Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission is offering a grant opportunity under the call ED-2025-IRELAND to select partners for operating EUROPE DIRECT centers in Ireland from 2026 to 2030. The objective is to enhance citizen engagement with EU policies and actions. Eligible applicants include NGOs, local and regional public bodies, and educational institutions with a strong local presence and communication capabilities. The funding is structured as a grant under a Framework Partnership Agreement, providing direct financial support for operational costs associated with running the EUROPE DIRECT centers. The total budget is €396,000 for 2026, with individual grant amounts dependent on the number of partners selected. The application process is a single-stage open call, and there is no co-funding requirement specified. The successful partners will not only disseminate information about EU policies but also engage in dialogue with citizens, contributing to civic education and fostering a European public sphere. The deadline for submissions is June 26, 2025, with the application process needing to adhere to specific admissibility conditions detailed in the call document. Therefore, organizations looking to apply should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and are prepared to provide additional resources beyond the received grant. The call details also emphasize the importance of local community connections and the ability to communicate EU topics effectively. Overall, this grant presents a streamlined opportunity for organizations in Ireland to facilitate EU engagement and awareness at a local level.

The European Commission, through its Representation in Ireland, is offering a call for proposals, ED-2025-IRELAND, to select partners for EUROPE DIRECT centres activities from 2026-2030. The goal is to bring the EU closer to citizens in Ireland.

EUROPE DIRECT centres are expected to:inform about EU policies and actions, listen to citizens' concerns on EU-related issues, engage in dialogue about the EU's impact, contribute to European civic education, and foster a European public sphere. These centres should be well-connected locally and organize communication and outreach on EU topics of local interest, collaborating with the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament Liaison Offices, other EU networks, and local entities.

Successful applicants will sign a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Ireland for 2026-2030. An annual grant may be awarded each year based on the submission of an Annual Communication Plan. The grant is a lump sum to cover part of the costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT centre, with the partner providing additional financial and operational resources.

The call is a single-stage submission process. The opening date was May 6, 2025, and the deadline is June 26, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the call is €396,000 for the year 2026.

Conditions for application include:Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, which are described in the call document and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions are also described in the call document. Applicants must meet financial and operational capacity requirements, and exclusion criteria apply as detailed in the call document. The submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, and legal and financial setup of the grants are all described in the call document.

Required documents include the Call document itself, 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 electronic submission, applicants should use the submission button corresponding to the Framework Partnership Agreement [ED-FPA]. Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants are urged to carefully read all provisions and annexes before preparing their application.

For technical questions, applicants can consult the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ. The IT Helpdesk can assist with forgotten passwords, access rights, and technical aspects of proposal submission. For content-related questions, applicants can contact COMM-IE-INFO-REQUEST@ec.europa.eu or consult the Calls for Tender page of the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

In summary, this call for proposals seeks partners in Ireland to operate EUROPE DIRECT centres, which serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens. These centers will disseminate information about EU policies, gather feedback from citizens, and promote dialogue on EU-related matters. The selected partners will receive funding in the form of lump sum grants to support their activities, and they will be expected to contribute additional resources to ensure the successful operation of the centers. The application process involves submitting a comprehensive proposal that meets specific eligibility criteria and demonstrates the applicant's capacity to effectively engage with local communities and promote EU awareness.

Eligible Applicant Types:The call is looking for "partners" to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT centres. The specific types of organizations eligible are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but it can be inferred that they are organizations well-connected with local communities and capable of organizing communication and outreach activities. This could include NGOs, local authorities, educational institutions, or other types of organizations with a strong local presence and experience in communication and engagement. Further details are described in the call document.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically an annual grant in the form of a lump sum. This grant covers part of the costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT centre.

Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the repeated reference to "partners" suggests that single applicants are eligible, although consortia might also be considered. Further details are described in the call document.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The call is specifically for partners to carry out activities in Ireland. Therefore, the geographic eligibility is focused on organizations based in or operating within Ireland.

Target Sector:The program targets the sector of communication, outreach, and citizen engagement, specifically related to EU policies and actions. It also touches upon education and the creation of a European public sphere.

Mentioned Countries:Ireland is explicitly mentioned as the target country for the activities.

Project Stage:The project stage is operational. The call seeks partners to run established EUROPE DIRECT centres and carry out related activities.

Funding Amount:The total budget for the topic is €396,000. The grant is awarded annually as a lump sum covering part of the costs, so the individual grant amount is variable and depends on the number of grants awarded. The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text.

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

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a 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 specified in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:While the annual grant covers part of the costs, the partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources necessary. This implies a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals from the European Commission Representation in Ireland to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centres for the period 2026-2030. The goal of these centres is to bring the EU closer to Irish citizens by informing them about EU policies, listening to their concerns, engaging them in dialogue, contributing to civic education, and fostering a European public sphere. Successful applicants will sign a Framework Partnership Agreement and may receive an annual lump-sum grant to cover part of the operational costs, with the partner expected to provide additional resources. The call is specifically targeted at organizations in Ireland with strong connections to local communities and experience in communication and outreach. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of June 26, 2025. Applicants should carefully review the call document and its annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation procedures, and application requirements. The total budget for the framework partnership agreement is €396,000.