Introduction to

the EU Funding System

Ms. Bodil PalmbergEuropa MediaThe EU, Croatia and YouZagreb 20 May 2010

Feeling Confused??

No worries, there is a logic

� Documents

� Working style

� Design

� Acronyms

Learn the European language

Indirect costs

Work Programme

Call for proposal

Funding schemes

CORDIS

PIC code

National ContactPoint

Project Officer

Questions we may have...

� Why apply for European funding?

� What funding is availible?

� Where to find information

� Is my organisation eligible?

� How to get started?

� How to apply?

� What is the difference between the differentfunding opportunities?

WHY APPLY FOR EUROPEAN FUNDING?

Pros & Cons

FINANCING Your Ideas

But money should not be the main motivation….

Benefits of Participation

International cooperation –stimulating & fun

Supported by the EC

And many more…. ☺Implementrisky ideas

Why Not Participate?

Intellectual PropertyRights

Time & Resourcesdemanding

State of the Art

Uncertainty

WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?

EU Funding Schematized

EU Funds Overview

Community programmes– Implementing EC

Common Policies and

thematics

Agricultural Support–incl. rural development

External Support- Ensure EU’s role as a Global player

Regional Support

–Economic and social

prosperity and reduce

the gaps in development

between regions

Agricultural Support

Common Agricultural Policy incl. rural development

European Agricultural Guarantee

Fund

� direct market support

to farmers

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

� competitiveness of the agricultural

and forestry sector

� the environment and the countryside

� quality of life in rural areas

� diversification of the rural economy

Regional Support

Economic and social prosperity and reduce the gaps in development between regions

European Regional DevelopmentFund- strengthening economic and social cohesion in the EU

European Social Fund– improving employment and job

opportunities in the EU

Cohesion Fund– transport and environmental projects

in EU12 + Portugal,Greece and Spain

DG Regional Policy: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

Managing authorities by country: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/manage/authority/authority_en.cfm

External Support

Funding opportunities; EuropeAid: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA)Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries

1. Assistance for transition and institution building

2. Cross-border cooperation

3. Regional development

4. Human resources

5. Rural development

Ensure EU’s role as a Global player

European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)previous MEDA and TACIS countries

Policy driven instrument supporting the

agreed priorities in the ENP Action Plans with

partner countries for a stable and prosperous

development

Other instrumentsInstrument for Stability, Macro Financial

Instrument, Humanitarian Aid, and Thematic

and Geographical instruments, etc

Community Programmes

Implementing Common Policies and Thematics

� Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

� Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)

� LIFE + (environmental funding)

� Others – Youth, Media, Europe for Citizen, Culture, Progress etc

Funding opportunities:

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

Different policies – different instruments – different actions

EU Financial Framework 2007 – 2013

100 % =

EUR 864 billion

TOTAL

0.2 %6. Compensation

6 %5. Administration

6 %4. EU as a global player - External Support

1.2 %0.8 %0.5 %

3. Citizenship, Freedom, Security and Justice - Community programmes

3 a. Freedom, Security and Justice

3 b. Citizenship

43 %

34 %

2. Preservation and management of Natural Resources - Agriculture

of which: market related expenditures and direct payments

44 %9 %36 %

1. Sustainable Growth - Regional and FP7, CIP etc

1 a. Competitiveness for Growth and Employment

1 b. Cohesion for Growth and Employment

% of total

2007-2013

Commitment appropriations

note: due to rounding up numbers, total does not add up to 100%

Where to findinformation?

I can’t see the

forest for all trees

Europa Server

Gateway to the European Union http://europa.eu/

Community ProgrammeWebsite

� Policy information

� Guidance documents

� News

� Partner Search

� Calls

� etc.

FP7 : http://cordis.europa.eu

CIP http://ec.europa.eu/cip/

Life Long Learning programme http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-

learning-programme/doc78_en.htm

Projects’ Websites – Get Inspired

Previously funded projects

may be found on

programme website – find

a project

Is my organisationeligible?

Eligibility rules depends on the programme,

and on the call

General rule: A LEGAL ENTITY

� Type of entity

� Geographical location

� In some cases, financial viability

Check the latest version of the

Guide for Applicants

Who Can Get Funded

– different funds – different procedures – different eligibility criteria

Regional Support /

Agricultural Policy

EU Member States

External Support

EU Member States and Third

countries

Community programmes

EU Member States, Associated

countries, other Third countries

How to get started?

� Be aware of the opportunities

� Find a call

� Find partners

� Proposal

� Submission

and what happens next???

How to Get Started?

Find a Call

Proposals are submitted in

response to a call

– announced at programmes’ websites

http://cordis.europa.eu/f/p7dc/index.cfm

http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/grants_en.htm

Find Partners

MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE

Make Yourself Visible

Partner search

� Programme website; example CORDIS

� Thematic projects

� NCP Network

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html

Get in touch with People who have beeninvolved to join their proposal

� Cordis – find a project

� Thematic projects’

partner search

HOW TO APPLY?

� Download all Guidance documents

� Understand the requirements

� Concept note

� Technical and administrative procedure

� Submit on time

How to Apply

different funds – different procedure – different eligibility criteria

EU level - Community programmesEuropean Commission - proposals and tenders

EU level and/or National level - External Supportdepedning on the programme; operational programmes

with calls for proposal and tenders

National level - Regional Support / Agricultural policyshared management by Member State and the EUCommunity Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013 -National Strategic Reference Framework - Operational programmes

Competition and management on different levels...

Comparative AssessmentIndirect vs. Direct Support

Indirect vs. Direct Support - Purpose

�Help the implementation of

common EU policies

� Bring together best

resources/knowledge

� Develop new and innovative

solutions

� For an organisation: implement

strategic objectives, combine own

resources with others

Indirect Support Direct Support

Example: Community programmes

�Help development of regions

lagging behind

� Build infrastructure

� For an organisation: Capacity

building, everyday activity

financing

Example: Structural Funds, Cohesion Fund, Agricultural Support, IPA

Indirect vs. Direct Support - Management

�Managed at national level

� Annual national budget

� Payment through national

institutions

� National programming

� Evaluation at nationallevel

�Managed at EU level (+ national

level)� Programmes – budget on EU

level – no national quota

� Payment from EU institutions � Supporting a variety of fields

� Larger freedom for individual ideas

� Evaluated at EU level

Direct SupportIndirect Support

Final Comments

� Fit project idea intoWork Programme

� Emphasise project’s goal, necessity and advantagesin a European context

� Involve partners with European programmeexperience

� Get involved inwriting of your Work Packageor Task(s)

� Clarify your role and ensure that your expertiseis fully utilised

� Communicate well to show your commitment

Questions ???

Contact:

Bodil Palmberg

EuropaMedia

Bodil.palmberg@europamedia.org