Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme

Supports

The objective of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme is to protect and promote rights and values as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In particular, by supporting civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level. It aims to sustain and develop open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. That includes a vibrant and empowered civil society, encouraging people's democratic, civic and social participation and cultivating the rich diversity of European society, based on our common values, history and memory. The programme is based on four strands: Equality, Rights and Gender Equality - promoting rights, non-discrimination, equality (including gender equality), and advancing gender and non-discrimination mainstreaming Citizens' engagement and participation - promoting citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union, exchanges between citizens of different Member States, and raising awareness of the common European history Daphne - fight violence, including gender-based violence Union values - protect and promote Union values Open and upcoming calls for proposal under Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values. Funded projects Total budget 2021-2027 € 1.56 billion (current prices) Programme duration 2021-2027 This programme aims to protect and promote rights and values as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular by supporting civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level. The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme was launched in 2021 and will run for seven years until 2027. It was created along with the 2021-2027 Justice programme under the Justice, Rights and Values Fund. The CERV programme seeks to support and develop open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. That includes a vibrant and empowered civil society, encouraging people's democratic, civic and social participation and cultivating the rich diversity of European society, based on our common values, history and memory. The CERV programme has four pillars: Equality, Rights and Gender Equality - promoting rights, non-discrimination, equality (including gender equality), and advancing gender and non-discrimination mainstreaming Citizens' engagement and participation - promoting citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union, exchanges between citizens of different Member States, and raising awareness of the common European history Daphne - fight violence, including gender-based violence and violence against children Union values - protect and promote Union values Civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level, as well as other stakeholders, can apply to receive CERV funding for initiatives aimed at citizens’ engagement, equality for all and the protection and promotion of rights and EU values. Here you can apply for Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). 29 July 2025 Online Info Session – CERV Civil Dialogue - Call for proposals to promote equality and to fight against racism, xenophobia and all other forms of discrimination (CERV-2025-EQUAL) 13 February 2025 SUPPORT TO PREVENT AND COUNTER ILLEGAL HATE SPEECH, IN PARTICULAR ONLINE – EC-JUST/2025/OP/0001 Documents 2 DECEMBER 2025 CERV Indicative Planning 2026 English (27.45 KB - PDF) 2 DECEMBER 2025 CERV Work Programme 2026-2027 English (520.48 KB - PDF) 3 SEPTEMBER 2024 CERV indicative call planning 2025 English (18.3 KB - PDF) 5 JUNE 2025 Non-substantial modification of the CERV work programme 2023-2025 English (488.18 KB - PDF) 23 JULY 2024 CERV work programme for 2023-2025 English (421.83 KB - PDF) 1 DECEMBER 2022 CERV work programme 2023-2024 English (1.05 MB - PDF) 15 DECEMBER 2023 CERV indicative call planning 2023 2024 English (142.66 KB - PDF) 19 APRIL 2021 CERV 2021-2022 work programme English (1012.89 KB - PDF) 23 FEBRUARY 2023 Decision authorising the use of lump sums for actions under CERV English (1.51 MB - PDF) 18 MARCH 2024 CERV National Contact Points 2025 - update 23 January 2026 English (217 KB - PDF) Concrete examples of achievements 5 472 civil-society organisations have been supported by the citizens, equality, rights and values programme since 2021. 43 European citizens’ initiatives were registered between 2021 and 2024. At least 60 million people are expected to be reached by 2021-2024 citizens, equality, rights and values programme projects 77% of funding from 2021-2024 projects went to civil-society organisations. 93% of participants assessed the event in which they participated in 2024 as good or very good. 1 609 projects were funded between 2021 and 2024. 51 calls for proposals took place between 2021 and 2024. Rationale and design of the programme The citizens, equality, rights and values programme (CERV) seeks to promote the rights and values of the EU. Budget programming (million EUR): 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Financial programming (*) 98.9 214.9 214.3 218.6 236.3 290.9 90.8 1 364.7 NextGenerationEU 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Decommitments made available again (*) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Contributions from other countries and entities 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 Total 99.0 214.9 214.3 219.0 236.3 290.9 90.8 1 365.2 (*) Without Article 5 of the MFF Regulation for the year 2027. Key performance indicators The indicators below represent a selection of the core performance indicators from the programme. The links to the full set of core performance indicators and their associated metadata can be found in the Related Links section at the bottom of this webpage. Baseline Progress Target Results Assessment Civil-society organisations reached by support and capacity-building activities under the EU values strand 0 35% 6 300 in 2027 2 213 compared to a target of 6 300 On track Civil-society organisations reached by support and capacity-building activities under the equality, rights and gender equality strand 0 75% 847 in 2027 639 compared to a target of 847 On track Civil-society organisations reached by support and capacity-building activities under the citizen's engagement and participation strand 0 89% 2 372 in 2027 2 101 compared to a target of 2 372 On track Civil-society organisations reached by support and capacity-building activities under the Daphne strand 0 59% 1 120 in 2027 662 compared to a target of 1 120 On track Transnational networks and initiatives focusing on European memory and heritage as a result of programme intervention 0 44% 1 500 in 2027 652 compared to a target of 1 500 On track The preliminary results from the upcoming midterm evaluation show that the citizens, equality, rights and values (CERV) programme is progressing well towards its objectives, with most results far surpassing their milestones and targets. Between 2021 and 2024, 5 472 civil-society organisations were reached by support and capacity-building activities across all Member States and eligible non-EU countries. Overall, projects awarded funding under CERV calls for proposals in 2021-2024 are expected to reach out to at least 61 million people. The high ratio of quality projects helps to fulfil policy objectives. However, a funding gap is present in relation to equality, rights and gender equality and to combating violence against women and children and may limit the ability to fulfil the policy objectives served by these strands. The preliminary results from the upcoming midterm evaluation also show that the novelties introduced under the CERV programme, such as multiannual work programmes, lump sums and the streamlining of indicators, have significantly improved the predictability of the programme and programme monitoring, and have significantly reduced the administrative and reporting burden. The introduction of regranting mechanisms, a novel approach in this policy area, has helped to improve the accessibility of the programme for smaller, less-experienced beneficiaries through simplified application processes facilitated by intermediaries. Under the 13 calls for proposals in 2024, with a total budget of more than EUR 206 million, 2 865 project applications were received, of which 279 have been awarded funding. In addition, in 2024, 95 procurement contracts were concluded amounting to more than EUR 17 million. In 2024, the Access City Award 2025, recognising the leading European cities in terms of accessibility for persons with disabilities, went to Vienna, Austria (first-place winner), Nuremberg, Germany (second-place winner) and Cartagena, Spain (third-place winner). Moreover, Borås, Sweden, was awarded a Special Mention for Role Model on Built Environment and Transport, and Nuremberg, Germany, was awarded a Special Mention for Accessible Sports Infrastructure. CERV supported the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative with funding of more than EUR 2 million. In 2024, 11 new initiatives were registered that called for EU action in various areas, such as the protection of European agriculture, food security and water resilience; the provision of EU financial support for the protection of women’s reproductive health; and the protection of consumer rights in relation to video games. In total, 43 European citizens’ initiatives were registered between 2021 and 2024. The Commission continued its campaign to inform citizens of their right to use the European citizens’ initiative through online and offline activities, with the support of a network of European citizens’ initiative ambassadors and partners from all Member States. The CERV programme continued using the lump sum type II funding scheme in 2024, requiring additional support for applicants in defining clear outputs and justifying cost estimations. Re-granting scheme calls necessit