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Europe for Citizens Programme 2007-2013 — Conditional publication of the Programme Guide

(2006/C 285/08)

Introduction

The Commission's proposal relating to the Europe for Citizens programme for the period 2007-2013 is scheduled to be adopted by the European legislator soon. To enable prompt implementation of this programme and to enable potential beneficiaries of Community grants to prepare their proposals the Commission has decided to publish a provisional version of the Programme Guide including detailed information on the implementation of the programme.

1.   Precautionary Clause

The Programme Guide does not legally bind the Commission. It may be cancelled and another version of the Programme Guide with different specifications may be issued, with appropriate reply periods, if there is a substantial change in the basic act by the European legislator.

More generally, the implementation of Europe for Citizens Programme in 2007 as envisaged in the Programme Guide is subject to the following conditions, the meeting of which is not dependent on the Commission:

Furthermore, the references in the Programme Guide to the EAC Executive Agency are subject to the adoption of a decision of the Commission, extending the mandate of the EAC Executive Agency in order to cover the new generation of Programmes.

2.   Objectives and Description

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, have agreed to establish the Europe for citizens Programme, which brings into being the legal framework to support a wide range of activities and organisations promoting ‘active European citizenship’, i.e. the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations in the process of European integration.

The general objectives of the Europe for citizens Programme are to contribute to:

In order to achieve its objectives, the Europe for citizens Programme proposes four actions, divided into different measures.

Action 1 — Active Citizens for Europe involving citizens either through activities linked to town-twinning or through other kinds of citizens projects.

Action 2 — Active civil society for Europe targeted to civil society organisations either through structural support on the basis of their European level work programme or through support to trans-national projects.

Action 3 — Together for Europe including high visibility events, studies and information tools.

Action 4 — Active European Remembrance supporting actions aiming at preserving the sites and archives associated with the deportations as well as at commemorating the victims of Nazism and Stalinism and contributing to broad reflection on origins and the future of the European integration.

3.   Eligible Applicants

The Programme is open to all stakeholders promoting active European citizenship.

For example: local authorities and organisations; European public policy research organisations (think-tanks); citizens' groups; civil society organisations; non-governmental organisations; trade unions; educational institutions; organisations active in the field of voluntary work; organisations active in the field of amateur sport, etc.

Some actions of the programme are however targeting a more limited range of organisations. The eligibility of applicant organisations is therefore defined in the Programme Guide specifically for each measure/sub-measure.

The Programme is open to the 27 Member States of the European Union as from 1 January 2007 (1). The Programme can also be opened to other countries, namely the EFTA countries which are parties to the EEA Agreement, the candidate countries and countries from the Western Balkans, provided that the relevant legal and financial obligations are fulfilled.

4.   Budget and Duration

The Programme has an overall budget of EUR 215 million for the period 2007-2013. The annual budget is subject to decision of the budgetary authorities.

The decision establishing the Programme specified that the overall budget breakdown between the different actions should be the following:

5.   Further Information

Further information, including the details of deadlines for grant applications, may be found in the Europe for Citizens Programme Guide on the following websites:

http://eacea.cec.eu.int/static/en/citizenship/index.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/activecitizenship/index_en.htm

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(1)  Subject to outstanding ratification processes for Bulgaria and Romania.

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