Call for Proposals: Networks of Towns Program 2025

This Call for proposals aims to support the following policy initiatives: European democracy action plan , the EU Citizenship Package, the Commission Recommendation on inclusive and resilient elections, the Commission Recommendation on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes, the EU Roma strategic framework on equality, inclusion and participation, EU anti-racism action plan (2020-2025), LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (2020-2025), the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2021-2030), promoting diversity and inclusion (Diversity Charters), the Gender Equality Strategy , the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.

Objectives

• To promote exchanges between citizens of different countries, in particular through networks of towns, to give them practical experience of the wealth and diversity of the common heritage of the Union and to make them aware that these constitute the foundation for a common future.
• To develop sustainable networks of towns, deepening and intensify their cooperation, while outlining their long-term vision for the future of European integration

Focus Areas

• While maintaining a bottom-up approach, specific focus could be given to:
  • Bringing citizens together to discuss and share best practices, and thus helping to increase citizens’ engagement in society and ultimately to their active involvement in the democratic life of the Union;
  • Promoting awareness and building knowledge of EU citizenship rights, free movement of people and associated European common values and common democratic standards, making them more tangible for EU citizens;
  • Identifying ways to further strengthen the European dimension and democratic legitimacy of the EU decision-making process and fostering free, open and healthy democratic governance in an era of low turnout in elections, populism, disinformation and challenges facing civil society, including by supporting the active participation of citizens, including children, and civil society organisations in policy-making at local, national as well as European levels;
  • Promoting awareness, building knowledge and sharing best practice on the benefits of diversity as well as effective measures on how to tackle discrimination and racism at local level;
  • Promoting awareness and building knowledge of the role of minorities, such as people with a minority racial or ethnic background (for instance Roma and migrants), in European society and their contribution to Europe’s cultural development;
  • Promoting prevention measures and awareness raising efforts, sharing best practices policies aiming to curb violence against women, domestic violence and violence against children at the local level, as well as bullying;
  • Projects may also promote awareness of the importance of the citizens’ democratic participation through cultural activities, including by drawing inspiration from or being related to the New European Bauhaus initiative.

Funding Information

• The estimated available call budget is EUR 10,000,000.
• Minimum grant amount: EUR 100,000.
• Projects should range between 12 and 24 months.

Eligible Activities

• Activities may include, among others: workshops, seminars, conferences, training activities, expert meetings, webinars, awareness-raising activities, high-visibility events, data gathering and consultation, development, exchanges, and dissemination of good practices among public authorities and civil society organisations, development of communication tools and the use of social media.

Expected Impact

• Increased citizens’ engagement in society and ultimately their active involvement in the democratic life of the Union;
• Creation of lasting links among partner organisations;
• Better information on the rights conferred by EU citizenship and their improved implementation in Member States;
• Improved awareness and better provision of information to mobile EU citizens and their family members on their EU citizenship rights;
• Enhanced participation of citizens and civil society organisations to local, national and European policy-making processes;
• Improved awareness of the benefits of diversity and the tackling of discrimination and racism;
• Increase in and encouragement of mutual understanding and respect for European minorities, such as Roma;
• Stronger awareness of the contribution of migration, migrants and their descendants to the cultural richness, diversity and common history of Europe;
• Increased awareness of the importance of citizens’ participation, including through cultural activities;
• Increased awareness of effective prevention policies at the local level regarding violence against women, domestic violence, and violence against children

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • non-EU countries:
      • countries associated to the CERV Programme (list of participating countries)
• be non-profit making towns/municipalities and/or other levels of local authorities, their twinning committees or networks, federations/associations of local authorities, or other non-profit organisations representing local authorities.

For more information, visit European Commission.