After months of negotiations, on Tuesday November 19, the European Parliament approved the Multi-annual Financial Framework for 2014-2020. The overall budget for the next seven years is €960 billion, of which Malta has obtained up to €1.128 billion. Apart from this amount, local authorities, organisations and individuals may benefit from other direct EU funding opportunities such as the Europe for Citizens Programme.

Europe for Citizens is one of the EU’s funding programmes that will be relatively similar to the 2007-2013 programme. The programme promotes and supports the participation of citizens in the democratic life of the EU by propagating the understanding of the EU policy making process and by promoting opportunities for societal and intercultural meetings.

The main objectives of Europe for Citizens are to contribute to the citizens’ understanding of the EU with its history and diversity, to foster European citizenship, and to improve civic and democratic participation at EU level.

The Europe for Citizens Programme for 2014 – 2020 is divided into the following three strands:

Strand 1 - European Remembrance

The objective of this strand is to support projects which focus on historical events which are of significant importance to the European culture. This strand will give preference to actions which encourage tolerance, mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation as a means of moving beyond the past and building the future. The eligible applicants for action grants under this strand can be local councils or non-profit organisations.

Operating grants will be also awarded to organisations that implement activities related to the European history and to organisations that work hard to promote the democratic values in Europe.  The indicative budget for 2014 under this strand is €4,255,000.

Strand 2 - Democratic Engagement of Civic Participation

This strand will support projects and initiatives that encourage public participation, with a particular focus on activities directly linked to the policies discussed at a EU level. Under this strand, action grants will support the following three types of activities:

(i)                   Town-Twinning:

This measure brings together people from different countries in order to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s history and values. Through the previous funding programme, a number of local councils applied to organise activities with the aim to strengthen their ties with the twinned towns.

In 2010 the Mellieha Local Council invited their partner localities; Adenau (Germany), Cavriglia (Italy) and Ayia Napa (Cyprus) to participate in the activities organised during the festival, Iljieli Mellihin. The local councils hosted a number of initiatives in the arts and culture sector, the environment, and the business sector.

(ii)                 Network of Towns:

Supports local councils and associations to collaborate together and develop a network of towns with the aim to work together on a common theme, increase cooperation, and exchange good practices.

During the Maritime Senglea International Festival 2013, the Isla Local Council together with the local authorities of Zarasai (Lithuania), Daugavpils (Latvia), and Fara San Martino (Italy), initiated a project in order to create an identity and change the mindset of local citizens living in shrinking cities. The project targets four different topics: performing arts, the physical infrastructure, re-imagining the city, and active citizenship. Through networking events, the participants will discuss their obstacles and threats, while seeking new opportunities, mainly through EU membership.

(iii)                Civil Society Projects:

 This grant is aimed to assist NGOs endorse projects with transnational partnerships  and networks involving citizens. Projects under this strand will give the opportunity to a number of citizens with different backgrounds and views in order to discuss on issues directly linked to Union policies.

Through the previous Europe for Citizens Programme, Victim Support Malta, together with the Victim Support Europe, organised a four day international conference on Crime Prevention, set up a website, and issued a publication on the subject.

Apart from these Action Grants, this strand also supports European public policy research organisations, civil society organisations working at European level and platforms for pan-European organisations through operating grants. The indicative budget for 2014 under this strand is €15,445,000.

Strand 3 – Horizontal Action Valorisation

This new strand will support initiatives that enhance the transferability of results, increase knowledge from experience and promote the sharing of best practices. The aim of this action is to make use of the initiatives launched for the purpose of ensuring their lasting effect. The indicative budget for 2014 under this strand is €1,350,000.

The Europe for Citizens Programme is one of the funding programmes for the forthcoming seven years.  To know more about this programme and other funding opportunities you can register and become a MEUSAC member on www.meusac.gov.mt or by e-mail on [email protected].

Alan Joseph Buhagiar is an executive on EU Funding with Meusac