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European Economic and Social Committee
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2011 EESC CIVIL SOCIETY PRIZE
Rewarding excellence in civil society initiatives
ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY CRITERIA
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A)Eligibilitycriteria
1.Themeof the 2011 EESCCivil Society Prize
Dialogue and participation fostering EU values
Integration, diversity, solidarity, tolerance
The prizewillrewardcivil society projects and initiativesserving the EU values and the overall objective of the prize which proved to be innovative in concept and application and brought a valuable contribution to the well-being of the community. Dialogue and participation must be the essential means through which these initiatives and projects have been achieved.
2.Eligible projects and initiatives
2.1The projects or initiatives that have led to an organisation being proposed for the prize must address one or more of the EU values explained below, in order to boost the rule of law, in a more tolerant European society.
- Integration
An inclusive society is a society for all, equipped with mechanisms which facilitate/enable people’s active participation in their political, economic and social lives. As such, "it over-rides differences of race, gender, class, generation, and geography, and ensures equal opportunities for all to achieve full potential in life, regardless of origin. Such a society fosters,[and] at the same time, emanates from well-being of each individual, mutual trust, sense of belonging and inter-connectedness." (United Nations definition)
The EU must promote the best living conditions for every citizen. The EU not only should allow everyone to have a decent work and life, but also needs to be a promoter of social integration.
Types of projects/initiatives concerned:
Projects/initiativesdesigned to facilitate and promote the social integration of citizens (concrete ones such as events or recurrent activities or virtual ones for instance by using new technologies and media);
Projects/initiativesaimed at fighting xenophobia and racism at local, regional, national and/or EU level (for example the treatment of minorities including the Roma);
Projects/initiatives promoting and ensuring respect for human rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (e.g. freedom of expression, the rights of people with disabilities, women's rights, etc.);
- Diversity
The EU is still young, and it needs to grow and to see its diversity as a means of finding the right balance between different national characteristics and of establishing common rules for the good of all citizens. European civil society must allow more equity between citizens, between generations, between men and women, between different religious practices and between different cultures. This is a prerequisite for social cohesion based on universal freedom and mutual respect. Diversity represents a huge potential for creativity, innovation, giving birth to new ways of looking at ourselves and our environment.
Types of projects/initiatives concerned:
Projects/initiativesdesigned to exploit the added value and wealth that resides in the diversity in Europe: generational differences, the differences between men and women, differences in religious practices, differences in communities, culture and lifestyles, and between other forms of cultural particularities.
- Solidarity
Europe must lead by example in terms of solidarity, which is the glue for a strong society and a source of cohesion. Solidarity is also a value that allows individuals to grow and not to stagnate. Europeneeds to strengthen solidarity towards the poor, the older generations, and the most vulnerable.
Volunteering is an active way for citizens to express solidarity and to strengthen solidarity as a European value.
Types of projects/initiatives concerned:
Assertive and innovative projects/initiatives designed to support the weak and the marginalised in our societies, in general;
Projects/initiatives promoting a fair treatment of migrants and refugees with respect and in line with the EU principle of solidarity;
Projects/initiativesaimed at combating populist nationalism.
- Tolerance
A Europe of peace must be based on the principle of tolerance. The European Union must promote the values of freedom and tolerance. These policies should aim at protecting fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,placing freedom of expression and of movement at the centre of their concerns.
Types of projects/initiatives encouraged to apply for the prize:
Projects/initiatives promoting tolerance between Member States, between societies, between groups of individuals or between individuals.
Projects/initiativesaimed at combating discrimination within communities, where everyone, irrespective of gender, disability, age or sexual orientation can enjoy similar education, professional and personal development in the spirit of tolerance.
2.2The projects/initiatives concernedshould be innovative in nature, with a long lasting positive impact on the public perception of the European integration process.
Particular attention will be given to projects and initiatives which have:
Facilitated and encouraged the broadest possible participation of stakeholders at local, regional, national and/or European level;
Contributed to the building of solid partnerships between different stakeholders at various levels;
Used innovative tools and methods for dialogue and participation and created understanding and consensus.
B)Entry criteria
1.Eligible candidates
The EESC Civil Society Prize is open to civil society organisations[1], established within the European Union, and acting at local, national, regional or European level.
Candidates for the prize have to be nominated by:
- one or several members of the European Economic and Social Committee; or
- one or several national ESCs or similar institutions; or
- one or several European civil society organisations and networks.
European civil society organisations are not allowed to nominate themselves.
Applications sent directly to the EESC will not be considered.
2.Nomination procedure
Nomination shall be made by filling in the application form which is available on the EESC website at the following address:
The application form must contain all the information the selection board requires in order:
- firstly, to ascertain that the civil society organisations concerned fulfil the formal entry criteria; and
- secondly, to evaluate the substantive merits of each civil society organisation in relation to the theme and objectives of the prize.
In order to facilitate the organisation and conduct of the selection board's work, application forms and any accompanying documentation should be sent in French or English, wherever possible.
3.Deadlines
The final deadline for sending nominations is 7 October 2011.
Winners will be notifiedby the end of October 2011.
The prize-giving ceremony will be on 7 December 2011.
4.Submission of nominations
Nominations should be sent to the EESC secretariat either by email to the following address:
OR by post to:
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Unit for Relations with civil society organisations and constitutional affairs
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
For additional information, please contact:
Mr Patrick Fève
Tel.: + 32(0)2 546 96 16
or
Mr Christian Weger
Tel.: + 32(0)2 546 95 86
You may also send an email to the address indicated above.
If relevant for other potential candidates, replies to emails will be published on the page dedicated to the civil society prize on the EESC website, as indicated above, under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
5.Prize money
The total value of the prize is EUR30000 and it may be shared between three winners as follows:
First prize: EUR20000
Second and third prizes: EUR5000(each)
The Committee is not bound to award all three prizes.
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[1]Civil society organisations can be defined in abstract terms as the sum of all organisational structures whose members have objectives and responsibilities that are of general interest and who also act as mediators between the public authorities and citizens. Their effectiveness is crucially dependent on the extent to which their players are prepared to help achieve consensus through public and democratic debate and to accept the outcome of a democratic policy-making process. Civil society organisations include: the so-called labour-market players, i.e. the social partners; organisations representing social and economic players, which are not social partners in the strict sense of the term; NGOs(non-governmental organisations) which bring people together in a common cause, such as environmental organisations, human rights organisations, consumer associations, charitableorganisations, educational andtraining organisations, etc.; CBOs (community-based organisations, i.e. organisations set up within society at grassroots level which pursue member-oriented objectives), e.g. youth organisations, family associations and all organisations through which citizens participate in local and municipal life; religious communities. (Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on The role and contribution of civil society organisations in the building of Europe – CESE 851/1999 of 22 September1999).