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CERV – Citizens’ engagement and participation 2026 – 2026

CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme aims at protecting and promoting EU rights and values and to contribute to sustaining and further developing open, rights-based, democratic, equal, and inclusive societies based on the rule of law.

2026-04-29
30 million euros
Open

Call synthesis

Call reference CERV-2026-CITIZENS-CIV
Programme CITIZENS, EQUALITY, RIGHTS AND VALUES PROGRAMME
Institution European Commission
Sectors Citizenship & Human Rights Culture, Media & Communication Education & Training Justice, Security, Defence
Beneficiaries Association & NGO EU & International Organisation Large company (> 250 employees) Local Authority & Affiliated Entity Media & cultural organisation Research centre & university Smes & Start-Ups (< 249 Employees) State administration & affiliated entities

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Call reference

CERV-2026-CITIZENS-CIV



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Priorities and funded actions

Objectives

  • To promote citizens’ and representative associations’ participation in and contribution to the democratic and civic life of the Union
  • To empower strong and resilient democracies by supporting initiatives that reinforce situational awareness and support response capacity to safeguard the integrity of the information space

Priorities

  • Priority 1: supporting free, fair and inclusive electoral processes (focusing on information about elections and electoral rights, especially for mobile EU citizens)
  • Priority 2: promoting citizens’ active engagement and democratic participation in public policymaking, beyond elections, as well as broader civic engagement
  • Priority 3: countering the spread of disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in the democratic debate and processes

Among financed actions

  • Communication campaigns
  • Communication tools
  • Development of support materiel (toolkits, digital tools)
  • Trainings / workshops
  • Creation of support structures (contact points, helplines)
  • Organisation of participatory and deliberative consultative exercises

Eligibility

  • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • Be established in one of the eligible countries:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
    • 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 (list of participating countries)
  • Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must comply with specific conditions for each sub-priority (see details on the call document).
  • Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal
  • The lead applicant (i.e. “Coordinator”) cannot submit more than one application under this call for proposals, across all priorities/topics.
  • The consortium composition must comply with different conditions for each sub-priority:
    • Sub-priorities 1.1 and 2.1, priority 3: a consortium of at least two applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities, not associated partners) from 2 different eligible countries (transnational projects) must be constituted
    • Sub-priority 1.2: applications by single applicants are allowed (single beneficiaries), as well as proposals submitted by a consortium of at least two applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities, not associated partners)

Additional information

  • Initial duration of the action: between 12 and 24 months

Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

  • Contact:

Useful

Financement
  • Total budget of the call: 30 million euros
  • Budget per topic:
    • CERV-2026-CITIZENS-CIVENGAGEMENT-ELECTIONS: 10 million euros
    • CERV-2026-CITIZENS-CIVENGAGEMENT-BEYOND-ELECTIONS: 10 million euros
    • CERV-2026-CITIZENS-CIVENGAGEMENT-DISINFOFIMI: 10 million euros
  • Amount of the grant: minimum 75 000 euros

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

This grant is a lump sum grant.