# C_2007078EN.01001801.xml

| 11.4.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 78/18 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.4.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78/18

---

OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS — DG EAC/07/07

OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008

(2007/C 78/09)

1.   Introduction/Background

The Decision No 1983/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006, establishing the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 (EYID 2008) (1) foresees a number of measures to be implemented by the European Commission.

1

The Culture Unit of the Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) of the Commission will be the service responsible for implementing the call for proposals.

2.   Objectives and Description

The overall budget allocated to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue is EUR 10 million. A total amount of EUR 3 million is dedicated to the co-financing of actions on a community scale. This includes a community event to open and close the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in cooperation with the Presidencies in office during 2008 for which a sum of EUR 600 000 has been ear-marked.

The Commission is launching this open call for proposals in order to co-finance a limited number of emblematic actions on a European scale aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue, involving directly or otherwise reaching as many people as possible, and highlighting achievements and experiences on the theme of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

This limited number of emblematic actions on a European scale should be aimed at raising awareness of the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 and at underlining the meaning and importance of intercultural dialogue, illustrating various areas, methods and dimensions of intercultural dialogue in the European Union in a manner which is visible and attractive, particularly (but not exclusively) to young people.

3.   Timetable

Applications must be sent to the Commission no later than 31 July 2007.

31 July 2007

Projects must start in 2008 at a date no later than 1 September 2008. The principle activities proposed in the project must take place during 2008.

The period of eligibility of costs will start on the day the grant agreement is signed by the Commission. On an exceptional basis, if a beneficiary can demonstrate the need to start the action before the agreement is signed, expenditure may be authorised before the agreement is signed. Under no circumstances can the eligibility period start before the date of submission of the grant application (2). Costs incurred prior to 1 January 2008 will not be considered (3).

2

3

The duration of the eligibility period of each EU-grant agreement will be maximum 12 months.

However, if after the signing of the agreement and the start of the project it becomes impossible for the beneficiary, for fully justified reasons beyond his control, to complete the project within the scheduled period, an extension to the eligibility period may be granted. A maximum extension of maximum 3 additional months will be granted, if requested before the deadline specified in the agreement. The maximum possible duration will then be 15 months.

The intention is to inform applicants of the outcome of the selection procedure no later than the month of December 2007.

It is planned that beneficiaries will receive their agreements for signing in January/February 2008.

4.   Budget available

The total budget earmarked, under this call, for the co-financing of projects on a Community scale is EUR 2 400 000 (opening and closing events not included).

Financial support will be granted to approximately 8 to 10 events and initiatives.

Financial contribution from the Commission cannot exceed 80 % of total eligible cost of each project (4). Each grant will amount to between minimum EUR 200 000 and maximum EUR 400 000 (5).

4

5

The European Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

5.   Eligibility criteria

5.1   Eligible establishments/bodies/types of beneficiary

Applications which comply with the following eligibility criteria will be the subject of an in –depth evaluation:

| — | A public or private body (6) having experience in the field of intercultural dialogue and whose registered office is located in one of the 27 Member States of the European Union (7); |
| --- | --- |

—

A public or private body (6) having experience in the field of intercultural dialogue and whose registered office is located in one of the 27 Member States of the European Union (7);

6

7

| — | Such bodies have to carry out their activities at European level, alone or in the form of various coordinated associations, and their structure and activities shall have a potential influence at European Union level; |
| --- | --- |

—

Such bodies have to carry out their activities at European level, alone or in the form of various coordinated associations, and their structure and activities shall have a potential influence at European Union level;

| — | These bodies must also have the financial capacity and operational capacity to complete the action proposed; |
| --- | --- |

—

These bodies must also have the financial capacity and operational capacity to complete the action proposed;

| — | No individuals will be eligible. |
| --- | --- |

—

No individuals will be eligible.

5.2   Eligible countries

European Union Member States:

| | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. |
| --- | --- |

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

6.   Award criteria

An independent evaluation panel will assess the content of the projects on the basis of the following criteria as announced in the Specifications (point 8):

6.1.   European dimension (0-10pts)

| — | The level and nature of the involvement of partners from different Member States in the organisation of financing and implementation of the project; |
| --- | --- |

—

The level and nature of the involvement of partners from different Member States in the organisation of financing and implementation of the project;

| — | The number of direct participants from different Member States; |
| --- | --- |

—

The number of direct participants from different Member States;

| — | The geographical spread of coordinated local initiatives and specific added value of the common activities; |
| --- | --- |

—

The geographical spread of coordinated local initiatives and specific added value of the common activities;

| — | The degree to which the action addresses a theme related to European belonging and citizenship based on common values in the EU, promoting a positive image of cultural (including beliefs) diversity. |
| --- | --- |

—

The degree to which the action addresses a theme related to European belonging and citizenship based on common values in the EU, promoting a positive image of cultural (including beliefs) diversity.

6.2.   Number of persons (including young people) directly and indirectly affected (0-10pts)

| — | The number of people (including young people) participating, directly or virtually, in the projects proposed; |
| --- | --- |

—

The number of people (including young people) participating, directly or virtually, in the projects proposed;

| — | The number of people from disadvantaged or excluded social groups directly participating in the projects; |
| --- | --- |

—

The number of people from disadvantaged or excluded social groups directly participating in the projects;

| — | The number of people participating virtually through initiatives involving new media, such as discussion fora on the internet, online games, etc; |
| --- | --- |

—

The number of people participating virtually through initiatives involving new media, such as discussion fora on the internet, online games, etc;

| — | The communication plan presented for each project including an estimated number of people who can be reached through media tools and/or media partnerships; |
| --- | --- |

—

The communication plan presented for each project including an estimated number of people who can be reached through media tools and/or media partnerships;

| — | The features within the project which are targeting young people. |
| --- | --- |

—

The features within the project which are targeting young people.

6.3   Education, sustainability, trans-sectoral approach and innovation (0-10pts)

| — | The involvement of formal and informal educational activities and the use or the development of pedagogical material; |
| --- | --- |

—

The involvement of formal and informal educational activities and the use or the development of pedagogical material;

| — | Whether the project is building on best practices that have been identified following past experiences; |
| --- | --- |

—

Whether the project is building on best practices that have been identified following past experiences;

| — | The project's potential to lead to the creation of a sustainable structure facilitating lasting results beyond 2008; |
| --- | --- |

—

The project's potential to lead to the creation of a sustainable structure facilitating lasting results beyond 2008;

| — | An assessment of the project stakeholder's plans for sharing results and best practices obtained from the project, with a view to securing dissemination of such features beyond 2008; |
| --- | --- |

—

An assessment of the project stakeholder's plans for sharing results and best practices obtained from the project, with a view to securing dissemination of such features beyond 2008;

| — | An assessment of the trans-sectoral dimension of the project in terms of the range and intensity of the participation of different sectors (e.g. cultural and social sectors, business sector) and networks among civil society; |
| --- | --- |

—

An assessment of the trans-sectoral dimension of the project in terms of the range and intensity of the participation of different sectors (e.g. cultural and social sectors, business sector) and networks among civil society;

| — | The degree to which a project utilises innovative features or approaches whether in terms of the scale of the project, the tools and methodologies used or otherwise. |
| --- | --- |

—

The degree to which a project utilises innovative features or approaches whether in terms of the scale of the project, the tools and methodologies used or otherwise.

6.4   Project management (0-10pts)

| — | Quality of the management plan including the decision-making structures of partners; |
| --- | --- |

—

Quality of the management plan including the decision-making structures of partners;

| — | Past experience of project managers; |
| --- | --- |

—

Past experience of project managers;

| — | Relevance of overall financial plan; |
| --- | --- |

—

Relevance of overall financial plan;

| — | Timetable for project implementation. |
| --- | --- |

—

Timetable for project implementation.

Projects must score at least 6 points on the criteria 6.1 and 6.2. Projects must score at least 70 % of possible points to be allocated (28/40pts).

Based on the individual ranking of eligible projects, the final ranking and recommendation of the independent evaluation panel shall take into account the need to ensure:

| — | A geographical spread of the activities proposed by the selected projects within the European Union; |
| --- | --- |

—

A geographical spread of the activities proposed by the selected projects within the European Union;

| — | A diversity in the type of intercultural dialogue proposed by the selected projects, particularly in terms of the spaces where this dialogue takes place (e.g. learning, working and leisure spaces). |
| --- | --- |

—

A diversity in the type of intercultural dialogue proposed by the selected projects, particularly in terms of the spaces where this dialogue takes place (e.g. learning, working and leisure spaces).

7.   Further information

The detailed Specifications of the call and its annexes are available on the following website:

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/index_en.html

Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the Specifications and be submitted using the application form provided.

---

(1)  OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 44.

1

(2)  Article 112 FR.

2

(3)  Grants may not be awarded retrospectively for actions already completed. Article 112 FR.

3

(4)  Article 7 of Decision No 1983/2006/EC.

4

(5)  Articles 113; 167, 172 FR.

5

(6)  In the context of the specifications pursuant to this call, a public body is considered as any body, any part of whose costs are financed from the State budget as of right, either by central, regional or local government. That is, these costs are financed from public sector funds raised through taxation or fines or fees regulated by law, without going through an application process which might result in their being unsuccessful in obtaining funds. Organisations that depend on state funding for their existence and receive grants year after year, but for which there exist at least the theoretical possibility that they may fail to receive money one year are considered by the Commission as private bodies.

6

(7)  Cf. Section 5.2 of the specifications pursuant to this call.

7

---