Could trade unions be considered eligible as beneficiaries in the context of the Civil Society Fund?
Pursuant to Article 7.1.1 of the Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA), only Civil Society Organisations are eligible to be Project Promoters (i.e. to be the main entity implementing a project). Trade Unions do not fall under the definition of Civil Society Organisations as defined in Article 1.8 (b) of the PIA, as they are deemed to have a commercial purpose (representing the professional interests of their members). However, as a main rule trade unions can be considered eligible to be project partners. This means that they can take part in projects under the Civil Society Fund as partners.