EN Official Journal of the European Union C 111/12

CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EAC/21/2009

Preparatory action in the field of Sport

(Open call)

2009/C 111/08

1. Objectives and description

This call for proposals serves to implement the Preparatory action in the field of sport in accordance with Commission Decision C(2009)1685 of 16 March 2009 adopting the ‘2009 annual work programme on grants and contracts for the preparatory action in the field of sport and for the special annual events’.

The main objective of the Preparatory action in the field of Sport for 2009 is to prepare future EU actions in this field, on the basis of priorities set in the White Paper on Sport.

This call for proposals will support transnational projects put forward by public bodies or civil society organisations in order to identify and test suitable networks and good practices in the field of sport, in the following areas:

(a) Promoting health-enhancing physical activity

(b) Promoting education and training in sport

(c) Promoting European fundamental values by encouraging sport for persons with disabilities

(d) Promoting gender equality in sport

Any expenditure incurred before the start of activities will not be taken into account.

The Commission department responsible for implementation and management of this action is the Sport Unit of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture.

2. Eligible applicants

Under this call for proposals, two categories of applicants are eligible:

— Public bodies;

— Civil society organisations.

Moreover, in order to be eligible, applicants must meet the following conditions:

— Have their head office in one of the Member States of the European Union (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 and the United Kingdom);

— Have a legal status.

Natural persons may not submit applications under this call for proposals.

3. Budget and project duration

The budget available for this call for proposals is EUR 4 000 000.

EU co-financing will be provided to a maximum of 80 % of the total costs. The external co-financing can be partly made up of contributions in kind.

Depending on the number and quality of the projects submitted, the Commission reserves the right not to award all the funding available.

Projects must start between 1 December 2009 and 31 March 2010 and end no later than 31 March 2011.

The eligibility period for costs will begin on the date specified in the contract, i.e. the project start date. Under no circumstances can the eligibility period for expenditure start before the date of submission of the grant application.

Expenditure incurred before the start of the activities will not be taken into account.

4. Deadline for applications

The deadline for submission of applications to the European Commission is 31 August 2009, as per the postmark.

5. Additional information

The full text (specifications) of this call for proposals and the application form are available on the following web site:

http://ec.europa.eu/sport/index_en.htm

Applications must meet all the conditions in the full text of this call for proposals and be submitted using the form provided to that effect.