Ensuring the consistent implementation of rights

This regulation establishes a new EU programme on rights, equality and citizenship for 2014 to 2020, which aims to protect and promote people’s specific rights and freedoms under EU law.

ACT

Regulation (EU) No 1381/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a rights, equality and citizenship programme for the period 2014 to 2020.

SUMMARY

The main goal of this programme is to further develop an EU area where equality and people’s rights are promoted, protected and implemented in the same way. Its focus is funding projects that will bring results with added value for Europe, including transnational projects, national projects and small-scale projects.

The programme has several specific objectives:

• to support the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and to respect the non-discrimination principle in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights;
• to prevent and combat racism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance;
• to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities;
• to promote equality between women and men and to advance gender mainstreaming;
• to prevent and combat all forms of violence against children, young people and women, as well as violence against other groups at risk, and to protect victims of such violence;
• to promote and protect children’s rights;
• to supportmaximumprotection of privacy and personal data;
• to support the exercise of EU citizenship rights ;
• to enable EU consumers or entrepreneurs to enjoy their full EU rights, having regard to the projects funded under the consumer programme.

Types of projects

To meet its objectives, the programme will fund a variety of different projects. These include the collection of data and statistics; studies, researches, analyses and surveys; training activities; mutual learning, cooperation, awareness-raising and dissemination activities; support for main actors, such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with projects that bring European added value in rights, equality and citizenship.

Who can participate?

The programme is open to all organisations legally established in the EU. It can also be open to organisations legally established in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and in EU candidate countries, potential candidates and countries joining the EU, if the relevant conditions are met. Profit-making organisations can only join if they work with a non-profit or public organisation.

The programme is based on annual work programmes and has a total budget of €439.473 million. Its implementation will be regularly monitored and evaluated.

The new programme succeeds the fundamental rights and citizenship and the Daphne III programmes, and two sections - Anti-discrimination and diversity and Gender equality - of the programme for employment and social solidarity (Progress) from 2007-13.

Last updated: 29.08.2014