The European Commission published, in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), on September 10th, 2008 a new Call for Proposals under the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme, to promote structural support for European public policy research organisations and for civil society organisations at European level. The total budget for the co-financing of operating grants is around 600,000 Euro in 2009.

This call for proposals concerns structural support, referred to as operating grant, to organisations pursuing an aim of general European interest. The aim is to select organisations, which through their permanent, usual and regular activities contribute to the objectives of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ Programme.

The specific objectives of the Call for Proposals for structural support for European public policy research organisations and for civil society
organisations at European level for 2009, are:

• To 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.
• To 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.

The call is addressed to the 27 Member States of the European Union on January 1st, 2007 (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), and Croatia.

The organisation to be selected should also focus in their work programme on at least one of the following thematic priorities:

• The future of the European Union and its fundamental values.
• Active European Citizenship; participation and democracy in Europe.
• Intercultural dialogue.
• Impact of EU policies on society.
• People's well being in Europe, employment social cohesion and sustainable development.

Total Budget

The total budget foreseen for the co-financing of operating grants is around 600,000 Euro in 2009. The Executive Agency intends to finance around 10 applications under this call, but reserves the right not to use all the funds available. In 2009, the maximum amount for an operating grant will be 60,000 Euro.

Application Calendar

Applications must be sent to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency no later than November 17th, 2008 (date as per post mark).

By post, date as postmark to the following address:

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
Unit P7 — Citizenship
‘Europe for citizens’ Call for proposals EACEA/26/08
Operating grants
BOUR, 01/25
Avenue du Bourget 1
B-1140 Brussels

In person, before 5.00 p.m., the date of receipt being available, or by a member of staff of an express courier service, the date of receipt by the courier company being applicable, at the same address.

The full text of the call for proposals and the application form are available on the webpage of the Executive Agency (EACEA).