Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities

The grant opportunity identified as ED-2025-CZECHIA-FPA focuses on selecting partners to implement EUROPE DIRECT centers in Czechia from 2026 to 2030. The purpose of these centers is to enhance citizen engagement with European Union policies and information dissemination. Eligible applicants include local authorities, NGOs, educational institutions, and other organizations closely linked to communities that can effectively relay EU information.

The funding is structured as a grant via a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA), with a total budget of EUR 444,000 earmarked for 2026. The annual distribution of funds is intended to assist with the operational costs of the centers, although applicants will need to provide additional financial and operational support. This is a single-stage open call for proposals, with submissions due by June 17, 2025.

The scope of this grant strictly encompasses Czechia, focusing on operational activities rather than research or initial project stages. The main objectives include informing citizens about EU policies, gathering their opinions, and fostering civic education to create a European public sphere. The application process is straightforward, with specific submission guidelines and evaluation criteria outlined in the call document.

The partnership arrangement anticipates collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Czechia and may involve engagement with other EU institutions, although forming a consortium is not explicitly required. The project seeks to establish well-connected EUROPE DIRECT centers that act as crucial conduits for reliable EU information in local contexts. All interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review the associated documents for detailed information about eligibility, application processes, and funding mechanics.

The European Commission, through its Representation in the Czech Republic, is launching a call for proposals to select partners to carry out the activities of the 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 measures, listen to citizens' opinions in areas that fall under EU responsibility, involve citizens in dialogue about the impact of the EU on their daily lives, contribute to European civic education, and contribute to shaping the European public sphere.

EUROPE DIRECT centers are well connected with local communities and organize communication and information activities on EU topics of local interest, either independently or in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission, contact offices of the European Parliament, other EU information networks, and local multipliers.

Successful applicants (hereinafter referred to as "partners") will sign a framework partnership agreement with the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic for the period 2026-2030. 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 covering part of the costs of operating the EUROPE DIRECT center. The partner undertakes to provide additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out the activities of the EUROPE DIRECT center for the duration of the partnership agreement.

Further information can be found in the full text of the call for proposals and its annexes.

The call is ED-2025-CZECHIA-FPA, ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The type of action is ED-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The type of MGA is ED Framework Partnership [ED-FPA]. The call is open for submission. The deadline model is single-stage. The opening date is 06 May 2025. The deadline date is 17 June 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Conditions for application include:

1. 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.
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 and thresholds are described in the call document.
7. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in the call document.
8. 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.

The budget for the topic in 2026 is 444,000 EUR. The stages are single-stage. The opening date is 2025-05-06. The deadline is 2025-06-17.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to 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, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

Before preparing your application, please carefully read the call for proposals and its annexes (including the applicant's guide). For technical questions, please see the frequently asked questions on the Funding and Tenders Portal Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ Submission of proposals. For IT Helpdesk assistance with forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submitting proposals, etc., contact the IT Helpdesk. For assistance related to the content of the call, please contact COMM-REP-PRG-EUROPEDIRECT@ec.europa.eu or visit the website of the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic.

In summary, this call for proposals aims to select partners to operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in the Czech Republic from 2026 to 2030. These centers serve as a vital link between the EU and its citizens, providing information, gathering feedback, and fostering dialogue on EU-related matters. Successful applicants will enter into a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic and may receive annual grants to support the operation of these centers. The call document contains all the necessary details regarding eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation criteria, and budget information. Applicants should carefully review all the provided documents and seek assistance from the designated contact points if needed. The overall goal is to enhance communication and engagement between the EU and Czech citizens through the EUROPE DIRECT network.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call aims to select partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities. The specific types of eligible applicants are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but it can be inferred that they are organizations capable of establishing and running an EUROPE DIRECT center. This could include a variety of entities such as local authorities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, or other bodies with strong links to local communities and the capacity to disseminate information about the EU. Further details would be available in the call document.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement and may be awarded an annual grant. The annual grant takes the form of a lump sum covering part of the costs for operating the EUROPE DIRECT center.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the repeated reference to selecting "partners" suggests that single applicants are eligible, as the selected entities will become partners with the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic. The possibility of collaboration with other entities like the European Parliament liaison offices and other EU information networks is mentioned, but it does not imply a mandatory consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on the Czech Republic, as the call is issued by the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic and aims to select partners to carry out activities in Czechia. The call is specifically for "Selection of partners to carry out EUROPE DIRECT activities (2026-2030) in Czechia."

Target Sector: The program targets the communication and information dissemination sector, specifically focusing on bringing the EU closer to its citizens. It involves informing about EU policies and measures, gathering citizens' opinions, engaging citizens in dialogue about the EU's impact, contributing to European civic education, and fostering a European public sphere. This aligns with the broader goals of public engagement, education, and communication related to EU affairs.

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

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the operational phase, specifically the establishment and running of EUROPE DIRECT centers from 2026 to 2030. The selected partners will be responsible for organizing communication and information activities, indicating that the projects are beyond the idea or research phase and are ready for implementation and sustained operation.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a total budget of EUR 444,000 for the ED-2025-CZECHIA-FPA Framework Partnership Agreement. The annual grant to each partner is a lump sum covering part of the operating costs, but the exact amount per partner is not specified in the provided text. The partner is expected to provide additional financial and operational resources.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the phrase "výzva k předkládání návrhů," which translates to "call for proposals." The call is open for submission, and the deadline is clearly stated.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of an annual grant. The grant is a lump sum intended to cover a portion of the operating costs of the EUROPE DIRECT center. However, the partners are also expected to contribute additional financial and operational resources.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process, as indicated in the budget overview where it says "single-stage." Applicants submit their full proposals by the deadline.

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 call states that the annual grant covers only part of the operating costs, and the partner is obligated to provide additional financial and operational resources necessary to carry out the activities of the EUROPE DIRECT center throughout the partnership agreement.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals from the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic to select partners who will operate EUROPE DIRECT centers in Czechia from 2026 to 2030. The mission of these centers is to bring the EU closer to its citizens by providing information about EU policies, gathering feedback from citizens, engaging them in dialogue, promoting civic education, and contributing to the European public sphere. Successful applicants will sign a framework partnership agreement and may receive an annual grant in the form of a lump sum to cover part of the operating costs. Partners are expected to have strong connections with local communities and to provide additional financial and operational resources to sustain the centers' activities. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of June 17, 2025. The total budget for the framework partnership agreement is EUR 444,000. Applicants should carefully review the call document and its annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and submission guidelines. The call aims to establish a network of well-connected and resourceful EUROPE DIRECT centers across the Czech Republic, ensuring that citizens have access to reliable information and opportunities for engagement with the EU.