# C_2006272EN.01004101.xml

| 9.11.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 272/41 |
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9.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 272/41

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Structural support for European public policy research organisations and for civil society organisations at European level

Citizenship — P.7

EACEA — Call for Proposals No 12/06

(2006/C 272/10)

Precautionary clause

The Commission's proposal relating to the Europe for Citizens programme has not yet been formally adopted by the legislature. Nevertheless, to enable prompt implementation of this programme after the adoption of its basic act, which should take place soon, and to enable potential beneficiaries of Community grant to prepare their proposals as soon as possible, the Commission has decided to publish this call for proposals.

This call for proposals does not legally bind the Commission and the Executive Agency (EACEA). It may be cancelled and calls for proposals with different specifications may be issued, with appropriate reply periods, if there is a substantial change in the legal basis by the European legislation.

More generally, the implementation of the calls for proposals in 2007 is subject to the following conditions, the meeting of which is not dependent on the Commission:

| — | the adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of the final text of the legal basis establishing the Programme without any substantial modifications; |
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the adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of the final text of the legal basis establishing the Programme without any substantial modifications;

| — | the adoption of the annual work programme relating to the Europe for Citizens Programme and the general implementation of the call for proposals and the selection criteria and procedures, after referral to the programme committee, and |
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the adoption of the annual work programme relating to the Europe for Citizens Programme and the general implementation of the call for proposals and the selection criteria and procedures, after referral to the programme committee, and

| — | the adoption of the 2007 budget for the European Union by the budgetary authority. |
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the adoption of the 2007 budget for the European Union by the budgetary authority.

This call for proposals 12/06 is based on the draft decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme to promote active European citizenship for the period between 2007 and 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Programme’). The proposed programme ensures the continuity of the current Civic Participation programme (1) (2004-2006) and opens the way to new activities. This call for proposals implements the measures 1 and 2 within the action 2 ‘Active Civil Society for Europe’.

1

1.   Introduction

This call for proposals concerns structural support, referred to as operating grants, to organisations, pursuing an aim of general European interest. Operating grants are different from project grants. Operating grants provide financial support to costs necessary for the proper conduct of the normal and permanent activities of the organisations selected. These costs include in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges etc.) costs of internal meetings, publications, information and dissemination costs and costs directly linked to the organisation's work programme.

2.   Objectives

2.1   General objectives

The programme is intended to contribute to the following general objectives:

| a) | Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union; |
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a)

Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union;

| b) | Developing a sense of European identity, based on common values, history and culture; |
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b)

Developing a sense of European identity, based on common values, history and culture;

| c) | Fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union among its citizens; |
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c)

Fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union among its citizens;

| d) | Enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue. |
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d)

Enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

2.2   Specific objectives

The specific objectives for this call for proposals are:

| a) | Foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level; |
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a)

Foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level;

| b) | Encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from Member States which acceded to the European Union before and those which have acceded since 30 April 2004. |
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b)

Encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from Member States which acceded to the European Union before and those which have acceded since 30 April 2004.

3.   Timetable

Applications must be submitted to the Executive Agency no later than 22 December 2006 (please read carefully section 13 of this call for proposals concerning the procedures for submitting applications).

The period of eligibility of expenditure will run from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 (12 months) or for organisations for which the financial year starts at a later date, the period of eligibility of expenditure will run from the beginning of their financial year up to a period of 12 months.

4.   Budget

The structural support will be awarded under the posts 15.06.66 of the European Union's General Budget.

Subject to the adoption of the budget, the total available amount for 2007 is EUR 1,9 million.

5.   Eligible applicants

5.1   Eligible organisations

To be eligible for an operating grant, an organisation, pursuing an aim of general European interest must:

| a) | Be a European public policy research organisation (think thanks) OR be a civil society organisation at European level, promoting European citizenship; |
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a)

Be a European public policy research organisation (think thanks) OR be a civil society organisation at European level, promoting European citizenship;

OR

| b) | Be established in an eligible country (see point 5.3); |
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b)

Be established in an eligible country (see point 5.3);

| c) | Be a non-profit making and independent organisation with a legal status and legal personality (individuals are not eligible); |
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c)

Be a non-profit making and independent organisation with a legal status and legal personality (individuals are not eligible);

| d) | Operate on a trans-national basis, either through the structure of the organisation (networking or an organisation with subsidiary(s) in different eligible countries) or/and through the work programme. |
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d)

Operate on a trans-national basis, either through the structure of the organisation (networking or an organisation with subsidiary(s) in different eligible countries) or/and through the work programme.

trans-national basis

5.2   Eligible countries

Applications from legal entities established in the following countries are eligible:

| a) | the Member States of the European Union on the 1st of January 2007 (27): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom; |
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a)

the Member States of the European Union on the 1st of January 2007 (27): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom;

5.3   Period of eligibility

The period of eligibility must correspond to the applicant's budget year.

If the applicant's budget year corresponds to the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007.

For the applicants with a budgetary year that differs from the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be the 12-month period from the starting date of their budgetary year in 2007.

6.   Further Information

The full text of the call for proposals and the application forms are available on the following website:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/en/citizenship/index.htm

Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the full text and be submitted using the forms provided.

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(1)  OJ L 30, 2.2.2004, p. 6.

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