Deadline: 15-Oct-20
The European Commission through its Representation in Italy, has launched call for proposals for the selection of partners for the management of the EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2021-2025.
EUROPE DIRECT centers actively and continuously promote citizen participation in order to strengthen their sense of responsibility towards the European project. By organizing information and involvement activities, the EUROPE DIRECT centers allow citizens to make informed choices about the future of the EU by fully participating in the European democratic process.
By fostering a better understanding of the functioning of the EU and its parliamentary democracy as well as the responsibilities of the EU, the EUROPE DIRECT centers raise citizens’ awareness of the benefits the EU offers them on a daily basis, while highlighting the Union’s added value.
EUROPE DIRECT Centers help to identify those aspects of EU policies that are important to local communities and to formulate messages and activities to meet local needs. Through communication activities and citizen engagement initiatives, EUROPE DIRECT centers help prepare the ground for the strategic political priorities of the Commission and Parliament.
The EUROPE DIRECT centers also acknowledge the requests of citizens and make it possible to provide feedback to EU institutions.
The EUROPE DIRECT centers work closely with the Representations of the Commission and with the offices of the European Parliament (hereinafter “EPLO”) in their respective Member States. The centers also work to collaborate with other EU or local assistance networks and contact points and to promote mutual exchanges and coordination.
Five Fundamental Tasks
- Task 1: Information and involvement of citizens
- Task 2: Relations with the media and local multipliers
- Task 3: Knowledge of EU sensitive issues at the local level
- Task 4: The EU in schools
- Task 5: Promotion of a regional network of networks
Funding Information
- The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects under this call to submit proposals amounts, for the first year of implementation (2021), to EUR 1319985.
- The amount of each annual grant for the years 2022 to 2025 amounts to EUR 38 000
Eligibility Criteria
- The following applicants can submit proposals:
- public bodies, such as municipalities or local / regional bodies of other levels, or
- private entities with a public service mission.
- Natural persons are not eligible
Requirements
- All EUROPE DIRECT centers must be equipped with:
- a recognizable space (hereinafter “headquarters of the EUROPE DIRECTcenter “) provided with a plate placed on the front side of the premises, at the level of the road, and the indication, as close as possible to this plate, of the times of opening of the EUROPE DIRECT center and / or how to fix appointments as well as the contact telephone number;
- a dedicated telephone line and e-mail address;
- an online presence.
- All EUROPE DIRECT centers must:
- support the communication and involvement activities organized by Representation of the Commission and the EPLO, including the development of the community insieme-per.eu;
- respond to individual requests for appointments;
- answer questions or refer people to the appropriate EU networks or Europe Direct contact center;
- interact with the public through social media;
- distribute publications / information / video clips / messages on the EU;
- use a survey tool on the level of satisfaction, which will be provided by the Commission to evaluate the activities of the EUROPE centers DIRECT;
- submit monthly reports in English on the activities of the EUROPEcenter DIRECT 16 through an online reporting tool made available by the Commission.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3gbOuwI