Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission is offering a grant opportunity titled ED-2025-MALTA-FPA to select partners for operating EUROPE DIRECT centres in Malta from 2026 to 2030. The initiative is part of the Europe Direct Programme, aiming to strengthen the connection between the EU and its citizens. The centres will focus on informing the public about EU policies, engaging in dialogues regarding EU-related issues, and fostering civic education as well as a European public sphere.

Eligible applicants include local organizations such as NGOs, public bodies, or educational institutions based in Malta with established ties to their communities and experience in outreach and communication on EU matters. The funding is structured as a grant provided through a Framework Partnership Agreement, with a total budget of €80,000 allocated for the year 2026. The grant will be awarded as a lump sum intended to cover part of the operational costs of the EUROPE DIRECT centres.

The application process is single-stage and open for submissions starting May 6, 2025, with a deadline of June 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. Successful applicants will need to submit an Annual Communication Plan to receive annual funding. It is expected that selected partners will also contribute additional financial and operational resources to support their initiatives.

While specific success rates for this grant are not detailed, applicants are encouraged to refer to the call document for comprehensive information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and other requirements. For any inquiries related to the content of the call, applicants may contact the European Commission’s representation in Malta.

Overall, this opportunity aims to enhance EU outreach in Malta through community-driven initiatives, with partners expected to actively engage citizens on various EU topics, thereby contributing to a more informed public discourse on European affairs.

The European Commission, through its Representation in Malta, is offering a call for proposals, ED-2025-MALTA-FPA, to select partners to operate as EUROPE DIRECT centres from 2026 to 2030. The call falls under the Europe Direct (ED) Programme. The type of action is an ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement, utilizing the ED Framework Partnership [ED-FPA] model grant agreement.

The primary goal of EUROPE DIRECT centres is to connect the EU more closely with its citizens. These centers will inform citizens about EU policies and actions, listen to their concerns on EU-related issues, engage them in dialogues about the EU's impact on their lives, contribute to European civic education, and foster a European public sphere. The centres are expected to be well-integrated within their local communities, organizing communication and outreach activities on EU topics of local interest, in collaboration with the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament Liaison Offices, other EU outreach networks, and local multipliers.

Successful applicants, referred to as partners, will enter into a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Malta for the period 2026-2030. Each year, partners may be awarded an annual grant upon submitting an Annual Communication Plan. This grant will be a lump sum intended to cover part of the operational costs of running the EUROPE DIRECT centre. Partners are expected to provide additional financial and operational resources to support their activities as a EUROPE DIRECT centre throughout the partnership agreement.

The call is currently open for submissions, with a single-stage deadline. The opening date for submissions was May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is June 17, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for this topic is 80,000 EUR for the year 2026.

Regarding the conditions for application, the admissibility conditions concerning proposal page limits and layout are detailed in the call document and Part B of the Application Form, which is available in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, as well as financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, are all described in the call document. The evaluation and award processes, including submission, evaluation, award criteria, scoring, and thresholds, are also described in the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and the grant agreement, along with the legal and financial setup of the grants, are all detailed within the call document.

Applicants should consult the call document and its annexes for complete information. Additional documents include the Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

To submit a proposal, applicants must use the Electronic Submission Service by clicking the submission button corresponding to the Framework Partnership Agreement [ED-FPA] type. They will be prompted to confirm their choice before being directed to the correct entry point. Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the Funding & Tenders Portal under the My Proposals page in the My Area section.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions and the call for proposals, including its annexes and the guide for applicants, before preparing their application. For technical questions, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides assistance. The IT Helpdesk can be contacted for issues related to forgotten passwords, access rights, technical aspects of proposal submission, and roles. For content-related questions, applicants can contact comm-rep-mt@ec.europa.eu or consult the Tenders and contracts page on the European Commission website.

In summary, this call for proposals seeks partners in Malta to operate EUROPE DIRECT centres, which aim to bring the EU closer to its citizens through information, dialogue, and engagement. Successful applicants will receive a lump-sum grant to support their activities and will be expected to contribute additional resources. The application process involves submitting a proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal, adhering to specific guidelines and deadlines outlined in the call document.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call for proposals aims to select "partners" to carry out activities as EUROPE DIRECT centres. The specific types of organizations eligible are not explicitly stated in the provided text but are detailed in the call document. It can be inferred that eligible applicants are likely to be organizations with strong connections to local communities, experience in communication and outreach, and the capacity to engage with citizens on EU-related topics. This could include NGOs, local authorities, educational institutions, or other relevant entities.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically an annual grant awarded as a lump sum. This grant is intended to cover part of the costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT centre.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. However, the repeated use of the term "partners" suggests that multiple entities might be involved, but it does not exclude the possibility of a single applicant. Further details would be available in the call document.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is launched by the European Commission Representation in Malta, suggesting that the primary geographic focus is on Malta. While the text mentions EU policies and actions, the implementation and activities are intended to be carried out within Malta. Therefore, the geographic eligibility is likely limited to entities based in Malta.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and outreach sector, specifically focusing on European civic education and engagement. It aims to inform citizens about EU policies and actions, listen to their concerns, and contribute to the creation of a European public sphere. The thematic areas covered are broad, encompassing issues that fall under the responsibility of the EU.

Mentioned Countries: Malta is explicitly mentioned as the location for the EUROPE DIRECT centres.

Project Stage: The project stage is operational. The call seeks partners to carry out established activities as EUROPE DIRECT centres for the period 2026-2030. The focus is on implementing communication and outreach activities rather than research or development.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a total budget of 80,000 EUR for the ED-2025-MALTA-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. It is not clear if this is the annual budget or the total budget for the entire period. The grant is provided as a lump sum to cover part of the costs, suggesting that the selected partners need to provide additional financial and operational resources.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as the European Commission is launching a call for proposals. The submission is single-stage.

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

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated in the budget overview section, but the evaluation process is described in the call document.

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

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT centre for the duration of the partnership agreement. The annual grant only covers part of the costs.

Summary:

The European Commission Representation in Malta is launching a call for proposals to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centres in Malta from 2026 to 2030. The goal of these centres is to enhance communication between the EU and its citizens by informing them about EU policies, addressing their concerns, and fostering dialogue. Successful applicants will enter into a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Malta and may receive an annual lump sum grant to partially cover the operational costs of running a EUROPE DIRECT centre. Partners are expected to secure additional funding and resources to support their activities. The call is specifically targeted at entities in Malta with experience in community engagement and EU-related communication. The application process is a single-stage submission, and further details regarding eligibility criteria, evaluation, and timelines are available in the call document and related annexes on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The total budget allocated for the Framework Partnership Agreement is 80,000 EUR.