Call Town Twinning 2025

The 2025 Town Twinning grant, part of the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) Programme, supports transnational municipal partnerships aimed at strengthening European citizenship and mutual understanding. Eligible applicants include towns, municipalities, local authorities, and non-profit organizations representing local authorities. The funding type is a lump sum grant model, specifically referred to as CERV-LS, with a budget range for each project between €8,455 and €50,745.

A consortium of at least two municipalities from different eligible countries is required for project implementation, ensuring one municipality is from an EU Member State. The geographic scope encompasses entities located in EU Member States, EEA countries, or EU-associated third countries, promoting local governance, civic engagement, and European citizenship. The grant focuses on issues like cultural diversity, democratic participation, and solidarity.

Projects should be in the development or demonstration stage, involving exchanges and events that typically last from 6 to 12 months. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline set for September 16, 2025. The nature of support is strictly financial, provided as monetary grants.

No co-funding is required, and while success rates for applications are not specified, the call encourages proposals that have a broader benefit beyond immediate participants. An online info session is scheduled for May 14, 2025, to guide potential applicants, and translations of the call document are available in 23 official EU languages.

Key dates include the call opening on February 9, 2025, the application deadline on September 16, 2025, the evaluation period from October 2025 to February 2026, and notification of results expected by March 2026. Grant agreements are anticipated to be signed in April or May 2026, with total available funding for this call set at €5 million.

The objectives of this grant reflect a commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue, civic participation, and enhanced understanding of European values, especially in the context of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CERV-2025-CITIZENS-TOWN-TT call for proposals, also known as the Town Twinning call, is part of the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme. It aims to promote intercultural dialogue and bring people of different nationalities and languages together through common activities. Town-Twinning projects are expected to raise awareness of Europe's cultural and linguistic richness, foster mutual understanding and respect, and contribute to the development of a dynamic European identity based on shared values, democracy, and fundamental rights.

The call's objective is to support projects that address topics such as:

The EU's foundation on solidarity among citizens and Member States, aiming to overcome national perceptions and foster constructive dialogue for common solutions. Projects should raise awareness of reinforcing European integration based on solidarity and EU values.

Providing citizens with opportunities to express their vision for Europe, encouraging debates on EU achievements, historical lessons, current trends, and actions to foster a sense of belonging, understanding of EU benefits, and reinforcement of social and political cohesion.

Projects that benefit not only direct participants but also the broader community are encouraged, multiplying the experience of the Union's common heritage. Reflection on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local communities and sustainable forms of civic participation is also relevant. The New European Bauhaus initiative can serve as inspiration.

An online info session regarding the call for proposals will be held on May 14, 2025, from 9:30 to 12:00 Brussels time via Webex. The connection link is provided.

Translations of the call document into 23 EU official languages are available.

The call is a CERV Lump Sum Grant (CERV-LS) with a single-stage submission process. The call opened on April 9, 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is September 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated to this call is 5,000,000 EUR.

Admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout, which are detailed in the call document and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System.

Eligibility criteria cover eligible countries and other specific conditions, all described in the call document.

Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity, and must not be subject to exclusion criteria, as detailed in the call document.

The submission and evaluation processes are described in the call document.

Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in the call document.

The indicative timeline includes:

Publication of the call: February 9, 2025

Application deadline: September 17, 2025

Evaluation period: October 2025 to February 2026

Information to applicants: March 2026

Grant agreement signature: April/May 2026

Legal and financial aspects of the grants are not applicable.

The call document and annexes include:

Call document

Application form templates: Standard application forms (CERV, CERV OG, CERV FPA OG) available in the Submission System

Detailed budget table (CERV LSII)

Calculators (CERV LS REM, CIV and NETW; CERV LS TownTT; CERV LS NCP)

Model Grant Agreements (MGA): CERV MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA

Additional documents:

CERV Work Programmes

CERV Regulation 2021/692

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

There are 96 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

To submit a proposal, applicants must use the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

For help, applicants can contact EACEA-CERV@ec.europa.eu or the CERV contact point in their country. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this call for proposals under the CERV programme aims to foster collaboration and understanding between towns in different European countries. It supports projects that promote intercultural dialogue, European values, and citizen engagement. The call encourages initiatives that address current challenges and contribute to a stronger sense of European identity and solidarity. The application process involves submitting a proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal, adhering to specific guidelines and deadlines, and utilizing available resources for assistance.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the focus on town twinning, it is highly likely that municipalities or local authorities are eligible applicants. Other potential applicants could include organizations working in partnership with local authorities, such as NGOs, cultural associations, or educational institutions. The specific eligible applicant types will be detailed in the call document.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CERV Lump Sum Grant (CERV-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, the nature of town twinning implies that projects will involve at least two towns, likely from different countries. Therefore, a consortium involving multiple applicants is highly probable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but it can be inferred that the opportunity is primarily targeted at towns within the European Union. The reference to translations into 23 EU official languages supports this inference. It is possible that EEA countries or EU candidate countries may also be eligible, but this would need to be confirmed in the call document.

Target Sector: The target sector is focused on citizen engagement, intercultural dialogue, promotion of EU values, and town twinning. It also touches upon themes of solidarity, European identity, and addressing the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic on local communities. The New European Bauhaus initiative is also mentioned as a source of inspiration.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call is targeted towards towns within the European Union.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is not explicitly stated, but it is likely aimed at projects that are in the development or implementation stage. The call supports activities that bring people together, raise awareness, and foster debates, suggesting that projects should be ready for execution.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 5,000,000. The funding amount per project is not specified in the provided text and would likely vary depending on the scope and activities of the town twinning project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the "Call for proposals" title and the availability of the submission session.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) program, specifically targeting town twinning projects. The call, titled CERV-2025-CITIZENS-TOWN-TT, aims to promote intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and European values by supporting projects that bring together citizens from different towns within the EU. The projects should raise awareness of Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity, foster a sense of belonging to the EU, and reinforce social and political cohesion.

The call encourages projects that address topics such as EU solidarity, citizen participation, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local communities. Projects can also draw inspiration from the New European Bauhaus initiative. The funding mechanism is a CERV Lump Sum Grant, with a total budget of EUR 5,000,000 allocated to the call.

The call was published on 09 February 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 17 September 2025. The evaluation period will take place from October 2025 to February 2026, and applicants will be informed of the results in March 2026. The grant agreements are expected to be signed in April/May 2026.

An online info session is scheduled for 14 May 2025, providing potential applicants with an opportunity to learn more about the call and ask questions. Translations of the call document are available in 23 EU official languages. The application process is a single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants should consult the call document and related annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the application process.