Call for Proposals: Civil Society Cooperation in the field of Youth

Deadline: 15-May-25

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for the Civil Society Cooperation in the field of Youth.

Objectives

• The objective of the present Call is to provide structural support, referred to as operating grants, to European non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) and EU-wide networks active in the field of youth pursuing the following general aims/objectives:
  • Raise awareness of the EU Youth Strategy including the European Youth Goals, through actions to engage, connect and empower youth.
  • Promote and strengthen the EU Youth Dialogue in order to build young people’s confidence in the EU project by addressing the democratic deficit, lack of transparency and visibility and to ensure meaningful youth involvement and dialogue at all stages of EU decision-making by improving existing participation mechanisms and creating new ones. This will build on the legacy of the European Year of Youth and its commitment to strengthen the EUYD as the main youth participation instrument in Europe.
  • Strengthen dialogue with civil society and citizens, particularly young people.
  • Ensure young people have better access to reliable information, support their ability to evaluate information critically and engage in participatory and constructive dialogue.
  • Strengthen young people’s democratic participation and autonomy as well as provide dedicated youth spaces in all areas of society.
  • Increase commitment and cooperation of youth civil society actors with public authorities for the implementation of policies in areas relevant for young people.
  • Boost youth stakeholder participation, including by building upon the potential of digital communication alongside other forms of participation.
  • Boost youth civil society involvement in the dissemination of policy and Programme actions including results and good practices among their membership and beyond.

Themes and Priorities

• The EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 focuses on three core areas of action:
  • ENGAGE which aims towards a meaningful civic, democratic, economic, social, cultural and political participation of young people;
  • CONNECT which is to foster different and inclusive forms of learning mobility for young people across the European Union and beyond, to make new connections, relations and exchange of experience, as well as engagement in solidarity and volunteering activities;
  • EMPOWER which aims to encourage young people to take charge of their own lives.

Duration

• Activities should normally last 24 months.

Expected Impact

• The expected quantitative and qualitative impacts of the activities and deliverables on the target group(s), on policy or strategies concerned, in the short and long term and at European, national, regional or local level.
• The impact of involving target groups in the proposed activities and in the production of the proposed deliverables.
• The impact of the work programme on awareness and active commitment, and how it will facilitate exchanges and debates between actors from different sectors, levels and countries on key policy issues.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
  • be legal entities (private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • Erasmus+ Programme Countries:
      • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
      • non-EU countries:
        • listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme
  • be non-governmental (a voluntary, independent from government, non-profit organisation, which is not a political party or a trade union);
  • be non-profit organisation.
• Specific cases
  • Natural persons — Natural persons are not eligible
  • International organisations — International organisations are not eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.
  • Entities without legal personality — Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

For more information, visit EC.