WHAT ARE THE EU PROGRAMS (UNION PROGRAMS)?
Union Programs are a set of movements that are implemented to strengthen unity among EU member states and candidate countries, covering specific areas related to Union policies for a certain period of time. Citizens, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and public institutions can participate in Union Programs. Union Programs also make significant contributions to the work of candidate countries in the field of legislative alignment and implementation.
Union Programs come into force with the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe; and they are carried out by the relevant Commission General Directorate, which publishes the request for quotation (tenders) related to the program. The budget of the programs is constituted by the payments offered by the participating countries and the allocation from the EU budget.
Applications for a vital part of the programs are sent directly to the European Commission and evaluated by the independent experts. For some decentralized programs, applications and evaluations are made through national agencies located in the participating country.
As the main purpose of the Union Programs is to improve cooperation, partners from different countries must be present in the vast majority of applications. Most of the financial support provided from the program budget is given to projects that do not involve investment (such as cultural activities, personnel exchange, research projects, information sharing projects).
THE UNION PROGRAMS IN WHICH
TURKEY PARTICIPATES
There are several Union Programs fulfilled in crucial domains and for specific periods to support European Union policies.
The EU, which consists of 28 countries targeting economic and social unity, has numerous Union Programs in order to encourage cooperation in various fields and to bring the practices in the related areas closer. A notable part of these Union Programs, which are mandatory for all member countries, is also available to lands adjacent to the EU, such as candidate countries and Balkan Countries.