Call for Proposal SKHU/1902 - Interreg V-A Slovakia-Hungary

Deadline: Dec 17, 2019  
CALL EXPIRED

The Interreg V-A Slovakia-Hungary Cooperation Programme operates within the 2014-2020 financial framework of the European Union as separate financial instrument of Cohesion Pol- icy. The specific aim of the Programme is to make the Slovak-Hungarian border region more cohesive, environmentally friendly and competitive by sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage, improving accessibility, improving employment opportunities and supporting institutional and people-to-people cooperation. These aims are translated into Priority axes [PA] and Specific Objectives [SO], which are described in detail in the Cooperation Programme docu- ment1.

In accordance with the decision of the Programme’s Monitoring Committee, on 2nd September 2019 the Managing Authority in agreement with the National Authority opens Call for proposals (hereinafter referred to as Call) in the following priority axes:

 PA1 - Nature and culture
o SO1.1 - To increase the attractiveness of the border area

 PA4 - Enhancing cross-border cooperation of public authorities and people
o SO4.1-Improving the level of cross-borderinter-institutional cooperation and broadening cross-border cooperation between citizens

Intervention logic

The Programme awards grants based on competitive one-step calls where project proposals are assessed and the best ones are selected for implementation. The submitted projects can be awarded if their objectives, expected results and outcomes are logically linked to the pro- gramme’s priority axes and specific objectives. Project proposals shall be developed according to the following steps:

1. 1)  identification of the challenges in the region,

2. 2)  setting up the objectives and expected results of the project,

3. 3)  identification of the target group(s) to be tackled,

4. 4)  planning the utilization and maintenance of the project outputs,

5. 5)  setting up the activities for the implementation and tangible outcomes,

6. 6)  assigning activities with adequate resources.

Partnership

All projects have to demonstrate strong cross-border character and shall generate long-term cooperations between the applying organizations. Projects have to be realized in partnerships created by Beneficiaries registered in the programme area. The minimum requirement2 for partnership is to have at least one Slovak and one Hungarian partner. In each project, Appli- cants shall choose the Lead Beneficiary among themselves, who takes the responsibility for the successful implementation of the entire project.

State aid

If financial contribution provided by the Programme strengthens particular undertakings rela- tive to their competitors, State aid rules shall be applied. In the present Call, financial assis- tance supporting economic activities is provided according to the De minimis Regulation and the General Block Exemption Regulation.

Submission

Applications have to be submitted electronically through the application module of the Interreg Monitoring and Information System. Lead Beneficiaries shall submit the project proposals in English until 16th December 2019.

Timing

Projects for implementation are selected by the Monitoring Committee of the Programme. De- cision on approval is expected in April 2020. Approved projects may start the implementation after the MC decision comes into force but no later than 1st July 2020. All projects have to be realized until 30th June 2023.

Project durability

Projects comprising investment in infrastructure or productive investment shall be maintained in the target area for at least five years or at least three years in the case of SMEs, after the final payment to the Beneficiary.

Modifications of the Call

The Managing Authority in agreement with the National Authority may modify the terms of the Call by an amendment at any time prior to the deadline for the submission. Amendments may not affect the eligibility and evaluation criteria. In order to afford reasonable time for Applicants to fulfil the modified terms of the Call, the Managing Authority may extend the deadline for the submission of applications. If Applicants submitted the application before publishing an amend- ment, Applicants cannot suffer disadvantage due to the modified terms of the conditions.

The Managing Authority in agreement with the National Authority may decide to cancel the present call at any stage, but particularly if

•   there have been irregularities in the procedure, in particular where these have pre- vented equal treatment;

•   in exceptional circumstances or force majeure render the normal implementation of the planned actions impossible.

Information on modifications or the cancellation will be published on the programme website. Any potential losses from cancellation are not entitled for compensation.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Joint Secretariat [JS] online or phone and visit Infor- mation days organized by the JS during the submission period. Contact information are avail- able on the following link: www.skhu.eu/contact-information.

 

 

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Applicant’s package

The documentation to the present Call consists of several documents that can be downloaded separately or as a single compressed file (Applicant’s package) from the Programme website (www.skhu.eu). Modifications and amendments to the Call are published on the programme website and Facebook (www.facebook.com/skhu.eu). The Applicant’s package contains the following documents:

Call for proposals
Quality assessment grid
Methodology and criteria for selecting operations Templates of the predefined annexes

•   Annex I.A – Declaration of the Beneficiary /HU/

•   Annex I.B – Declaration of the Beneficiary /SK/

•   Annex II. – Declaration on partnership

•   Annex VI – Declaration on investment in infrastructure

  Guides and manuals

•   Guide for market research

•   Guide for utilization and maintenance plan

•   Guide on eligible expenditures

•   Visibility guide for projects

•   IMIS 2014-2020 application manual

 

PA1 – Nature and culture

Specific objective: 1.1 To increase the attractiveness of the border area

Projects under the priority axis “Nature and culture” shall increase the attractiveness of the border area. Approved projects shall utilize the regions’ endogenous natural and cultural po- tentials by supporting joint culture and nature conservation activities and sustainable develop- ment of local economies. Each project has to contribute to the increase of the number of visi- tors in the region.

Action 1.1 – Joint development of cultural heritage

The Action 1.1 supports complex development of cultural heritage sites by supporting owners and operators in conservation and utilization of the cultural heritage sites and private entities in improvement of quality tourism services offered for the visitors of the supported sites.

Core activities

Objectives of the project shall be in line with one or both core activities:

a) Conservation and utilization of cultural heritage sites

Activity shall include renovation and conservation works aiming to restore and protect cultural heritage sites and content development ensuring their regular utilization of pub- lic interest (e.g. conservation and collection of contemporary artefacts, development and creation of exhibition items, purchase of equipment etc.).

b) Development of complementary infrastructure

Activity shall include building, reconstruction and development of complementary infra- structure necessary for the seamless operation of the related cultural heritage site (e.g. local access roads, parking places, ticket and gift shops, public restrooms, site signage etc.).

Supplementary activities

Applicants may extend their core activities with the following supplementary activities:

c) Establishment and improvement of quality tourism services

Activity shall include small-scale construction works and purchase of equipment aiming to improve or establish quality tourism services undertaken by SMEs. Tourism services shall be offered in a field of accommodation, catering, sport, culture or recreation for the visitors of the supported sites.

d) Joint capitalization and promotion activities

Activity shall include propagation and capitalization activities of the supported sites aiming to increase the number of visitors and cooperation efficiency between the Ben- eficiaries (e.g. joint destination management, joint sales campaigns, exchange of ex- periences, joint study tours, elaboration of promotion materials other than mandatory visibility elements etc.).

 

Specific terms and conditions

Definitions

In terms of the present Call, cultural heritage is any built object, landmark or area having cultural, historical or religious significance. Sites shall be located in the programme area and shall be owned or operated by the Beneficiaries.

In terms of the present Call, utilization means seamless operation of the supported sites in public interest in accordance with their original or new function. Supported sites shall attract and accept visitors regularly after the proposed development.

In terms of the present Call, quality tourism services means tourism services offered by small and medium sized enterprises regularly and directly for the visitors of the supported sites in a field of accommodation, catering, sport, culture or recreation.

Market research

In case the project includes supplementary activity: Establishment and improvement of quality tourism services, relevant Beneficiary implementing core activity is obliged to prepare Market research analysing tourism services offered for the visitors of the supported site.

Utilization and maintenance plan

Beneficiaries responsible for core activities are obliged to prepare Utilization and mainte- nance plan describing utilization and seamless operation of the supported sites during the maintenance period.

Target groups

Primary target group of the Action 1.1 are organizations owning or operating cultural heritage sites or complementary infrastructure e.g. museums, public institutions, non-profit or non-gov- ernmental organizations, churches, local or regional governments and municipalities. The sec- ondary target group are small and medium sized enterprises offering tourism services.

Partnership composition

The maximum number of Beneficiaries is not limited. The minimum setup is composed by two Beneficiaries (one from each member state) each belonging to the primary target group imple- menting core activity. Partnership shall be strengthened by similar or adjacent profile of the Beneficiaries creating solid basis for the long-term cooperation. Involving SMEs is not manda- tory.

Eligible expenditures

•   Expenditures related to joint capitalization and promotion cannot exceed 10% of the total costs of the Beneficiary.

•   Expenditures of small and medium sized enterprises are eligible related to construction works and purchase of equipment only.

Maximum project size

The maximum project size including the total budget of all Beneficiaries (including SMEs) can- not exceed 1.500.000,00 EUR.

 

The total budget of any small and medium sized enterprise establishing or improving quality tourism services cannot exceed 100.000,00 EUR. If financial contribution of the Programme is provided to undertakings, applicability of State aid rules shall be assessed. In case of De min- imis aid, the annual turnover of the Beneficiary in the last closed fiscal year cannot be less than 30% of the requested community contribution.

Project durability requirements

Projects comprising investment in infrastructure shall be maintained minimum for five years after the final payment is transferred to the Beneficiary. Investment in business infrastructure shall be maintained by SMEs for three years after the final payment is transferred to the Ben- eficiary.

Key assessment criteria

Applicants shall thoroughly analyse the following aspects of the project, which reflect on most important assessment criteria:

•   significance or the level of legal protection of the cultural heritage sites,

•   strength of the cross-border cooperation between the Beneficiaries,

•   strength of the cooperation between the operators and service providers (if relevant),

•   the level of utilization of the supported sites before and after the development,

•   guarantees for the maintenance after the development,

•   increase of the expected number of visitors.

Result and key output indicators

Total number of visitors in the region (R110)

Contribution to the result indicator R110 is mandatory for each project. The indicator reflects on the total number of visitors in the region. Visitor in accommodation establishment of tourism is a person (except staff and owner) using services of temporary accommodation establish- ment regardless of country of permanent residence. Applicants shall describe the project’s contribution to the fulfilment of the indicator.

Increase in expected number of visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions (CO09)

Setting up the output indicator CO09 is mandatory for each Beneficiary implementing core activities. The indicator reflects on ex-ante estimated increase in number of visits to a site in the year following project completion. Methods that can be used to estimate the number of visits to supported sites are the following:

•   Historical data: Statistics from previous years of the developed site or similar attrac- tion nearby;

•   Estimation based on the population of the catchment area;

•   Estimation based on target groups: the number of targeted visitors to a site

  (e.g. school children aged 8-14 of the region/two counties, etc.);

•   Survey: distributing questionnaire to the chosen groups, population.

  Beneficiaries may use the combination of the different approaches. One visitor can make mul- tiple visits; a group of visitors count as many visits as many members the group has.

 

Number of enterprises receiving support (CO01)

Setting up the indicator is mandatory for each SME Beneficiary. The indicator reflects on the sum of all enterprises receiving support in any form from ERDF (whether the support repre- sents state aid or not). An enterprise receiving grants more than once is still only one enter- prise receiving grants. Forms of the support contains the following subsets:

•   number of enterprises receiving grants (non-refundable direct financial support);

•   number of enterprises receiving financial support other than grants (non-grant type fi-

  nancial support);

•   number of enterprises receiving non-financial support (guidance, consultancy, enterprise incubators, etc.)

Number of enterprises receiving grants (CO02)

Setting up the indicator CO02 is mandatory for each SME Beneficiary. The indicator reflects on the sum of all enterprises involved into the project implementation as Beneficiaries receiving ERDF contribution.

 

Action 1.2 – Joint development of natural heritage

Action 1.2 supports complex development of natural heritage areas by supporting owners and maintainers in restoration and utilization of the protected areas and private entities in improve- ment of quality tourism services offered for the visitors of the supported areas.

Core activities

Objectives of the projects shall be in line with one or both core activities:

a) Restoration and maintenance of natural heritage areas

Activity shall include conservation of the biological diversity, restoration and develop- ment of hiking and water trails, improvement of route and hazard signage and recon- struction and building of environmentally friendly tourism infrastructure (e.g. resting places, public bathrooms, watercourse access points, craft loading spaces, outdoor education facilities, maintenance facilities etc.).

b) Development of complementary infrastructure

Activity shall include building or reconstruction and development of complementary ac- cessing infrastructure necessary for the visitors to access the related natural heritage areas (e.g. visitor centres, ecocenters with related equipment, bike roads4, local access roads, parking places, service facilities etc.).

Supplementary activities

Applicants may extend their core activities with the following supplementary activities:

c) Establishment and improvement of tourism services

Activity shall include small-scale construction works and purchase of equipment aiming to improve or establish quality tourism services undertaken by SMEs. Tourism services shall be offered in a field of accommodation, catering, sport, culture or recreation for the visitors of the supported sites.

d) Joint capitalization and promotion activities

Activity shall include propagation and capitalization of the supported sites aiming to increase the number of visitors and the cooperation efficiency between the Beneficiar- ies (e.g. joint destination management and sales campaigns, exchange of experiences, joint study tours, elaboration of promotion materials other than mandatory visibility ele- ments etc.).

Specific terms and conditions

Definitions

In terms of the present Call, natural heritage is any national park, protected landscape area, nature trail or significant natural area. Areas shall be located in the programme area and shall be owned or maintained by the Beneficiaries.

In terms of the present Call, maintenance means seamless operation of the supported areas in public interest in accordance with their original or new function. Supported areas shall attract and accept visitors regularly after the proposed development.

In terms of the present Call, quality tourism services means tourism services offered by small and medium sized enterprises regularly and directly for the visitors of the supported sites in a field of accommodation, catering, sport, culture or recreation.

Market research

In case the project includes supplementary activity: Establishment and improvement of quality tourism services, Beneficiaries implementing core activities are obliged to prepare Market re- search analysing tourism services offered for the visitors of the supported site.

Utilization and maintenance plan

Beneficiaries responsible for core activities are obliged to prepare Utilization and maintenance plan describing utilization and seamless operation of the supported areas during the mainte- nance period.

Target groups

Primary target group of the Action 1.2 are organizations owning or maintaining natural heritage areas e.g. natural parks, state owned companies, public institutions, non-profit or non-govern- mental organizations or local and regional governments and municipalities. The secondary target group are small and medium sized enterprises offering services for the visitors of the supported areas.

Partnership composition

The maximum number of Beneficiaries is not limited. The minimum setup is composed by two Beneficiaries (one from each member state) each belonging to the primary target group imple- menting core activity. Partnership shall be strengthened by similar or adjacent profile of the Beneficiaries creating solid basis for the long-term cooperation. Involving SMEs is not manda- tory.

Eligible expenditures

•   Expenditures related to joint capitalization and promotion activities cannot exceed 10% of the total costs of the Beneficiary.

•   Expenditures of small and medium sized enterprises are eligible related to construction works and purchase of equipment only.

Maximum project size

The maximum project size including the total budget of all Beneficiaries (including SMEs) can- not exceed 2.000.000,00 EUR.

The total budget of any small and medium sized enterprise establishing or improving quality tourism services cannot exceed 100.000,00 EUR. If financial contribution of the Programme is provided to undertakings, applicability of State aid rules shall be assessed. In case of De min- imis aid, the annual turnover of the Beneficiary in the last closed fiscal year cannot be less than 30% of the requested community contribution.

 

 

Project durability requirements

Projects comprising investment in infrastructure shall be maintained minimum for five years after the final payment is transferred to the Beneficiary. Investment in business infrastructure shall be maintained by SMEs for three years after the final payment is transferred to the Ben- eficiary.

Key Assessment criteria

Applicants shall carefully analyse the following aspects of the projects, which reflects on the most important assessment criteria:

•   significance and the level of legal protection of the landscape area,

•   strength of the cross-border cooperation between the Beneficiaries,

•   strength of the cooperation between operators and service providers (if relevant),

•   the level of utilization of the supported sites before and after the development,

•   guarantees for the maintenance of the supported areas after the development,

•   increase of the expected number of visitors.

Result and key output indicators

Total number of visitors in the region (R110)

Contribution to the result indicator R110 is mandatory for each project. The indicator reflects on the total number of visitors in the region. Visitor in accommodation establishment of tour- ism is a person (except staff and owner) using services of temporary accommodation estab- lishment regardless of country of permanent residence. Applicants shall describe the project’s contribution to the fulfilment of the indicator.

Increase in expected number of visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions (CO09)

Setting up the indicator CO09 is mandatory for each Beneficiary implementing core activities. The indicator reflects on ex-ante estimated increase in number of visits to a site in the year following project completion. Methods that can be used to estimate the number of visits to supported sites are the following:

•   Historical data: Statistics from previous years of the developed site or similar attrac- tion nearby;

•   Estimation based on the population of the catchment area;

•   Estimation based on target groups: the number of targeted visitors to a site

  (e.g. school children aged 8-14 of the region/two counties, etc.);

•   Survey: distributing questionnaire to the chosen groups, population.
  Beneficiaries may use the combination of the different approaches. One visitor can make mul- tiple visits; a group of visitors count as many visits as many members the group has.

  Surface area of habitats supported in order to attain a better conservation status (CO23)

  Setting up the indicator CO23 can be relevant for Beneficiaries restoring and maintaining nat- ural heritage areas. The indicator reflects on surface of restored or created areas aimed to improve the conservation status of threatened species.

 

Number of enterprises receiving support (CO01)

Setting up the indicator is mandatory for each SME Beneficiary. The indicator reflects on the sum of all enterprises receiving support in any form from ERDF (whether the support repre- sents state aid or not). An enterprise receiving grants more than once is still only one enter- prise receiving grants. Forms of the support contains the following subsets:

•   number of enterprises receiving grants (non-refundable direct financial support);

•   number of enterprises receiving financial support other than grants (non-grant type fi-

  nancial support);

•   number of enterprises receiving non-financial support (guidance, consultancy, enterprise incubators, etc.)

Number of enterprises receiving grants (CO02)

Setting up the indicator CO02 is mandatory for each SME Beneficiary. The indicator reflects on sum of all enterprises involved into the project implementation as Beneficiaries receiving ERDF contribution.

 

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