Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The European Commission is inviting proposals to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in Sweden from 2026 to 2030. The purpose of these centers is to bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens by providing information on EU policies, listening to citizen feedback, engaging in dialogue about the EU's impact on daily life, and promoting European citizenship education. The centers aim to create a European public space and foster community engagement.

Eligible applicants for this grant include non-governmental organizations, public entities, and local institutions capable of delivering EU communication and engagement activities. The nature of the funding is through direct grants provided as annual lump sums under a Framework Partnership Agreement. The total budget for this initiative is 750,000 EUR for the year 2026, with the understanding that selected partners will be expected to cover additional operational costs.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline set for June 17, 2025. Successful applicants will be required to submit annual communication plans to receive funding. Each center will function independently or in collaboration with the European Commission’s representation and other local information networks.

The call specifically targets activities related to public communication and citizen engagement with no co-funding requirement mentioned. The selected partners will play a vital role in organizing outreach efforts, public events, and information dissemination to align EU initiatives with local interests.

Interested applicants are encouraged to carefully review the detailed call document and its annexes for comprehensive guidelines on eligibility, application procedures, and evaluation criteria. They may access the Electronic Submission Service through the Funding & Tenders Portal and are advised to consult the portal for any technical support or inquiries regarding the application process.

The European Commission, through its representation in Sweden, is launching a call for proposals to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers for the period 2026-2030. The mission of the EUROPE DIRECT centers is to bring the EU closer to its citizens.

EUROPE DIRECT centers:
Inform about EU policies and actions.
Listen to citizens' views on issues within the EU's remit.
Engage in dialogue with citizens about how the EU affects their daily lives.
Contribute to European citizenship education.
Contribute to the creation of a European public space.

EUROPE DIRECT centers have close ties with local communities and organize communication and outreach activities related to EU issues of local interest, either independently or in collaboration with the European Commission's representation, the European Parliament's liaison office, other EU outreach networks, and local information providers.

Successful applicants (referred to as partners) will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission's representation in Sweden for the years 2026-2030. Each year, a partner may be granted an annual contribution following an invitation to submit an annual communication plan.

The annual contribution is provided as a lump sum to cover part of the costs of operating a EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner commits to providing the additional financial and operational resources required to operate as a EUROPE DIRECT center during the term of the partnership agreement.

For more information, refer to the complete call for proposals and its annexes.

The call ED-2025-SWEDEN-FPA, ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement, has a budget of 750,000 EUR for the year 2026. It is a single-stage application process. The opening date was May 6, 2025, and the deadline is June 17, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Conditions for application include:
Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout 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.
Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, threshold, and process are described in the call document.
Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in the call document.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants is 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
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

To access the Electronic Submission Service, click the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. Confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals for this topic, log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

Before preparing your application, carefully read all provisions. For technical questions, consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Frequently Asked Questions Tenders. For IT support regarding forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, and technical aspects of proposal submission, contact the IT support. For help with the content of the call for proposals, contact COMM-REP-STO-GRANTS@ec.europa.eu or visit https://sweden.representation.ec.europa.eu/europa-direkt_sv.

In summary, this is a call for proposals from the European Commission seeking partners in Sweden to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. These centers aim to connect EU policies and actions with local communities and citizens. Successful applicants will enter into a framework partnership agreement and may receive annual funding to support their operations. The application process involves submitting a proposal that meets specific admissibility criteria, demonstrates financial and operational capacity, and aligns with the EU's goals for citizen engagement. Applicants should carefully review the call document and related materials for detailed instructions and requirements. The total budget for this call is 750,000 EUR.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are referred to as "partners" who will operate as EUROPA DIREKT offices. The specific types of organizations that can be partners are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text but can be found in the call document.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an annual grant provided as a lump sum. This grant covers a portion of the costs for operating a EUROPA DIREKT office.

Consortium Requirement: The text suggests a single applicant, referred to as a "partner," is required. The call is for selecting partners to operate individual EUROPA DIREKT offices.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on entities within Sweden, as the call is issued by the European Commission's representation in Sweden for operating EUROPA DIREKT offices in Sweden.

Target Sector: The target sector is public communication and engagement related to EU affairs. This includes informing citizens about EU policies, gathering feedback, promoting dialogue, contributing to European citizenship education, and fostering a European public space.

Mentioned Countries: Sweden

Project Stage: The project stage involves operating established EUROPA DIREKT offices, implying an operational or implementation stage rather than research or development. The selected partners will be responsible for running these offices from 2026 to 2030.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic ED-2025-SWEDEN-FPA is 750,000 EUR. The funding is provided as an annual lump sum to cover part of the operational costs of the EUROPA DIREKT office. The exact amount of the annual grant per partner is not specified in the provided text but will be detailed in the call document.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for proposals, as indicated by the phrase "förslagsinfordran" (call for proposals in Swedish) and the availability of the submission session.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of an annual 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 mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. The partner must provide additional financial and operational resources beyond the EU grant to operate the EUROPA DIREKT office.

Summary:

The European Commission's representation in Sweden is launching a call for proposals to select partners who will operate as EUROPA DIREKT offices across Sweden from 2026 to 2030. These offices serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens, tasked with communicating EU policies, gathering citizen feedback, fostering dialogue, and promoting European citizenship. The selected partners will sign a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission's representation in Sweden and will be eligible for an annual grant in the form of a lump sum to partially cover the operational costs of running the EUROPA DIREKT office. The partners are expected to provide additional financial and operational resources to ensure the successful operation of the offices throughout the partnership period. The call is open for submission with a deadline of June 17, 2025. The total budget allocated to this topic is 750,000 EUR. Applicants need to carefully review the call document and its annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation criteria, and the terms of the partnership agreement. The application process is a single-stage process.