The Wheel is the National Contact Point for the Europe for Citizens Programme, spreading the word about possibilities under the programme to nonprofits around Ireland.

For the last quarter of the year, our European Programme is joining forces with The Wheel's Regional Programme to deliver two engaging and informative events in Louth and Waterford in the coming weeks.

These two and a half hour interactive forums are an opportunity to learn about The Wheel's Regional Support Programme, meet Regional Champions for each area and hear about how nonprofits can fund projects through Europe for Citizens in 2018 and beyond. 

Sign up for the Louth event on Tuesday 24 October 2017 here and our Waterford event on Tuesday 7 November here.  We look forward to sharing the 2018 Work Programme with you and answering your questions on EU funding in general.  

Heading to the 2017 National Ploughing Championships? Well, Europe for Citizens will be there ! Find us at the large and lively EU tent, located on Block 3, Row 14, Stand 315.  The Ploughing is Ireland's largest public event.  Taking place in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly it will run from 19-21 September 2017 and attract over 225,000 visitors from around Ireland. 

Information officers from the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Office in Ireland will be available to assist the public with questions on EU policies. In addition, staff from The Wheel will be promoting the Europe for Citizens Programme and can also be found at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's stand, promoting the National Rural Network.

If you're making the trip to Screggan, the EU stand must not be missed. See you there! 

Good news today for anyone considering applying to Europe for Citizens in 2018. The EACEA has published the priorities of the programme for 2018, an important document to study if you are preparing an application for next year.

Have you struggled to understand what what kind of projects will be funded by Europe for Citizens?
​Priorities include:

 - Key dates in 20th century history to be commemorated
 - Civil Society and participation under totalitarian regimes
 - Anti-semitism, Anti-Gypsyism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance
 - Democratic transition and accession to the EU
 - Debating the Future of Europe and euroscepticsm
 - Promoting solidarity in times of crisis
 - Combatting the stigmatisation of migrants and minority groups
 - European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018
 - European Solidarity Corps

 Read the 2018 Work Programme now! 

We were very pleased to be hosted by the Galway 2020 team in their bright and lively space for a specialised workshop in July on how to make a winning proposal under the Town Twinning and Networking strands.  We had twenty attendees from across the West of Ireland.

In Dublin on Friday 28th July, we hosted a special application clinic in our own offices in Dublin  for seven people, all considering preparing an an application. Do you need similar support? Please don't hesitate to contact us with your queries on PIC numbers, e-form, project ideas etc.  Email europe@wheel.ie

If you are applying for funding from Europe for Citizens, we recommend that you understand the origins and themes of the programme.

Europe for Citizens is managed by the Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency but led by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG Home), which is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The role of the body is to ensure the EU's security, aiming to create an area of freedom, security and justice.  

DG Home produces newsletters chock full of stories, project examples and news that is highly relevant to anyone designing a project. Take a look at the June edition and be inspired.  Want to discuss these themes and have your say? Follow us on Twitter @EU4Citizens. 

Are you trying to tie your project ideas into current EU thinking? We recommend taking a look at the latest EU Citizenship Report published in January 2017. It takes stock of progress since 2014 and proposes ways that citizens can enjoy their membership of the European Union. Europeans are more than ever aware of their status as citizens of the Union and the proportion of Europeans wanting to know more about their rights continues to increase. Four out of five Europeans cherish, in particular, the right to free movement that allows them to live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU (December 2016 Eurobarometer).

However, a lack of awareness means EU citizens do not fully exercise their right to vote in European and local elections. The 2017 EU Citizenship Report sets out the Commission's priorities in further raising awareness of these rights and making them easier to use in practice. The Europe for Citizens Programme seeks projects that help citizens understand the value of participating in elections and feeling more 'European'.  

The Wheel is the National Contact Point for the Europe for Citizens Programme, which helps promote understanding between the European Union and its citizens.  It funds activities carried out by a range of not-for-profit organisations, councils and local authorities across Europe.

The specific aim of the 2014-2020 programme is to contribute to citizens' understanding of EU's history and diversity. Priorities are:  debating the future of Europe; solidarity in times of crisis; euroscepticism; and combating the stigmatisation of immigrants.  

Wish to make an application for funding? Now is the time! The Call for Proposals under Town Twinning and Networks of Towns is open - see the information here or take a look at our leaflet that gives more details.  Contact Deirdre Finlay for more information: deirdref@wheel.ie. 

We were delighted to meet with voluntary organisations on Tuesday 25 April 2017 as part of The Wheel's first Regional Forum in the West of Ireland. Hosted by Caroline Wilson, The Wheel’s Regional Champion for the region, the networking and information session, entitled ‘Meet The Wheel in Mayo’, took place in Hotel Westport, attracting forty-five people.  Participants highlighted a lack of funding available to the voluntary sector as the biggest challenge to their survival.  

Deirdre Finlay, The Wheel’s European Programmes Coordinator, highlighted opportunities available under the Europe for Citizens Programme.  For a copy of her powerpoint presentation email europe@wheel.ie today. 

The European Solidarity Corps is a major new EU programme that was launched in December 2016. Its goal is to give opportunities for young people to work and volunteer on special projects throughout Europe.  Examples of these projects include: Rebuilding communities after natural disasters; Helping refugees that have just arrived in Europe; Clearing plants from forests to prevent wildfires; Assisting people with disabilities.
 
Young people aged 18-30 are now registering their interest and the corps will be deployed via existing EU-funded projects from programmes such as Europe for Citizens. Are you interested in hosting volunteers or advising young people on participation in this scheme? Check out the new FAQ document here.

If you are considering making an application to Europe for Citizens in the coming year, why not consider including the European Solidarity Corps in your project? This may be favoured by evaluators.