Democratic transition, (re-)building and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights

The CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM-TRANSITION grant opportunity is part of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) and focuses on projects concerning democratic transition, rebuilding, and strengthening societies based on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. The objective of this grant is to support initiatives that address the historical transitions from authoritarian governance to democracy in Europe, promoting remembrance and education concerning fundamental rights abuses in the past.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, civil society groups, public bodies, and educational or research institutions that demonstrate expertise in EU values, democratic transition, or historical justice. The funding type is a lump sum grant, with a total budget of 18 million EUR allocated for 2025 across various topics. The funding amount for individual projects varies and is determined by criteria including participation and project scale.

This opportunity allows for single applicants, although consortia are also permitted but not mandated. Eligible countries predominantly involve EU member states, with potential inclusivity for EEA and candidate countries.

The project scope includes areas of culture, education, and governance, specifically targeting democratic institution-building and historical justice activities. While no specific countries are mentioned in the call, the focus is on transnational European themes related to the historical context.

Projects expected to apply should be at the development or implementation stage, designed to execute strategies like educational initiatives, events, and restorative justice programs. Applications follow a single-stage open process, with a deadline set for 1 October 2025. Following evaluation from October 2025 to March 2026, successful applicants will be informed in March 2026, with grant agreements anticipated to be signed between April and July 2026.

Co-funding is indirectly required, as the grant does not cover all project expenses, necessitating beneficiaries to find additional funding when project costs exceed the lump sum provided.

Overall, this grant seeks to foster democratic values and historical awareness through varied projects while adhering to EU foundational values, ensuring that lessons from Europe's past contribute to shaping resilient democracies in the present and future.

The CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM-TRANSITION call, part of the European Remembrance - 2025 program (CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM), aims to support projects focused on democratic transition, (re-)building, and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. It falls under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) and is a CERV Lump Sum Grant (CERV-LS).

The objective of this call is to address the challenges faced by democracies today and to strengthen public trust in democratic processes and institutions. It emphasizes the importance of learning from Europe's historical experiences, particularly the transitions from authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, including communist and fascist dictatorships. The call seeks to promote the ongoing development and nurturing of democracies, defend EU values, and deliver justice to victims of past regimes.

Projects funded under this call can focus on several key areas:

1.  The ongoing development and nurturing of democracies in the context of past transitions from authoritarian and totalitarian regimes across various European countries, revealing important lessons for defending and upholding EU values.
2.  Reflecting on both shared patterns and national specificities, while underlining the lasting impact of the totalitarian or authoritarian past and how its difficult legacy continues to be remembered, interpreted, and engaged with today.
3.  Examining and giving visibility to acts of resistance and organised opposition to past totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, as part of the ongoing effort to nurture and protect democracy in the face of enduring and emerging challenges.
4.  Transition from authoritarian and totalitarian regimes towards democracy.
5.  Promoting remembrance and education about past events in which fundamental rights were suppressed under past totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, reinforcing the importance of protecting democratic values today.
6.  Exploring the means of historical justice, be it through trials, restitution or amnesty, and possibility still today to work on restorative justice.

The call emphasizes the importance of elements that strengthen democracies, such as fighting foreign interference, strengthening citizen engagement, critical thinking, media literacy, and societal resilience, in the context of remembrance to prevent the repetition of past dramatic events.

An online info session is scheduled for 30 June 2025, from 9:30 to 17:00, Brussels time. Registration closes on 27 June 2024 at 17:00 Brussels time.

The call opened on 19 June 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 1 October 2025, 17:00 CET (Brussels time). The evaluation period will take place from October 2025 to March 2026, with information to applicants provided in March 2026. The signature of the grant agreement is expected between April and July 2026.

The total budget for the CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM call is EUR 18,000,000.

The call is a single-stage submission process.

The proposal page limit is 70 pages, as described in the Call document, section "5. Admissibility and documents".

Eligibility conditions, including eligible countries and other requirements, are detailed in section "6. Eligibility" of the Call document. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in section “7. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion” of the Call document. The submission and evaluation processes are detailed in sections “8. Evaluation and award procedure” and “11. How to submit an application” of the Call document. Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section “9. Award criteria” of the Call document. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in section “10. Legal and financial set-up of the Grant Agreements” of the Call document.

Applicants must use the standard application form (CERV), available in the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission Service. A mandatory lump sum calculator (CERV LS REM, CIV and NETW) must be used to calculate the budget, ensuring that the total corresponds with the budget in Part A of the proposal. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the Lump Sum MGA.

Additional documents include: 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, and the DECISION authorising the use of lump sums for actions under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (2021-2027).

For technical issues, applicants can contact the IT Helpdesk. For call-specific questions, applicants should consult the Q&A on the Topic page CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM and the CERV National Contact Point of their country or email EACEA-CERV@ec.europa.eu, including the call reference "CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM" in the subject line.

In summary, this European grant opportunity aims to fund projects that promote the remembrance of democratic transitions and the importance of upholding fundamental rights and the rule of law. It encourages applicants to explore historical events and their impact on contemporary society, fostering citizen engagement and resilience against threats to democracy. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and applicants must adhere to specific guidelines for proposal submission, eligibility, and budget calculation. The call seeks to ensure that the lessons of the past are not forgotten and that European societies remain vigilant in protecting their democratic values.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of the call, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include organizations involved in remembrance activities, education, research, and the promotion of democratic values. This might encompass NGOs, research institutes, universities, public bodies, and other entities with a focus on citizenship, democracy, and historical awareness. The call document should be consulted for a definitive list.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CERV Lump Sum Grant (CERV-LS). The budget is calculated using a lump sum calculator, based on participation, number of countries, and type of events (in-situ or online).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the reference to "participation, number of countries" in the lump sum calculation suggests that projects involving multiple countries and partners are encouraged, implying that consortia are likely eligible and potentially favored. The call document should be consulted for confirmation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but the call focuses on European Remembrance and democratic transitions within Europe. It can be inferred that applicants from EU Member States and potentially other countries participating in the CERV program are eligible. The call document should be consulted for a definitive list of eligible countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily focused on citizenship, democracy, human rights, and remembrance. Specifically, the call targets projects related to: Democratic transition, (re-) building and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. Promoting remembrance and education about past events in which fundamental rights were suppressed under past totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. Strengthening democracies by fighting foreign interference, strengthening citizen engagement, critical thinking, media literacy, and societal resilience.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call refers to "various European countries" and "EU Member States." The focus is on Europe and countries that have undergone or are undergoing democratic transitions.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is not explicitly stated. However, the call seems to target projects that are ready for implementation and can contribute to the objectives of promoting remembrance, education, and democratic values. This suggests projects at the development, validation, demonstration, or implementation stages.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 18,000,000. The funding amount for individual projects will vary depending on the project's scope, activities, and the number of participating countries. The lump sum approach means that the funding is pre-determined based on these factors, and applicants must use the provided calculator to determine the appropriate budget for their project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the European Remembrance program (CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM), focusing on "Democratic transition, (re-) building and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights." The call aims to support projects that promote remembrance, education, and awareness of past totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, and that contribute to strengthening democratic values and institutions in Europe. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is organizing an online info session on June 30, 2025, to provide further information about the call. The call is open for submission from June 19, 2025, with a deadline of October 1, 2025. The total budget for the call is EUR 18,000,000, and grants will be awarded as lump sums. Applicants must use the provided lump sum calculator to determine the appropriate budget for their project. The evaluation period will take place from October 2025 to March 2026, and successful applicants will be informed in March 2026. The grant agreements are expected to be signed between April and July 2026. The call encourages projects that address the ongoing development and nurturing of democracies, examine acts of resistance, promote remembrance and education, and explore means of historical justice. The call is relevant for organizations involved in remembrance activities, education, research, and the promotion of democratic values in Europe.