Political participation and codetermination of the younger and older generations in Europe - PPPA-2017-GEN-SOL-AG

Deadline: May 29, 2017  
CALL EXPIRED

1. INTRODUCTION

The European Commission adopted on 30 November 20161 a financing decision for a preparatory action in the field of political participation and codetermination of the younger and older generations in Europe.

European demographic evolution is very challenging for the European Union’s economic development and sustainability of social systems. Between 2005 and 2030, the working age population (15-64) is due to fall by 20.8 million2. Moreover, the demographic dependency ratio, as defined as the ratio of the population aged 0 to 14 and over 65 to the population aged between 15 and 64 years, will rise from a rate of 49% in 2005 to 66% in 2030. In response the EC has promoted a range of policies and programmes that promote active ageing and intergenerational solidarity.

With its 2005 Green Paper “Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations”, the European Commission initiated an intensive discussion about demographic change at European level. The reactions were summarised by the Commission in the 2007 Communication on 'Promoting solidarity between the generations' COM(2007)244. The Communication notes that in order to maintain the principle of solidarity between generations, an active approach must be taken by the public authorities, at various levels, and all the social players must be involved in guaranteeing high-quality social services of general interest for families, young people and all those unable to support themselves, together with lasting pension and social security systems. Actively participating in social and political life is recognised as an integral element of the active ageing strategy, which is oriented at helping people stay in charge of their own lives for as long as possible as they age and, where possible, to contribute to the economy and society3.

The European Union declared 2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The EY2012 sought to address the challenges of an

ageing Europe through active ageing in the areas of employment, participation and independent living, looking both at the needs and rights of older people as well as their potentials and their contribution to the economy and society. The overall objective of the Year was to mobilize relevant actors in the promotion of active ageing and intergenerational solidarity. As noted in the evaluation report on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the EY2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations4, the initiative succeeded in stimulating public debate and fostering mutual learning around the themes of active ageing and solidarity between generations. Many Member States and civil society organizations used the European Year as an opportunity to develop new initiatives or strengthen their existing ones. In this context, guiding principles for active ageing were elaborated by the Social Protection Committee and the Employment Committee. The Active Ageing Index was also developed to assess the untapped potential of older people, while the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing5 fosters innovations with a view to raise healthy life expectancy.

Population ageing however cannot be considered as a process that concerns only the elderly. It affects people at all ages because it generates significant changes in family structures and a rising imbalance between young and old cohorts. There could be a danger of the young becoming a demographic minority, coexisting with several older generations. Taking the perspective of the older age generation, the social sustainability requirements include not only provision of adequate pension income but also access to affordable and good quality health and social services. The younger age generation looks into the same issue by raising the question about who will pay for their pensions in the future and about the fairness in the distribution of the social support across generations. In such circumstances, the interdependencies between generations should be given prominence.

According to the European Commission, solidarity and the creation of links between younger and older generations should not be seen in strict financial terms. The Commission recommends placing equal importance on the promotion of mutual cooperation and interchanges between the generations, as well as better understanding and new forms of co-existence6. Solidarity should also be reflected in the implementation of intergeneration cooperation policy at different levels of social dialogue.

 

2. OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of this action is to coordinate research and networking activities, and promote dissemination and use of knowledge as regards the political participation of seniors and the young in EU Member States, and social dialogue with a view to inter- generational solidarity.

Objectives pursued are to examine how, where and to what extent representatives of senior and young citizens participate or are consulted in the policy making process; how well they can articulate their interests in order to contribute to policies concerning the sustainability of social security and health care, and policies which promote employment.

Geographical coverage of activities and best-practices analysed should extend to at least 5 EU Member States.

Expected results should include advocacy and policy recommendations as regards greater inter-generational solidarity in social dialogue. Provide an overview of the current needs for strengthening existing initiatives of contribution of youth and seniors' organisation to national and regional social dialogue processes.

Propose feasible options for EU level policy intervention fostering initiatives and support that could be provided by EU – in accordance with subsidiarity principle.

Propose options on awareness-raising targeted at stakeholders of existing initiatives to create best practice exchange and networking, policy makers, experts.

Develop policy briefs with policy recommendations tailored made to social partners and policy makers. These should highlight ways of advancing in the integration of youth and seniors' councils and organisations into social dialogue.

 

 

3. TIMETABLE

a) Publication of the call

April 2017

 

b) Deadline for submitting applications

29 May 2017

 

c) Evaluation period

June-October 2017

 

d) Information to applicants

October 2017

 

e) Signature of grant agreement or notification of grant decision

January 2018

 

f) Starting date of the action

January 2018

 

4. BUDGET AVAILABLE

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is EUR 600 000 (six hundred thousand Euro).

The Commission expects to fund one single proposal.
The Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

 

5. ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

– Applications must be sent no later than the deadline for submitting applications referred to in section 3.

– Applicationsmustbesubmittedinwriting(seesection14),usingtheapplication forms.

Failure to comply with those requirements will lead to the rejection of the application.

 

6. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

6.1. Eligible applicants

Only applications from following legal entities are eligible:
a) any legal entity established in a Member State or associated country7, or created under Union law;
b) any international European interest organisation8.
Applications may be submitted:

• –  by a single legal entity;

• –  by a consortium made up of several legal entities.

  In order to assess the applicants' eligibility, the following supporting documents are requested:

  Examples of supporting documents:

• –  private entity: extract from the official journal, copy of articles of association, extract of trade or association register, certificate of liability to VAT (if, as in certain countries, the trade register number and VAT number are identical, only one of these documents is required);

• –  public entity: copy of the resolution or decision establishing the public company, or other official document establishing the public-law entity;

• –  consortium: in addition to the supporting documents referring to their legal status, consortium members will submit letters confirming their participation to the project;

• –  natural persons: photocopy of identity card and/or passport;

• –  entities without legal personality: documents providing evidence that their

  representative(s) have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf.

Eligible legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, which is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of it implementation, may take part in the action as affiliated entities, and may declare eligible costs as specified in section 11.2.

6.2. Eligible activities

Types of activities eligible under this call for proposals:

• –  Conferences, seminars;

• –  Awareness and dissemination actions;

• –  Actionsaimingatthecreationandimprovementofnetworks,exchangesofgood practices;

• –  Researchactivities

6.3. Implementation period

The duration of the action is no more than 12 months;

Applications for projects scheduled to run for a longer period than that specified in this call for proposals will not be accepted.

 

7. EXCLUSION CRITERIA

7.1. Exclusion

The authorising officer shall exclude an applicant from participating in call for proposals procedures where:

(a) the applicant is bankrupt, subject to insolvency or winding-up procedures, where its assets are being administered by a liquidator or by a court, where it is in an arrangement with creditors, where its business activities are suspended, or where it is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for under national laws or regulations;

(b) it has been established by a final judgment or a final administrative decision that the applicant is in breach of its obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions in accordance with the law of the country in which it is established, with those of the country in which the authorising officer is located or those of the country of the performance of the contract;

(c) it has been established by a final judgment or a final administrative decision that the applicant is guilty of grave professional misconduct by having violated applicable laws or regulations or ethical standards of the profession to which the applicant belongs, or by having engaged in any wrongful conduct which has an impact on its professional credibility where such conduct denotes wrongful intent or gross negligence, including, in particular, any of the following:

(i) fraudulently or negligently misrepresenting information required for the verification of the absence of grounds for exclusion or the fulfilment of selection criteria or in the performance of a contract, a grant agreement or a grant decision;

2. (ii)  entering into agreement with other applicants with the aim of distorting competition;

3. (iii)  violating intellectual property rights;

4. (iv)  attempting to influence the decision-making process of the Commission during the award procedure;

5. (v)  attempting to obtain confidential information that may confer upon it undue advantages in the award procedure;

(d) it has been established by a final judgment that the applicant is guilty of any of the following:

1. (i)  fraud, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests, drawn up by the Council Act of 26 July 1995;

2. (ii)  corruption, as defined in Article 3 of the Convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union, drawn up by the Council Act of 26 May 1997, and in Article 2(1) of Council Framework Decision 2003/568/JHA, as well as corruption as defined in the law of the country where the contracting authority is located, the country in which the applicant is established or the country of the performance of the contract;

3. (iii)  participation in a criminal organisation, as defined in Article 2 of Council Framework Decision 2008/841/JHA;

4. (iv)  money laundering or terrorist financing, as defined in Article 1 of Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council;

5. (v)  terrorist-related offences or offences linked to terrorist activities, as defined in Articles 1 and 3 of Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA, respectively, or inciting, aiding, abetting or attempting to commit such offences, as referred to in Article 4 of that Decision;

6. (vi)  child labour or other forms of trafficking in human beings as defined in Article 2 of Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council;

(e) the applicant has shown significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations in the performance of a contract, a grant agreement or a grant decision financed by the Union's budget, which has led to its early termination or to the application of liquidated damages or other contractual penalties, or which has been discovered following checks, audits or investigations by an authorising officer, OLAF or the Court of Auditors;

(f) it has been established by a final judgment or final administrative decision that the applicant has committed an irregularity within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95.

(g) for the situations of grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, other criminal offences, significant deficiencies in the performance of the contract or irregularity, the applicant is subject to:

 

1. (i)  facts established in the context of audits or investigations carried out by the Court of Auditors, OLAF or internal audit, or any other check, audit or control performed under the responsibility of an authorising officer of an EU institution, of a European office or of an EU agency or body;

2. (ii)  non-final administrative decisions which may include disciplinary measures taken by the competent supervisory body responsible for the verification of the application of standards of professional ethics;

3. (iii)  decisions of the ECB, the EIB, the European Investment Fund or international organisations;

4. (iv)  decisions of the Commission relating to the infringement of the Union's competition rules or of a national competent authority relating to the infringement of Union or national competition law.

5. (v)  decisions of exclusion by an authorising officer of an EU institution, of a European office or of an EU agency or body.

7.2. Remedial measures

If an applicant declares one of the situations of exclusion listed above (see section 7.4), it should indicate the measures it has taken to remedy the exclusion situation, thus demonstrating its reliability. This may include e.g. technical, organisational and personnel measures to prevent further occurrence, compensation of damage or payment of fines. The relevant documentary evidence which illustrates the remedial measures taken must be provided in annex to the declaration. This does not apply for situations referred in point (d) of section 7.1.

7.3. Rejection from the call for proposals

The authorising officer shall not award a grant to an applicant who:

1. is in an exclusion situation established in accordance with section 7.19;

2. has misrepresented the information required as a condition for participating in the procedure or has failed to supply that information;

3. was previously involved in the preparation of calls for proposal documents where this entails a distortion of competition that cannot be remedied otherwise.

The same exclusion criteria apply to affiliated entities.

Administrative and financial penalties may be imposed on applicants, or affiliated entities where applicable, who are guilty of misrepresentation.

 

7.4. Supporting documents10

Applicants must provide a declaration on their honour certifying that they are not in one of the situations referred to in articles 106(1) and 107 FR, by filling in the relevant form attached to the application form accompanying the call for proposals and available at the Participant Portal.

Each applicant in the consortium must sign a declaration in its name and on behalf of its affiliated entities.

 

8. SELECTION CRITERIA
8.1. Financial capacity

Applicants must have stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain their activity throughout the period during which the action is being carried out or the year for which the grant is awarded and to participate in its funding. The applicants' financial capacity will be assessed on the basis of the following supporting documents to be submitted with the application:

a) b)

Low value grants (< EUR 60 000): – a declaration on their honour.

Grants > EUR 60 000:

 

 

a declaration on their honour and,

EITHER the profit and loss account, the balance sheet for the last financial year for which the accounts were closed;

for newly created entities, the business plan might replace the above documents.

OR

the table provided for in the application form, filled in with therelevantstatutory accounting figures, in order to calculate the ratios as detailed in the form.

In the thresholds apply by applicants.

event of an application grouping several applicants (consortium), the above

In the case of legal entities forming one applicant, as specified in section 6.1, the above requirements apply to those entities.

On the basis of the documents submitted, if the Commission considers that financial capacity is not satisfactory, it may:

• –  request further information;

• –  decide not to give pre-financing;

• –  decide to give pre-financing in instalments;

• –  proposeagrantagreementwithapre-financingcoveredbyabankguarantee(see section 11.6);

• –  where applicable, require the joint and several financial liability of all the co- beneficiaries;

• –  reject the application.

8.2. Operational capacity

Applicants must have the professional competencies as well as appropriate qualifications necessary to complete the proposed action or work programme. In this respect, applicants have to submit a declaration on their honour, and the following supporting documents:

– curriculumvitaeordescriptionoftheprofileofthepeopleprimarilyresponsible for managing and implementing the operation (accompanied where appropriate, like in the field of research and education, by a list of relevant publications);

– the organisations' activity reports;

– anexhaustivelistsofprojectsandactivitiesperformedinthelastthreeyearsand connected to the policy field of a given call or to the actions to be carried out;

– an inventory of natural or economic resources involved in the project.

In the case of legal entities forming one applicant, as specified in section 6.1, the above requirements apply to those entities.

 

9. AWARD CRITERIA

Eligible applications/proposals will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

 

Excellence

Clarity and pertinence of the objectives, credibility of the proposed approach, soundness of the concept and quality of the proposed activities.

Impact

Effectiveness of the proposed measures to exploit and disseminate the project results, to communicate the project, and to manage research data where relevant. Expected impacts in delivering activities related to the political participation and codetermination of the younger and older generations in Europe. 

 

Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation

Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of the allocation of tasks and resources, complementarity of the participants within the consortium (when relevant), and appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including risk and innovation management.

 

Evaluation scores will be awarded for the criteria, and not for the different aspects listed in the above table. Each evaluation criterion shall be marked on a six-point scale from 0 to 5 indicating the following:

0 - the proposal fails to address the issue under examination or cannot be judged against the criterion due to missing or incomplete information.
1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good; 4 - very good; 5 - excellent.

A minimum threshold of 3 shall be set for all the criteria. Any proposal, which fails to achieve one of the threshold scores, shall be rejected. The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 12. The evaluation committee will comprise at least three persons representing at least two organisational entities belonging to the institutions, executive agencies or other bodies of the EU11.There must be no hierarchical link between any of the entities, and at least one of them must be independent of the responsible authorising officer.

 

10. LEGAL COMMITMENTS

In the event of a grant awarded by the Commission, a grant agreement, drawn up in euro and detailing the conditions and level of funding, will be sent to the beneficiary, as well as the procedure in view to formalise the obligations of the parties.

The 2 copies of the original agreement must be signed first by the beneficiary and returned to the Commission immediately. The Commission will sign it last.

Please note that the award of a grant does not establish an entitlement for subsequent years.

 

11. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

11.1. General Principles

Non-cumulative award

An action may only receive one grant from the EU budget.

In no circumstances shall the same costs be financed twice by the Union budget. To ensure this, applicants shall indicate the sources and amounts of Union funding received or applied for the same action or part of the action or for its functioning during the same financial year as well as any other funding received or applied for the same action.12

Non-retroactivity
No grant may be awarded retrospectively for actions already completed.

A grant may be awarded for an action which has already begun only where the applicant can demonstrate the need to start the action before the grant agreement is signed.

 

In such cases, costs eligible for financing may not have been incurred prior to the date of submission of the grant application.

Co-financing

Co-financing means that the resources which are necessary to carry out the action may not be entirely provided by the EU grant.

Co-financing of the action may take the form of:

• –  the beneficiary's own resources,

• –  income generated by the action,

• –  financial contributions from third parties.

Co-financing may also take the form of in-kind contributions from third parties, i.e. non- financial resources made available free of charge by third parties to the beneficiary or to the consortium. The corresponding costs of third parties are not eligible.

Balanced budget

The estimated budget of the action must be attached to the application form. It must have revenue and expenditure in balance.

The budget must be drawn up in euros.

Applicants which foresee that costs will not be incurred in euros, are invited to use the exchange rate published on the Infor-euro website available at http://ec.europa.eu/budget/contracts_grants/info_contracts/inforeuro/index_en.cfm .

Implementation contracts/subcontracting

Where the implementation of the action requires the award of procurement contracts (implementation contracts), the beneficiary must award the contract to the bid offering best value for money or the lowest price (as appropriate), avoiding conflicts of interests.

The beneficiary is expected to clearly document the tendering procedure and retain the documentation for the event of an audit. Sub-contracts may only be awarded to entities which fulfil the eligibility criteria for applicants in section 6.1, e.g. sub-contractors must be legal entities established in one of the EU Member States or associated counties or created under Union law.

Entities acting in their capacity of contracting authorities in the meaning of Directive 2004/18/EC13 or contracting entities in the meaning of Directive 2004/17/EC14 must comply with the applicable national public procurement rules.

 

Sub-contracting, i.e. the externalisation of specific tasks or activities which form part of the action/work programme as described in the proposal must satisfy the conditions applicable to any implementation contract (as specified above) and in addition to them the following conditions:

• –  it may only cover the implementation of a limited part of the action;

• –  it must be justified having regard to the nature of the action and what is necessary for its implementation;

• –  it must be clearly stated in the proposal.
  Financial support to third parties
  The applications may not envisage provision of financial support to third parties.

11.2. Funding forms

Mixed financing grants are calculated on the basis of a detailed estimated budget indicating clearly the costs that are eligible for EU funding. The grant amount may neither exceed the eligible costs nor the amount requested. Amounts are indicated in euros.

Maximum amount requested

The EU grant is limited to a maximum co-funding rate of 75 % of eligible costs taking into account the maximum grant amount referred to in section 4.

Consequently, part of the total eligible expenses entered in the estimative budget must be financed from sources other than the EU grant (see section 11.1).

Contributions in kind

The external co-financing may be made up of contributions in kind in order to cover other costs necessary to carry out the project. Such contributions must not exceed:

• –  either the costs actually borne and duly supported by accounting documents;

• –  or,intheabsenceofsuchdocuments,thecostsgenerallyacceptedonthemarket in question.

  In-kind contributions shall be presented separately in the estimated budget to reflect the total resources allocated to the action. Their unit value is evaluated in the provisional budget and shall not be subject to subsequent changes.

  In-kind contributions shall comply with national tax and social security rules.

11.3. Eligible costs

Eligible costs are costs actually incurred by the beneficiary of a grant which meet all the following criteria:

– they are incurred during the duration of the action, with the exception of costs relating to final reports and audit certificates;

The period of eligibility of costs will start as specified in the grant agreement.

If a beneficiary can demonstrate the need to start the action before the agreement is signed, expenditure may be authorised before the grant is awarded. Under no circumstances can the eligibility period start before the date of submission of the grant application (see section 11.1).

• –  they are indicated in the estimated budget of the action;

• –  they are necessary for the implementation of the action which is the subject of the grant;

• –  theyareidentifiableandverifiable,inparticularbeingrecordedintheaccounting records of the beneficiary and determined according to the applicable accounting standards of the country where the beneficiary is established and according to the usual cost accounting practices of the beneficiary;

• –  they comply with the requirements of applicable tax and social legislation;

• –  they are reasonable, justified, and comply with the requirements of sound financial management, in particular regarding economy and efficiency.

  The beneficiary's internal accounting and auditing procedures must permit direct reconciliation of the costs and revenue declared in respect of the action/project with the corresponding accounting statements and supporting documents.

  The same criteria apply to costs incurred by the affiliated entities. Eligible costs may be direct or indirect.

a) Eligible direct costs

The eligible direct costs for the action are those costs which, with due regard for the conditions of eligibility set out above, are identifiable as specific costs directly linked to the performance of the action and which can therefore be booked to it directly, such as :

- the costs of personnel working under an employment contract with the applicant or equivalent appointing act and assigned to the action, comprising actual salaries plus social security contributions and other statutory costs included in the remuneration, provided that these costs are in line with the applicant's usual policy on remuneration. Those costs may include additional remuneration, including payments on the basis of supplementary contracts regardless of their nature, provided that it is paid in a consistent manner whenever the same kind of work or expertise is required and independently from the source of funding used;

- subsistence allowances (for meetings, including kick-off meetings where applicable, conferences etc) provided that these costs are in line with the beneficiary's usual practices,

- costs of travel (for meetings, including kick-off meetings where applicable, conferences etc), provided that these costs are in line with the beneficiary's usual practices on travel,

- costs of consumables and supplies, provided that they are identifiable and assigned to the action/project;

- costs entailed by implementation contracts awarded by the beneficiaries for the purposes of carrying out the action/project, provided that the conditions laid down in the grant agreement or grant decision are met;

- costs arising directly from requirements linked to the implementation of the action/project (dissemination of information, specific evaluation of the action, translations, reproduction);

- costs relating to a pre-financing guarantee lodged by the beneficiary of the grant, where required;

- costs relating to external audits where required in support of the requests for payments; value added tax ("VAT") is not eligible.

b) Eligible indirect costs (overheads)

Indirect costs are costs that are not directly linked to the action implementation and therefore cannot be attributed directly to it.

A flat-rate amount of 7% of the total eligible direct costs of the action, is eligible under indirect costs, representing the beneficiary's general administrative costs which can be regarded as chargeable to the action/project.

Indirect costs may not include costs entered under another budget heading.

Applicants’ attention is drawn to the fact that if they are receiving an operating grant financed by the EU or Euratom budget, they may not declare indirect costs for the period(s) covered by the operating grant, unless they can demonstrate that the operating grant does not cover any costs of the action.

In order to demonstrate this, in principle, the beneficiary should:

 

a. use analytical cost accounting that allows to separate all costs (including overheads) attributable to the operating grant and the action grant. For that purpose the beneficiary should use reliable accounting codes and allocation keys ensuring that the allocation of the costs is done in a fair, objective and realistic way.

 

b. record separately:

1. all costs incurred for the operating grants (i.e. personnel, general running costs and other operating costs linked to the part of its usual annual activities), and
2. all costs incurred for the action grants (including the actual indirect costs linked to the action)

If the operating grant covers the entire usual annual activity and budget of the beneficiary, the latter is not entitled to receive any indirect costs under the action grant.

 

11.4. Ineligible costs

• return on capital;
• debt and debt service charges;
• provisions for losses or debts;
• interest owed;
• doubtful debts;
• exchangelosses;
• costs of transfers from the Commission charged by the bank of a beneficiary;
• costs declared by the beneficiary under another action receiving a grant financed from the Union budget. Such grants include grants awarded by a Member State and financed from the Union budget and grants awarded by bodies other than the Commission for the purpose of implementing the Union budget. In particular, beneficiaries receiving an operating grant financed by the EU or Euratom budget cannot declare indirect costs for the period covered by the operating grant, unless they can demonstrate that the operating grant does not cover any costs of the action.;
• contributions in kind from third parties;
• excessive or reckless expenditure.
• deductible VAT.

Calculation of the final grant amount

The final amount of the grant to be awarded to the beneficiary is established after completion of the action, upon approval of the request for payment containing the following documents including relevant supporting documents where appropriate:

• –  a final report providing details of the implementation and results of the action;

• –  the final financial statement of costs actually incurred,

• –  where applicable, a certificate on the financial statements of the action and underlying accounts15.

EU grants may not have the purpose or effect of producing a profit within the framework of the action of the beneficiary. Profit shall be defined as a surplus of the receipts over the eligible costs incurred by the beneficiary, when the request is made for payment of the balance. In this respect, where a profit is made, the Commission shall be entitled to recover the percentage of the profit corresponding to the Union contribution to the eligible costs actually incurred by the beneficiary to carry out the action.

 

11.5. Payment arrangements

A pre-financing payment corresponding to EUR 200 000 (two hundred thousand Euro) will be transferred to the beneficiary within 30 days either of the date when the last of the two parties signs the agreement, or of the notification of the grant decision, provided all requested guarantees have been received.

One interim payment of EUR 200 000 (two hundred thousand Euro) shall be paid to the beneficiary six months after the last of the two parties signs the agreement and upon the reception of an interim report providing a detailed exposition of activities. A final payment of EUR 200 000 (two hundred thousand Euro) will be made upon the delivery of a final project report and the satisfactory completion of the action.

11.6. Pre-financing guarantee

In the event that the applicant's financial capacity is not satisfactory, a pre-financing guarantee for up to the same amount as the pre-financing may be requested in order to limit the financial risks linked to the pre-financing payment.

The financial guarantee, in euro, shall be provided by an approved bank or financial institution established in one of the Member State of the European Union. Amounts blocked in bank accounts shall not be accepted as financial guarantees.

The guarantee may be replaced by a joint and several guarantee by a third party or by a joint guarantee of the beneficiaries of an action who are parties to the same grant agreement.

The guarantee shall be released as the pre-financing is gradually cleared against interim payments or payments of balances to the beneficiary, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the grant agreement.

 

12. PUBLICITY
12.1. By the beneficiaries

Beneficiaries must clearly acknowledge the European Union's contribution in all publications or in conjunction with activities for which the grant is used.

In this respect, beneficiaries are required to give prominence to the name and emblem of the European Commission on all their publications, posters, programmes and other products realised under the co-financed project.

12.2. By the Commission

With the exception of scholarships paid to natural persons and other direct support paid to natural persons in most need, all information relating to grants awarded in the course of a financial year shall be published on an internet site of the European Union institutions no later than the 30 June of the year following the financial year in which the grants were awarded.

The Commission will publish the following information: – name of the beneficiary

– address of the beneficiary when the latter is a legal person, region when the beneficiary is a natural person, as defined on NUTS 2 level if he/she is domiciled within EU or equivalent if domiciled outside EU,

– subject of the grant,

– amountawarded.

Upon a reasoned and duly substantiated request by the beneficiary, the publication shall be waived if such disclosure risks threatening the rights and freedoms of individuals concerned as protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union or harm the commercial interests of the beneficiaries.

 

13. DATA PROTECTION

The reply to any call for proposals involves the recording and processing of personal data (such as name, address and CV). Such data will be processed pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data. Unless indicated otherwise, the questions and any personal data requested that are required to evaluate the application in accordance with the call for proposal will be processed solely for that purpose by [entity acting as data controller].

Personal data may be registered in the Early Detection and Exclusion System by the Commission, should the beneficiary be in one of the situations mentioned in Article 106(1) and 107 of the Financial Regulation 966/201216 (for more information see the Privacy Statement on: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/explained/management/protecting/privacy_statement_e des_en.pdf)

 

14. PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the formal requirements and by the deadline set out under section 3.

No modification to the application is allowed once the deadline for submission has elapsed. However, if there is a need to clarify certain aspects or for the correction of clerical mistakes, the Commission may contact the applicant for this purpose during the evaluation process.

Applicants will be informed in writing about the results of the selection process. Submission on paper
Application forms are available at Call for Proposals page of the Participant Portal.

Applications shall be submitted on the correct form, duly completed, dated, showing a balanced budget (revenue/expenditure), submitted in 5 copies (one original clearly identified as such, plus 4 copies), and signed by the person authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organisation. Please also include in the envelope the proposal in digital form on a usb key.

Where applicable, all additional information considered necessary by the applicant can be included on separate sheets.

Applications must be sent to the following address:

European Commission
Directorate General for Research and Innovation Directorate Open Innovation and Open Science (Unit B.6) For the attention of the Head of Unit (ORBN 10/210)

B-1049 Brussels - Belgium

• –  by post, date as postmark;

• –  in person, date as receipt,

• –  by courier service, date of receipt by the courier service.

Applications sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted. Contacts
For any questions please contact: RTD-B-WORK-AND-WELFARE@ec.europa.eu Annexes:

• –  Application form

• –  Grant application budget

• –  Checklist of documents to be provided

• –  Model grant agreement

Public link:   Only for registered users