The Horizon Europe call "Preparing the EU for future enlargement: challenges and opportunities" under the cluster Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society aims to explore the dynamics and implications of EU enlargement. This research and innovation action invites projects that analyze lessons learned from past enlargements and evaluate the socio-political, economic, and governance impacts of a potential EU with over 30 Member States. A key focus is enhancing public understanding and engagement on EU integration while addressing geopolitical dynamics, democratic values, and societal inclusivity.

The call emphasizes comparative analysis and scenario planning to prepare Member States, candidate countries, and EU institutions for future enlargements. Proposals should foster societal dialogues, leverage digital tools, and promote mutual understanding through education and public awareness campaigns. Pilots in at least four EU countries will assess digital communication tools’ efficacy in raising societal awareness and fostering engagement.

Policy recommendations should target strategic communication and citizen participation, addressing issues like enlargement fatigue, euroscepticism, and reforms in candidate countries aligned with specific EU Acquis Chapters. Proposals should also network with existing EU-funded initiatives and utilize FAIR data practices.

With a budget of 10.50 million €, this call supports innovative solutions to enhance strategic readiness and societal acceptance for EU enlargement, combining multi-disciplinary approaches across legal, economic, social, and cultural domains.

Opening: 15 May 2025
Deadline(s): 16 Sep 2025