GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

In this context, through specific activities that the applicant will specify in its proposal, at least one of the following specific objectives need to be achieved:

• Enhance consumers’ information and awareness of their rights, responsibilities, and choices in the marketplace.
• Strengthen consumers’ skills and knowledge when shopping in the store and online.
• Improve access to local advice services.
• Promote sustainable consumption as part of the circular economy.
• Improve digital literacy of consumers.
• Strengthen cooperation between practitioners in the field of consumer education and local advice to enhance their knowledge and capacity to design and implement effective educational initiatives and exchange of best practices.

Proposals under this call shall address one or more of the following objectives reflecting the key themes and priorities in providing consumer education, awareness and local advice:

• Consumer rights and responsibilities: understanding rules and regulations with which both businesses and consumers must comply as actors; understanding consumer right to safety, choice, information, and redress.
• Financial literacy: budgeting, managing personal finances effectively, understanding mortgage, credits terms, interest rates and financial products.
• Digital literacy and online safety: safe online shopping, recognising scams and phishing attempts, protecting personal data, developing critical thinking when consuming media content.
• Environmental sustainability: reducing carbon footprint through environmentally responsible consumer choices, supporting eco-labels and sustainable practices.

A wide range of activities are eligible to be supported. Such activities may include for instance (non-exhaustive list):

• Educational workshops, webinars, trainings, seminars, and community events.
• Multimedia awareness raising campaigns.
• Development and dissemination of educational materials, applications, websites, and online platforms.
• Development and implementation of school-based programmes.
• Providing local assistance and advice to vulnerable groups of consumers.
• Sharing knowledge, facilitating cooperation and exchange of best practices, and learning on consumer education at national, regional, or EU-wide levels.
• Activities strengthening the capacities of local organisations providing assistance and advice to consumers.
• Promoting awareness of sustainable practices within the local community.