OBJECTIVES OF THE EUROPE FOR CITIZENS PROGRAMME:
Under the overall aim of bringing the Union closer to citizens the general objectives are:
- to contribute to citizens' understanding of the Union, its history and diversity;
- to foster European citizenship and to improve conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level.
Specific objectives shall be pursued on a transnational level or with a European dimension:
- raise awareness of remembrance, common history and values and the Union's aim that is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples by stimulating debate, reflection and development of networks;
- encourage 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.
Two types of strands are open to education and research institutions:
STRAND 1 – EUROPEAN REMEMBRANCE
This Strand will support activities that invite to reflection on European cultural diversity and on common values in the broadest sense. In this context, it aims to finance projects reflecting on causes of totalitarian regimes in Europe's modern history (specially but not exclusively Nazism that led to the Holocaust, Fascism, Stalinism and totalitarian communist regimes) and to commemorate the victims of their crimes.
The Strand also encompasses activities concerning other defining moments and reference points in recent European history. In particular, it will give preference to actions which encourage tolerance, mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation as a means of moving beyond the past and building the future, in particular with a view to reaching the younger generation.
ANNUAL PRIORITIES
Historical moments which will be commemorated in particular in 2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the 10 years of enlargement of the European Union to Central and Eastern Europe. These key moments of European modern history have therefore been chosen as annual priorities for Strand 1 of the Europe for Citizens Programme for the year 2014.
APPLICANTS/PARTNERS:
- Public local/regional authorities
- Non-profit organisations including CSOs
- Survivor's associations
- Cultural/youth/educational/research organisations
- Associations of twinned towns
STRAND 2 – DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT & CIVIC PARTICIPATION
2.3 Civil Society Projects
This measure aims at supporting projects promoted by transnational partnerships and networks directly involving citizens. Those projects gather citizens from different horizons, in activities directly linked to Union policies, with a view to give them an opportunity to concretely participate in the Union policy-making process in areas related to the objectives of the Programme. As a reminder, this can be achieved at all stages, and with all institutional interlocutors, and includes notably: agenda-setting activities, advocating during the preparation phase and negotiation of policy proposals, providing feedback on relevant initiatives that are implemented. To that end, those projects will invite citizens to act together or debate on the annual priority themes of the Programme at local and European level.
ANNUAL PRIORITIES
The annual priority of Strand 2 of the Europe for Citizens programme for the year 2014 will be built around the elections to the European Parliament and citizens' participation in the democratic life of the EU. There is a need for deepening the debate on the future of Europe with the aim of setting up a European public space, where European issues are discussed and debated from a European standpoint.
APPLICANTS/PARTNERS:
- Non-profit organisations including CSOs
- Educational/cultural/research institutions
- Only as PARTNERS:
Public local/regional authorities
Town Twinning
committees/networks
