2019 LIFE calls now open

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Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It influences national economies and impacts on lives, people, communities and countries. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. The European Union supports climate action and environmental and nature protection not only through its commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also through its funding instruments. Climate action and transition to low-carbon economy is and will continue to be a priority for the EU, present in its strategies as well as financing priorities.

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding programme dedicated to support environment, nature conservation and climate action projects throughout the Union.

The 2019 LIFE calls are now open with a wide range of projects and topics covered.

Environment sub-programme, funding nature conservation projects in particular in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species:

Climate action sub-programme, supporting projects in the areas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, farming, land use and peatland management:

Operating grants for NGOs:

LIFE helps to make the application of EU environmental and climate legislation and policies consistent across the EU, exchange best practices, transfer know-how and make better use of project results. The programme provides action grants for pilot and demonstration projects to develop, test and demonstrate policy or management approaches. Projects creating technologies and solutions that are ready to be implemented are particularly welcomed by the European Commission.

Support services are in place to help applicants and those considering applying for funding to navigate through the fund. Each EU Member State has its national contact points across the various sub-programmes to help with your application.

Full description of the sub-programmes and application details can be found on the European Commission’s website. The IREO is keen to provide further information on LIFE and you may contact us here.

 

 

 

Open Call for Civil Society Projects

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The EU is made of citizens and for citizens, and that is why encouraging and facilitating their wilder involvement in the EU is of great importance. Europe is facing a challenging agenda for the years to come and it is now paramount for citizens to participate in discussions that help to shape EU policies.

EU’s Europe for Citizens Programme aims to ”contribute to citizens’ understanding of the EU, its history and diversity and to encourage the democratic participation of citizens at EU level”. It is an important instrument aimed at getting citizens to play a greater part in the development of the Union. The programme recently launched a call for proposals for projects under Strand 2: Democratic engagement and civic participation. Up to €3.7 in funding is available for civil society projects.

A Civil Society Project must include at least two of the following types of activities:

  • Promotion of societal engagement and solidarity: activities promoting debate/campaigns/actions on themes of common interest in the framework of the rights and responsibilities of the Union
    citizens and making the link to the European political agenda and policy making process.
  • Gathering of opinions: activities aiming at gathering the individual opinions of the citizens favouring a bottom up approach (including the use of social networks, webinars, etc.) and media literacy.
  • Volunteering: activities promoting solidarity among Union citizens and beyond.

Applicants must be either public bodies or non-profit organisations with legal personality. This will be the programme’s last call for 2019.

Ireland has great track record in the Programme, with projects spanning from democratic engagement, twinning towns, historical awareness or civil participation. An interactive map of projects across all Member States in the EU is available on the European Commission’s website.

The deadline for applications is September 2nd – and all relevant documentation can be accessed via the call’s website.

Second call – WiFi4EU

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The date of the second call of the WiFi4EU voucher initiative has been announced for 04 April 2019 at 13:00 CEST. With a call budget of EUR 51 million, the Commission will distribute 3,400 vouchers across European municipalities on a first come, first served basis.

In order to be able to apply for the EUR 15,000 voucher, municipalities need to register on the WIFi4EU Portal before the call. The voucher will allow the winning municipality to set up free Wi-Fi networks in public spaces. The call will be open until 17:00 CEST on 05 April 2019. For this call, the maximum number of vouchers per participant Member State has been raised from 8% to 15% of the budget of the call.

The previous call saw 44 successful Irish applications from a number of County and City Councils and municipalities are free to select the WiFi installation company of their choice.

Click here for the registration form.

Promoting energy efficiency – EU Sustainable Energy Week

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The Policy Conference, European Sustainable Energy Week, is the biggest European conference dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe. Sessions organised by the European Commission and energy stakeholders focus on sustainable energy issues, debate new policy developments, best practices and sustainable energy ideas.

Carrying the momentum of the 13th edition, the 14th edition on 17-21 June 2019 will feature interactive sessions and activities. The Policy Conference includes a Networking Village and the EUSEW Awards Ceremony. Throughout May and June 2019, numerous Energy Days will take place throughout Europe, signifying local and regional contribution to the EU’s climate and energy goals.

Taking place in Brussels between 18-19 June, the EU Sustainable Energy Week is the ideal platform for local and regional authorities, public bodies and private stakeholders to come together and discuss all matters relating to resource efficiency. It is the perfect opportunity to meet stakeholders promoting energy efficiency and renewable energies, learn about successful policies and inspire innovation to meet the EU’s energy and climate goals. Furthermore, the week will also see a number of awards presented to outstanding projects in the area of resource sustainability.

Registration and agenda is available on the official EUSEW website.

 

iCapital Award launches for the 5th time!

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Cities and towns are the backbone of our ecosystems, providing favourable conditions for the strengthening of innovation, resilience and sustainability.

The EU recognises cities with inclusive innovation ecosystems by awarding the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital). In its 5th edition, the iCapital prize enables European cities to showcase their contribution to developing local innovation ecosystems for the benefit of businesses and the well-being of their citizens. The award is managed by European Commission’s Directorate General for Research & Innovation.

An annual cash prize is awarded to the European city that is best able to demonstrate its ability to harness innovation to improve the lives of its citizens. This particularly includes cities that contribute to open and dynamic innovation ecosystems; involve citizens in governance and decision-making, and’ use innovation to improve the resiliency and sustainability of their cities.

The prize value to the named city is €1 million, with €100,000 for each of the five runner-up cities. The award also recognises a number of finalist cities specially acknowledged for their efforts in promoting innovation.

Cities with at least 100,000 inhabitants, in a Member State associated to Horizon 2020, are eligible to apply.

More details on the selection criteria as well as previous success stories can be found on the iCapital website.

Closing date is 9th June!

Interreg NWE – 9th call open

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Interreg North West Europe Call 9 Opens: Deadline 14th June 2019

Interreg North West Europe Programme ninth call for project proposals is now open.  The deadline for Step 1 applications is Friday 14 June 2019.  The application form and support documents are now available online.

The current call for proposals is only open to priority 1 and priority 3 of the NWE Programme. The Programme is looking for transnational cooperation projects that can deliver concrete results for the North-West Europe area and its citizens under its two priorities of Innovation and Resource and Materials Efficiency.

Priority 1: Innovation

Specific Objective 1: To enhance innovation performance of enterprises throughout NWE regions.

Within priority 1, and without excluding in any way other relevant topics for this priority, the NWE programme would welcome in particular projects dealing with:

  • Social innovation, including projects addressing the migration-related challenge, focusing on the integration of recognised refugees on the mid & long-term, in particular in the domain of entrepreneurship, employment and access to the labour market.
  • Innovative products, processes and technologies contributing to CO2 reduction and the green economy, including green transport, in line with the big societal challenges addressed by the Paris Agreement. 

Priority 3: Resource and materials efficiency

Specific Objective 5: To optimise (re)use of material and natural resources in NWE.

Within priority 3, the NWE programme is specifically interested in projects focusing on circular economy.

The Programme encourages public, scientific, private and civil society organisations to come together to improve the economic, environmental, territorial and social development of the regions in the North-West Europe area.

The application process is in two steps.  Step 1 focuses on the project need, its objectives and expected results.  If approved, it is developed into a full Step 2 application and success at this stage means full approval and a grant award of up to 60%.

For complete information about Call 9 please visit: www.nweurope.eu  Please contact Rita McGarvey, National Contact Point for Ireland for further information:

Email: rmcgarvey@southernassembly.ie
Tel: +353 51 860700
Twitter: @interreg_nwe

Interreg NWE is one of the fifteen transnational cooperation programmes financed by the European Union. It is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  The Southern Regional Assembly and the Eastern & Midlands Regional Assembly represent the Member State on the Programme’s Monitoring Committee. 

INEA launches 2019 CEF Call for Transport

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On 8th January, INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency) opened the 2019 CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) Transport for Proposals, making €100 million of funding available for projects of common interest in the transport sector. This is one of the last calls before the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020.

The 2019 annual CEF call focuses on two priorities:

  • Removing bottlenecks and bridging missing links, enhancing rail interoperability and improving cross-border sections of roads, railways and maritime ports positioned on the comprehensive TEN-T network (€65 million available);
  • Reducing rail freight noise by supporting the retrofitting of existing freight wagons with brake blocks or disc brakes (€35 million available).

Both works and proposals for studies are eligible for financing under the call, with various co-funding rates applicable and ranging from 10% to 50%.

During the Information Day held on 17th January, INEA commented on the ongoing preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, adding that almost all of the CEF budget for the current framework is committed.

Under the 2014-2017 calls, Irish applicants submitted 28 eligible proposals. 19 projects were selected, with Irish beneficiaries receiving €90.1 million of CEF Transport funding, and investing a total of €485.9 million in these projects.

Further details, as well as a breakdown of projects eligible for funding under this call are available by following this link.

Applications close on 24th April 2019.

Queries about the call can be directed to inea-cef-transport-infoday@ec.europa.eu

URBACT launches call for Action Planning Networks

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The URBACT III Programme is looking for up to 23 new Action Planning networks, aiming to help cities in Europe find solutions to common urban challenges. Bringing together partners from different European countires to share experience and learn from each other, the partners will produce an Integrated Action Plan and have the opportunity to test some solutions in their cities.

It is an exciting journey of discovery, sharing and experimentation which will empower city stakeholders, change the way your city works and have a real impact at local level.

It is an exciting journey of discovery, sharing and experimentation which will empower city stakeholders, change the way your city works and have a real impact at local level.This is achieved using a tried and tested URBACT method of exchange and learning and support from experts.

Want to know more? URBACT is organising a number of information webinars and the full schedule, along with registration links, is available here.

The deadline for applications is 17th April 2019.

Click here to consult the Terms of Reference for the Call, access the Guide for Applicants and use the Partner Search Tool.

URBACT Infoday – Action Planning Networks

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Would you like to learn more about the ongoing call for proposals for the creation of new Action Planning networks, which opened on 7th January?

WHEN: 22 January 2019

WHERE: Custom House, Dublin

REGISTRATION AND AGENDA: here

 

Over the last 10 years, URBACT has promoted mutual cooperation and exchange of experience across cities across Europe. It is an instrument of EU cohesion policy under the European Territorial Cooperation objective co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the national resources of the 28 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. The main objective of the program is to promote integrated and sustainable urban development by creating the conditions for cities to jointly develop solutions to similar problems, exchange experiences and share best practices.

URBACT – Monitoring Committee approves new transfer networks

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URBACT’s Monitoring Committee approves 23 Transfer networks for Phase 2

Two projects with Irish partners have been approved in the process.

Kildare County Council will partake in ”Volunteering Cities”, a network aiming to make use of volunteerism to approach social exclusion and poverty at the community level via inter-generational collaboration, where different age groups of volunteers and individuals facing social problems work towards a sustainable improvement of the quality of life withing the local society.

Cork City Council will partner in a project called ”Playful Paradigm”. To promote a more healthy and sustainable society through innovative approach, partner authorities will engage in the concept of gamification, in turn engaging city stakeholders in urban development.

More about the above and other projects can be accessed through the URBACT website.

URBACT is part of European Territorial Cooperation, responsible for fostering sustainable integrated urban development in cities across Europe. Co-financed by the ERDF and the 28 Member States, URBACT’S mission is to enable cities to create innovative solutions to urban challenges through networking, learning and identifying good practices.