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European Awareness

Europe for Citizens 2007-13

Budget: €215 million
Level of Funding:
Citizens’ meetings: max €20 000, min €2 000
Twinned-town networking: min €3 500
Action 3 Events: min €7 000
Action 3 Production and realisation projects: Up to 60% - max €55 000, min 10 000
Action 4: up to 60% - max €40 000, min €10 000

Purpose of Programme

The general objectives of the programme are to contribute to:

• Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe which is democratic and world orientated, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the EU.
• Developing a sense of European identity based on common values, history and culture.
• Fostering a sense of ownership of the EU among its citizens.
• Enhancing tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens, respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

The programme has the following specific objectives which shall be implemented on a transnational basis:

• To bring people together from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experienced, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future.
• To foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation with civil society organisations at European level.
• To bring Europe closer to its citizens by promoting Europe’s values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past.
• To encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from the EU-15 and the EU-12.

Programme Mechanisms:

Action 1 – Active citizens for Europe

• Town-twinning – This may be one off or pilot activities, or take the form of structured multi-annual, multi-partner agreements following a more programmed approach. Comprises a set of activities ranging from citizens’ meetings to specific conferences or seminars on subjects of common interest, along with related publications, organised in the context of town-twinning activities.

• Citizens’ projects and support measures – A variety of transnational and cross-sectoral dimensions directly involving citizens can be supported. Priority will be given to projects aimed at encouraging local level participation.

Action 2 – Active civil society in Europe

• Structural support for European public policy research organisations which undertake activities to provide new ideas and reflections on European issues, on active European citizenship or on European values.
• Structural support for civil society organisations at European level to contribute to the emergence of a structured, coherent and active civil society at European level.
• Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations to introduce or build on a European dimension in their activities. A variety of organisations established at local, regional, national or European level can be involved.

Action 3 – Together for Europe

• High-visibility events organised by the Commission and in cooperation with the MS or other relevant partners where appropriate which strike a chord with the peoples of Europe, help to increase their sense of belonging to the same community, make them aware of the history, achievements and values of the EU, involve them in intercultural dialogue and contribute to the development of their European identity.
• Studies to get a better understanding of active citizenship at European level.
• Information and dissemination tools e.g. internet portal

Action 4 – Active European Remembrance

• Preservation of the main sites and archives associated with deportations and at commemorating the victims of Nazism and Stalinism as a means of moving beyond the past and building the future.
  

EC Contact Person and Details

Marc Jorna
EACEA
Unit P7 Citizenship
Avenue du Bourget, 1
B-1140 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32-2-2965257
Email: eacea-info@ec.europa.eu  |  marc.jorna@ec.europa.eu

Link to EC Website:http://eacea.cec.eu.int/static/en/citizenship/index.htm

Consumer Programme 2007-13

Budget: €156.8 million
Level of Funding:
85% in the case of Masters Degree Development and 95% for European consumer organisations representing consumer interests in the development of standards for products and services at EC level)

Scholarship grants for the mobility of teachers and students in the framework of integrated European Master Degree courses in consumer interests.

Travel and subsistence allowances for the exchange of enforcement officials.

Purpose of Programme

The overall aim of the programme is to complement, support and monitor the policies of MS and to contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic and legal rights of consumers, as well as to promote their rights to information, education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their own interests.

1. Ensure a high level of consumer protection, notably through improved evidence, better consultation and better representation of consumers’ interests
2. To ensure the effective application of consumer protection rules, in particular through enforcement cooperation; information, education and redress.

Programme Mechanisms:

Objective 1

1. The collection, exchange and analysis of data and information that provide an evidence base for the development of consumer policy and for the integration of consumer interests in other EC policies.
2. The collection, exchange and analysis of data and information and development of assessment tools that provide an evidence base on the safety of consumer goods and services.
3. Support for scientific advice and risk evaluation, including the tasks of the independent scientific committee established by the Commission in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment.
4. Preparation of legislative and other regulatory initiatives and promotion of co)regulatory and self regulatory initiatives.
5. Financial contributions to the functioning of European consumer organisations.
6. Financial contributions to the functioning of European consumer organisations representing consumer interests in the development of standards for products and services at Community level.
7. Capacity building for regional, national and European consumer organisations, notably through training and exchange of best practice and expertise for staff.

Objective 2

1. Actions to improve the effective application of EC consumer protection legislation, including improving coordination of monitoring and enforcement, monitoring and assessment of the safety of non-food products and joint monitoring and enforcement actions.
2. Legal and technical expertise, including studies, for the monitoring and assessment of the transposition, implementation and enforcement of consumer protection legislation by MS, including the development of publicly accessible databases covering the implementation
3. Actions on information, advice and redress including financial contributions for joint actions with public or non-profit bodies constituting EC networks which provide information and assistance to consumers to help them exercise their rights and actions improving communication with EU citizens on consumer issues.
4. Actions on consumer education including specific actions targeted at young consumers, old consumers and vulnerable groups who are less able to defend their rights and financial contributions for the development of integrated European Masters Degree courses in consumer issues, including a scheme of scholarships to enable students to spend up to six months in a different country.

Target Groups

• Bodies designated by the MS or a competent authority
• Higher education institutions
• Students and teachers
• European consumer organisations
• Consumer protection enforcement officials

EC Contact Person and Details

Cecile Dargnies Peirce
Policy Officer
Unit B.1
DG SANCO

Tel: 0032 2 2986696
Email: Cecile.Dargnies-Peirce@ec.europa.eu

David Mair
Deputy Head of Unit B.1
DG SANCO

Tel: 0032 2 2950489
Email: David.Mair@ec.europa.eu

Link to EC Website:http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/overview/cons_policy/index_en.htm#programmes