EU NEIGHBOURS east: Connecting the European Union and Eastern Partnership Countries Through Information, Opportunities and Public Engagement

Introduction

EU NEIGHBOURS east is a European Union-funded regional communication programme and digital information platform covering cooperation between the European Union and its Eastern Neighbourhood.

The platform provides news, funding opportunities, project information, policy updates, educational resources, youth opportunities and public information related to EU cooperation with:

Armenia.
Azerbaijan.
Belarus.
Georgia.
Republic of Moldova.
Ukraine.

EU NEIGHBOURS east is not an independent charitable foundation or conventional grantmaking organization. It is an EU-funded communication programme designed to explain European Union policies, projects, funding opportunities and cooperation in the Eastern Partnership region.

The current Regional Communication Programme for the Eastern Neighbourhood runs from December 2020 through December 2026. It works under the guidance of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood and the European External Action Service (EEAS) and is implemented by a consortium led by GOPA PACE.

Its main areas of activity include:

EU project communication.
Funding and opportunity information.
Youth engagement.
Young European Ambassadors.
Public diplomacy.
Strategic communication.
Media partnerships.
Opinion polling.
Awareness campaigns.
Countering disinformation.
Civil society outreach.
EU policy information.
Regional cooperation.

The official EU NEIGHBOURS east website functions as a central resource for people seeking information about EU-funded projects and opportunities in the Eastern Partnership region.

History and Background

EU NEIGHBOURS east developed from a series of European Union communication initiatives designed to improve public understanding of EU cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Its institutional history is closely connected to the Eastern Partnership, which was launched in 2009 as the eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Eastern Partnership created a framework for cooperation involving the European Union, EU Member States and six Eastern European and South Caucasus partners:

Armenia.
Azerbaijan.
Belarus.
Georgia.
Republic of Moldova.
Ukraine.

The initiative focuses on political, economic and institutional cooperation while supporting areas including governance, economic development, connectivity, civil society and people-to-people relations. Belarus subsequently withdrew or suspended participation in the governmental dimension of the Eastern Partnership, while the EU continues engagement with Belarusian civil society and democratic stakeholders.

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre: 2009–2015

The communication work that ultimately developed into EU NEIGHBOURS east began with the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre project, which operated from 2009 to 2015.

The initiative aimed to make European Union cooperation with neighbouring countries easier for citizens, journalists, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to understand.

It provided information about:

EU-funded programs.
Regional cooperation.
Development projects.
Policy.
Financial support.
Opportunities.

This established the foundation for a more structured regional communication approach.

OPEN Neighbourhood East: 2015–2020

The next major phase was the OPEN Neighbourhood – Communicating for a Stronger Partnership: Connecting with Citizens across the Eastern Neighbourhood, often referred to as OPEN east.

Operating from 2015 to 2020, OPEN east strengthened communication around European Union cooperation and developed public-engagement activities throughout the Eastern Partnership countries.

The project expanded the use of:

Digital communications.
Social media.
Public campaigns.
Youth engagement.
Media cooperation.
Opinion research.
Human-interest stories.

The current EU NEIGHBOURS east Regional Communication Programme explicitly builds on the experience and achievements of both OPEN east and the earlier EU Neighbourhood Info Centre.

Regional Communication Programme: 2020–2026

The current EU Regional Communication Programme for the Eastern Neighbourhood began on 8 December 2020 and is scheduled to run until 31 December 2026.

Its total budget is approximately €19.17 million, entirely financed through an EU contribution of the same amount.

The project operates regionally across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and is implemented by a GOPA PACE-led consortium.

The current programme expanded previous communication work by combining:

Centralized online information.
Strategic communication.
Youth networks.
Opinion research.
Public diplomacy.
Anti-disinformation initiatives.
Project visibility.
Digital campaigns.

Mission and Purpose

The central purpose of EU NEIGHBOURS east is to improve understanding of the European Union, its policies and its cooperation with Eastern partner countries.

The programme has several interconnected objectives.

These include:

Making information about EU cooperation easier to access.
Demonstrating how EU-supported projects affect citizens.
Increasing awareness of available EU opportunities.
Explaining European Union policies and values.
Strengthening communication between the EU and communities.
Building societal resilience against disinformation.
Supporting communication by EU Delegations in partner countries.
Engaging young people, civil society, media and professional networks.

The programme seeks to communicate complex international cooperation in language that is understandable and relevant to everyday audiences.

Strategic Communication

Strategic communication is at the heart of EU NEIGHBOURS east.

The programme communicates information about areas such as:

Economic development.
Business.
Education.
Research.
Culture.
Digital transformation.
Energy.
Environment.
Health.
Infrastructure.
Human rights.
Justice.
Media.
Migration.
Security.
Transport.
Women.
Youth.

Rather than focusing only on institutional policy statements, the platform frequently uses stories about individual people, organizations and communities benefiting from EU-supported initiatives.

Combating Disinformation

Building resilience against disinformation and information manipulation is another major objective.

The programme provides:

Fact-based communication.
Educational toolkits.
Media resources.
Digital-literacy information.
Awareness campaigns.
Verified information about EU policies.

This work is particularly important within a region where EU institutions have identified disinformation as a recurring challenge affecting public understanding of international relations and the Eastern Partnership.

Governance and Structure

EU NEIGHBOURS east does not have the governance structure of an independent foundation with trustees or a charitable board.

Instead, it operates as an EU-funded regional programme.

Strategic guidance is provided principally by:

European Commission.
Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood.
European External Action Service.
EU Delegations in Eastern partner countries.

Implementation is undertaken by a consortium led by GOPA PACE.

The programme complements and supports communication conducted by individual EU Delegations in partner countries.

European Commission

The European Commission plays a central role in the programme’s institutional framework.

Its Directorate-General responsible for enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood helps guide communication concerning:

EU cooperation.
Financial assistance.
Enlargement.
Regional partnerships.
Reform programs.
Investment.
European integration.

The Commission also finances the Regional Communication Programme.

European External Action Service

The European External Action Service (EEAS) contributes foreign-policy and strategic-communication guidance.

Its involvement helps connect EU NEIGHBOURS east communications with the broader European Union approach toward the Eastern Partnership.

The EEAS also provides information on:

Eastern Partnership policy.
Regional cooperation.
Security.
International relations.
Human rights.
Political dialogue.

Implementation by GOPA PACE-Led Consortium

Day-to-day implementation of EU NEIGHBOURS east is managed through a consortium led by GOPA PACE.

Implementation responsibilities include:

Managing the website.
Communication campaigns.
Youth engagement.
Public diplomacy.
Media outreach.
Opinion polling.
Digital communication.
Partner coordination.

This arrangement separates EU policy oversight from operational programme delivery.

Funding and Grants

EU NEIGHBOURS east itself is funded by the European Union.

The current programme has a total budget and EU contribution of approximately €19.17 million for 2020–2026.

However, an important distinction must be made:

EU NEIGHBOURS east is primarily an information and communication platform, not a general grantmaking authority.

Its website frequently publishes grant calls and funding opportunities, but those opportunities are normally financed and administered by other EU programs, projects or partner organizations.

Funding Opportunities Portal

One of the website’s most useful features is its Opportunities section.

The portal regularly publishes:

Calls for proposals.
Grants.
Competitions.
Fellowships.
Exchanges.
Internships.
Training programs.
Volunteer opportunities.
Events.
Job opportunities.
Business opportunities.

Users can filter opportunities according to:

Country.
Topic.
Program.
Opportunity type.

Countries covered include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Funding Areas Featured on the Platform

The opportunities portal covers EU-supported funding related to areas such as:

Civil society.
Business.
Culture.
Digital development.
Energy.
Environment.
Health.
Infrastructure.
Media.
Transport.
Education.
Youth.
Research and innovation.

Programs and initiatives appearing on the platform can include:

Horizon Europe.
Creative Europe.
EU4Culture.
EU4Digital.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs.
Interreg.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
EU4CSOs.
TAIEX.

Applicants should always follow the application instructions of the organization administering the specific opportunity rather than applying directly to EU NEIGHBOURS east.

EU-Funded Projects Database

Another important feature is the EU-funded projects database.

The redesigned website launched in 2021 with a comprehensive database intended to make EU-supported projects across the Eastern Partnership region easier to discover.

Users can search projects involving areas such as:

Agriculture.
Economic development.
Civil society.
Culture.
Education.
Energy.
Governance.
Health.
Media.
Infrastructure.
Employment.
Environment.

Project pages typically provide information including:

Project title.
Country.
Objectives.
Implementing organization.
Start date.
End date.
Priority area.
Sector.
Funding information where available.

This makes EU NEIGHBOURS east useful for NGOs, journalists, researchers and organizations seeking to understand where EU development resources are being invested.

Major Programs and Initiatives

EU NEIGHBOURS east operates several major communication and engagement initiatives.

These include:

Young European Ambassadors.
Annual opinion surveys.
Communication campaigns.
Public diplomacy activities.
Digital content.
EU project storytelling.
Media partnerships.
Opportunities portal.
Project database.
Anti-disinformation resources.

Young European Ambassadors

The Young European Ambassadors (YEA) initiative is one of EU NEIGHBOURS east’s most visible programs.

The network brings together young people from:

Armenia.
Azerbaijan.
Belarus.
Georgia.
Moldova.
Ukraine.
European Union Member States.

Young European Ambassadors participate voluntarily in activities promoting dialogue, cooperation, youth engagement and awareness of EU opportunities.

Activities can include:

School visits.
University events.
Workshops.
Public discussions.
Cultural activities.
Environmental initiatives.
Online campaigns.
Youth exchanges.
Community events.

Growth of the Young European Ambassadors Network

The Young European Ambassadors initiative was launched on 16 June 2016 with an initial group of approximately 100 young ambassadors.

During its first year, the network organized seven activities reaching about 7,000 people.

By its tenth anniversary in June 2026, more than 3,000 Young European Ambassadors had participated in the network, carrying out approximately 7,000 activities that collectively reached around 20 million people across the region.

The program illustrates EU NEIGHBOURS east’s strategy of using peer-to-peer communication rather than relying exclusively on institutional messaging.

Youth Engagement

Youth engagement extends beyond the ambassador network.

The platform promotes opportunities involving:

Study.
Volunteering.
Training.
Entrepreneurship.
Exchanges.
Employment.
Fellowships.
International mobility.

This makes the website particularly useful to young people seeking EU-supported opportunities.

Annual Opinion Surveys

EU NEIGHBOURS east conducts regular public-opinion research across Eastern partner countries.

Annual surveys have been carried out since 2016.

The surveys measure issues including:

Trust in the European Union.
Awareness of EU financial support.
Perceptions of EU-country relations.
Views on European integration.
Perceived effectiveness of EU assistance.
Priority areas where citizens want additional support.

The 2026 annual surveys used face-to-face interviews with representative samples of around 1,000 people in each surveyed country.

Why Opinion Research Matters

Opinion polling helps EU institutions understand:

What citizens know about EU programs.
Which areas of cooperation are visible.
Where misunderstandings exist.
What issues communities consider most important.
How perceptions change over time.

Because surveys have been repeated over several years, they can also identify longer-term changes in public awareness.

Communication Campaigns

EU NEIGHBOURS east develops thematic communication campaigns designed to make EU cooperation more understandable.

Campaigns have addressed themes including:

Youth opportunities.
Women’s empowerment.
Energy conservation.
European cooperation.
Education.
Research.
Sustainability.
Culture.

Activities can combine:

Videos.
Social media.
Influencers.
Public events.
Online resources.
Youth engagement.

Examples have included campaigns such as #ShapeYourFuture, #FeelTheEuroVibe and #InvestInWomen.

Public Diplomacy

Public diplomacy activities create opportunities for direct interaction between citizens and European institutions.

Activities may include:

Public events.
Youth forums.
Study visits.
Discussions.
Networking.
Europe Day activities.
Workshops.
Professional exchanges.

The objective is to create interaction rather than relying only on one-way communication.

Media Partnerships

Media organizations are important partners in the EU NEIGHBOURS east model.

The programme works with journalists and media partners to improve access to reliable information about:

EU policies.
Funding.
Projects.
International cooperation.
Opportunities.

Activities can involve:

Media resources.
Training.
Briefings.
Storytelling.
Campaign partnerships.
Professional networks.

Multilingual Information Platform

The EU NEIGHBOURS east website is designed to make information accessible to audiences throughout the region.

The redesigned platform launched in 2021 in eight languages:

English.
Russian.
Armenian.
Azerbaijani.
Belarusian.
Georgian.
Romanian.
Ukrainian.

Multilingual access is especially important because it allows citizens to find information in their own language rather than depending solely on English-language EU publications.

Eastern Partnership Context

Understanding EU NEIGHBOURS east requires understanding the broader Eastern Partnership.

The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009 as a framework for cooperation between the EU and its eastern neighbours.

Its cooperation has addressed areas including:

Democracy.
Rule of law.
Human rights.
Economic development.
Trade.
Connectivity.
Energy.
Environment.
Digital transformation.
Civil society.
Youth.
Security.

The current Eastern Partnership format involves Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at government level, while EU cooperation continues with Belarusian civil society despite Belarus no longer participating in the governmental partnership framework.

Relationship with EU Enlargement

The region has evolved considerably since the Eastern Partnership began.

Moldova and Ukraine have moved into formal EU accession processes, while relations with other Eastern Partnership countries follow differentiated paths.

EU NEIGHBOURS east therefore increasingly communicates about both:

Regional Eastern Partnership cooperation.
Country-specific EU relations and accession-related developments where applicable.

The platform provides updates rather than treating all six partner countries as having identical political relationships with the EU.

Impact and Examples of Work

The impact of EU NEIGHBOURS east is primarily communicative rather than based on direct delivery of infrastructure or grants.

Its contribution can be seen through:

Public access to EU information.
Visibility of EU-funded projects.
Youth engagement.
Opinion research.
Opportunities promoted.
Public diplomacy.
Counter-disinformation resources.
Multilingual communication.

Impact of the Young European Ambassadors

The Young European Ambassadors network provides one of the clearest measurable examples of impact.

Between its launch in 2016 and its tenth anniversary in 2026:

More than 3,000 young people served as YEAs.
Approximately 7,000 activities were delivered.
Activities reached an estimated 20 million people.

The program helps transform EU communication from an institutional process into community-level engagement.

Improving Access to Funding Information

NGOs, businesses, students, researchers, journalists and community organizations can use the Opportunities portal to find relevant programs without searching numerous European Commission and partner websites individually.

Current listings include opportunities such as:

Civil society grants.
Media funding.
Business programs.
Training opportunities.
Youth initiatives.
Cultural grants.
Volunteering.

EU NEIGHBOURS east therefore functions as a funding discovery platform, even though it is generally not the organization awarding the grants itself.

Increasing Visibility of EU Projects

The project database creates transparency around EU-supported activity across the region.

Users can identify:

What projects exist.
Where they operate.
Who implements them.
What areas they address.
When they begin and end.

This can reduce duplication and help organizations identify potential partners or related initiatives.

Public Opinion Monitoring

Annual opinion polling provides another measurable contribution.

Surveys allow policymakers and communications professionals to monitor changes in:

Public trust.
Awareness of EU support.
Views of cooperation.
Policy priorities.

For example, the 2026 surveys were conducted in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and continued a series running since 2016.

Supporting Civil Society

Although EU NEIGHBOURS east does not generally finance civil society organizations directly, it helps connect them with:

EU-funded opportunities.
Calls for proposals.
Training.
Networks.
Events.
Policy information.
Project partners.

Civil society therefore represents both an important audience and partner for the programme.

Supporting Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The platform also communicates opportunities relevant to:

Small and medium-sized enterprises.
Startups.
Entrepreneurs.
Green businesses.
Digital businesses.

Relevant listings may include:

Grants.
Accelerators.
Incubators.
Training.
Enterprise-support programs.
EU4Business-related initiatives.

This gives businesses another route to discover EU-supported economic-development opportunities.

Supporting Education, Research and Youth Mobility

Students and researchers can use EU NEIGHBOURS east to identify information involving:

Erasmus+.
Horizon Europe.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Exchanges.
Scholarships.
Training.
Volunteering.
Internships.

The platform therefore serves both institutional organizations and individuals seeking educational or professional opportunities.

Why EU NEIGHBOURS east Matters

EU NEIGHBOURS east occupies an unusual position within the European development and cooperation landscape.

It does not primarily:

Construct infrastructure.
Implement development services.
Provide unrestricted NGO grants.
Operate as an independent foundation.

Instead, it helps people understand and access the wider ecosystem of EU cooperation.

Its principal value lies in connecting information that might otherwise be distributed across many:

EU institutions.
Delegations.
Projects.
Funding programs.
Government agencies.
Partner organizations.

For NGOs and civil society organizations, this can make it easier to identify funding, partnerships, training and policy developments.

Who Can Benefit from EU NEIGHBOURS east?

The platform is particularly useful for:

NGOs.
Civil society organizations.
Community groups.
Students.
Young professionals.
Journalists.
Researchers.
Universities.
Businesses.
Entrepreneurs.
Local authorities.
Media organizations.
Youth organizations.

Different sections of the website serve different needs.

An NGO may use the Opportunities portal for calls for proposals, while a journalist may use the project database and policy information for research.

A student may be more interested in exchanges, volunteering and Young European Ambassador opportunities.

How to Find Funding Through EU NEIGHBOURS east

Organizations seeking grants can use the website’s Opportunities section.

A practical approach is to filter opportunities according to:

Country.
Sector.
Opportunity type.
Program.

Before applying, organizations should carefully check:

Eligibility.
Eligible countries.
Applicant type.
Grant amount.
Deadline.
Co-financing requirements.
Application procedures.
Original funding organization.

Applications must normally be submitted to the institution or program identified in the specific call, not to EU NEIGHBOURS east itself.

Conclusion

EU NEIGHBOURS east is the European Union-funded regional communication programme providing information about EU cooperation with countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood.

The current programme operates from 2020 to 2026, with an EU-funded budget of approximately €19.17 million, and is implemented by a consortium led by GOPA PACE under the guidance of the European Commission and European External Action Service.

Its roots extend back to the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre launched in 2009 and the OPEN east project of 2015–2020.

Today, the programme manages a multilingual information platform covering:

EU-funded projects.
Grants and opportunities.
Policy developments.
Youth opportunities.
Opinion research.
Public diplomacy.
Strategic communication.
Anti-disinformation initiatives.

Its Young European Ambassadors network has grown from 100 participants in 2016 to more than 3,000 participants over its first decade, delivering thousands of activities and reaching millions of people across the region.

For NGOs, civil society organizations, young people, businesses, journalists and researchers seeking information about EU grants in Eastern Europe, Eastern Partnership funding, EU opportunities, EU-funded projects, youth programs, civil society funding or European Union cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the platform provides a valuable centralized starting point.

For more information, visit here.