Serbia and Europe share the same values regarding cultural heritage, art and creative industries – that’s why we work together to preserve the common culture. So far, 146 organizations from Serbia have participated in 305 Creative Europe projects; 675 partnerships were established with organizations from the EU and South-Eastern Europe, among which the leading partners were from France, Germany, Slovenia, Spain and Italy. Do you want to be in this company? You can do it too!
The media and civil society organizations – trade unions, employers’ associations and other social groups – enable citizens to take an active part in setting the political agenda. Strengthened civil society, properly informed citizens – contribute to the development of civil society.
Find out more about the opportunities available to you:
Creative Europe is a European Union programme that provides financial support to cultural and creative industries, including film, music, literature, performing arts, and digital media. This programme plays a key role in promoting European culture, encouraging creativity, and strengthening international cooperation.
With a budget of €2.44 billion (2021–2027), Creative Europe fosters innovation and collaboration in the cultural sector by:
- Funding projects in the fields of culture, co-productions, and cross-border cooperation, enabling artists and organisations to connect and work together on joint initiatives across Europe.
- Enhancing the competitiveness of European cultural and creative industries, helping them grow, expand, and compete in global markets.
- Supporting the development, promotion, and distribution of European films and media content, increasing the global visibility of European culture.
- Promoting artistic freedom, cultural diversity, and innovation by providing space for new ideas and creative approaches to artistic expression.
Creative Europe contributes to the development of cultural identity and international recognition of European artists and industries, supporting not only the arts but also a culture- and innovation-based economy.
What types of projects are supported?
The Creative Europe programme is divided into three strands that support different aspects of the cultural and creative sector:
Culture Sub-programme – Promoting cultural and artistic cooperation
- Funds cross-border projects in culture and artistic initiatives
- Supports the translation and promotion of European literature
- Provides mobility grants for artists and cultural professionals
MEDIA Sub-programme – Strengthening the audiovisual industry
- Supports the development of films, TV productions, and co-productions
- Facilitates the distribution and accessibility of European audiovisual content
- Develops training programmes for professionals in the sector
Cross-sectoral Strand – Encouraging innovation and media literacy
- Supports innovative projects in cultural and creative industries
- Promotes journalism, media freedom, and media literacy
- Develops digital tools for the distribution of cultural content
Browse open project calls HERE.
Funding and project budgets
- Cultural cooperation: €200,000 to €2 million per project
- MEDIA development fund for film and TV projects: €50,000 to €500,000
- Literary translation: €100,000 to €500,000
- Creative innovation and digital content: €250,000 to €1 million
Who can apply?
The Creative Europe programme is open to:
- Cultural organisations, museums, and theatres
- Film production companies and media platforms
- Music, publishing, and performing arts institutions
- Educational institutions and non-profit organisations in the cultural sector
Applications for open calls are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Serbia Desk – National Contact Points (NCPs)
Culture Desk
- Vuk Radulović, Head: vuk.radulovic@kultura.gov.rs
- Milica Rašković, Project Manager: kreativnaevropa@kultura.gov.rs , milica.raskovic@kultura.gov.rs
- Bojan Milosavljević, Project Manager: kreativnaevropa@kultura.gov.rs , bojan.milosavljevic@kultura.gov.rs
MEDIA Desk Serbia – Film Center Serbia
- Una Domazetoski, Head of MEDIA Desk: una@fcs.rs
- Ana Ćosić, Financial Coordinator: ana.cosic@fcs.rs
Key resources and useful links
Through the Culture Moves Europe programme, Creative Europe provides grants for the mobility of artists and cultural professionals in all 40 countries where Creative Europe is present. It covers the sectors of architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, literature, music, performing and visual arts. The scheme follows the successful i-Portunus pilot project that ran between 2018 and 2022.
With a budget of €21 million, Culture Moves Europe offers mobility grants to around 7,000 artists, cultural professionals, and host organisations from 2022 to 2025. The programme is financed by the European Union and implemented by the Goethe-Institut.
More details: https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/creative-europe-culture-strand/culture-moves-europe
The New European Bauhaus is an initiative of the European Commission that connects the Green Agenda, as a vision of European development, with concrete living spaces and the experiences of citizens. The New European Bauhaus is also an open invitation to everyone to imagine and build a future together that includes sustainable urban development inspired by art, as well as economic and social development in harmony with nature and a preserved environment.
The initiative provides support in several categories, including:
NEB Award
The four award categories reflect the themes of the transformation of the New European Bauhaus:
- Reconnecting with nature;
- The return of a sense of belonging;
- Prioritising the places and people who need it most;
- Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life cycle thinking.
In each category, there are two parallel competitions:
- Champions – existing and completed projects in accordance with NEB values and principles; the winners receive €30,000 and a communication package.
- Rising Stars – concepts from young talents under the age of 30; the winners receive €15,000 and a communication package.
NEB Festival
The European Commission has invited actors from across the EU and beyond to participate in the second New European Bauhaus (NEB) festival, which will be held in Brussels in April 2024. The accompanying programme will consist of special video events across Europe. You can participate in or contribute to the festival in several ways:
- By presenting a project or invention;
- By participating in the artistic and cultural programme;
- By organising a special video event; or
- Through a media partnership.
The festival will last four days, and the programme consists of four parts:
- Forum – a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas related to the New European Bauhaus;
- Fair – a laboratory and exhibition of projects and inventions in accordance with the values of the New European Bauhaus;
- Fest – a celebration that combines culture, art, and entertainment; a place for communal joy, where freedom of expression is celebrated, and radical, innovative, and revolutionary ideas and visions are embraced;
- Video Events – special events and initiatives in Brussels and beyond, aligned with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
You can find all the opportunities offered by the initiative at the link: https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/get-involved_en
UNESCO, the British Council, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS ) have joined forces in managing Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans (CC4WBs), a programme funded by the European Union, aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue and enhancing the socio-economic impact of the cultural and creative sector in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia).
Through a broad participatory approach targeting public authorities, the private sector, civil society organizations in culture, as well as individual professionals in the sector, the CC4WBs project aims to:
(1) improve the performance of the cultural and creative sector in the Western Balkans
(2) strengthen the cultural cooperation within and with the region, and
(3) enhance inclusive cultural heritage for local development.
The programme planning stage kicked off in April 2022, with a view to organising different programme strands that will be taking place until April 2026.
More details at the link: https://www.britishcouncil.rs/programmes/arts/cc4wbs_rs
The project “Pulse of Europe – media visits to the EU” supports media from Serbia and their journalists to report from EU member states on examples of good European practices. In the new project cycle (2023 – 2024), group media visits are planned to the member countries of the Eastern Partnership (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine), as well as Great Britain; while individual media visits (with the support of the Project) are, for logistical reasons, organized only to EU member countries and the Western Balkans.
In order to ensure broad participation of all media in Serbia, the Call for Participation is open throughout the duration of the project.
Funded by the European Union, the Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program, is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with its implementing partner DW Akademie.
Focusing on public service broadcasters, the Program aims to enhance content and engage audiences. Implemented from 2023 to 2026, Program’s estimated results include improved management skills, internal structures and workflows of PSMs, and enhanced programming and public interest content. Media professionals are expected to improve their skills and innovation techniques, while special focus is given to young journalists, multipliers and trainers, quality journalism and audience involvement. The Program also aims to enhance engagement, expand cooperation and networking capacity of public service media (PSM)
Financial support plays a pivotal role by providing opportunities for co-financing newly developed project ideas, addressing specific needs and challenges faced by PSMs and media professionals in the Western Balkans. The Program is providing grants for public service media for innovation projects, regional co-production and international mobility grants. Media professionals can receive seed grants and financial support for independent investigative media.
Contact:
Monika Lajhner
Regional Events and Advocacy Manager EU-funded Program “Innovation. Media. Minds:
Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans”
Goethe-Institut Belgrad
Monika.Lajhner@goethe.de
More about the IMM: https://www.goethe.de/ins/gr/de/kul/eup/imm.html
BIRN’s editorial staff is currently participating in three projects: Strengthening quality news and independent journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey II, Media Innovation Europe: Energizing the European Media Ecosystem, and On the front line – protecting journalists’ digital security in times of crisis.
The call for all the above opportunities will be published on the following website in accordance with the time frame of the planned activity: https://euwbmedia.com/.
The project supports media organisations to become more competitive. To expand the reach of the selected media, the project also promotes quality journalism and supports new, high-quality formats that consumers trust and that are tailored to specific target groups.
The project is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with DW Akademie and Internews Europe as implementing partners.
All information about the programme and open calls is available at the link: https://www.wb6media.eu/
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest research and innovation funding programme, running from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of €95.5 billion. This programme plays a key role in addressing global challenges and driving technological progress. Its main objectives are:
- Tackling climate change and global health and social challenges through the development of sustainable solutions and technologies.
- Promoting scientific excellence and technological advancement, contributing to progress across all scientific fields and fostering innovations that shape the future.
- Strengthening European industrial competitiveness by supporting European companies to enhance their innovation capacities and compete on global markets.
- Encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers, creating synergies that accelerate the transfer of research results into market-ready products and services.
Serbia, as an associated country, has full access to the Horizon Europe programme. This means that researchers, institutions, companies, and innovators from Serbia can apply under the same conditions as those from EU member states. This provides an opportunity to enhance scientific cooperation and develop new technologies with long-term benefits for society and the economy.
What types of projects are supported?
Horizon Europe funds cutting-edge research, the application of science, and innovative projects. The programme is structured around four key areas:
Pillar I: Excellent Science – Supports top-level research, researcher mobility, and infrastructure development:
- European Research Council (ERC): Funds individual research projects with long-term impact.
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): Fellowships and training for researchers at all career stages.
- Research Infrastructures: Supports world-class research centres and ensures open access to scientific resources.
Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness – Funds research and innovation aimed at solving climate, health, and societal challenges. Clusters include:
- Health
- Culture, creativity and inclusive society
- Civil security for society
- Digital, industry and space
- Climate, energy and mobility
- Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment
Pillar III: Innovative Europe – Aims to make Europe a leader in breakthrough innovations that create new markets:
- European Innovation Council (EIC): Supports startups, SMEs, and deep-tech innovations.
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): Fosters entrepreneurship and industry-led research.
- European Innovation Ecosystems: Encourages cross-border cooperation between innovators and investors.
Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA):
- Supports cooperation, excellence, and knowledge exchange across Europe.
- Provides assistance to countries with lower participation rates in EU research programmes.
You can browse calls for project proposals HERE.
Funding and project budget
Horizon Europe covers a broad range of activities. Budget allocation depends on the type of project and activity:
- Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): Usually between €1 million and €10 million per project.
- Innovation Actions (IA): Focused on commercialization and development, typically €2 million to €15 million per project.
- Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): Related to policy and networking, usually between €500,000 and €5 million.
- ERC Grants:
- Starting Grants (up to €1.5 million)
- Consolidator Grants (up to €2 million)
- Advanced Grants (up to €2.5 million)
Who can apply?
Horizon Europe is open to a wide range of applicants, including:
- Universities and research institutions
- Companies (including SMEs and startups)
- Public institutions and policymakers
- Civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGOs
- Industry and business associations
Applications for open calls are submitted through EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Serbia Desk – National Contact Points (NCPs)
For guidance and support, contact the national contact points for Horizon Europe in Serbia.
Key resources and useful links
For civil society organizations, the following programs are available:
“Initiators of civil society in the Western Balkans for reformed public administration” is a project coordinated by CEP in cooperation with several partners.
The project focuses on the role of civil society in building healthy democracies and works to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) to become a reliable partner to governments in the EU accession process.
For information on the possibilities of financing within the scope of this project, the website www.par-monitor.org is at your disposal, and the platform www.pratimoreformu.rs, intended for gathering the experience of citizens about their contact with the public administration, may also be useful to you.
The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) aims to support and develop open societies based on the rule of law that uphold democratic values, equality, and inclusion. It is the largest European Union fund dedicated to promoting democracy, fundamental rights, and EU values. With a budget of €1.55 billion for the 2021–2027 period, the CERV Programme supports a wide range of activities that build a more equal, just, and inclusive society. These activities bring about significant changes that impact individuals and communities alike. The programme focuses on the following key areas:
- Supporting civil society organisations in promoting fundamental rights and democracy, ensuring legal and social protection for all citizens.
- Strengthening gender equality and combating discrimination and intolerance, contributing to the creation of a society in which everyone is treated equally.
- Encouraging active citizen participation in policymaking, allowing people to influence decisions that affect their future.
- Protecting victims of violence by providing crucial support to those affected.
As a candidate country, Serbia is eligible to participate in CERV projects aimed at strengthening democracy, human rights, and social inclusion.
What types of projects are supported?
The CERV Programme is structured into four main strands, three of which are currently open to applications from Serbia:
- Equality, Rights and Gender Equality: Promotes gender equality and combats discrimination; supports actions addressing racism, xenophobia and intolerance; and protects the rights of marginalized groups.
- Citizens’ Engagement: Encourages citizen involvement in EU decision-making; supports debates, awareness-raising campaigns and civic education; facilitates town twinning partnerships and the commemoration of key historical events.
- Daphne – Combating Gender-Based Violence: Funds projects that protect victims of gender-based violence; supports training and capacity building of professionals; and encourages the development of innovative strategies for violence prevention.
Current project calls can be viewed HERE.
Funding and budget per project
- Civil society: from €100,000 to €500,000
- Gender equality and anti-discrimination: from €200,000 to €1,000,000
- Citizens’ engagement and commemoration of historical events: from €60,000 to €400,000
- Daphne – violence against women and children: from €300,000 to €2,000,000
Who can apply?
The CERV Programme is open to a wide range of applicants, including:
- Civil society organisations
- Local and regional authorities
- Public institutions, schools, universities, cultural and research centres
- Media organisations and human rights defenders.
Applications for open calls are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Serbia Desk – National Contact Points (NCPs)
Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue
Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 2, Palace of Serbia, East Entrance, 11070 Belgrade
Contact:
Sanja Atanasković Opačić – sanja.atanaskovic@minljmpdd.gov.rs | cerv@minljmpdd.gov.rs
Key resources and useful links
The Western Balkans Fund (WBF) is an international organisation based in Tirana, Albania, founded by the governments of the Western Balkans. The programme is financed by six contracting parties in equal quotas.
The goals of the Fund are achieved through financial support for activities in any field that contributes to cross-border and interregional cooperation and strengthens regional cohesion. These goals primarily focus on the following areas:
- Improvement and development of cultural cooperation;
- Promotion and development of scientific exchange, research, and cooperation in education;
- Promoting sustainable development;
- Youth promotion and development, cross-border cooperation, media, environment, European integration, and gender as cross-sectoral issues.
The Western Balkans Fund provides various types of financial support to end users. The main regional grant scheme is the Call for Proposals, which is published periodically. From 2021, the Call for Project Proposals has been co-financed by the European Union, through the IPA – Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance. From 2023, a year-round open call for submission of project proposals, tailored to support mobility and corresponding grants in the region, was introduced.
More information about the programme and open calls is available at the link: https://westernbalkansfund.org/
The Regional Programme of Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2, known as the ReLOaD2 project, aims to strengthen democracy and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society and encouraging young people to actively participate in the decision-making process. It also seeks to improve the legal and financial framework to further encourage the development of civil society.
The programme is implemented by UNDP, and you can find more opportunities within the framework of this initiative at this link.
The EU Resource Centre for Civil Society in Serbia is a project led by BOŠ, in cooperation with several partners: Novi Sad School of Journalism, Užice Centre for Children’s Rights, Association of Economic Experts from Niš (ENECA), Young Farmers of Serbia (Jagodina), Safe Paths (Bor), and New Planning Practice (Belgrade).
Financial support will be available to civil society organisations throughout Serbia. The financial support mechanism was created to respond to the various needs of civil society involved in reform processes as part of Serbia’s accession to the European Union.
Through this project, it is possible to apply for several types of grants, the largest of which is €40,000. More information can be found on the website: https://euresurscentar.bos.rs/.
“Initiator of Civil Society in the Western Balkans for Reformed Public Administration” is a project coordinated by CEP (Centre for European Policies) in cooperation with several partners.
The project focuses on the role of civil society in building healthy democracies and works to empower civil society organisations (CSOs) to become reliable partners to governments in the EU accession process.
For information on the possibilities of financing within the scope of this project, the website www.par-monitor.org is available. The platform www.pratimoreformu.rs, intended for gathering citizens’ experiences about their contact with public administration, may also be useful.
The three-year public advocacy programme “Movement Polet” is financed by the European Union and implemented by the Trag Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Social Policy and in cooperation with the Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy (KoRSE). The programme was created with the intention of improving and supporting the process of public policy reforms as part of Serbia’s EU accession by providing financial and expert support to civil society organisations to advocate for changes that contribute to socio-economic development.
Supporting young researchers, civil society organisations, and empowering citizens to participate in decision-making processes are the key aims of this project.
Regarding funding opportunities, two competitions are planned for this spring: the “Advocates of Change” competition for civil society organisations in 2023 and the competition for internships within the “Movement Polet” programme. You will find the most important information on this site.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice on human rights to EU institutions, Member States, and partner countries. The Agency monitors human rights challenges across Europe, offering data, legal analyses, and policy recommendations aimed at enhancing democracy, the rule of law, and equality.
Although Serbia is not an EU member, it actively cooperates with FRA to align its national policies with EU human rights standards. This cooperation enables Serbia to improve human rights and social values, providing greater security and equality for all citizens, particularly in the following areas:
- Strengthening anti-discrimination policies and gender equality, contributing to the creation of an inclusive and equal society where all citizens have equal opportunities.
- Improving the independence of the judiciary and access to justice, enabling a better legal framework for human rights protection and fairness for everyone.
- Enhancing protection for minority groups and vulnerable categories of population, fostering social inclusion and societal balance.
- Monitoring hate speech, hate crimes, and digital rights, ensuring the protection of all citizens, especially those most vulnerable in the digital space.
What does FRA do?
FRA conducts numerous projects in various fields, providing research, data, and recommendations on human rights across different aspects of life.
Research and data: FRA employs multiple methods to research and collect data on the state of fundamental rights in the EU, including:
- Document analysis and research studies
- Qualitative socio-legal studies
- Legal opinions
- Extensive quantitative surveys.
The Agency carries out comparative studies and shares results through interactive data analysis tools, aligning research with relevant laws and policies. FRA also provides evidence and expert support to international organizations, civil society groups, and academia.
Capacity building: FRA helps national institutions and EU bodies strengthen their ability to protect fundamental rights by:
- Providing expert advice, guidelines, and targeted training
- Offering tailored, practical support to national institutions
- Building strong partnerships with key stakeholders. Areas of operation: FRA works to build a culture of fundamental rights in Europe, covering the following expert fields:
- Access to justice
- Protection of crime victims
- Information society and digital rights
- Roma integration
- Children’s rights
- Anti-discrimination
- Migration and migrant integration
- Racism, xenophobia, and intolerance.
Since April 2022, FRA’s activities are guided not by a five-year framework but by an Annual programming document.
Serbia Desk – National Contact Points (NCPs)
Ministry of Justice – Operational Contact
Danka Vasić
E-mail: danka.vasic@mpravde.gov.rs
Key resources and useful links
Info sessions
“EU Opportunities” podcast
Panel discussion
