# C_2009158EN.01001001.xml

| 11.7.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 158/10 |
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11.7.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 158/10

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/11/2009

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

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

‘Europe for citizens’ programme, Action 2, Measures 1 and 2 — 2010

2009/C 158/05

1.   OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

This call for proposals EACEA/11/2009 is based on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme to promote active European citizenship for the period between 2007 and 2013 (1) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Programme’).

1

The Programme constitutes the legal basis for this call for proposals, referring to action 2 ‘Active Civil Society for Europe’ measures 1 and 2, the Structural support for European public policy research organisations and think tanks and for civil society organisations at European level.

1.1.   General Programme objectives

General Programme 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.

1.2.   Specific call objectives

Specific call objectives

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:

| (a) | to foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through the activities and cooperation of think tanks and within civil society organisations at European level; |
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(a)

to foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through the activities and cooperation of think tanks and within civil society organisations at European level;

| (b) | to 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. |
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(b)

to 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.

1.3.   Thematic priorities

Thematic priorities

| — | The future of the European Union and its fundamental values |
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The future of the European Union and its fundamental values

| — | Active European Citizenship — participation and democracy in Europe |
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Active European Citizenship — participation and democracy in Europe

| — | Intercultural dialogue |
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Intercultural dialogue

| — | Impact of EU policies on society |
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Impact of EU policies on society

| — | People’s well-being in Europe, employment, social cohesion and sustainable development |
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People’s well-being in Europe, employment, social cohesion and sustainable development

1.4.   Call description

Call description

This call for proposals concerns structural support, referred to as operating grants, to organisations pursuing an aim of general European interest. Operating grants provide financial support to cover part of the running costs of the normal and permanent activities of an organisation selected.

Different criteria are used to award either Annual Operating Grants or Multi-Annual Strategic Partnerships. A multi-annual partnership is a cooperation mechanism established between a particular organisation and the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Executive Agency’) to award specific grants. Such a partnership may be set up for three years under this call.

Annual Operating Grants

Multi-Annual Strategic Partnerships

2.   ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2.1.   Organisations

Organisations

To be eligible for a grant, organisations pursuing an aim of general European interest must:

| (a) | be a non-profit making organisation with a legal personality; applications by networks that do not have a separate operational structure and their own status may be presented by the member organisation responsible for coordinating the network; |
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(a)

be a non-profit making organisation with a legal personality; applications by networks that do not have a separate operational structure and their own status may be presented by the member organisation responsible for coordinating the network;

| (b) | operate in the field of European citizenship as defined in their articles of association or mission statement and correspond to one of the following categories: | Measure 1:







  A. | European public policy research organisations and think tanks. |
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(b)

operate in the field of European citizenship as defined in their articles of association or mission statement and correspond to one of the following categories:

Measure 1:

Measure 1:

A.

European public policy research organisations and think tanks.

| | Measure 2:







  B. | Civil society organisations working on a European level






  — | European umbrella organisations (platforms) |
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Measure 2:

Measure 2:

B.

Civil society organisations working on a European level

—

European umbrella organisations (platforms)

| — | European networks |
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European networks

| — | Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe |
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Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe

| C. | Civil society organisations involved in fostering active European remembrance |
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C.

Civil society organisations involved in fostering active European remembrance

| D. | Pan-European umbrella organisations. |
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D.

Pan-European umbrella organisations.

| (c) | undertake the majority of their activities in eligible countries (See 2.2).

  For multi-annual partnerships, the organisations involved must have been established legally and have had a legal personality for at least four (4) years (on 15 October 2009) in an eligible country and, for the categories given below, cover the following geographical area:






  — | European umbrella organisations and European networks must have members in at least twelve (12) eligible countries; |
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(c)

undertake the majority of their activities in eligible countries (See 2.2).

For multi-annual partnerships, the organisations involved must have been established legally and have had a legal personality for at least four (4) years (on 15 October 2009) in an eligible country and, for the categories given below, cover the following geographical area:

For multi-annual partnerships

four (4) years

following geographical area

—

European umbrella organisations and European networks must have members in at least twelve (12) eligible countries;

European umbrella organisations

European networks must have members in at least twelve (12) eligible countries

| — | Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least twelve (12) eligible countries. |
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Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least twelve (12) eligible countries.

Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least twelve (12) eligible countries.

| — | Pan-European umbrella organisations must have at least six (6) central organisations among their members, who must be present in the 27 Member States. |
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Pan-European umbrella organisations must have at least six (6) central organisations among their members, who must be present in the 27 Member States.

Pan-European umbrella organisations

six (6) central organisations

27 Member States

To be eligible for an annual grant, the organisations involved must have been established legally and have had a legal personality for at least one (1) year (on 15 October 2009) in an eligible country and, for the categories given below, cover the following geographical area:

To be eligible for an annual grant

one (1) year

following geographical area

| — | European umbrella organisations and European networks must have members in at least eight (8) eligible countries; |
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European umbrella organisations and European networks must have members in at least eight (8) eligible countries;

European umbrella organisations

European networks must have members in at least eight (8) eligible countries;

| — | Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least eight (8) eligible countries. |
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Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least eight (8) eligible countries.

Organisations performing activities with a wide impact on Europe must be active in at least eight (8) eligible countries.

Pan-European umbrella organisations may only submit an application within a multi-annual partnership.

Individuals and public bodies are not eligible to apply for this call.

2.2.   Eligible countries

Eligible countries

| (a) | EU Member States: 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)

EU Member States: 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;

EU Member States

| (b) | Croatia; |
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(b)

Croatia;

| (c) | Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; |
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(c)

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;

| (d) | Albania. |
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(d)

Albania.

3.   ELIGIBLE ACTIONS

ELIGIBLE ACTIONS

The activities of the applicant organisation must make a tangible contribution to developing and implementing the specific objectives and thematic priorities of this call for proposals. They must cover at least one specific aim and one thematic priority among those listed under point 1.

tangible

They must cover at least one specific aim and one thematic priority among those listed under point 1

The applicant organisation’s work programme for 2010 and the three-year strategic programme (for multi-annual partnerships) must cover its statutory activities, including conferences, seminars, round tables, representation, communication and enhancement, and their other recurrent European activities.

Eligibility period

Eligibility period

The period of eligibility must correspond to the applicant's budget year, as evidenced by the organisation's certified accounts. If the applicant's budget year corresponds to the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010.

For applicants with a budget year that differs from the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be the 12-month period from the starting date of their budget year in 2010.

4.   AWARD CRITERIA

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications meeting the eligibility and exclusion criteria will be evaluated on the basis of award criteria by an evaluation committee set up with a view to determining which proposals may be co-financed.

The award criteria will comprise qualitative criteria, accounting for 80 %, and quantitative criteria, representing 20 % of the score awarded. For multi-annual partnerships, the same weight will be attributed to the twelve-month work programme and the three-year strategic programme.

4.1.   Qualitative criteria (80 %)

Qualitative criteria (80 %)

The following factors will be assessed:

| (a) | relevance to the objectives and priorities of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme (30 %); |
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(a)

relevance to the objectives and priorities of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme (30 %);

| (b) | adequacy, coherence and completeness of the work programme (20 %); |
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(b)

adequacy, coherence and completeness of the work programme (20 %);

| (c) | impact of the work programme (10 %); |
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(c)

impact of the work programme (10 %);

| (d) | European added value (10 %); |
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(d)

European added value (10 %);

| (e) | visibility of activities and dissemination and exploitation of results towards European citizens and other stakeholders (10 %). |
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(e)

visibility of activities and dissemination and exploitation of results towards European citizens and other stakeholders (10 %).

4.2.   Quantitative criteria (20 %)

Quantitative criteria (20 %)

The following factors will be assessed:

| (a) | number of eligible countries involved in the activities of the work programme (10 %); |
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(a)

number of eligible countries involved in the activities of the work programme (10 %);

| (b) | number of potential direct beneficiaries (10 %). |
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(b)

number of potential direct beneficiaries (10 %).

5.   BUDGET

BUDGET

The Community budget earmarked for co-financing of operating grants is around EUR 8,2 million in 2010. The Executive Agency intends to finance around 55 organisations under this call, although it reserves the right not to attribute all the funds available if the quality of the applications is insufficient.

EUR 8,2 million

55

As an indicative figure, grants for multi-annual partnerships will represent around 85 % and annual grants around 15 % of the available budget.

Grants will be awarded under item 15.06.66 of the General Budget of the European Union.

6.   DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

The deadline for submission of applications is 15 October 2009.

The deadline for submission of applications is 15 October 2009.

The Executive Agency is currently setting up a system to allow all applications to be submitted in computer format.

For this call for proposals, applicants must send in their applications using an electronic form which will be available from 15 September 2009. This version (including its annexes) is regarded as the main version. Before this date, the Executive Agency will make available a version of the form in pdf format to allow applicants to begin preparing their dossiers.

A paper version of the Application Dossier must also be sent to the address below before the deadline:

| Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency |
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| Unit P7 |
| Call for proposals EACEA/11/2009 |
| Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOUR 01/17) |
| 1140 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency

Unit P7

Call for proposals EACEA/11/2009

Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOUR 01/17)

1140 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Only applications presented on the appropriate form, duly completed, dated and signed by the person authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applying body will be accepted.

7.   COMPLETE INFORMATION

COMPLETE INFORMATION

Detailed guidelines for applicants and application forms are available at the following address: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm

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(1)  Decision No 1904/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 (OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 32), amended by Decision No 1358/2008/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 (OJ L 350, 30.12.2008).

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