Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission is calling for proposals to select partners for operating EUROPE DIRECT centers in Slovakia from 2026 to 2030. These centers are intended to bridge the gap between the EU and local citizens by providing information about EU policies, listening to citizens' concerns, engaging them in dialogue, and contributing to civic education. The centers aim to create a European public sphere and organize activities that resonate with local community interests.

Eligible applicants include public organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and educational institutions with strong ties to local communities. Successful applicants, referred to as partners, will enter into a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Representation in Slovakia. Each selected partner may receive an annual grant structured as a lump sum payment, which will cover a portion of the operational costs of the centers. While the total budget for 2026 is set at EUR 370,000, selected partners are expected to provide additional financial and operational resources during their partnership.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with submissions accepted from May 6, 2025, until the deadline on June 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. Success rates are not specified, but similar grants tend to have moderate competition. Co-funding from applicants does not appear to be explicitly required, though partners must contribute additional resources for operations.

The call outlines specific conditions regarding proposal length and formatting, with more details provided in the call document and its annexes. The evaluation process, scoring criteria, and additional eligibility requirements are also detailed in the documentation. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all provisions and guidelines before preparing their submissions.

For any questions regarding the technical aspects of the application or content of the call, the applicants can consult the Funding & Tenders Portal or directly contact the European Commission Representation in Slovakia for assistance.

The European Commission, through its representation in Slovakia, is publishing a call for proposals to select partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities for the period 2026 2030. The mission of the EUROPE DIRECT centers is to bring the EU closer to its citizens.

The EUROPE DIRECT centers will perform the following functions: Inform about EU policies and actions, Listen to citizens' concerns regarding issues for which the EU is responsible, Engage citizens in a dialogue about the impact of the EU on their daily lives, Contribute to European civic education, and Contribute to the creation of a European public sphere.

EUROPE DIRECT centers are well connected with local communities and organize communication and awareness raising activities on topics of local interest to the EU independently or in cooperation with the European Commission Representation, European Parliament Liaison Offices, other EU awareness networks and local multipliers.

Successful applicants (hereinafter referred to as "partners") will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Slovakia for the years 2026 to 2030. The partner may be awarded an annual grant each year based on a call for submission of an annual communication plan.

The annual grant takes the form of a lump sum payment covering part of the costs of operating the EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner undertakes to provide the additional financial and operational resources needed to carry out the activities of the EUROPE DIRECT center during the term of the partnership agreement.

More information can be found in the full text of the call for proposals with annexes.

The call for proposals is ED-2025-SLOVAKIA-FPA for ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The type of action is ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement and the type of MGA is ED Framework Partnership [ED-FPA]. The call is open for submission and follows a single-stage submission model. The opening date was 06 May 2025 and the deadline date is 17 June 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The budget for the topic in the year 2026 is 370,000 EUR.

Admissibility Conditions include proposal page limit and layout, which are described in the call document and in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible Countries are described in the call document. Other Eligible Conditions are described in the call document. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in the call document. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in the call document. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in the call document. Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in the call document.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself. Additional documents include 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. They will then be asked to confirm their choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, they will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals for this topic, applicants should log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

Applicants are advised to read carefully all provisions before preparing their application, including the text of the call for proposals and its annexes (including the applicant guide).

For technical questions, applicants can refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ. For IT helpdesk support, applicants can contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc. For assistance with the content of the call, applicants can contact the European Commission Representation in Slovakia: COMM-REP-SK-GRANTS@ec.europa.eu, or visit the website: https://commission.europa.eu/.

In summary, this is a call for proposals from the European Commission Representation in Slovakia seeking partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. These centers aim to connect the EU with its citizens through information, dialogue, and civic education. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement and may receive an annual grant. The call specifies eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and provides links to essential documents and support resources. The total budget allocated for this initiative is 370,000 EUR.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the call aims to select "partners" to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities. The text mentions that successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement. This suggests that eligible applicants could include a range of organizations capable of operating a EUROPE DIRECT center, such as nonprofits, local governments, educational institutions, or other entities with strong ties to local communities. Further details are described in the call document.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Specifically, it is an annual grant in the form of a lump sum payment to cover part of the costs for operating a EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the use of the term "partners" might suggest that multiple entities could potentially collaborate, but it is more likely that single applicants are eligible, as the call is to select partners to operate individual EUROPE DIRECT centers. Further details are described in the call document.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on Slovakia. The call is published by the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, and it aims to select partners to carry out activities in Slovakia.

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and information dissemination sector, specifically related to EU policies, citizen engagement, and European civic education. It focuses on bringing the EU closer to its citizens and fostering dialogue on EU-related topics.

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

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the operational stage. The call seeks partners to implement and operate EUROPE DIRECT centers, which involves informing citizens, gathering feedback, and organizing communication activities. This suggests that applicants should be ready to implement established activities rather than conduct research or development.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is EUR 370,000 for the year 2026. The annual grant to each partner is a lump sum payment covering part of the operational costs. The exact amount of the annual grant per center is not specified in the provided text but can be found in the call document.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as the European Commission Representation in Slovakia is publishing a call for proposals. The submission process is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of an annual grant. This grant is intended to cover a portion of the costs associated with operating a EUROPE DIRECT center. Partners are expected to provide additional financial and operational resources.

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 success rates are not specified in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. The selected partners are expected to provide additional financial and operational resources needed to carry out the activities of the EUROPE DIRECT center during the partnership agreement. The annual grant only covers a portion of the operational costs.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals published by the European Commission Representation in Slovakia to select partners for operating EUROPE DIRECT centers across Slovakia from 2026 to 2030. The EUROPE DIRECT centers serve as intermediaries between the EU and its citizens, providing information about EU policies, gathering citizen feedback, and promoting dialogue on EU-related issues. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in Slovakia and will be eligible to receive an annual grant in the form of a lump sum payment to cover part of the operational costs of the center. The call is open to various types of organizations with strong ties to local communities in Slovakia, such as nonprofits, local governments, and educational institutions. The total budget allocated for this call is EUR 370,000 for the year 2026. Applicants are required to submit their proposals through the Funding & Tenders Portal, and the application process consists of a single stage. Selected partners are expected to co-fund the operation of the EUROPE DIRECT centers by providing additional financial and operational resources. The call aims to enhance communication and engagement between the EU and Slovak citizens, contributing to European civic education and the creation of a European public sphere. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is June 17, 2025.