Deadline: 15-Oct-20
The European Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”), through its Representation in the Slovak Republic, has announced a call for proposals for the selection of partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in the period 2021 – 2025.
The EUROPE DIRECT Centers actively and continuously involve citizens to ensure that they are more identified with the European project. Through the organization of information and civic engagement activities, EUROPE DIRECT centers enable citizens to make informed decisions about the future of the EU, by participating fully in the European democratic process.
EUROPE DIRECT Centers also listen to citizens’ expectations and provide feedback to the EU institutions. The EUROPE DIRECT Centers shall cooperate closely with the Commission Representations and the Liaison Offices of the European Parliament (hereinafter referred to as the “EP Liaison Offices”) in each Member State. They also seek to cooperate with other EU information and advice networks and local contact points, including relevant local networks (where they exist), and promote exchanges between them as well as their coordination.
Core Tasks
EUROPE DIRECT centers must perform the following tasks:
- Task 1: Informing and involving citizens:EUROPE DIRECT Centers address the public in EU affairs through the organization of information and civic activities engagements such as events, seminars, dialogues with citizens and any other form offline or online communication.
- Task 2: Relations with national and / or local media and multipliers: EUROPE DIRECT centers maintain regular contacts and strive to close strong partnerships with national and / or local media and multipliers such as:
- the national and / or local press and its journalists;
- national and / or local television stations and their editorial boards;
- national and / or local radio stations and broadcasters;
- influencers active on social media at national and / or local level region or engaging in topics that are considered sensitive in that region;
- bloggers and vloggers active at national level and / or in the region; or involvement in topics considered sensitive in the region;
- other national / local multipliers or opinion leaders
- Task 3: Awareness of sensitive EU topics at local level: The EUROPE DIRECT Centers draw the attention of the Commission Representation to all significant ones concerns and local perceptions of EU policies and projects in the region and / or in the catchment areas that are likely to negatively affect local public opinion about the EU. This includes distorted or inaccurate information about the EU with a specific local angle perspective (ie different from the perspective of the rest of the country) that such concernscause.
- Task 4: The EU in schools: EUROPE DIRECT centers connect with schools in their catchment area and promote official EU teaching materials, such as materials from the Kútik website for Education, the Teaching and Training website of Parliament and all others official materials prepared by the EU institutions.
- Task 5: Promoting a regional network of networks: EUROPE DIRECT centers gain a clear overview of the presence and mission of others EU information and advice networks and contact points in their region or the catchment area where they operate.
Funding Information
- The grant for the annual communication plan will take the form of a lump sum of 30,400 EUR.
- The grant in 2021 will exceptionally amount to EUR 20 267 , as the activity of EUROPE DIRECT will start on 1 May and will cover a period of 8 months.
- The amount of a one – off special grant in the form of a one – off payment in 2021 for the event to promote the EUROPE DIRECT center is EUR 3,200.
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants:
- public body, e.g. a municipality or local / regional authority at another level, or
- a private body entrusted with a public service or
- union / association of local authorities, non-profit organization, social partner, educational institution or training establishment, research center / research institute
Natural persons are not eligible.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/348VkR0