The PROGRESS Programme

A new call for proposals has been published in the framework of the PROGRESS programme

PROGRESS is the European Union’s employment and social solidarity programme, set up to provide financial support for the attainment of the European Union’s objectives in employment, social affairs and equal opportunities.
The PROGRESS mission is to strengthen the European Union’s contribution in the creation of more and better jobs and to build a more cohesive society.
 

More specifically, PROGRESS supports:
• The implementation of the European Employment Strategy (section 1);
• The implementation of the open method of coordination in the field of social
• protection and inclusion (section 2);
• The improvement of the working environment and conditions including health and
• safety at work and reconciling work and family life (section 3);
• The effective implementation of the principle of non-discrimination and promotion of
• its mainstreaming in all the European Union’s policies (section 4);
• The effective implementation of the principle of gender equality and promotion of its
• mainstreaming in all the European Union’s policies (section 5).
 

In the framework of the PROGRESS Programme, the European Commission has just published the Call for Proposals VP/2010/012 with a view to selecting NGO networks operating at European level, to work with the Commission and receive Union support on a stable and regular basis for the period 2011-2013. The selected NGOs should operate in the following areas: promoting social inclusion; combating discrimination; promoting gender equality; integrating persons with disabilities; and representing the Roma.
 

The European Union’s support is not intended for specific projects, but to cover the costs inherent in the functioning of a European NGO network.
 

Financial support may be awarded towards the operating costs of the five types of European organizations. The indicative maximum amounts of Community funding made available for the period 2011 – 2013 are as follows:
 

Area 1: European level networks in the area of promoting social inclusion
27.000.000 € - The Commission intends to co-finance:
• around ten organizations under this Area.
Area 2: European level networks in the area of combating discrimination
13.800.000 € - The Commission intends to co-finance:
• at least one organization per ground of discrimination namely disability, age, race/ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion/belief
• approximately three organizations representing intersectional groups, combining at least two of the following grounds of discrimination: sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Area 3: European level networks in the area of promoting gender equality
4.200.000 € - The Commission intends to co-finance:
• approximately two or three organizations under this Area.
Area 4: European level networks in the area of integrating persons with disabilities into society
3.600.000 € - The Commission intends to co-finance:
• around eight European-level organizations under this Area.
Area 5: European level networks in the area of representing the Roma
600.000 € - The Commission intends to co-finance:
• one European-level organization under this Area.
 

The deadline for the submission of a project proposal is 28th May 2010.
 

Further information on the Call for Proposal  is available here

Information on the Progress Programme is available here