EU – Baltic States, Funds, Good for Business, Labour-market

The EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2014-2021 are set up to contribute to the reduction of social and economic disparities in Europe. Despite positive tendencies in 2016, unemployment among young people continues to be a challenge in Europe. Recognising the strong link between social and economic equality and participation in the labour market, the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment specifically aims to support transnational projects that promote sustainable and quality youth employment. €60 million has been set aside for projects under this Fund.

The Fund’s focus on transnational cooperation reflects the view that unemployment among youth is a common European challenge and common European solutions should therefore be explored. The call seeks to complement existing EU funding on youth employment initiatives, and projects within areas that commonly do not receive EU funding are therefore of particular interest.

Target groups

The Fund aims to advance new and innovative solutions related to the specific needs of young people between 15 and 29, with a special focus on the 25-29 year olds. Projects developing solutions for:

• the long-term unemployed;
• the low-skilled;
• inactive women caring for children or incapacitated adults;
• ethnic minorities including Roma;
• asylum-seekers;
• people with mental health issues and
• the disabled

are of particular interest to the Fund.

Support areas

The Fund has three principal support areas:

• innovation and exploration;
• transfer of know-how and good practice;
• analysis and research.

Supported projects must involve multiple partners situated in different countries. The amount of grant assistance applied for within a project shall not be less than €1 million.

Call for proposals

The project selection follows a two-step procedure:

1.       A call for proposals where concept notes on transnational projects shall be submitted

2.       Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a final application

The deadline for submission of the concept note is 1 August 2017. The concept note shall be submitted electronically via the system administered by the fund operator – a consortium consisting of Ecorys Polska and JCP Italy, which assists the FMO in implementing the Fund. It is required to sign up for the EGREG system (https://www.egregsystem.info/fundforyouthemployment/) before the application can be completed.

For more information about the call and application procedures, please visit the website: http://www.eeagrants.org/fundforyouthemployment.