Deadline: 17-Sep-25
The European Commission (EC) is accepting submissions for the Call Town Twinning Programme to promote exchanges between people of different countries, cultures, genders and socio-economic backgrounds, reinforces mutual understanding and tolerance and gives them the opportunity to broaden their perspective and develop a sense of European belonging and identity.
Objectives
- This call aims to support projects that bring together a wide range of people from twinned towns, from different socio-economic backgrounds, genders and countries. By mobilising members of the public at the local and EU levels to debate specific issues on the European political agenda, this call seeks to promote mutual understanding, inclusion and cultural diversity and develop opportunities for civic engagement at the EU level.
- More specifically:
- promote exchanges between citizens of different countries;
- give citizens practical experience of the wealth and diversity of the common heritage of the Union and to make them aware that these constitute the foundation for a common future;
- guarantee peaceful relations between Europeans and to ensure their active participation at the local level;
- reinforce mutual understanding and friendship between European citizens;
- encourage cooperation between municipalities and the exchange of best practices;
- support good local governance and
- reinforce the role of local and regional authorities in the European integration process.
Themes and Priorities (Scope)
- The CERV programme helps to promote intercultural dialogue by bringing people of different nationalities and different languages together and giving them the opportunity to participate in common activities. In this context, Town-Twinning projects will raise awareness of the richness of Europe’s cultural and linguistic environment and promote mutual understanding and respect, contributing to the development of a respectful, dynamic and multifaceted European identity and the respect of common values, democracy and fundamental rights.
- In view of this overall objective, the projects may address the following topics:
- The EU is built on solidarity: solidarity between its citizens across generation, solidarity across borders between its Member States, and solidarity through support actions in and beyond the EU. Solidarity is a shared value that creates cohesion and responds to societal challenges.
- Town-Twinning projects will give citizens the opportunity to express what kind of Europe they want. Debates supported under the Town-Twinning call should be based on the EU’s specific achievements and on lessons learnt from history and from European integration. They should also reflect on current trends and enable participants to challenge euroscepticism and to suggest possible actions that the EU could take to foster a sense of belonging to Europe, to increase an understanding of the benefits of the EU and to reinforce the EU’s social and political cohesion.
- Projects may cover promotion of broad and inclusive participation in democratic processes and decision-making, including of children in matters that concern them and the promotion of their rights.
- Projects may cover promoting awareness and building knowledge of EU citizenship rights, free movement of people and associated European common values and common democratic standards, making them more tangible for EU citizens.
- Projects can also concern prevention activities and awareness raising by towns and local authorities in the field of domestic violence, as well as any form of violence against children, including (cyber-)bullying and harassment
- Projects may also explore methods for improving citizens’ democratic participation through cultural activities, including by drawing inspiration from or be related to the New European Bauhaus initiative.
Funding Information
- The estimated available call budget is EUR 5 000 000.
Duration
- Projects should normally range between 6 and 12 months.
Eligible Activities
- Activities related to Town-Twinning may include, among others:
- workshops,
- seminars,
- conferences,
- training activities,
- expert meetings,
- webinars,
- awareness-raising activities,
- cultural events, festivals, exhibitions,
- gathering and consultation of (age and sex-disaggregated) data etc.
Expected Impact
- An increase and encouragement of mutual understanding and friendship between citizens at local level
- Support for citizens from local communities to experience and recognise the added value that the EU provides through a grassroots approach
- An increased sense of belonging to the EU
- An increased engagement of citizens, including children, in democratic life
- Encouragement of a long-lasting bond between municipalities and between citizens
- Increased cross-border cooperation around similar practical issues of democratic participation between municipalities and between citizens, going beyond cultural exchanges
- Increased awareness of the role of national, regional and local authorities in applying fundamental rights, including children’s rights.
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
- non-EU countries:
- countries associated to the CERV Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature
- Other eligibility conditions:
- Lead applicant and its associated partner(s) must be a public body or a nonprofit organisation with legal personality formally established in one of the eligible countries.
- They must be towns/municipalities and/or other levels of local authorities or their twinning committees or other non-profit organisations representing local authorities.
- The project must be transnational and must involve municipalities from at least two eligible countries of which at least one is an EU Member State.
- Activities must take place in any of the eligible countries participating in the project.
- Specific cases
- Natural persons — Natural persons are not eligible
- International organisations — International organisations are eligible.
For more information, visit EC.