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

The European Commission, through its Representation in Luxembourg, is announcing a call for proposals labeled ED-2025-LUXEMBOURG-2-FPA to select partners responsible for operating EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. The EUROPE DIRECT centers are designed to enhance EU visibility and engagement with citizens by informing them about EU policies and actions, collecting citizen feedback, and promoting dialogue on the EU's impact on daily life.

Eligible applicants include legal entities with the capability to establish and run a EUROPE DIRECT center, such as NGOs, municipal offices, cultural institutions, and other local organizations that have a strong community connection. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant intended to cover partial operational costs associated with running the centers, which include staffing, equipment, and communication materials.

Only single applicant submissions are allowed; consortium applications are not accepted. Geographic eligibility is limited to Luxembourg, with the focus on creating and sustaining EUROPE DIRECT centers within its boundaries. The primary sector targeted is communication and outreach, specifically concentrating on European civic education, local information dissemination, and citizen engagement activities.

The budget for the initiative is approximately €125,000 annually for 2026, distributed as grants covering operational costs, though partners must provide additional financial and operational resources as co-funding. The application process will follow a single-stage model with a deadline for submission set for January 22, 2026, following the opening date of December 4, 2025.

There are no specific success rates outlined in the call documentation, but the success of proposals will likely depend on the quality of submissions and alignment with outlined evaluation criteria. Application materials must include comprehensive details like communication strategies, operational plans, and relevant organizational qualifications.

This opportunity emphasizes ongoing service delivery over project-based funding, urging partnerships capable of sustained community engagement and effective communication on EU matters. The partners will be required to demonstrate their ability to engage with various local entities and coordinate outreach effectively.

Overall, this initiative offers a structured yet flexible partnership model aimed at enhancing EU citizen engagement through established local communication channels in Luxembourg. Interested organizations must carefully review the full call documentation for detailed eligibility and application requirements.

The European Commission, through its Representation in Luxembourg, is launching a call for proposals ED-2025-LUXEMBOURG-2-FPA to select partners to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2026-2030. The call falls under the Europe Direct (ED 2014-2020) program.

The mission of EUROPE DIRECT centers is to bring the EU closer to its citizens. EUROPE DIRECT centers inform about EU policies and actions, listen to the concerns of citizens on issues that fall under the responsibility of the EU, engage with citizens in a dialogue about the impact of the EU in their everyday lives, contribute to European civic education, and contribute to the creation of a European public sphere.

EUROPE DIRECT centers are well connected with local communities and organize communication and outreach activities on EU topics of local interest on their own or in cooperation with the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament Liaison Offices, other EU outreach networks, and local multipliers.

Successful applicants will sign a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Luxembourg for the years 2026 to 2030. A partner may be awarded an annual grant each year upon invitation to submit an Annual Communication Plan. The annual grant takes the form of a lump sum covering part of the costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT center for the duration of the partnership agreement.

The call for proposals is a single-stage submission model. The opening date is December 4, 2025, and the deadline date is January 22, 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the topic is 125,000 EUR for the year 2026.

Conditions for participation include: Admissibility Conditions regarding proposal page limit and layout, Eligible Countries, Other Eligible Conditions, Financial and operational capacity and exclusion, Submission and evaluation processes, Award criteria, scoring and thresholds, Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, and Legal and financial set-up of the grants. Detailed information on these conditions is described in the call document.

The call document and annexes are available in French, German, and English. 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.

For technical questions, applicants can consult the FAQ on the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission of proposals. The IT Helpdesk can be contacted for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, and technical aspects of proposal submission. For help related to the content of the call, applicants can contact COMM-REP-LUX-COMMUNICATION@ec.europa.eu or consult the provided webpage.

The European Commission is seeking partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in Luxembourg from 2026 to 2030. These centers serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens, providing information, gathering feedback, and fostering dialogue on EU-related matters. Successful applicants will enter into a framework partnership agreement and may receive an annual lump-sum grant to support their activities, provided they submit an annual communication plan. The call emphasizes the importance of local engagement and collaboration with various EU bodies and networks to effectively communicate EU policies and address citizen concerns. The application process is a single-stage submission, and detailed guidelines and supporting documents are available in multiple languages to assist potential applicants.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, the call aims to select 'partners' to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT centers. These partners are expected to be well connected with local communities and organize communication and outreach activities. Therefore, eligible applicants could include local authorities, regional development agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, or other entities with a strong local presence and experience in communication and public engagement. Further details on eligible applicant types should be available in the full call document.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Successful applicants will sign a Framework Partnership Agreement and may be awarded an annual grant each year. The grant takes the form of a lump sum covering part of the costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, it mentions that EUROPE DIRECT centers organize activities on their own or in cooperation with other entities. This suggests that both single applicants and consortia could be eligible, but the full call document should be consulted for confirmation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is specifically for selecting partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities in Luxembourg. Therefore, the geographic eligibility is likely limited to entities based in Luxembourg or those that can demonstrate a strong connection to local communities within Luxembourg.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and outreach sector, specifically focusing on bringing the EU closer to its citizens. It also touches upon education, civic engagement, and the creation of a European public sphere.

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

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the operational stage. Applicants are expected to establish and run EUROPE DIRECT centers, which involves providing information, listening to citizens' concerns, engaging in dialogue, and contributing to civic education. Therefore, the project stage is focused on implementation and operation rather than research or development.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a total budget of EUR 125,000 for the ED-2025-LUXEMBOURG-2-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The annual grant to each partner will be a lump sum covering part of the operational costs. The exact amount of the lump sum is not specified in the provided text but is likely detailed in the full call document.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the phrase "launching a call for proposals." The call is currently open for submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of an annual grant. This grant is intended to cover part of the operational costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT center.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process, as indicated in the budget overview section, which states "Single-stage."

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

Co-funding Requirement: The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center. This indicates that co-funding from the applicant or other parties is required.

Summary:

The European Commission, through its Representation in Luxembourg, is seeking partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2026-2030. These centers serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens, providing information, gathering feedback, and fostering dialogue on EU-related matters. The call is specifically targeted at entities with a strong connection to local communities in Luxembourg. Successful applicants will enter into a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Luxembourg and may receive an annual lump-sum grant to partially cover operational costs. The partners are expected to secure additional funding and resources to fully implement their activities. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of January 22, 2026. The total budget for the framework partnership agreement is EUR 125,000. Applicants should carefully review the full call document and its annexes for detailed eligibility criteria, evaluation procedures, and application guidelines. The EUROPE DIRECT centers are expected to inform about EU policies and actions, listen to the concerns of citizens on issues that fall under the responsibility of the EU, engage with citizens in a dialogue about the impact of the EU in their everyday lives, contribute to European civic education and contribute to the creation of a European public sphere.