Turkey: EU providing nearly $5M for joint NGO projects

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - The EU will give financial support of €4.5 million ($4.94 million) for joint projects between Turkish and EU-based NGOs for projects related to Turkey’s EU accession process, said Turkey on Tuesday.

Turkey and the EU are working to develop projects to be carried out jointly by civil society groups in the sixth phase of the Turkey-EU civil society dialogue program in 2020-2021, said a statement by the EU Affairs Directorate of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry.

The directorate and EU-based NGOs started cooperation in 2008 aiming to unite civil society organizations from Turkey and the EU around common topics.

"The program with a total budget of €4.5 million [$4.94 million] aims to develop projects jointly carried out by civil society organizations from Turkey and the EU Member States on issues related to all the chapters of the EU negotiation process," the statement said.

"At least €60,000 and up to €150,000 grant support will be provided to the projects jointly developed by associations, foundations, federations/confederations of associations and foundations, and non-profit making cooperatives from Turkey with the non-profit making organizations from EU member states," it added.

Applications for participation in the project can be made through Turkey’s Central Finance and Contracts Unit (cfcu.gov.tr) or by courier, post, or hand by Nov. 12, said the statement.