CESIE aims to inform its partners and beneficiaries about the new funding and cooperation opportunities offered by the European Commission for the period 2021-2027, under the new Programmes.

It will be our pleasure to constantly update this section with the latest news from the European Commission. Find below an overview of the programmes of education, youth, sport, research, justice, culture and citizenship.

Erasmus+

Enriching lives, opening minds through the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

The new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion, nearly doubling the funding compared to its predecessor programmes (2014-2020), complemented by around €2.2 billion from EU external cooperation instruments. 70% of the budget will support mobility opportunities for all, in a lifelong learning perspective. 30% of the budget will be invested in cooperation projects and policy development activities where organisations gain experience in international cooperation, strengthen their capacities, produce innovative approaches, exchange good practices and network. Through these actions, Erasmus+ will play an important role in strengthening resilience and supporting recovery and innovation in the fields of education, training, youth and sport.

The programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transition, as well as on promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

Asylum and Migration Fund

Supporting a robust, realistic and fair EU policy

The main priorities that will be addressed under the Asylum and Migration Fund are: a stronger and more efficient Common European Asylum System, greater support for integration and faster and more frequent returns. The programme will support the early integration of migrants and asylum applicants.

Global Europe - NDICI

A single instrument to finance EU policies on poverty reduction, protection of human rights and crisis response

Global Europe is the EU’s main financial tool for promoting sustainable development, peace and stability across the globe. With an envelope of €79.5 billion for the period 2021-2027, the EU’s external actions support partner countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

International Security Fund (ISF)

Fighting against terrorism and radicalization, serious and organized crime, cybercrime and protecting the victims

With an overall budget of €1.9 billion, the Internal Security Fund, will finance actions in the field of fight against terrorism and radicalization, serious and organized crime, cybercrime and the protection of victims. The ISF will contribute in particular to: increasing the exchange of information between EU law enforcement authorities and enhancing co-operation and cross border operations; cross-border cooperation via intensifying cross-border joint operations; fight against crime via strengthening capabilities to combat and prevent crime and reinforcing protection against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime.

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV)

Contributing to sustain and further develop open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law

The new €1.55 billion CERV programme aims at protecting and promoting the rights and values as enshrined in the Treaties, the Charter and in the applicable international human rights conventions. It will be based on four strands: (i) Union values; (ii) Equality, Rights and Gender Equality and participation; (iii) Citizens’ engagement; (iv) Daphne.

Justice

Contributing to the further development of a European area of justice based on the rule of law

The Justice Programme is running from 2021 to 2027. It provides funding to support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters such as training to judges and other legal practitioners and effective access to justice for citizens and businesses. It contributes to the further development of a European area of justice based on the rule of law, including independence and impartiality of the judiciary, on mutual recognition, mutual trust and judicial cooperation. It is strengthening democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.

Digital Europe

Accelerating the recovery and drive the digital transformation of Europe

With €7.6 billion, the Digital Europe Programme will provide funding for projects in five crucial areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society. The programme focuses on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies, to be used by Europe's citizens and businesses. Investments under the Digital Europe programme supports the Union’s twin objectives of a green transition and digital transformation and strengthens the Union’s resilience and strategic autonomy.

Creative Europe

Promoting, strengthening and protecting European cultural and linguistic diversity, cultural heritage and creativity

Culture plays a pivotal role in addressing key societal and economic challenges, especially in promoting active citizenship, common values, wellbeing, innovation, economic growth and job creation. With a total budget of €2.4 billion, the Creative Europe programme will continue to promote cultural and linguistic diversity, heritage and competitiveness, and will allow cultural and creative organisations and professionals to co-create and cooperate across borders and to reach wider audiences, tackling current societal questions and supporting emerging artists.

Interreg Europe

Interreg Europe is an interregional cooperation programme aiming at supporting the exchange of good practices and policy learning among European regions in 29 countries - the EU27, Norway and Switzerland. The European Union strives to reduce disparities in the levels of development, growth and quality of life in and across Europe’s regions. The programme contributes to this objective by creating an environment and opportunities for sharing solutions to regional development issues.

The programme’s budget is MEUR 379 to help local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better policy.

Interreg NEXT

Supporting economic and social development of the border areas through joint actions including in environment protections, public health services, safety and security measures, connectivity, support to SMEs and entrepreneurship

In 2021-2027, the cross-border cooperation between EU Member States and Neighbourhood region will be governed by the EU Cohesion policy and the programmes will be fully part of Interreg. In order to highlight the external dimension of Cohesion policy and at the same time to emphasise how close EU and partner countries stand, the new programmes is called “Interreg NEXT”.

Interreg Euro-MED

We are a European Territorial Cooperation Programme that aims to make the Mediterranean region smarter and greener and improve the governance between its stakeholders. We provide funds for projects developed and managed by public administrations, universities, private and civil society organisations.

The Interreg Euro-MED Programme supports cooperation across Mediterranean borders. We provide funds for projects developed and managed by public administrations, universities, private and civil society organisations. The Programme brings together partners from 69 regions of 14 countries from the Northern shore of the Mediterranean with a common objective: a climate neutral and resilient society for the benefit of its citizens. For the next seven year, together with our partners we will work to make the region smarter, greener and improve the governance between its stakeholders. The total programme budget amounts to about 294M€ for the 2021-2027 period.

ESF+

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)’s main instrument for investing in people and supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

With a budget of €142.7 billion for the period 2021-2027, the ESF+ will continue to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas. The Fund will also be one of the cornerstones of EU socio-economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has reversed gains in labour participation, challenged educational and health systems and increased inequalities. The ESF+ will be one of the key EU instruments helping Member States to address these challenges. As part of cohesion policy, the ESF+ will also continue its mission to support economic, territorial and social cohesion in the EU – reducing disparities between Member States and regions.

LIFE

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Created in 1992, it has co-financed thousands of projects. The LIFE programme 2021-2027 is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and has a budget of €5.4 billion and is divided into four sub-programmes:

• Nature and biodiversity
• Circular economy and quality of life
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Clean energy transition 

PILOT PROJECTS AND PREPARATORY ACTIONS (PPPA)

Pilot projects and preparatory actions are experimental initiatives designed to test the feasibility of new actions and prepare new programmes. PPPAs might turn into EU funding programmes. Pilot projects are designed to test the feasibility of an action, and last not more than 2 years. Preparatory actions last for up to 3 years, and are often the successor of a successful pilot project. They are designed to prepare new EU policies, legislation, programmes etc.

Tender Opportunities

EU institutions, agencies and other bodies, as well as various international donors regularly publish Calls for tenders for the provision of services (technical assistance, studies etc.) in different sectors. Tendering is a competitive bidding process that awards contracts to the candidate proposing the best quality-price ratio.

CESIE’s main priority fields are:

• Entrepreneurship, employment and employability
• Education – Elementary and Secondary School Education; VET
• Gender Equality
• Social Inclusion, support to civil society organisations
• Radicalisation and extremism prevention
• Digitalisation; online communication and online campaigning, e-learning