Europe for Citizens 2007 - 2013

The aim of this programme is to bring Europe closer to its citizens and to enable them to participate fully in the European construction. Through this programme, citizens have the opportunity to be involved in transnational exchanges and cooperation activities, contributing to developing a sense of belonging to common European ideals and encouraging the process of European integration.

General objectives
The general objectives of the Europe for citizens Programme are to contribute to:

• 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 tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens respecting
  and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

Specific objectives
The Programme has the following specific objectives, which shall be implemented on a transnational basis:

• bringing together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future;
• fostering 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;
• bringing Europe closer to its citizens by promoting Europe's values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past;
• encouraging 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 of the European Union as constituted on 30 April 2004 and those from Member States which have acceded since that date.
  

The programme "Europe for citizens" with a total budget of €215 million starts on 1 January 2007 and ends on 31 December 2013.

Please note that all procedures for the adaptation of the programme are finalised and the text of the Guide is applicable.

Which types of actions does the programme support?

It supports four main types of actions:

• Action 1 – Active Citizens for Europe
  involving citizens either through activities linked to town-twinning or through other kinds of citizens' projects.
  
• Action 2 – Active civil society in Europe
  targeted to civil society organisations either through structural support on the basis of their European level work programme or through support to projects.
  
• Action 3 - Together for Europe: including high visibility events, studies and information tools.
  
• Action 4 – Active European Remembrance: support to projects aiming at preserving the sites and archives associated with deportations as well as the commemorating of victims of Nazism and Stalinism.

Direct beneficiaries of grants
The Programme is open to all stakeholders promoting active European citizenship. For example:

• local authorities and organisations
• European public policy research organisations (think-tanks)
• citizens’ groups
• civil society organisations
• non-governmental organisations
• trade unions
• educational institutions
• organisations active in the field of voluntary work
• organisations active in the field of amateur sport, etc.

Some actions of the Programme are however targeting a more limited range of organisations. The eligibility of applicant organisations is therefore defined in this guide specifically for each measure/submeasure.

Target group
The Programme is targeting ‘European’ citizens, which includes for the purpose of this Programme citizens of EU-Member States, citizens of other participating countries as well as legal residents in the participating countries.

If you want to know more about our activities and possibilities for funding within "Citizenship", please have a closer look at this website.

Postal address:

EACEA - Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
Unit P7 - Citizenship
BOUR 00/13
Avenue du Bourget 1
BE-1140 Brussels

General telephone number: +32 (0)2.299.11.11
Hot Line Town Twinning: +32 (0)2.295.26.85 (Between 09:30 — 12:30 from Tuesday to Thursday)
Fax: +32 (0) 2.296.23.89

E-mail: eacea-p7@ec.europa.eu