Europe Challenge 2025/2026 (up to EUR 10,000)

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About Europe Challenge

The Europe Challenge is a unique growing network of European libraries that work together to enhance democratic participation and social and environmental well-being through citizen-led local change by connecting with each other across European borders.

Priority Topics

The Europe Challenge 2025/26 is seeking initiatives that address one or more of Europe's key transitions: social, digital, and green. They are looking for creative ideas from libraries and community groups that contribute to building a more inclusive, connected, and sustainable Europe.

• Social: Initiatives that strengthen social inclusion, equality, active citizenship, and community wellbeing. This includes initiatives that support vulnerable or underrepresented groups, address low voter turnout, promote civic engagement and democratic participation, tackle issues such as inequality and polarisation, or focus on issues such as social isolation, mental health challenges, declining literacy skills and reading habits, or intergenerational divides.
• Digital: Initiatives that enhance European digital citizenship by promoting tactics, skills, and behaviors that enable individuals to engage with digital content critically and democratically. These initiatives should foster more meaningful interaction and proactive democratic engagement in the digital space. This includes efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation, bridge digital divides, and encourage safe and responsible use of technology and social media. They are especially interested in initiatives that foster digital literacy among young people, tackle issues like fake news, and address challenges arising from rapid Al developments.
• Green: Initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, climate awareness, and resilience within libraries and communities. This includes initiatives focused on environmental education, sustainable practices, and community-led climate action. They particularly welcome creative green/climate projects implemented on the ground, from community gardens to installing beehives around library spaces.

• Sponsor Organisation: European Cultural Foundation (ECF)

Benefits of Europe Challenge

The programme offers participating libraries and community groups the following opportunities:

• Funding of up to EUR 10,000 to implement a proposed project (optional).
• A series of online and in-person workshops and mentoring sessions.
• Additional peer-to-peer exchange opportunities, networking, and travel.

Europe Challenge Requirements

The application form must be completed in English, with no question left unanswered.
• Applicants must indicate one main partner to receive any funding that was applied for and awarded. This is normally the library, but if this is not feasible, the community group can be designated as the main partner.
• Only libraries and community groups based in the following countries can apply:

• A Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan
• B Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria
• C Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
• D Denmark
• E Estonia
• F Finland, France
• G Georgia, Germany, Greece
• H Hungary
• I Iceland, Ireland, Italy
• K Kosovo
• L Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
• M Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro
• N The Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Norway
• P Poland, Portugal
• R Romania
• S San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
• T Turkey
• U Ukraine, the United Kingdom

• At least one of the co-applicants must be registered as a legal entity. Both co- applicants must be represented by individuals who are at least 18 years old.
• Proposals involving political parties or organisations affiliated with political parties (unions, lobby groups, campaign funders etc.) as associate partners are not eligible.
• Applicants are expected to implement fair and sociable working conditions and transparent governance in relation to project staff, freelancers, volunteers, and service providers.
• A working proficiency in English is required to fully participate in the programme. Some assistance can be provided upon request to facilitate attendance at live meetings. For the online learning exchanges, however, Challenge teams are expected to arrange interpretive services themselves, if needed.
• Neither the library nor the community of choice has participated in previous editions of The Europe Challenge programme.

Selection Criteria
In addition to addressing one of the three priority topics (social, digital, green), proposals from Challenge teams will be selected according to the following selection criteria:
» Local relevance – the proposal addresses an urgent challenge for both the library and the local community. Additional involvement of local government or other local institutions is encouraged but not mandatory.
» Creativity – the proposal presents fresh, creative, and innovative ways to address a local challenge.
» Inclusivity – the proposal reflects the shared ambitions of the library workers and community members.
» Scalability – the proposal is implemented locally but with the potential to be scaled elsewhere.
» Climate sustainability – the proposal embodies a convincing understanding of fair and green (“just”) transition in Europe.
» European relevance – the proposal complies with European values of democracy, transparency, and inclusivity. It contributes to a positive European sentiment and solidarity regarding shared social, digital, and green challenges.
» Impact - the proposal is able to explain (and quantify) how it will have a positive impact on people and/or the environment (trans)locally.

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Selection Process
A three-stage selection process allows a review which considers regional interests, thematic focuses, and priorities regarding diversity, inclusion, environmental awareness, and the available funds:

» Technical eligibility check and pre-selection process by ECF staff.
» Second reading and scoring process by external advisors (including regional funding partners and library and community representatives across Europe from the alumni network of the programme).
» Final selection meeting with all external advisors.

Application Deadline

29 May, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

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