EU funding programmes

Regulation (EU) No 2021/693 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishes the 
Justice Programme for the duration of the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027. It lays down the objectives of the Programme, the budget for the period 2021–2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.

The new Regulation, which applies from 1 January 2021, repealed Regulation (EU) No 1382/2013, which was valid for the period 2014-2020.

There are two programmes under the new Justice, Rights and Values Fund:
  • Justice Programme
  • Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme.
The Justice Programme, co-ordinated by the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, will continue to support the further development of a Union area of justice based on the rule of law, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, mutual recognition and mutual trust, access to justice and cross-border cooperation, thus also strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights. 

Within the general objective, the Programme has the following specific objectives:
  • to facilitate and support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, and to promote the rule of law and the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, including through supporting efforts to improve the effectiveness of national justice systems and the effective enforcement of decisions;
  • to support and promote judicial training, with a view to fostering a common legal and judicial culture as well as a culture based on the rule of law, and to support and promote the consistent and effective implementation of the Union legal instruments that are relevant in the context of the Programme;
  • to facilitate effective and non-discriminatory access to justice for all, and effective remedy, including by electronic means (e-justice), by promoting efficient civil and criminal procedures and by promoting and supporting the rights of all victims of crime as well as the procedural rights of suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings.
The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 is EUR 305,000,000.

More information on the Justice Programme as well as tender procedures and open and upcoming calls for proposals is available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/justice-programme_en#funding-opportunities

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme was established by Regulation (EU) 2021/692 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021.

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) will bring together the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme for 2014–2020 established by Regulation (EU) No 1381/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme established by Council Regulation (EU) No 390/2014.

The Croatian Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs will take over coordination and management of the programme in the new financial period (2021-2027), as stipulated in the Government Decision of 28 May 2021 Designating the National Contact Point for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme of the European Union.