General aims/objectives:

• Raise awareness of European policy agendas in education and training, in particular for the European Education Area and for the Union of Skills.
• Increase stakeholder commitment and cooperation with public authorities for the implementation of policies and reforms in the field of education and training, in particular for the implementation of policies in areas relevant for the country-specific recommendations issued in the framework of the European Semester.
• Boost stakeholder participation in the field of education and training, including by building upon the potential of digital communication alongside other forms of participation.
• Boost involvement of stakeholders and civil society in the dissemination of policy and programme actions, including results and good practice among their membership and beyond.
• Promote active engagement in civic society and raise awareness of the European Union’s common principles and values.

The call also embraces the general priorities of the 2024-2029 Von der Leyen Commission Addressing these priorities will impact and mobilise education and training policies, with a particular focus on the new ambition of building the Union of Skills, relying on the comprehensive approach to education and training under the European Education Area strategic framework.

These general objectives draw on the assets of ENGOs and EU-wide networks, and on their capacity to reach out to large numbers of interested parties and to support EU policy priorities. They should therefore be clearly embedded in the work plans, activities and deliverables of the applicant organisations.

Civil society organisations active in the field of education and training are expected to develop and implement innovative, targeted and creative strategies and activities to support the effective implementation of reforms and actions in multiple areas:

• Improve quality, equity, inclusion and success for all in education and training;
• Make lifelong learning and mobility a reality for all;
• Enhance competences and motivation in the education profession;
• Reinforce European higher education;
• Support the green and digital transitions in and through education and training;
• Enhance the global perspective in education and training cooperation;
• Stimulate active citizenship and encourage people to participate in democratic processes and in society, by organising events, workshops, trainings, debates on EU values and democracy, also in view of the Eurobarometer results;
• Promote the six core EU values that form the basis of our society: Respect for human dignity; Freedom; Democracy; Equality, Rule of law and Respect for human rights, including those of minorities;
• The Competitiveness Compass for the EU highlights that the foundation of Europe’s competitiveness, and preparedness for the future, is its people, with skills as an enabling condition. The Union of Skills proposes a new approach, combining education, training and employment policies, united around a common vision on competitiveness. The Union of Skills aims to support the development of resilient and adaptable education, training and skills systems to enhance the EU’s competitiveness and preparedness. It is equally important to foster a deep understanding of European Union values such as democracy, human rights, solidarity and respect for diversity.

Eligible activities must be directly linked to the objectives and priorities of the present call and must be coherent, consistent and cost-effective.

Activities may be performed at European, cross-border, national, regional or local level. The activities described should cover the two years of the framework partnership agreement. Every year, an operating grant, through a Specific Grant Agreement-SGA, may be awarded to the Framework Partners in order to finance their activities, insofar as they are in line with the objectives of the programme in the area concerned and the policy priorities that may be established by the Commission. The costs of general administrative expenditure necessary for the running of these organisations may also be covered within the yearly SGA.

EU-wide networks are expected to actively contribute to reflections on the implementation of the European Education Area, the Union of Skills and other relevant policy initiatives, by engaging their members in preparing, participating and implementing activities that can feed into such reflections. This includes implementing events and conferences where EU work towards the above-mentioned priorities will be the focus.

The organisations active in the field of Education and Training that will be supported under this call are expected to carry out activities such as indicatively:

• Activities facilitating access and participation of stakeholders in the implementation of EU policy priorities in the field of education and training;
• Exchanges of experience and good practice; networking and partnerships with other stakeholders;
• Capacity-building for the member organisations, including peer learning, training, advisory, guidance and coaching activities to improve the effectiveness of policy actions;
• Initiatives and events for developing the membership of the ENGOs/EU-wide network;
• Communication activities on EU values, EU policy priorities in the field of education and training and on related EU funding instruments supporting these priorities (European programmes, in particular Erasmus+, Cohesion Policy funds, Citizenship Equality Rights and Values Programme).
• Activities establishing synergies between Erasmus+ and other EU or national/regional funding sources are encouraged;
• Cooperation activities to increase policy impact on target groups, sectors and/or systems;
• Activities designed to bring to life the founding principles of the EU, enabling citizens to meaningfully engage in civil society and strengthening their knowledge of and connection with European values.

All the above-listed activities ( being indicative, and non-exhaustive) should contribute to widening the outreach using a variety of traditional and digital channels, to ensure a diversity of voices, and reach people within and beyond education and training organisations.