| General Information
The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) was established by the initiative of the European Parliament in 1994 seeking to promote democratic societies governed by the rule of law and human rights worldwide, and recognising the vital contribution made by non governmental organisations in this area[1].
EIDHR is the financial instrument which underpins and complements the European Union’s human rights and democratization policy. It provides financial support predominantly to civil society and non-governmental organizations, and to some degree to relevant international organizations, for activities in third countries aimed at promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, supporting the processes of democratization and preventing conflicts and dealing with their consequences.
Three principal means are at the disposal of the European Commission to implement EU strategies in these fields:
a) Macro-projects, which are identified through calls for proposals and are implemented by civil society operators including local authorities (but excluding official state, national and international governmental organisations or institutions). An EC contribution for grants given under macro-projects tool varies from ˆ300 000 to ˆ 1 000 000.
b) Micro-projects, which are designed to operate at a level responding effectively to the particular needs of local civil society. Project proposals have to be submitted by a local organisation and are selected through local calls for proposals, managed directly by EC’s Delegations. Micro-projects facility is based on the assumption that grassroots organisations play an essential role in fostering social capital and the democratic development of their societies either as watchdogs of, or in synergy with public institutions. Financing under this facility is provided through Community grants of maximum ˆ 100 000.
c) Targeted projects, These projects are identified by the European Commission in the pursuit of specific objectives, which cannot be assured through the call for proposals or micro-projects. It allows the Commission to actively seek out and plan new initiatives corresponding to identified needs, with the partners of its choice, generally international and regional organisations.
5 Macro- and 27 Micro-projects from the EIDHR Annual Programmes 2002 – 2005 totaled to about ˆ 4 500 000 have been and are being implemented in Ukraine.
The programming of the EIDHR for the years 2005 and 2006 sets out to maximise the effectiveness, impact and visibility of the actions undertaken in support of the protection and promotion of human rights and democratisation in third countries.
The need for greater clarity and coherence of the objectives of this thematic programme will be achieved through the definition and implementation of four thematic campaigns, set out below. Each campaign will cover a number of interrelated specific human rights and/or democratisation priorities, providing a unifying identity:
Campaign 1: Promoting justice and the rule of law
Campaign 2: Fostering a culture of human rights
Campaign 3: Promoting the democratic process
Campaign 4: Advancing equality, tolerance and peace.
Ukraine is eligible for Campaign 2 and Campaign 3 for both Macro- and Micro-projects programmes. In 2006 respective calls for proposals have been announced and assessment has been accomplished for the EIDHR Macro- and Micro-projects Programmes 2005. Next year the EIDHR Macro- and Micro-projects Programmes 2006 will be realised.
More detailed information about the Programme could be found at :
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/projects/eidhr/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/projects/eidhr/projects_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/projects/eidhr/cfp_en.htm
www.delukr.ec.europa.eu
1) In order to provide a legal basis for all human rights and democratisation activities of the European Union under Chapter B7-70, the Council adopted two Regulations (975/1999 and 976/1999) on 29 April 1999 on the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms under Articles 179 and 308 TEEC. The validity of 975/1999 was prolonged on 15 December 2004 by Council Regulation (EC) No 2240/2004 and the validity of 976/1999 was prolonged on 22 December by Council Regulation 2242/2004.
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