Fostering remembrance of the legacy of colonialism, slavery, and migration, and their impact on contemporary multicultural European societies

Objective

1. CERV-2026-CITIZENS-REM-HISTMIGRATION - Fostering remembrance of the legacy of colonialism, slavery, and migration, and their impact on contemporary multicultural European societies.

Migration, de-colonisation, enslavement, and imperialism have left a mark on global history and are embedded in the European history, with profound consequences for society today. Their remembrance plays a key role in combating structural racism, empowering people impacted by racism, and raising awareness of exclusion and stereotypes.

While for many it is considered a chapter in history, de-colonisation, the dismantlement of colonial empires particularly in the 20th century and the emerging post-colonial European societies continue to have harsh consequences in the lives of people facing racism and racial discrimination. Following the decolonisation process in international relations in the early 20th century, the UN World Conference on Combating Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Xenophobia established that today’s structural inequalities are caused by the consequences of colonialism and slavery.

Stemming from this observation, in its EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025 and EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, the Commission made efforts to communicate on addressing the historical roots of racism and established a key priority to combat structural racism. This entails an examination of the past, present and future of the cultural fabric of Europe. Prejudices and stereotypes can be addressed by acknowledging the historical roots of racism, including from an intersectional perspective.

Migration has also a long and varied history in Europe. Population movements in Europe, from economic, political migration to expulsion and deportation after the Second World War, from fleeing violence and persecution to migration after the creation of the EU, have marked 20th century European history. Forced migration, internal displacement and expulsion is an experience shared by many Europeans during the period of war. This includes the forced displacement and persecution of Roma populations during and after the Second World War, and its long-term consequences. The specific history of female migration can also be considered.

Projects in this priority should contribute to a better understanding of how these historical legacies - rooted in colonialism, enslavement an imperialism - shape contemporary inequalities, discrimination, exclusion and barriers to equal opportunities in European societies. Projects are encouraged to examine the links between these historical legacies and contemporary manifestations of structural racism, including anti-Black racism, antigypsyism, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Asian racism.

Projects under this topic could focus on:

• Acknowledging the legacy of colonialism and its ongoing impact on contemporary multicultural European societies, with a view to contributing to the objectives of the EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, including addressing topics such as structural discrimination and racism.
• Promoting anti-racism education, historical literacy and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at young people, educators and wider society, including through innovative and participatory approaches that foster mutual respect, inclusion and democratic values.
• Supporting the collection, preservation and dissemination of testimonies, archives and community-based knowledge that contribute to a stronger evidence base on the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of racism and discrimination in Europe.
• Raising awareness of Roma history and culture to contribute to strengthening multicultural European societies, in line with the EU Roma Strategic Framework for equality, inclusion and participation.
• Examining common European experiences of migration linked to historical events such as wars, transition moments, colonisation and de-colonisation, economic impacts, or persecution.

Adopting an intersectional approach to cover several minority groups, including People of African descent, Jews, Roma, overseas citizens, and other minority groups with a long history of migration, to promote a more nuanced understanding of multicultural European societies.

For further information about the call and its conditions, please see the Call document.