# C_2005188EN.01002101.xml

| 2.8.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 188/21 |
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2.8.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 188/21

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Call for the submission of proposals under a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection

(2005/C 188/13)

Under the terms of Decision No 466/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 1 March 2002 laying down a Community action programme promoting environmental NGOs (1) primarily active in the field of the environment, the Commission invites European non-governmental organisations, which are primarily active in the field of environmental protection and enhancement with a view to sustainable development to present proposals with a view to obtaining a financial contribution. NGOs also active in the field of animal protection may participate in this Programme, provided that such activities serve to achieve environmental protection objectives (within the principles of Article 174 of the EC Treaty).

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Financial assistance under this Call for Proposals is subject to the availability of funds.

Contributions would be towards the costs that European environmental NGOs have to bear in carrying out the activities provided for in their 2006 annual work programme. Applicant organisations should be operating at a European level, either singly or in the form of several coordinated associations, with a structure (membership base) and activities covering at least three European countries. Coverage of two European countries is acceptable, provided that the primary objective of the activities is to support the development and implementation of Community environmental policy.

The Programme will be open to the participation of European NGOs established (legally registered) in either:

| — | the Member States, |
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the Member States,

| — | Bulgaria, Romania, |
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Bulgaria, Romania,

| — | Turkey, |
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Turkey,

| — | Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Croatia. |
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Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Croatia.

The participation of NGOs from Bulgaria and Turkey is subject to the formal agreement between the government of each of these States and the Community, as these countries have not yet signed agreements. Only organisations from countries that have formally signed such agreements with the Community to participate in the action programme will be considered. Compliance with this criterion will be checked only at the final selection stage in December 2005.

Financial assistance under this Call for Proposals may be provided for activities, which involve contributing to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation in different regions of Europe. The Programme will also contribute to the strengthening of small regional or local associations working to apply the ‘acquis communautaire’ in relation to the environment and sustainable development in their local area.

Support from this Programme will target the priority areas from the Sixth Environment Action Programme (2):

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| — | Limiting climate change, |
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Limiting climate change,

| — | Nature and bio-diversity — protecting a unique resource, |
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Nature and bio-diversity — protecting a unique resource,

| — | Health and environment, |
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Health and environment,

| — | Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and waste. |
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Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and waste.

In addition to the areas mentioned above, implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and environmental education will also remain of interest.

When awarding grants, the Commission will also pay due attention to participation from countries and regions previously under-represented in the Programme, with focus on the new Member States and the non-member States.

The Programme is a co-financing instrument. The rate of overall Community assistance shall not exceed 70 % of the applicant's average audited annual eligible expenses during the preceding two years in the case of NGOs based in the Community, or 80 % in the case of NGOs based in the Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the Balkan countries, nor 80 % of the applicant's eligible expenses for the current year. The amount of a grant will only become final once the audited financial statement of the beneficiary has been accepted by the Commission.

Beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of the criteria set out in the information dossier relating to this Call for Proposals and within the limits of the available budget.

The procedure for the appraisal of a request is as follows:

| — | receipt, recording and acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission, |
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receipt, recording and acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission,

| — | examination by the services of the Commission, |
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examination by the services of the Commission,

| — | formulation of the final decision and communication of the result to the applicant. |
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formulation of the final decision and communication of the result to the applicant.

The decision of the Commission is final.

The entire procedure is strictly confidential. In the event of approval by the Commission, a single contract (expressed in euro) will be concluded between the Commission and the party submitting the proposal.

The information dossier relating to this Call for Proposals which sets out the eligibility, selection and award criteria (including details of the weighting system) and the application, assessment and approval procedure, can be obtained by applying in writing to the following address (preferably by fax):

| Secretariat DG Environment A.3 |
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| European Commission |
| Office: BU-5 06/130 |
| B-1049 Brussels |
| Fax (00) (32-2) 299 10 68 |

Secretariat DG Environment A.3

European Commission

Office: BU-5 06/130

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (00) (32-2) 299 10 68

It may alternatively be downloaded from the Commission web site at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm

Proposals must be submitted by 3 October 2005 at the latest.

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(1)  OJ L 75, 16.3.2002, pp. 1-6

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(2)  OJ L 242, 10.9.2002, pp. 1-15

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