Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission is launching a call for proposals identified as ED-2025-NETHERLANDS-FPA, aimed at selecting partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in the Netherlands from 2026 to 2030. These centers play a crucial role in enhancing communication about EU policies and initiatives, fostering citizen engagement by informing them, addressing their concerns, facilitating dialogue, and promoting European citizenship.

Eligible applicants include public bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and educational institutions with strong community outreach capabilities. The grant is structured as a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA), providing monetary support to cover a portion of operational costs. The total budget for this initiative in 2026 is €350,000, which will be allocated to successful applicants as an annual fixed amount.

The application process is a single-stage open call, commencing on May 6, 2025, and closing on June 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. Applicants are not required to form consortia and can submit proposals individually. Co-funding is expected, meaning partners must contribute additional financial resources beyond the EU subsidy to sustain their activities as EU communication centers.

The selected partners will be expected to establish effective community connections and organize information and communication activities relevant to local EU topics, either independently or in collaboration with various EU outreach entities.

Overall, this opportunity aims to create a network of EUROPE DIRECT centers in the Netherlands, enhancing the relationship between the European Union and its citizens through localized information and engagement initiatives.

The European Commission, through its Representation in the Netherlands, is launching a call for proposals to select partners to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center for the period 2026-2030. This call is identified as ED-2025-NETHERLANDS-FPA. The type of action is ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement, and the type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is ED Framework Partnership [ED-FPA].

The EUROPE DIRECT centers aim to bring the EU closer to its citizens. These centers perform the following functions: inform about EU policies and actions, listen to citizens' concerns about issues under EU responsibility, engage in dialogue with citizens about the impact of the EU on their daily lives, contribute to European citizenship education, and contribute to the creation of a European public space.

EUROPE DIRECT centers maintain good contacts with local communities and organize communication and information activities on EU topics of local importance, either alone or in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission, the liaison offices of the European Parliament, other EU outreach networks, and local multipliers.

Successful applicants, referred to as "partners," will sign a framework partnership agreement with the Representation of the European Commission in the Netherlands for the years 2026 through 2030. A partner may be awarded an annual grant following an invitation to submit an annual communication plan.

The annual grant is provided as a lump sum to cover part of the operating costs of a EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources needed to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center for the duration of the partnership agreement.

The call for proposals is a single-stage submission process. 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 the topic in 2026 is 350,000 EUR.

Conditions for application include:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout are described in the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries are described in the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions are described in the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in the call document.
5. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in the call document.
6. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, threshold, and process are described in the call document.
7. Evaluation and award: The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in the call document.
8. Legal and financial set-up of the grants is described in the call document.

The required documents for the application include the Call document and annexes, as well as 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.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants should click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. After confirming their choice, they 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.

For more information about the award process, applicants can refer to the Guide for Applicants (Annex 7), the Online Manual, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) portal. The topic page should also be regularly consulted for updates on calls for proposals.

For individual questions related to the electronic submission system, applicants can contact the IT helpdesk. Non-IT-related questions should be sent to COMM-NL-administratie@ec.europa.eu, clearly stating the reference of the call and the topic. Questions will only be accepted in writing via the provided email address until June 10, 2025. Questions and answers will be published within five working days of receipt on the website.

In summary, this call for proposals aims to select partners in the Netherlands to operate as EUROPE DIRECT centers, serving as a bridge between the EU and its citizens. The selected partners will receive annual funding to cover operational costs and will be responsible for organizing communication and information activities on EU-related topics at the local level. The application process involves submitting a proposal that meets specific admissibility criteria, demonstrating financial and operational capacity, and adhering to the guidelines outlined in the call document. The deadline for submission is June 17, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is looking for "partners" to act as EUROPE DIRECT centers. While the specific types of organizations are not explicitly listed, the description suggests that eligible applicants could include organizations with good contacts with local communities and the capacity to organize communication and information activities on EU topics. This could include NGOs, local governments, educational institutions, or other entities with a strong community outreach focus.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Successful applicants will sign a partnership framework agreement and may be awarded an annual subsidy in the form of a fixed amount to cover part of the operating costs of a EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants. The text refers to selecting "partners," but it does not explicitly require a consortium. The focus is on selecting individual entities to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is specifically for entities located in The Netherlands, as the call is launched by the European Commission's Representation in The Netherlands.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and information sector, specifically focusing on EU-related topics. It also touches upon education and public engagement, aiming to bring the EU closer to its citizens and foster European citizenship.

Mentioned Countries: The Netherlands.

Project Stage: The project stage is for the operation and implementation of established EUROPE DIRECT centers. The call seeks partners to carry out activities for the period 2026-2030, implying that the centers are already a defined concept. The focus is on selecting organizations to manage and operate these centers.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is EUR 350,000 for the year 2026. The annual subsidy awarded to each partner will be a fixed amount covering part of the operating costs. The exact amount of the annual subsidy per partner is not specified in the provided text but will be a portion of the 350,000 EUR budget.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as the European Commission is launching a "call for proposals" to select partners.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to cover part of the operating costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center.

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

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, co-funding is required. The partner is expected to provide the additional financial and operational resources needed to carry out activities as a EUROPE DIRECT center for the duration of the partnership agreement, beyond the fixed amount subsidy provided by the European Commission.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals from the European Commission's Representation in The Netherlands to select partners for operating EUROPE DIRECT centers in The Netherlands 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 and actions, listening to citizens' concerns, facilitating dialogue, contributing to European citizenship, and fostering a European public space. Successful applicants will sign a partnership framework agreement and receive an annual fixed-amount subsidy to cover part of their operating costs. The selected partners are expected to maintain good contacts with local communities and organize communication and information activities on EU topics of local interest. The call is specifically targeted at organizations based in The Netherlands with a strong focus on community outreach and EU affairs. The total budget for 2026 is EUR 350,000, and the application process is a single-stage open call. Partners are required to provide additional financial and operational resources beyond the EU subsidy to sustain the EUROPE DIRECT center's activities. The deadline for submitting proposals is June 17, 2025.