EU funds News published: 21 October 2026Published on the site: 26 October 2026 5 min read

CERV European remembrance: €28 million for NGOs, museums and town halls, deadline 24 February

The CERV European Remembrance 2026 call offers €28 million across five topics, with lump-sum grants of €50,000–500,000 for consortia led by non-profit organisations. Applications are due by 24 February 2027, 17:00.

Todos & Company editorial team · EU funding consultancy since 2006

CERV European remembrance: €28 million for NGOs, museums and town halls, deadline 24 February

Programme sheet · Call window open CERV — European Remembrance (CERV-2026-CITIZENS-REM) Deadline: 24 February 2027

On 21 October 2026 the European Commission opened the CERV "European Remembrance" call (CERV-2026-CITIZENS-REM), with a budget of €28 million for projects on the memory of 20th-century European history. NGOs, museums, universities and public authorities in Romania can apply for lump-sum grants of €50,000–€500,000 per project, in consortia of at least two organisations. The submission deadline is 24 February 2027, 17:00 Brussels time.

In brief

Programme: Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV), European Remembrance strand
Authority: European Commission, through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
Beneficiaries: a non-profit lead applicant (public or private body) or an international organisation, plus at least one co-applicant
Total budget: €28 million, divided across five topics
Value per project: between €50,000 and €500,000, lump-sum grant
Project duration: 12–24 months
Submission period: 21 October 2026 – 24 February 2027, 17:00 CET
Status: call open, single-stage submission

Which topics does the call fund and how much does each have?

The call has five topics, each with its own budget, according to the topic sheets published on the Commission's portal and the summaries by the regional and national authorities promoting it:

TRANSITION – €4 million: the memory of democratic transitions, the rebuilding of institutions and resistance to authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, including communist and fascist dictatorships, as well as historical justice mechanisms (trials, restitution, amnesties, restorative justice).
HOLOCAUSTJEW – €14 million: the memory of the Holocaust against Jews.
GENCRIME-1 – €2.5 million: the memory of Roma victims of the Nazi genocide, with explicit reference to the several centuries of Roma slavery in Romania and to the persecutions of the fascist and communist periods.
GENCRIME-2 – €2.5 million: the memory of LGBTIQ+ victims and of other communities persecuted on grounds of identity, beliefs or social status.
HISTMIGRATION – €5 million: the legacy of colonialism, slavery and migration and their effects on European societies today.

Who can apply?

The project is submitted by a consortium of at least two applicants: a lead applicant and at least one co-applicant. The lead applicant must be a non-profit legal entity, public or private, or an international organisation. Leaders can be, for example, associations and foundations, museums, universities, research institutes and local public authorities.

Companies can join a project only as co-applicants, in partnership with public or non-profit entities. National projects are allowed, and transnational cooperation is encouraged. Romania is eligible, as an EU Member State.

What activities can be funded?

The topic descriptions give examples of activities:

research into how the crimes were organised and the role of the perpetrators;
countering the denial, distortion and trivialisation of history;
digitisation of historical materials and testimonies;
educational programmes and curriculum development, especially for young people;
commemorations, artistic projects on memory, youth networks;
collecting and preserving archives and testimonies.

Funding is lump-sum. This means the budget is approved by work packages, and payment depends on the activities being delivered, not on the reimbursement of each invoice. The full financial rules are in section 10 of the call document.

How and by when do you apply?

The application is submitted online, on the Commission's Funding & Tenders portal, by 24 February 2027, 17:00 CET. The technical part (Part B) is limited to 70 pages. The indicative timetable provides for evaluation between February and August 2027, and for contract signature between August and November 2027.

On 5 November 2026 EACEA is holding an online information session about the call. Registration closes on 30 October 2026.

What this means for your business

Our recommendations:

Town halls and county councils: the topics on democratic transition and on the Roma fit well with Romania's local history: the memory of communist repression, former places of detention, deported Roma communities. A local authority (UAT) can lead the project together with a museum or a local NGO.
The consortium matters: evaluators look at whether the partners have real experience in history, education or working with communities. A partner from another Member State strengthens the project, even though it is not mandatory.
A lump-sum budget requires careful planning: each work package must have verifiable results. If the deliverables are not achieved, the payment may be reduced.
Competition is high on the smaller topics: with €2.5 million per topic and grants of up to €500,000, only a few projects can be funded. A realistic budget of €100,000–€250,000 may be more competitive.
Companies (for example, in media production, digitisation or events) can join only as partners of a non-profit or public organisation.

If you are not sure what role your organisation can play, start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can a town hall in Romania lead a CERV European remembrance project?

Yes. The lead applicant must be a non-profit entity, public or private, or an international organisation, and local public authorities fall into this category. The town hall needs at least one co-applicant to form the minimum consortium.

How large can the grant be?

Between €50,000 and €500,000 per project, as a lump sum. The total budget of the call is €28 million, divided across five topics, from €2.5 million to €14 million.

Can a company apply on its own?

No. Companies can participate only as co-applicants, in partnership with public or non-profit entities. The consortium leader must be a non-profit or international organisation.

How long can the project last?

Between 12 and 24 months. The Commission's indicative timetable provides for contract signature between August and November 2027, so activities would start in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.

What is the exact deadline?

24 February 2027, 17:00, Brussels time. Submission is in a single stage, on the Funding & Tenders portal.

Official sources

Information checked on 26 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.