Europe for Citizens Programme

Europe for Citizens Programme BASEREC – BAltic SEa REgion's Communities promoting and utilising the new EFC Programme for information transfer, training, networking and know-how exchange ( EFC DE-EFC-SM) Duration: – Partners: Städte- und Gemeindetag Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (DE) Związek Gmin Pomorskich (PL) Fritid & Samfund (DK) Kommunförbundet Skåne (SE) Programme: Active Citizens for Europe; Action 1. Measure 2.2. „Support measures“

Europe for Citizens Programme Project aims: Dissemination and promotion of new Europe for Citizens Programme (EfCP) in partner countries/regions Increasing of quantity and quality of project applications by professional guidance and mentoring of local communities (municipalities) Enhancing networking and cooperation between communities in the Baltic Sea region

Europe for Citizens Programme Project activities: 02/14: Kick-off steering group meeting (DE) 06/14: EfCP experts seminar (DE) - 2 days, approx. 10 participants from DE, PL, DK, SE 06/14–01/15: EfCP information and training seminars - two 1 day seminars in all partner countries - approx. 20 participants at each seminar 06/14–01/15: „Flying project offices“ - coaching and consulting activities in all partner countries - reaching approx. 50 persons in each country - leading to approx. 5 new applications in PL, DK, SE and 7 in DE 11/14: Dissemination conference (DE/Rostock) - 1 ½ days, approx. 70 participants from all partner countries

Europe for Citizens Programme

Europe for Citizens Programme General features of the programme: Equal access Transnationality and local dimension Intercultural dialogue Volunteering /expression of active European citizenship

Europe for Citizens Programme Two general objectives: contribution to the citizens‘ understanding of the Union, its history and diversity fostering European Citizenship and improving conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level

Europe for Citizens Programme Two specific objectives: raising awarness of remembrance, common history and values and the Union‘s aim that is to promote peace, its values of wellbeing of its peoples by stimulating debate, reflection and development of networks encouraging democratic and civic participation of citizens at Union level, by developing citizens‘ understanding of the Union policy making process and promoting opportunities for societal and intercultural engagement and volunteering at Union level

Europe for Citizens Programme programme strands: 1.European remembrance 2.Democratic engagement and civic participation 3.Horizontal Action: Valorisierung (no call open)

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme European remembrance - what is it about? Active reflection on European cultural diversity Reflecting on the causes of totalitarian regimes in Europe and commemoration of the victims Focus also on other defining moments and reference points in recent European history Preference will be given to projects dealing with tolerance, mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation as well as projects reaching the younger generations

Europe for Citizens Programme Projects under this strands should … … include different types of organisations (local authorities, NGOs, research institutes etc.) … develop and implement different activities and actions … involve citizens coming from different target groups … be implemented on a transnational level OR with a clear European dimension.

Europe for Citizens Programme Eligible applicants – who is allowed to apply? Public local/regional authorities non profit organisations civil society organisations survivors‘ associations cultural, youth, educational and research organisations associations of twinned towns

Europe for Citizens Programme Minimum number of partner organisations: One organisation from one participating country BUT: Preference for transnational projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Grant: max Euro per project Duration: max. 18 months

Europe for Citizens Programme Submission deadlines: only 1 deadline per year: March 1st Project start: Between August 1st and January 31st Submission 2014: June 4th (project start between August 1st and January 31)

Europe for Citizens Programme Annual priorities Strand 1: European remembrance Projects for the reflection on causes of totalitarian regimes in Europe‘s modern history as well as projects concerning other defining moments and reference points in recent European history: - 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I - 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall - 10 years of enlargement of the European Union to Central and Eastern Europe

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Democratic Engagement and civic participation: Focus on civic participation in the broadest sense with activities directly linked to Union policies to concretely participate in the Union policy making process Initiatives that develop opportunities for mutual understanding, intercultural learning, solidarity, societal engagement and volunteering at Union level

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Town twinning projects will be funded for … … bringing together a wide range of citizens from twinned towns around topics in line with the objectives of the programme … mobilizing citizens at local and Union level to debate on concrete issues from the European polictical agenda … promoting civic participation in the Union policy making process … developing opportunities for societal engagement and volunteering at Union level

Europe for Citizens Programme „Twinning“ is understood in a broad sense and can be applied for municipalities … … with signed twinning agreements … engaged to sign twinning agreements in the near future … having other forms of partnerships fostering their co-operation and cultural links

Europe for Citizens Programme Eligible applicants: Municipalities from participating countries Twinning committee from a participating country Non profit organisations representing local authorities Eligible countries: All 28 EU member states EFTA countries (FL, IS, NO - not CH at the moment) Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, FYROM, BiH

Europe for Citizens Programme Preconditions for eligibility: minimum of 2 eligible partners from 2 eligible countries including at least one EU member state minimum of 25 invited participants (= international participants) sent by eligible partners

Europe for Citizens Programme Maximum duration: 21 days Location for project: partner country Minimum grant: Euro Maximum grant: Euro

Europe for Citizens Programme Basis for the calculation of the project budget: Number of invited participants

Europe for Citizens Programme Submission deadlines: 2 deadlines per year: March 1st / September 1st Project start: 4 months after submission: July 1st / January 1st Submission 2014: June 4th September 1st

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Main features of networks of towns: thematic and long-lasting cooperation between towns range of activities around subject(s) of common interest defined target groups with relevance for the subject basis for future initiatives and actions

Europe for Citizens Programme Eligible applicants: Towns and municipalities Twinning committees Local / regional authorities Federations / associations of local authorities Non profit organisations representing local authorities Eligible partner organisations: In addition: non profit civil society organisations

Europe for Citizens Programme Eligible countries: All 28 EU member states EFTA countries (FL, IS, NO - not CH at the moment) Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, FYROM, BiH

Europe for Citizens Programme Eligible activities: project duration: max. 24 months one project must contain min. 4 single events detailed action plan must be foreseen in the application maximum grant: EUR min. 4 participating countries (one must be an EU member state) min. 4 organisations 30% of the total participants must be invited participants (per project, not per event!)

Europe for Citizens Programme Submission deadlines: 2 deadlines per year: March 1st / September 1st Project start: 4 months after submission: July 1st / January 1st Submission 2014: June 4th September 1st

Europe for Citizens Programme Grant: max Euro per project Duration: max. 24 months

Europe for Citizens Programme Europe for Citizens European remembrance Democratic engagemet and civic participation Valorisation Town twinning Networks Civil society projects

Europe for Citizens Programme Civil society projects Inviting citizens for reflection and debate on the annual prioritiy themes of the programme at local and EU level Development of concrete solutions to problems Active involvement of a large number of citizens in the project implementation Setting the basis for long lasting/sustainable networks Promoting opportunities for solidarity, societal engagement and volunteering at Union level

Europe for Citizens Programme Projects must include at least two of the following three types of activities: Promotion of societal engagement and solidarity: promote debate, campaigns on the themes of common interest, making the link to the European political agenda Gathering of opinions: individual opinions of citizens on a specific topic, favouring a bottom-up approach (use of social networks etc.) and media literacy Volunteering: promoting solidarity among Union citizens and beyond

Europe for Citizens Programme Project duration: max. 18 months Minumum number of partners: 3 ( one must be from an EU member state) Maximum grant: Euro

Europe for Citizens Programme Submission deadlines: only 1 deadlines per year: March 1st Project start: Between August 1st and January 31st Submission 2014: September 1st project start until January 31st 2015

Europe for Citizens Programme Annual priorities 2014: Strand 2: Democratic engagement and civic participation Elections to the European Parliament Participation in the democratic life of the EU Deepening the debate about the future of Europe

Europe for Citizens Programme THE website for all core information: