One of the strengths and richness of the EU is its diversity. AER is the place where local and regional diversities are indeed represented being a value for mutual learning and exchange of experiences.

Mutual understanding, acceptance and tolerance is a core element of fruitful coexistence of different ethnic, religious, national and linguistic groups, as well as of different generations and minority groups.

The REC-Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020, managed by the DG Justice, defends the rights and freedoms that people are entitled to under EU law. In the frame of this call “Pilot Project – Europe of diversities” – REC-RPPI-EUDI-AG-2016″ programmes, projects or activities that already achieved good results are wanted to share or be improved by new inputs and higher ambitions.

With the pilot project EU citizens in regions with multicultural and multilingual background, or where minority groups are particularly excluded or subject to discrimination, would receive the possibility to understand better each other’s culture, language and identity.

Activities funded by the call are:

• finance trainings, seminars,  and other events on how to maintain the uniqueness of Europe of diversities and how to promote unity in diversity;
• promote the exchange of good practices in fighting discrimination and promoting diversity;
• help to identify and target discriminatory practices and build understanding between majority and minority societies.

The co-financing of the grant can not be more than 80%. The requested grant should be not lower then € 150 000 but not higher than €250 000. Projects should not exceed 18 months.

The deadline for the submission of project proposals is 28 February at 17:00 Brussels time.

More information to develop a pilot project on  “Europe for diversity” are available on the participant portal, having a dedicated page for this call for proposals.

If your region is interested to the topic of this call and want to share its ideas with other regions potentially willing to work on the same issue, get in touch with AER Secretariat.