Brussels time
Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) is the EU's funding programme for citizens' engagement and the implementation of EU rights and values.
This call supports projects that focus on the transition from authoritarian and totalitarian rule to democracy in different European countries.
Europe’s 20th century experience shows the fragility of democracy and the continuous need for people to engage and defend democratic institutions and values. Historical experience such as in the 1920s and 1930s, when newly established democracies declined due to internal or external attacks, are stark reminders of this vulnerability. Today’s achievements come again under pressure with rising populism, extremism and societal divisions. Equally, the democratic transition from authoritarian or totalitarian rule needed the (re-)building of democratic institutions based on the rule of law, which protect fundamental rights for all members of society, such as the period after WWII and post-1989. The EU is a community of values and all its Member States are based on these values. While democratic transition and consolidation prepared the ground for democratic society, providing historical justice after the end of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes for victims and affected communities can contribute to a healing of society.
Projects under this priority should focus on the transition from authoritarian and totalitarian rule to democracy in different European countries, their similarities and differences and the lessons retained for the future about how to defend and sustain EU values such as democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. At the same time, projects can also explore the means of historical justice, be it through trials, restitution or amnesty.
Projects are expected to:
− Link different types of organisations to create synergies (between non-profit, local, regional and national administration, academia and memorial and learning site with educational institutions),
− Develop different types of activities (training activities, publications, online tools, (provenance) research, non-formal education, public debates, exhibitions, awareness-rising, collection and digitisation of testimonies, innovative and creative actions, etc.), also by using new methods of teaching and new technologies;
− Establish and conduct trainings for rights defenders, civil servants, members of the judiciary, law enforcement officials and policymakers;
− Provide opportunities for inter-generational exchanges between witnesses and future generations;
− Involve people from different target groups and gender, including, where possible, people facing racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism or other forms of discrimination and intolerance.
In order to be eligible, the applicants must:
a) Lead applicants (i.e., the “Coordinator”): be non-profit legal entities (public or private bodies) or an international organisation.
b) For co-applicants: be non-profit or for profit legal entities (public or private bodies). Organisations which are for profit may apply only in partnership with public entities, private non-profit organisations or with international organisations
c) Applicants must be formally established in one of the eligible countries i.e.:
− EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs);
− non-EU countries: − countries associated to the CERV Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature.
d) Activities must take place in any of the eligible countries.
e) The EU grant applied for cannot be lower than EUR 50 000.
f) The project can be either national or transnational; the application must involve at least two applicants (lead applicant and at least one co-applicant not being affiliated entity or associated partner).
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 2 applicants (lead applicant ("Coordinator") and at least one co-applicant, not being affiliated entity or associated partner).
Projects should normally range between 12 and 24 months. Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.
The EU grant applied for cannot be lower than EUR 50 000.
Maximum grant amount: No limit.
The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
Brussels time
