Call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values: call to intermediaries (giving financial support to third parties)

This funding targets civil society organizations (CSOs) across EU Member States that act as intermediaries, supporting local, regional, and national CSOs in upholding Union values. The program aims to increase the capacity of these organizations, especially smaller, remote, and rural-based ones, to promote fundamental rights and democratic principles.

This program funds activities that both directly support third-party civil society organizations (CSOs) through financial means and build their capacities. Projects must align with the broader goals of the CERV program, promoting fundamental rights, democracy, and the rule of law across various societal challenges.

Financial support is provided as grants, offering a substantial funding rate of 90% of eligible costs. The total budget allocated for this call was EUR 74,500,000. While there is no specified maximum per individual project, financial support to third parties should constitute a significant portion of the project's overall budget.

Applicants must adhere to specific conditions concerning application submissions, consortium formation, and ethical conduct. A strong emphasis is placed on transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring all funded activities actively promote and respect Union values and fundamental rights.

The application process for this call has concluded, with the submission deadline having passed on 7 March 2024. The evaluation of submitted proposals is underway, with results communicated to applicants in March 2024 and grant agreements expected to be signed between September and December 2024.

The CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES call operates under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), a key initiative for the period 2021-2027. This framework ensures the program's legitimacy and aligns its operations with broader EU policies on fundamental rights and values.