The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme is an EU funding programme launched in 2021 for seven years. It was created along with the 2021-2027 Justice programme under the Justice, Rights and Values Fund. The CERV programme funds projects aimed at, among other things, safeguarding diversity and civil rights, combating gender-based violence, empowering citizens in democratic life and valuing European history. CERV financially supports public and private entities as well as non-profit organisations who, through their projects, help implement the programme’s objectives.
The main goals of the (CERV) programme are to protect and promote the rights and values enshrined in the EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and various international conventions on human rights. In practice, this means supporting and developing open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. It also means supporting a vibrant and empowered civil society at the local, regional, national, and transnational levels, encouraging people’s democratic, civic and social participation and cultivating the rich diversity of European society, based on Europe’s common values, history and memory.
Within the framework of this program, the project “PEN – Participatory EU Enlargement” is also being implemented, with a duration of 18 months.
To strengthen citizen participation in one of the most important debates about the future of the European Union, we would like to launch PEN – Participatory EU Enlargement, a project designed to empower and connect citizens of the EU, the Western Balkans, and Ukraine to actively engage in shaping the EU enlargement process. The project’s goal is to promote citizen participation in the EU enlargement, enable exchanges between citizens, experts, and NGOs from both current members and candidate countries to express their ideas and concerns, and equip them with tools, knowledge, and opportunities to discuss and jointly shape the future of the EU.
The Participatory EU Enlargement project brings together a consortium of eight partners from eight countries: Poland, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Ukraine.
The consortium links different types of organizations each with special expertise relevant to the project objectives:
- THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION (EIF) – a Polish NGO focusing on strengthening civic engagement and youth participation in Europe. It has wide experience in facilitating international youth cooperation, knowledge exchange, and training the next generation to be engaged and active citizens committed to democracy and freedom. Its main expertise lies in international youth outreach and mobilization, and extensive experience in EU project management.
- THE REMEMBRANCE FORUM GERMANY (RBF) – promotes civic participation and democratic engagement through historical education and transnational dialogue. It empowers youth and educators by addressing the legacy of history and authoritarianism within a European context. Its expertise covers key areas such as non-discrimination, tolerance, human rights, and intercultural understanding, as well as methods like storytelling, simulations, role-play, and collaborative workshops.
- PILLAR FOUNDATION (PILLAR) – a Hungarian non-profit with a mission to educate youth about the EU and EU integration, strengthen European identity, and spread the values of democracy, cultural diversity, human rights, and solidarity. Its expertise includes EU history, values, and policies, youth outreach, active citizenship workshops, outreach with EU policymakers. It is a member partner of the Eurodesk network.
- THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF TRADE AND ECONOMICS (SUTE) – a leading Ukrainian university with a strong focus on social sciences, law, and international economic relations. It plays an active role in supporting EU integration through education that emphasizes civic participation, transparency, and anti-corruption. SUTE promotes democratic engagement by connecting academia, government, and civil society in EU-focused initiatives. Its international partnerships and Erasmus+ programs foster student mobility and participation in shaping the European future.
- IUVENTA – a Serbian NGO dedicated to youth empowerment, civic participation, and social inclusion, with a strong focus on marginalized and rural communities. IUVENTA is an experienced partner in EU-funded projects that advance youth engagement and democratic values. It has wide-ranging expertise in non-formal education, civic participatory methods, digital tools, and e-democracy.
- THE SOCIAL CONTRACT INSTITUTE (SCI) – an Albanian NGO advancing democratic participation, youth empowerment, and regional cooperation. SCI is a key contributor to democratic development in Albania and the region, it actively promotes EU integration by engaging young people in dialogue on enlargement and policy reform. Its main expertise and consortium asset lies in its knowledge of civic education tools and methods, informed advocacy for EU accession, and its broad regional network, supported by memberships in NECE, WBF, and Weber 3.0.
- NEW HORIZON (NH) – Montenegrin NGO focused on increasing citizen participation in decision-making, developing democracy, and promoting good governance, through the realization of educational and integration programs. Its expertise lies in youth non-formal education, interethnic communication and facilitation, and CSO capacity-building.
- THE YOUTH INITIATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – Kosovo (YIHR KS) is an NGO focusing on civic activism, youth mobilization, and promoting civic participation, institutional accountability, and transparency in democratic development. Its initiatives emphasize human rights, rule of law, transitional justice, and cross-border youth dialogue. It is a part of the YIHR regional network of NGOs with programs in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus it will be a great asset in dissemination and ensuring transnational impact.
