EU Citizenship operating grants

This call for proposals concerns structural support, referred to as operating grants, to organisations, pursuing an aim of general European interest. Operating grants are different from project grants. Operating grants provide financial support to costs necessary for the proper conduct of the normal and permanent activities of the organisations selected. These costs include in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges,equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges etc.) costs of internal meetings, publications, information and dissemination costs and costs directly linked to the organisation's work programme.

The programme is intended to contribute to the following general objectives:

• Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union;
• Developing a sense of European identity, based on common values, history and culture;
• Fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union among its citizens;
• Enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

The specific objectives for this call for proposals are:

• Foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level;
• Encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from Member States which acceded to the European Union before and those which have acceded since 30 April 2004.

Eligible organisations
To be eligible for an operating grant, an organisation, pursuing an aim of general European interest must:

• Be a European public policy research organisation (think tanks) OR be a civil society organisation at European level, promoting European citizenship;
• Be established in an eligible country;
• Be a non-profit making and independent organisation with a legal status and legal personality (individuals are not eligible);
• Operate on a trans-national basis, either through the structure of the organisation (networking or an organisation with subsidiary(s) in different eligible countries) or/and through the work programme.

The total budget available is €1.9 million. Organisations will receive up to 80% of their total operating costs, starting at €60,000 and not exceeding €250,000.

The closing date for applications is 22 December.

For further information and application forms, visit the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency website:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/en/citizenship/call1206/index.htm

E mail: eacea-info@ec.europa.eu

Please be aware that at the moment this call is similar to several that relate to programmes due to run between 2007-13 where the final legislative ratification of their budget and their content has yet to be made. Neither the Commission nor the Agency (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency) are legally bound by this call for proposals which refers to grants to be awarded for 2007. It may be cancelled and calls for proposals with different specifications may be issued, with appropriate time limits for response, should the legal basis be substantially altered by the EU legislature.