Europe Direct / EU funding programmes
What is EUROPE DIRECT?
EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is the local point of contact for questions and involvement relating to the European Union. Its task is to provide local citizens with information, advice, help and answers to questions about Europe, to promote engagement and to inform them about current European political events.
We do this on our Instagram channel, our Facebook page, via our events or in person by phone, email or during an expert consultation on our premises.
We provide you with information and materials and offer you a platform to engage in dialogue about the EU or European issues. Through EUROPE DIRECT you can also obtain all publications from the EU Publications Offce , usually free of charge.
SOTEU 10 September 2025 (State of the Union Address)
© Europäische Kommission
President von der Leyen on the State of the Union: "Europe must fight"
In her first State of the Union Address (SOTEU) of her second term of office, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for unity and a common European fight in view of the global crisis. "Afight for our values and our democracies. A fight for our freedom and for us to be able to determine our own destiny", von der Leyen told the European Parliament. "That's whyI'm standing up for unity today. Unity among the Member States. Unity of the EU institutions." This must be the moment of European independence. Europe must be able to take its defence and security into its own hands and have control over the technologies and energy sources that drive its economies (source: EU News 10.9.2025). Watch the recording of the speech here: SOTEU 2025
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The EUROPE DIRECT Network
The EUROPE DIRECT (ED) Bocholt is part of the Europe-wide network of EUROPE DIRECT Centres. They are a service of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The network covers all EU member states and currently has 433 centres throughout Europe. There are currently 50 centres in Germany. We are the interface between the European Commission, the European Parliament and citizens at the local level.
The EUROPE DIRECT network also includes the European Documentation Centres. They promote educational and research projects on EU integration.
In addition, schools, associations and other stakeholders can request speakers from Team EUROPE DIRECT's pool of speakers on various topics via this link Request form. In this brochure you will find the contact details of the speakers with their respective profiles. EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt will support interested parties with their enquiry and with the organisation of the event.
The EU's five biggest money pots
© Envato.com
The five largest European funds are the structural and investment funds:
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- European Social Fund (ESF) - ESF in Germany / ESF in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Cohesion Fund (CF)
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
Money from these funds and other funding programmes also flows to Bocholt time and again. Depending on the objective of a funding guideline, different target groups are addressed and authorised to submit applications. Possible applicants are, for example, companies, non-profit organisations such as sports clubs, educational institutions, individuals or the city of Bocholt itself.
Funding applications, especially for larger projects, are often submitted by several organisations. These should include several country partners in order to ensure cross-border added value for all partners.
Help with applications and finding partners
The task of EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is to provide information on European funding. To this end, EUROPE DIRECT researches funding opportunities with which development in Bocholt can be meaningfully supported.
In addition, EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt brings together local players to form project alliances and supports them in submitting applications and finding partners.
REPowerEU: Where does Europe stand in the energy crisis?
© EUROPE-DIRECT
The topic of the looming energy crisis was the focus of an online event organised by the Europe Direct North Rhine-Westphalia network in February. 35 participants discussed with experts.
Franca Pompey, Team Leader International Cooperations at the German Energy Agency (DENA), discussed with political scientist Siebo Janssen. Jochen Leyhe moderated the discussion in his tried and tested manner.
The REPowerEU programme of the European Commission, which aims to make Europe independent of fossil fuels and thus of Russian supplies, was discussed. Furthermore, this programme promotes the Green Deal in order to counter climate change.
The discussants noted that due to the Russian war of aggression and the resulting energy shortage, in the short term the development of new renewable energy production technologies has stalled as energy security is paramount.
However, both Siebo Janssen and Franca Pompey observed a change in thinking in large parts of the population towards renewable energies, so that in the medium and long term, with the approval of the population, corresponding projects could be implemented.
Contact
Sonja Wießmeier
Sitzungsdienst und Internationales
Büro des Bürgermeisters und des Vorstands
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+49 2871 953-1287