Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities (2026-2030) in Belgium - 2

The European Commission is inviting proposals to select partners for the EUROPE DIRECT activities in Belgium for the period of 2026 to 2030. This initiative aims to connect the European Union with its citizens by establishing EUROPE DIRECT centers that provide information on EU policies, engage in dialogues regarding the EU's impact, and promote European civic education.

Eligible applicants include organizations with strong local ties in Belgium, such as non-governmental organizations, nonprofit entities, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and community-based groups. These applicants must demonstrate the capacity to organize communication and awareness activities specific to EU topics.

Funding will be provided through annual lump-sum grants, awarded after signing a Framework Partnership Agreement. The total budget for the initiative in 2026 is €360,000, with individual annual subsidies determined during the grant process. Selected partners must also contribute additional financial and operational resources to support the centers' activities.

The application process is single-stage, with proposals due by December 11, 2025, following an opening date of November 5, 2025. There are no preliminary selection rounds, and proposals will be evaluated based on established criteria set forth in the call documentation.

This call is particularly relevant for organizations committed to enhancing civic engagement about EU governance and involved in ongoing community dialogue regarding European initiatives. Successful candidates will play a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between the EU and Belgian citizens through effective communication strategies and public outreach initiatives.

Prospective applicants should refer to the full call document and its annexes for detailed eligibility criteria, submission processes, and requirements.

The European Commission, through its representation in Belgium, is launching a call for proposals to select partners to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2026-2030. The EUROPE DIRECT centers aim to bring the European Union (EU) closer to its citizens.

EUROPE DIRECT centers: Provide information on EU policies and actions, listen to citizens' concerns on issues within the EU's responsibility, engage in dialogue with citizens on the impact of the EU on their daily lives, contribute to European civic education, and contribute to the creation of a European public sphere.

The EUROPE DIRECT centers maintain close contacts with local communities and organize communication and awareness-raising activities on EU topics of local interest, either independently or in cooperation with the representation of the European Commission, the liaison offices of the European Parliament, other EU outreach networks, and local multipliers.

Successful applicants (hereinafter referred to as "partners") will sign a framework partnership agreement with the representation of the European Commission in Belgium for the years 2026 to 2030. A partner may be granted an annual subsidy each year following an invitation to submit an annual communication plan. The annual subsidy takes the form of a lump sum covering part of the operating costs of a EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center for the duration of the partnership agreement.

The call ED-2025-BELGIUM-2-FPA is for an ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The budget for 2026 is 360,000 EUR. It is a single-stage application process. The opening date is 05 November 2025 and the deadline is 11 December 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout are described in the call document. Eligible Countries are described in the call document. Other Eligible Conditions are described in the call document. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in the call document. Submission and evaluation processes are described in the call document. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in the call document. The legal and financial set-up of the grants is described in the call document.

The call document and annexes are available in French and Dutch. Additional documents include: 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, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. Confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals for this topic, log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section. Select the type of your submission: Framework Partnership Agreement [ED-FPA], ED Framework Partnership [ED-FPA].

For technical questions, consult the FAQ on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc. For assistance regarding the content of the call, contact COMM-REP-BRU-GRANT@ec.europa.eu or consult the page: Selection of partners to carry out Europe Direct activities in Belgium (2026-2030).

In summary, this call for proposals aims to select partners in Belgium to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers. These centers will serve as a bridge between the EU and its citizens by providing information, listening to concerns, and promoting dialogue on EU-related topics. Successful applicants will enter into a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Belgium and may receive an annual subsidy to support the centers' operating costs. The selection process involves submitting a proposal by the specified deadline, and the evaluation criteria, eligibility conditions, and required documents are detailed in the call document and its annexes. The overall goal is to enhance communication and engagement between the EU and Belgian citizens at the local level.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text but are described in the call document. Based on the description, eligible applicants are expected to be organizations capable of connecting with local communities and organizing communication and awareness activities. This could include NGOs, local authorities, educational institutions, or other entities with a strong local presence and the capacity to disseminate information about the EU.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement and may be awarded an annual subsidy in the form of a lump sum to cover part of the operating costs of a EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants. The text refers to selecting "partners," but it does not explicitly require a consortium. The EUROPE DIRECT centers can organize activities alone or in cooperation with other entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is specifically for entities located in Belgium. The call is launched by the European Commission's representation in Belgium, and the selected partners will conduct activities as EUROPE DIRECT centers within Belgium.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and information dissemination sector, specifically focusing on raising awareness about EU policies and actions among citizens. It also touches upon civic education and fostering a European public sphere.

Mentioned Countries: Belgium is explicitly mentioned as the target country for this call.

Project Stage: The project stage is for established or to-be-established entities that will operate as EUROPE DIRECT centers. The focus is on the operational phase of these centers, which involves providing information, engaging with citizens, and organizing outreach activities. Therefore, the project stage is operational.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is EUR 360,000 for the year 2026. The annual subsidy to each selected partner will be a lump sum covering a portion of the operating costs. The exact amount of the lump sum is not specified in the provided text but is likely detailed in the call document.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. The call is open for submission, and the deadline is specified.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant, specifically an annual lump sum to cover part of the operating costs.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by "single-stage" under the deadline model.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text. Success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required. The annual subsidy covers only a part of the operating costs, and the partner must provide the additional financial and operational resources needed to carry out the activities.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals by the European Commission's representation in Belgium to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2026-2030. The EUROPE DIRECT centers serve to connect the EU with its citizens by providing information on EU policies, listening to citizen concerns, engaging in dialogue, contributing to civic education, and fostering a European public sphere. Eligible applicants should be organizations capable of connecting with local communities and organizing communication and awareness activities on EU topics within Belgium. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement and may receive an annual lump-sum grant to cover part of their operating costs, with the expectation that they will provide additional resources to sustain the center's activities. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of December 11, 2025. The total budget for 2026 is EUR 360,000. Applicants should consult the full call document and annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and application requirements.