FALCONE PROGRAMME Annual programme and call for applications for projects for 1998 (98/C 165/09)

On 19 March 1998 the Council of the European Union adopted the multiannual Falcone programme of exchanges, training and cooperation for persons responsible for action to combat organised crime (1). This programme focuses on activities contributing to the implementation and monitoring of the action plan to combat organised crime, adopted by the Council on 28 April 1997 (2).

The programme covers the period 1998-2002 and has a proposed financial reference amount of ECU 10 million. The 1998 budget is ECU 2 000 000.

1. Aims

The Falcone programme is intended, through a multidisciplinary approach to prevention and enforcement, to support projects of benefit to the European Union and involving participants from more than one Member State. In particular it will support training measures and exchanges, research and studies and other ways of improving skills, with the aim of strengthening and facilitating the struggle against organised crime and reducing such obstacles as may exist to cooperation between the Member States.

The programme supports the following specific aims:

- to improve knowledge of the phenomena of organised crime,

- to improve the professional skills of those responsible for combating organised crime by improving their knowledge of the procedures and legislation in force in the various European countries,

- to encourage the exchange of experience acquired in the field,

- to facilitate the organisation of joint projects,

- to assess requirements in terms of cooperation and legislation for implementing the action plan,

- to involve the applicant countries in transnational projects.

2. Content of the programme

The Falcone programme provides financial support for projects in the following areas as defined in Article 1(3) of the Joint Action adopted on 19 March 1998:

- training,

- joint projects to improve skills and operational methods in cooperation in the fight against organised crime,

- programmes of traineeships, organisation of meetings and seminars,

- research, specialised studies, including operational feasibility studies, and assessment,

- dissemination and exchange of information,

- all other measures that may promote the implementation of the action plan to combat organised crime.

These measures are directed towards those responsible for the fight against organised crime, as defined in Article 1(2) of the Joint Action, namely judges, public prosecutors, police and customs departments, civil servants, public tax authorities, authorities responsible for the supervision of financial establishments and public procurement, including the fight against fraud and corruption, and representatives of professional circles who may be involved in the implementation of some of the recommendations in the action plan, as well as the academic and scientific world. The projects may involve those responsible in the applicant countries, with a view to helping them prepare for accession, or in other non-member countries where it serves the aims of the projects.

3. Scope of the Falcone programme in relation to other programmes

The Falcone programme has been set up alongside the other Commission programmes under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, namely:

- Oisin (programme for the exchange and training of, and cooperation between, law enforcement authorities) (OJ L 7, 10.1.1997),

- Grotius (programme of incentives and exchanges for legal practitioners) (OJ L 287, 8.11.1996),

- Odysseus (programme of training, exchanges and cooperation in the field of asylum, immigration and crossing of external borders) adopted on 19 March 1998 (OJ L 99, 31.3.1998),

- STOP (incentive and exchange programme for persons responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children) (OJ L 322, 12.12.1996).

To avoid duplication with these programmes, the Commission will ensure, within the relevant committees, that the annual priorities of these programmes, starting in 1998, will exclude measures relating specifically to the implementation of the action plan for combating organised crime; this will ensure that such projects are normally financed only through the Falcone programme.

Applicants are recommended, when drawing up their projects and before submitting a plan to the Falcone programme, to take account also of these other programmes and their annual priorities to ensure that they have made the right choice.

Financial support under the Falcone programme may not be combined with grants from other programmes financed out of the Community budget, with the exception of Community programmes specifically aimed at supporting the efforts of applicant countries for accession to the European Union.

Specific projects touching upon Community fields can be financed via Falcone when they cover complementary aspects relating to the fight against organised crime mentioned in the action plan.

4. Selection criteria

Projects will be selected according to the following criteria:

- compatibility of the project with work undertaken or planned under the Council's priorities in the field of combating organised crime, and in particular the priorities of the action plan to combat organised crime,

- input towards the framing or implementation of instruments adopted or to be adopted in this field,

- European dimension of the project in terms of content and participation by Member States (minimum of two Member States),

- operational purpose and practical value, i.e. the extent to which stress is placed on passing on knowledge of immediate use in carrying on the professional activity concerned, without overlooking the need for a thorough consideration of any obstacles to cooperation,

- number and nature of the departments or categories of persons targeted and the number of professionals likely to derive some benefit from the project, either directly or through contact between those who have taken part and those who have not had the opportunity to participate,

- the accessibility of the project, i.e. the approach taken and the allowance which the organisational arrangements make for participants' existing knowledge and for professional constraints,

- the degree of preparation and the standard of organisation, as well as clarity and precision as regards the objectives, design and planning of the project,

- the involvement of different entities and the combined use of their particular expertise in the organisation of the project,

- the openness to practitioners from different Member States and disciplines and the opportunity for them to benefit from each other's experience,

- the extent to which the projects complement each other, the way in which they contribute to creating a forward momentum rather than merely juxtaposing isolated operations,

- scope for drawing on results achieved in order to reinforce cooperation between Member States.

5. General guidelines

The following guidelines, based on the above criteria, should be of assistance to applicants:

- ambitious schemes, schemes of long duration or those for which a large grant is being applied for should be supported by pilot projects or studies that justify and demonstrate their feasibility,

- any plan for setting up a documentation network, databases, etc., should state in detail the sources, the field of investigation, the methodological approach, the frequency of updates and the intended users of the information, etc.,

- research projects should not be limited to studies based purely on written material but should be based on practical experience and aim to produce usable conclusions,

- the knock-on effect of a project will be assessed on the basis of the number of participants and their status and capacity to disseminate the results of the project,

- justification will have to be shown as to the benefits likely to be derived from very small projects, the organisation of traineeships or exchanges for a small number of participants. Projects likely to benefit only the applicant organisation will not be considered,

- meetings between institutions responsible for basic or continuing training should be considered only where they aim at a well-defined purpose in relation to a particular project or policy,

- the standard of preparation will be assessed both objectively, as regards project design and planning, and subjectively, as regards the experience and reputation of the applicant organisation. Previous records will be given attention if other applications have been received from the same organisation. Initiatives submitted by organisations or associations having neither well-established structures nor significant human and financial resources will be disregarded,

- added-value, particularly in the case of multidisciplinary projects, will be evaluated in terms of quality, not quantity, and attention will be given on how the contributions of the various professional categories fit into a single project,

- linked projects described as being complementary, will have to be presented with clearly separated budgets and to show the link between different components, in order to determine whether they should be supported individually or in groups,

- a high degree of interaction between the project organisers and the participants will be regarded as a positive feature.

6. Priority topics and themes for 1998

The following topics and themes, based on the Joint Action etablishing the Falcone programme and the recommendations of the action plan to combat organised crime, are put forward as being of particular interest; the participation of applicant countries in the projects will also be encouraged.

(a) Comparability and circulation of information

- feasibility studies on the collection of data and the creation of computer records on organised crime,

- definition of common standards and methodology for identifying phenomena, data collection and analysis,

- mobilisation of data via networks involving in particular criminology departments and universities,

- dissemination of information to the persons responsible as defined in Articles 1-2 of the joint action.

(b) Studies, analyses and strategies

- activities in the field of scientific, technical or comparative research and specialised studies dealing with the various areas of activity which could involve measures to combat criminal organisations, such as public procurement, public subsidies and licences, corruption, fraud, counterfeiting, vulnerable professions, money laundering, urban crime, new technologies, etc.,

- analyses and conferences to promote general understanding and study the international scope of the phenomenon of organised crime, particularly its economic dimension,

- studies on strategies, legislation and regulations for improving cooperation on prevention, enforcement and prosecution, and in particular the possibility of drawing up common policies and identifying areas of possible convergence or harmonisation which could constitute a long-term objective of the European Union,

- feasibility studies on the setting up of multidisciplinary information networks.

(c) Training and exchanges

- preparation and implementation of programmes of in-service training and exchanges,

- organisation of meetings, seminars and conferences,

- preparation of teaching modules and manuals with a view to promoting:

- reciprocal knowledge of regulations and legislation on prevention and enforcement, and procedures applicable to the different aspects and actors involved in the fight against organised crime (3);

- reciprocal knowledge of practices and methods for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of the various forms of organised crime, employed by those responsible for combating it.

These events and measures may be concerned either with general and multidisciplinary questions relating to organised crime or with specific aspects (4).

(d) Joint projects to improve skills and operating methods

- Preparation and implementation of innovative joint projects designed to improve skills and operating methods in the field of cooperation in the fight against organised crime.

These joint projects, of limited duration, may be organised for the categories of person referred to in Article 1(2) of the Joint Action establishing the Falcone programme. Once the Convention has entered into force, they may also include the Europol Drugs Unit and Europol when these projects fall within their sphere of responsibility.

7. General financing rules and 1998 budget (5)

Up to 80 % of expenditure arising directly from the implementation of the project and committed during the period laid down in the contract may be met.

Expenditure contracted before the committee meeting at which the financing decision is taken is not eligible.

Any project for which financing is provided out of the Community budget for 1998 must have made a significant start on its work before the end of 1998. All projects must be finalised within twelve months of the date of dispatch of the letter confirming the granting of the subsidy.

Applicants should note that, owing to the payment procedures of the Commission, pre-financing of projects is presumed; the pace of instalments will not enable applicants to cover expenditure directly from the grant paid under the Falcone programme.

Project organisers may be public authorities or institutions or private operators, notably in the field of initial or continuing training and research.

Projects submitted by private individuals are not eligible under this programme.

The projects can include persons and institutions in the candidate countries for accession, which are responsible for the fight against organised crime in order to familiarise them with the policies of the European Union and to facilitate their accession as well as persons and organisations in other third States, if this lies in the interest of the project. It needs to be stressed, however, that it is not the purpose of the Falcone programme to give assistance to the Central and Eastern European States, the financing of which falls under the Phare programme.

The budget for 1998 is ECU 2 000 000 and, as a guide, could be distributed as follows:

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8. How to apply

Applications for grants must be submitted by 15 August 1998 to the:

European Commission,

Justice and Home Affairs Task Force,

(for the attention of Mr Jean-Jacques Nuss),

N 9-6/23A,

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200,

B-1049 Brussels,

using the application form and in one of the eleven European Union languages. A translation may be added in a second working language.

Forms may be requested from the above address by post or by fax (32-2) 29 50 174 or by electronic mail from jean-jacques.nuss@sg.cec.be

The original application, duly signed, must be submitted in real time (not by fax), together with a brief outline of the project not exceeding two to three pages. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The purpose of the project must be described as briefly and accurately as possible.

The application must be accompanied by a detailed and comprehensive budget estimate in ecus. The budget must show the expected overall cost of the project. The grant applied for may not exceed 80 % of the final cost. The grant actually awarded may be for a lower amount than the percentage requested. The running costs of an organisation are not eligible.

Beneficiaries of Community financing are required to state in all advertising, publications or programmes that the project is in receipt of financial support from the Falcome programme and the European Union. Within three months of the completion of the project, recipients must submit to the Justice and Home Affairs Task Force a report on the execution of the project, the results obtained, obstacles encountered, assessments by the participants, the dissemination of the results and the conclusions drawn from the project.

(1) Joint Action 98/245/JHA (OJ L 99, 31.3.1998).

(2) OJ C 251, 15.8.1997.

(3) With the exception of specific aspects addressed in the STOP Programme (trafficking in human beings) and the Odysseus Programme (illegal immigration and falsified documents).

(4) This programme is sent to the European Parliament who on the basis of which, will decide on the transfer of the amount foreseen for the year 1998, currently entered in Chapter B-0-40.