“Your Voice on EU Enlargement” applications open until 31 July 2026

Brussels – While accession negotiations are gaining new momentum in Brussels, the debate on EU enlargement is increasingly affected by misleading narratives about accelerated accession and prohibitive costs.

There is therefore a growing need to bring discussions closer to EU citizens, who deserve access to accurate and comprehensive information to form a clear understanding of the implications of an enlarged Union.

For this reason, the European Commission has launched Your Voice on EU Enlargement, a call for applications to organise events on EU enlargement between September and December 2026 across the 27 member states, helping to respond to this need for greater awareness and understanding particularly in Austria, Czechia, France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Applications can be submitted until midnight on 31 July 2026. They will be evaluated by the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) and its contractor. Successful applicants will be informed by mid-August 2026. All information and the application form are available here.

Selected applications may receive a financial contribution proportionate to their scale and format, up to a maximum of €20,000. Events may take different formats – including debates, workshops, conferences, roundtables, exhibitions, cultural events or activities – either as standalone initiatives or alongside existing local events.

Joint applications and partnerships are encouraged by the Commission, in particular between organisations in EU member states and candidate countries that contribute to meaningful exchanges and cross-border cooperation. They should create space for open and respectful discussions, allowing citizens, stakeholders and organisations to exchange views on the implications, benefits and costs of EU enlargement.

Events should help participants better understand how new countries join the European Union, who the current candidate countries are, and what EU enlargement brings in terms of opportunities and challenges linked to an enlarged Union.

Priority will be given to events showcasing engagement with Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine, as these are the candidate countries that are the most advanced on their path towards EU accession.

Events should aim to address at least one of the following topics: the EU enlargement process and its impact on Europe; business opportunities for EU companies and improved competitiveness; economic growth; addressing skills gaps through the creation of a new talent pool; and presenting the culture or cultural products (film, music, dance, performing arts, visual arts and cuisine) of candidate countries.

Events should enable audiences who may not otherwise participate to access information, including students and young professionals, business organisations, trade unions, sectoral stakeholders (such as farmers), local and regional authorities, and local media.

Applications from organisations targeting populations in rural areas, or focusing on small and medium-sized towns (between 5,000 and 50,000 inhabitants) will be prioritised.