Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission Representation in Hungary has issued a call for proposals under the designation ED-2025-HUNGARY, aiming to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. These centers serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens, providing information about EU policies, addressing citizen concerns, promoting dialogue, and contributing to education on European citizenship. Eligible applicants are expected to include local entities such as NGOs, educational institutions, municipal governments, and other organizations with strong community ties that are capable of organizing communication and information activities related to EU topics. The application process is a single-stage open call, and the geographic eligibility is confined to Hungary, focusing on activities localized to Hungarian regions. The funding type is a grant, specifically a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA), which provides financial support in the form of annual lump sums intended to cover a portion of operational costs. The total budget for the call is €666,000 for the year 2026, which falls within the range of €200,000 to €1,000,000. The application type indicates an open call, and applications must be submitted by July 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. No co-funding requirement is explicitly mentioned, although it is implied that partners should secure additional resources to ensure the full implementation of activities over the agreement period. Successful applicants will sign a partnership agreement for the period of operation and are expected to submit annual communication plans to receive funding. While specific success rates for the proposals are not provided, detailed guidelines regarding admissibility, evaluation, financial capacity, and submission processes are described in the call document. It is essential for prospective applicants to review the call documents and related resources thoroughly for information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and evaluation standards, as well as for assistance on technical or content-related inquiries. The initiative aims to enhance citizen engagement with the EU in Hungary through effective communication and information dissemination.

The European Commission Representation in Hungary has announced a call for proposals to select partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities for the period 2026-2030. This call is designated as ED-2025-HUNGARY. The EUROPE DIRECT centers aim to bring the EU closer to its citizens.

EUROPE DIRECT centers are expected to:inform about EU policies and actions, listen to citizens' concerns on issues within the EU's competence, engage in dialogue with citizens about the impact of the EU on their daily lives, contribute to education on European citizenship, and contribute to the creation of a European public sphere. These centers maintain strong connections with local communities and, either independently or in collaboration with the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament liaison offices, other EU information networks, and local multipliers, organize communication and information activities on EU topics of local interest.

Successful applicants, referred to as partners, will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Hungary for the period 2026-2030. Based on the submission of an annual communication plan, partners may receive annual funding. The annual funding will be in the form of a lump sum to cover part of the operating costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner commits to providing additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out the activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center during the term of the partnership agreement.

The call for proposals is a single-stage process. The opening date for submissions was May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is July 2, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the ED-2025-HUNGARY Framework Partnership Agreement is €666,000 for the year 2026.

The admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout are described in the call document and in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. The eligibility of countries and other eligible conditions are also described in the call document. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in the call document. The submission and evaluation processes are described in the call document. Award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and the overall evaluation process are described in the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in the call document. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in the call document.

Key documents for this call include the Call document, 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, applicants should click the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. After confirming the choice, applicants will be linked to the correct entry point. Existing draft proposals can be accessed by logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal and selecting the My Proposals page in the My Area section.

Before preparing an application, applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions in the call text and its annexes, including the applicant guide. For technical questions, applicants can visit the Funding and Tenders Portal FAQ page. For forgotten passwords, access rights, roles, and technical aspects of submitting applications, applicants should contact the IT Helpdesk. For assistance related to the content of the call, applicants can email COMM-REP-BUD-PROCUREMENT@ec.europa.eu or visit hungary.representation.ec.europa.eu.

In summary, this call for proposals aims to select partners in Hungary to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers, which serve as vital links between the EU and its citizens. These centers will disseminate information about EU policies, gather feedback from citizens, promote dialogue, and contribute to European citizenship education. Successful applicants will enter into a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Hungary and may receive annual funding to support their activities. Applicants should consult the call documents and related resources for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and the application process. The total budget available for this initiative is €666,000 for the year 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types:The call seeks partners to operate as EUROPE DIRECT centers. While the specific types of eligible applicants are not explicitly listed in the provided text, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include organizations with strong ties to local communities, such as NGOs, local governments, educational institutions, or other entities capable of independently organizing communication and information activities on EU topics. The call document should be consulted for a definitive list.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically an annual grant in the form of a lump sum. This grant is intended to cover a portion of the operating costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants. The text mentions that EUROPE DIRECT centers can operate independently or in cooperation with other entities, but it does not explicitly state that a consortium is required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is focused on Hungary, as the call is issued by the European Commission Representation in Hungary and seeks partners to carry out activities in Hungary.

Target Sector:The program targets the communication and information sector, specifically focusing on disseminating information about EU policies and initiatives to citizens at the local level. It also touches upon education and citizen engagement.

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

Project Stage:The project stage is for the operation and maintenance of established EUROPE DIRECT centers. The call aims to select partners who will continue these activities from 2026 to 2030. Therefore, it is focused on the implementation and continuation of existing activities rather than the development of new ideas.

Funding Amount:The total budget for the topic is €666,000. The funding is provided as an annual lump sum to cover part of the operating costs. The exact amount of the lump sum per center is not specified in the provided text but will be detailed in the call document.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, as indicated by the phrase "pályázati felhívást tesz közzé," which translates to "publishes a call for proposals." The call is open for submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

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

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

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

Co-funding Requirement:Yes, co-funding is required. The selected partners are expected to secure additional financial and operational resources to ensure the implementation of the EUROPE DIRECT center activities throughout the partnership agreement period. The EU grant only covers a portion of the operating costs.

Summary:

The European Commission Representation in Hungary is launching a call for proposals to select partners to operate as EUROPE DIRECT centers in Hungary for the period 2026-2030. The EUROPE DIRECT centers serve as a bridge between the EU and its citizens by providing information on EU policies, addressing citizen concerns, fostering dialogue, promoting European citizenship, and contributing to the European public sphere. The selected partners will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Hungary and may receive annual grants to cover part of their operating costs. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and partners are responsible for securing additional resources to support their activities. The call is open to organizations with strong ties to local communities in Hungary that can independently organize communication and information activities on EU topics. The application process is a single-stage open call, and further details on eligibility criteria, evaluation, and submission procedures can be found in the call document and its annexes. The total budget for this call is €666,000. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is July 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.