Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission Representation in Lithuania is launching a call for proposals to select partners to implement EUROPE DIRECT activities from 2026 to 2030. The purpose of these EUROPE DIRECT centers is to facilitate communication between the EU and its citizens. The centers will provide information on EU policies, listen to citizens' concerns, foster dialogue, promote European civic education, and contribute to creating a European public space.

Eligible applicants include public entities, NGOs, and educational institutions capable of running these centers, either independently or in collaboration with others. The funding mechanism for successful applicants is a grant under a Framework Partnership Agreement, with a total budget of EUR 264,000 allocated for the year 2026. Each successful partner may receive an annual grant to cover part of the operational costs of their center. Applicants are required to provide additional financial and operational resources to support these activities throughout the agreement period.

The application process is single-stage, allowing for an open call for proposals, with submissions due by June 17, 2025. The project is geographically focused on Lithuania, targeting organizations that can actively engage local communities on EU-related topics. The availability of funds and the guidance on the proposal formats and evaluation criteria are detailed in the call document.

This initiative emphasizes the goal of enhancing direct engagement with citizens regarding EU affairs and establishing strong local networks to effectively disseminate important EU information and facilitate constructive dialogue.

The European Commission Representation in Lithuania has announced a call for proposals to select partners to implement EUROPE DIRECT activities from 2026 to 2030. 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 citizens' concerns on EU-related issues, establish and maintain dialogue with citizens about the EU's impact on their daily lives, contribute to European civic education, and contribute to the creation of a European public space. These centers maintain close ties with local communities and, independently or in cooperation with the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament Liaison Office, other EU information networks, and local information disseminators, organize communication and information activities locally on important EU topics.

Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Lithuania for the period 2026-2030. Each year, partners may be awarded an annual grant if invited to submit an annual communication plan. The annual grant is a lump sum payment covering part of the EUROPE DIRECT center's operating costs. The partner commits to allocating additional financial and operational resources necessary for the operation of the EUROPE DIRECT center throughout the partnership agreement.

A revised version of the call document is available. The proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, and the legal and financial set-up of the grants are all described in the call document.

The call document and annexes are available, along with additional documents such as the 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.

The budget for the ED-2025-LITHUANIA-FPA ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement is 264,000 EUR for the year 2026. The call is a single-stage process with the opening date on 06 May 2025 and a deadline of 17 June 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, click the submission button next to the relevant action type and model grant agreement. Confirm the choice, as it cannot be changed. Access existing draft proposals by logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal and selecting the My Proposals page.

Before preparing the application, carefully read the call text and its annexes, including the guide for applicants. For technical questions, refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ. Contact the IT Helpdesk for issues such as forgotten passwords, access rights, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc. For content-related assistance, email COMM-REP-LT-TENDERS@ec.europa.eu or visit https://lithuania.representation.ec.europa.eu/verslas-ir-finansavimas/finansavimas-ir-dotacijos_lt.

In summary, this call for proposals aims to select partners in Lithuania to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers, which serve as a bridge between the EU and its citizens. The selected partners will receive annual grants to support their activities in informing citizens about EU policies, addressing their concerns, and fostering dialogue on EU-related matters. The call specifies eligibility criteria, proposal requirements, evaluation procedures, and provides access to essential documents and support services for potential applicants. The total budget allocated for this framework partnership agreement is 264,000 EUR for the year 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is looking for "partners" to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities. The specific types of organizations eligible are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but the call is aimed at entities capable of establishing and running EUROPE DIRECT centers. These could potentially include a range of organizations such as NGOs, public bodies, educational institutions, or other entities with a focus on EU communication and citizen engagement. More details are expected in the call document.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Specifically, a "metinė dotacija" (annual grant) is awarded as a "vienkartinė išmoka" (one-time payment) to cover part of the EUROPE DIRECT center's operational costs.

Consortium Requirement: The text suggests that both single applicants and consortia are possible. EUROPE DIRECT centers can operate "savarankiškai arba bendradarbiaudami" (independently or in collaboration) with other entities. Therefore, either a single applicant or a consortium could be eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is specifically targeted at entities in Lithuania, as the European Commission representation in Lithuania is issuing the call. The activities are to be carried out in Lithuania.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and information sector, specifically focusing on EU policies and actions, citizen engagement, and European civic education. It falls under the broader category of public awareness and engagement with EU affairs.

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

Project Stage: The project stage is operational. The call aims to select partners to run established EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. Therefore, the projects are in the implementation or operational phase.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic ED-2025-LITHUANIA-FPA is EUR 264,000 for the year 2026. The text mentions that successful applicants may receive an "annual grant" to cover part of the EUROPE DIRECT center's costs. The specific amount of the annual grant is not detailed in the provided text but can be assumed to be a portion of the total budget.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of an annual grant ("metinė dotacija"). This grant is a one-time payment ("vienkartinė išmoka") intended to cover a portion of the operational costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage ("single-stage"), meaning applicants submit a full proposal in one go.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text. Therefore, the success rate cannot be determined from the available information.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, there is a co-funding requirement. The text states that the annual grant covers "part" of the EUROPE DIRECT center's operational costs. The partner is obligated to allocate additional financial and operational resources necessary for the center's operation during the partnership agreement period.

Summary:

The European Commission Representation in Lithuania is launching a call for proposals to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in Lithuania from 2026 to 2030. The mission of these centers is to bring the EU closer to its citizens by providing information about EU policies and actions, addressing citizens' concerns, fostering dialogue, promoting European civic education, and contributing to the creation of a European public space. Successful applicants will sign a partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Lithuania and may receive an annual grant to cover part of the operational costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center. Partners are expected to commit additional financial and operational resources to support the center's activities. The call is open for submission with a deadline of June 17, 2025. The total budget for the topic is EUR 264,000 for the year 2026. The application process is single-stage, and applicants must submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The call targets entities in Lithuania capable of independently or collaboratively running EUROPE DIRECT centers and engaging with local communities on EU-related topics.