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Section 2: EU Programs
The following pages describe EU programs that are either currently open to NGOs from CEE and NIS, or will be in the near future.
Each description begins with the title of the program, and where available, the budget line number and the budget amount. The aims or goals of each program are summarised in the section on objectives. The section concerning eligibility states what kinds of organizations are entitled to apply and under which conditions.
The section called geographical area specifies which countries are entitled to participate in the programs. For the purpose of this guide, the geographical areas are:
The section contact address includes the contact information for both the individual and/or the unit within the directorate general (DG) that administers the program and the budget. Where applicable, it also mentions the individual and/or the unit within the European Commission's Joint External Relations Service (SCR) that is responsible for implementation. The SCR, created in 1998, manages all technical aspects of the Commission's aid to non-member countries including the preparation and signing of contracts, financial transfers, interim and final reporting, audits, and evaluations. In practical terms, this means that NGOs will be in contact with the relevant DG concerning the program guidelines, content and application process. Once a project has been selected for funding, the signing of the contract, payments, extensions and reports will be handled by SCR. Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives ACCESS combines and replaces the former LIEN-Phare and Partnership programs, and is designed to assist in preparing the ten candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe for accession. It is an “institution building” program aimed, through co-financing, at developing civil society and strengthening the operational capacities of NGOs and NPOs active in:
Projects may be either transnational “macroprojects” or local “microprojects”. Macroprojects will receive an EC contribution of up to 200,000 Euro, and must be submitted by at least two partner organizations from different countries. The maximum size of an EC grant for microprojects is 50,000 Euro, and projects may be submitted by a single CEE-based eligible organisation. ACCESS will also provide support for participation costs in EU-wide NGO/NPO networks. Delegations have the responsibility for dividing their national allocation between macroprojects, microprojects and the networking facility.
The detailed guidelines are currently being developed by the Commission delegations who are required, on the basis of these broad guidelines, to identify the specific priorities for support in their host country. As well as preparing the detailed program guidelines, the Commission delegations in the eligible countries are responsible for issuing the calls for proposals, and for project selection, contracting, and payments. Eligibility NGOs and NPOs established and run in a candidate country of CEE or in an EU country, and which are non exclusive organizations, i.e. organizations which do not condition their support or actions to ideological, doctrinal or religious adherence. Local and regional authorities may be partners or co-financiers of projects, but may not apply as the lead applicant. Geographical Area All 10 candidate countries of CEE. Deadline for Funding No deadline has yet been fixed. The latest information is that the Commission delegations will announce the call for proposals in early autumn 2000. Contact Address Please consult the relevant task manager in the EC delegations in the Accession countries for questions related to the implementation of the program.
Programming issues can also be addressed with the following responsible person:
Jan Haapala Budget Line Number
Objectives The Tacis Bistro program is designed to respond quickly to requests for support to small-scale projects (with a duration of no more than 9 months and a budget of up to 100,000 Euro) anywhere in the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The priority areas include enterprise support and financial services, human resources (education and training, public administration), social protection, food production, processing and distribution, agriculture, energy, transport, telecommunications and environment.
The projects may involve:
Bistro does not pay for scholarships or other individual educational activities, nor does it support equipment purchases only. Bistro projects should also not benefit just one actor but should have a systemic impact, with results that can benefit a number of actors in the sector either directly or through the dissemination of results. Eligibility Any EU, Russian or Ukrainian-based organisation may propose a project.
Bistro does not provide complementary funding for projects already financed through the main Tacis program. Application forms and guidelines are available from the EC delegations mentioned below. Geographical Area Russian Federation and Ukraine. Contact Address
Important Remark Consensus II ended in March 1999. Consensus III was launched in the summer of 1999 and consists of a twinning process between Western and CEE administrations. It is therefore not open to NGOs. Important Remark Since the beginning of the year 2000 this new cultural framework program replaces the previous cultural actions known as Ariane, Kaléidoscope, and Raphaël. It is important to note, however, that CEE-and NIS-based NGOs will become eligible for this new program only in 2001. Budget Line Number B3-2008 Budget Amount Objectives The Culture 2000 program seeks to encourage the creation of a cultural area common to all Europeans. In this context it encourages cooperation between artists and others involved in culture, private and public promoters, cultural networks, and other partners, in addition to cultural institutions from EU member states and other participating countries. The purpose is to develop intercultural dialogue, knowledge about history and culture, the transnational dissemination of culture, cultural diversity, artistic creation, the promotion of heritage and socio-economic and cultural and social integration.
In 2000, three types of actions are envisaged:
Action 1: priority will be given to concrete projects in the sectors of architectural and cultural heritage, books, visual and performing arts which aim to provide further training, improve the mobility and movement of artists and their works, the exchange of best practice, highlight major literary trends, translate literary works by European authors from the latter half of the 20th century, assist the study of cultural and architectural heritage in schools and elsewhere, raise awareness of art, and improve access to artistic and cultural practices, in particular by making use of new technologies.
Action 2: gives priority to cultural cooperation agreements concluded in the music sector. Priority will also be given to multidisciplinary cultural cooperation agreements aimed at encouraging the study and the mutual knowledge of the cultural history of the peoples of Europe.
Action 3: priority will be given to the European Cities of Culture and to European heritage laboratories - with particular attention being given to developing projects situated in zones affected by natural catastrophes or damaged by environmental pollution. Eligibility The Culture 2000 program is open to two main categories: (a) Applicants/co-organisers must be :
(b) International organizations
Although the long-term objective
is to include candidate countries, in the year 2000 the latter may not
apply. Geographical Area EU, EEA countries. Deadlines for Funding 31 May 2000 Contact Name Antonios Kosmopoulos Contact Address European Commission Daphne Program (Measures for combating violence against children, young persons and women) Important Remark From 2000 the Daphne Program (formerly known as the Daphne Initiative) is open to CEE-based NGOs. Also note that although projects may be multi-annual, they must be re-approved on a yearly basis for budgetary reasons.
Budget Line Number Budget
Amount
Objectives The Daphne Program supports preventive measures to fight violence against children, young people and women. More specifically, Daphne projects cover trafficking and sexual exploitation, all forms of domestic violence and abuse, as well as violence in schools and violence towards minority groups and migrants. There are two main objectives:
Eligibility The Daphne Program is open to all CEE applicant countries. It is open to NGOs, the voluntary sector and public institutions. Geographical Area EU, EFTA countries and all 10 accession countries. Deadlines for Funding 20 June 2000 Contact Name Patrick Trousson Contact Address European Commission Ecos-Ouverture (Phare and Tacis) Important Remark The Ecos-Ouverture program officially ended on 31 March 1999 but some projects are still running. The activities of the program will be integrated in the INTERREG III program which is currently under preparation and will become effective in 2001. INTERREG is a cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation program that seeks to encourage the balanced and sustainable development of the whole Community area. Budget Line Number
Budget Amount
The aim of Eco-Ouverture was to support and promote the role of local and regional authorities in the regional development and political and economic transformation process underway in the beneficiary countries. The main objectives for 1999 were to :
Eligibility The guidelines required cooperation projects between 3 and 6 main partners, at least two of which had to be from an EU member state and at least one from CEE. Although the principal partners had to be regional/local authorities or organizations controlled by an authority, NGOs could be associated with the project. Geographical Area EU, accession countries, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and FR Yugoslavia., the NIS, and non-EU Mediterranean countries. Contact Name George Vlandas Contact Address Directorate-General
for Regional Policy Budget Line Number
This budget line funds the European Training Foundation, which promotes cooperation and co-ordination of EU assistance for vocational training reform in Central Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. Geographical Area EU, accession countries, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and FR Yugoslavia, NIS and non-EU Mediterranean countries. Special Remarks Some training schemes can be carried out in partnership between civil society training institutions. NGOs specialised in this field should contact the Foundation for details of the work program and procedures for NGO participation. Contact Name Gisela Schürings Contact Address European Training Foundation Important Remark This program will no longer exist as a separate program. It will indeed become one of the components of the Youth program (see p.58) which is due to be officially adopted early May 2000. Budget Line Number B3-1010 Budget Amount
This program aimed to provide a complementary voluntary service to young people. The program allowed volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 to broaden their horizons, to become familiar with a different social and cultural environment and to develop self-confidence. The period of service could be undertaken in any one of the main fields, and could serve several purposes. Examples included:
Eligibility There was a wide range of potential partners: NGOs, youth organizations, local authorities, voluntary organizations and co-operatives. Geographical Area In its previous version, this program was only open to young people who were legal residents in the EU. This might change in the future. Contact Name Pierre Mairesse Contact Address European Commission Important Remark Funding is currently only available to organizations from the EU, but projects can include persons and institutions in the EU candidate countries, which are responsible for the fight against organised crime as well as persons and organizations from other third countries. It must be emphasized, however, that it is not intended to provide assistance to the CEE countries.
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
The program aims at encouraging and reinforcing networks and practical cooperation, such as exchange and dissemination of information and experiences, between the various persons responsible for actions against trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children in the Member States. It seeks also in general to improve and adapt the training and skills of persons responsible for combating this form of crime in the Member States. Eligibility Project leaders may be public or private bodies, such as institutions responsible for training for the legal profession and the judiciary or bodies whose task it is to prevent or combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children. Geographical Area EU Deadline for Funding 28 February 2000 Contact Name Jean-Jacques Nuss Contact Address European Commission |