Open competition in the “Rights, Equality and Citizenship 2014-2020” programme

The European Commission (EC) Justice Directorate-General for Justice, Equality and Citizenship 2014-2020 has announced: open competition for the implementation of national or international projects for the promotion of European Union citizens' rights.

Date of announcement: October 15, 2014
Deadline for submission: February 4, 2015 12.00 (CET)
Reporting of results: June 2015
Conclusion of contracts with winners: July-September 2015
Total available amount in the framework of the tender: EUR 1 500 000
Minimum amount of the project: EUR 75 000
Co-financing rate: 80%

Project can be implemented national or international at level. Also participating Iceland.

Competition advertisement on the website of dg Justice (including a manual with detailed information for project applicants, see “Guide for Applicants”):http://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants1/calls/just_2014_rcit_ag_citi_en.htm

Functional e-mail of THE DIRECTORATE-General FOR Justice on competitions within the framework of this programme: EC-REC-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

1. Open competition priorities:

In the framework of the open competition, support will be given to projects that will contribute to promoting the rights of citizens of the European Union (EU), in particular as regards free movement and electoral rights, which are guaranteed by the status of EU citizens. [1]

In the framework of this competition, priority will be given to project applications under which:

• it is planned to improve public knowledge of EU rules on free movement, in particular Directive 2004/38/EC. [2]
• It is intended to promote the integration of (mobile) citizens living in other EU Member States in public and political life of the home country. [3]

1. Activities to be supported within the framework of the open competition:

As part of this competition, activities will be supported:

• improving the knowledge of the public on the rights of EU citizens in the field of free movement, in particular Directive 2004/38/EC; it is desirable to involve local, regional and national officials in the implementation of these laws;
• the creation and promotion OF good practice at EU level on the successful integration of EU citizens living in another EU Member State in public and political life of the home country (such as the one-stop-shop principle for newcomers, the involvement of EU citizens coming from other EU Member States in municipal elections, etc.)

The project application should provide for the collection of data on persons benefiting from the project and describing the methodology for the implementation of data collection.

NB!

1. Within the framework of the tender, the project applicant may be awarded co-financing in several projects.
2. The organisation may participate in the project as a submitter, partner or newer partner.
3. The maximum duration of the project is 2 years (24 months).
4. In the framework of the competition, contributions in kind (e.g. expert work) FOR the provision OF CO-financing OF 20% are not permitted.
5. The implementation of projects may not be initiated before the submission of the project application.
   Projects should contribute to addressing the problem not only at regional or local level but at European level (European Added value).
6. Project applicants may be public authorities as well as international or non-governmental organisations who are legally active in any of THE EU Member States. Applications from natural persons are not eligible.
7. The project application must be submitted to the Directorate-General for Justice of the European Commission using THE PRIAMOS system: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants1/priamos/index_en.htm

[1] Cf. “EU Citizenship Report 2013”, http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/reding/factsheets/citizenship-report/ ; Commission Report under Article 25 TFEU “on progress Towards Effective EU Citizenship 2011-2013”, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/files/com_2013_270_en.pdf.

[2] Cf. “Evaluation of the Impact of the Free Movement of EU Citizens at Local Level”, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/files/dg_just_eva_free_mov_final_report_27.01.14.pdf.

[3] Cf. Commission Communication “Preparing for the 2014 European elections: further Enhancing their Democratic and efficient Conduct”, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/document/files/com_2013_126_en.pdf;

The Commission Report on Municipal elections, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/files/com_2012_99_municipal_elections_en.pdf

Contact information
Anna Wales, Ministry of Justice
Senior rapporteur for the Planning and Control Unit
Tel. 67036820, e-mail: Anna.Velika@tm.gov.lv

Source of information: Ministry of Justice