Being a EU citizen and a volunteer

As a EU citizen, you have many opportunities to become a volunteer abroad depending on your project and your free time. Here are some examples to help you!

European Voluntary Service (EVS)

The volunteer carries out a public interest mission within a non-profit organisation (charity, NGO, local authority). The areas are different: Culture, environment, youth, support to vulnerable groups, etc.

EU programmes and funds for the 2014-2020 period - SECOND EDITION

I am pleased to let you know that the new guide on EU grants for the 2014-2020 period is now available. This is an updated version for 2016-2017.

Your feedback is welcome!

Click here to find out more on the guides I wrote.

#EUinMyRegion : Concours photo / Photo Competition

Je suis heureuse de participer au concours photo « #EUinMyRegion / L’Europe dans ma région » organisé par la Commission européenne. 

J’ai soumis trois photos et vous avez la possibilité de voter pour elles jusqu’au 11 septembre 2016 inclus (cliquez sur « Vote ! », suivez le lien et cliquez sur le bouton « Vote »).

***

I am pleased to take part in the #EUinMyRegion Photo Competition that is organised by the European Commission. 

I entered the competition with three pictures and you can vote for these up to 11 September 2016 (click on "Vote !", follow the link and click on the "Vote" button).

Photo 1 / Picture 1

Pôle Gares Saint-Omer, Hauts-de-France (France)

Vote !

Photo 2 / Picture 2

Cap Blanc-Nez Hauts-de-France (France)

Vote !

Photo 3 / Picture 3

Motte castrale Saint-Omer, Hauts-de-France (France)

Vote !

Merci pour votre aide ! 

Thanks for your support!

Project management: Gantt chart

You need to be well organised to carry out a project successfully. Different tools – such as the Gantt chart – may help you in this task.

Objective of the Gantt chart

The Gantt chart is useful to monitor project progress at the present moment and to prepare the progress report which has to be sent to the project funder (the European Commission for instance).

When project activities are not implemented on time the Gantt chart will help you in identifying problematic tasks and then reorganising the project.

Content of the Gantt chart

Europe in my region: The Louvre-Lens Museum

This post has been selected for the #EUinmyRegion blogging competition 

organised by the European Commission.

Do you like it? Click here, let it know and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.

Many thanks for your help.

Emilie.

I created an interactive map showing concrete action of the European Union within the Hauts-de-France new region in northern France. One of these projects caught my eye because of its great impact on the region: The Louvre-Lens Museum.

Background

Lens is located in the department of Pas de Calais within the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. This town of 33,000 inhabitants is at the centre of an area delimited by three European capital cities: Paris, Brussels and London.

When coal was found in the ground Lens entered a long period of prosperity from the XIX^th century with the industrial revolution. The region was particularly affected by the First World War: In 2014 L’Anneau de la Mémoire (“Ring of Remembrance”) was unveiled to remember the victims of the war.

Interactive map: The EU within the Hauts-de-France region

Did you know?

The European Union supports many projects throughout its Member States and their regions. I took the example of the Hauts-de-France / Nord-Pas de Calais-Picardy region in northern France to create an interactive map.

This map highlights great projects such as Louvre-Lens Museum, Amiens Cultural Center, Maison du Marais in Saint-Omer, etc.

Create a map

Click and see!

The European Union across borders

EGTC West-Vlaanderen-Flandre-Dunkerque-Côte d’Opale

The establishment of an area of peace and stability has been the aim of the building of Europe since its beginning after the Second World War, which has particularly affected the continent. The biggest steps forward are the launch of a common market in 1957, the opening up of the internal borders (Schengen area) during the 1990s and the introduction of a single currency, the euro, in 2002. The main objective remains the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital.

In cross-border region

On a regional scale the cross-border cooperation has taken shape through different initiatives over the years. Here is an example with the former French region Nord-Pas de Calais and its neighbours in Belgium and in the UK.

EU projects: How to deal with the conversion between the euro and other currencies

EU grants are calculated and paid in euros. However, in the framework of a transnational partnership you may have to work with partners from non-members countries of the Eurozone or the European Union.

The rate used to convert currencies is defined by the European Commission. The monthly rate is available on this website.

As the rate may vary you need to update the conversion between the currencies at each step of the EU project:

Good Practice on Project Development and Management VERSION 2

The second edition of the guide on Good Practice on Project Development and Management is now available for free download in partnership with the External Funding Team at East Sussex County Council.

NEW IN THE GUIDE:

• Building a strong partnership
• BID PREPARATION
• Timing and deadline
• Tips for bid preparation
• Organising your arguments
• Jargon Buster
• How to define a communication plan
• Project costing
• Risk analysis
• Implementation timeframe
• Successful bid writing
• Project approval
• Project refusal
• ANNEXES
• Time management: Meeting tight deadlines
• Organising and facilitating a meeting

Feel free to share and give us some feedback!

EU grants

Following key information on the EU, the European construction, the European institutions, the European competences and policies, the EU budget and EU achievements…

Final step to better understand the EU: EU grants

Grants are funded by the EU budget. These aim to co-finance projects that will meet the goals of EUROPE 2020 strategy and their outcomes will benefit EU citizens more or less directly.

Grants are made available through different EU programmes and funds and each of them deals with a specific topic. Applicants have to submit a bid during a call for projects to get EU funding (in most cases).

EU achievements

Following key information on the EU, the European construction, the European institutions, the European competences and policies and the EU budget…

Step 6 to better understand the EU: EU achievements

Policies

Main EU achievements so far remain open internal borders within the Schengen area and a single currency (euro). As seen earlier, the EU intervenes in many different areas according to its competences assigned by the Member States.

Here are some practical examples in some of the EU fields of action:

Looking for EU grants

Here are some articles to help you in finding the most relevant EU grant for your project, according to your profile and your area of action.

You are looking for a EU grant and you are…

• A business
• An organisation active in the field of research
• An organisation active in the field of tourism
• An organisation active in environmental protection and fight against climate change
• An organisation active in the field of employment and social inclusion
• An organisation combating discrimination
• An organisation active in the field of citizenship
• A school
• An organisation active in the field of youth
• An organisation active in the field of sport
• -          A cultural and artistic organisation

The EU budget

Click to enlarge

Following key information on the EU, the European construction, the European institutions and the European competences and policies…

Step 5 to better understand the EU: The EU budget

EU budget management

The EU Commission manages and implements the EU budget. In the framework of the institutional triangle, the EU Commission proposes a draft budget to the EU Parliament and the Council of the EU which must vote it in co-decision according to a specific process.

The European competences and policies

Click to enlarge

Following key information on the EU, the European construction and the European institutions…

Step 4 to better understand the EU: The European competences and policies

Competences

The competences of the EU are assigned by the Member States through the treaties. The European institutions (the “institutional triangle” formed by the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament) implement the EU policies thanks to legislative acts (regulations, directives, decisions, etc.).

The EU has competence in some specific areas which are organised in three different categories:

The European institutions

Following key information on the EU and the European construction…

Third step to better understand the EU: the European institutions

Main institutions

The European Council

• Sets out EU main priorities
• Composition:
• A president appointed for two and a half years: Donal Tusk
• Brings together the Heads of State and Government of the 28 Member States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission

The European construction

Notre-Dame-De-Lorette international memorial - Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, France

Step Two to better understand the EU: The European construction.

1945, assessment

• Two World Wars
• About 70 million deaths, and millions of people injured or missing
• Genocides
• Two atomic bombings
• Destroyed cities
• Fragile political and economic situation

An idea

• 1946: Winston Churchill talks about “United States of Europe” in his speech delivered at the University of Zurich;

The EU in a nutshell

© www.esa.int

First step to better understand the EU: Key information.

Official name

European Union

Acronym: EU

Definition

A political and economic association between different States throughout the European continent (and the associated overseas territories).

Number of countries involved

The European Union: how it works

© ec.europa.eu

Here are some articles to help you better understand the EU through seven key points:

1. The EU in a nutshell
2. The European construction
3. The European institutions
4. The European competences and policies
5. The EU budget
6. EU achievements
7. EU grants

Guide on EU programmes and funds for the 2014-2020 period

I am pleased to let you know that the guide on 

EU programmes and funds for the 2014-2020 period is now available for download.

Please feel free to give me feedback.

www.ow.ly/WzdG9

#COP21: EU process for environment and climate

As COP21 will take place from 30 November to 11 December 2015, I will write some posts to help you to better understand its stakes and the role of the European Union in tackling global warming. After a general introduction to COP21, EU competences and EU policy for climate and environment, let’s see the EU process for environmental protection and fight against climate change.

© EMAH

EU actions so far

From 1957 with the Treaty of Rome, environmental protection is a European concern.

In 1973, EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) is created to protect the environment in Europe.