terrorism and migration) in order to polarise public opinion and to claim moral monopoly.
Against this background, the Europe for Citizens programme will fund projects promoting diversity, tolerance and the respect of common values. Projects will encourage intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between EU citizens and migrants. These projects will help overcome stereotypes about migrants by deconstructing past and present processes of stigmatisation.
Read the paragraph on this priority in the 208 Work Programme document here.
Today, in the European Union, extremist or populist movements regularly stigmatise 'others', 'migrants' or 'minorities' in their political discourse amalgamating distinct concepts (crisis and migration; terrorism and migration) in order to polarise public opinion and to claim moral monopoly.
Against this background, the Europe for Citizens programme will fund projects promoting diversity, tolerance and the respect of common values. Projects will encourage intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between EU citizens and migrants. These projects will help overcome stereotypes about migrants by deconstructing past and present processes of stigmatisation.
Read the paragraph on this priority in the 208 Work Programme document here.
4. european year of cultural heritage 2018
The year 2018 will also be designated as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The ideals, principles and values embedded in the European cultural heritage represent a shared source of identity, dialogue, cohesion and creativity of shared sense of belonging and citizenship of the European Union. Projects will be funded on promoting the role of European cultural heritage as a pivotal element of cultural diversity, and intercultural dialogue and local heritage linked to European memory.
In Ireland, coordination of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is being led by the Heritage Council. Contact Beatrice Kelly for more details - bkelly@heritagecouncil.ie.
Read the full Programme Priorities document here. Still not sure if your project idea fits? Contact The Wheel on europe@wheel.ie.
Read the PROGRAMME GUIDE for 2017+ here.
Read the PROGRAMME GUIDE for 2017+ here.
