EU-US relations - calls for tenders/proposals 2007 - Archive

1. EU-US Policy Research and Debate for the 2008-2009 period:

The application deadline for this 2007 call for proposal has passed. Applications are no longer possible.

2. Pilot Project - Transatlantic Methods for Handling Global Challenges

CALL FOR PROPOSALS N° RELEX C1/2007/PP

The application deadline for this 2007 call for proposal has passed. Applications are no longer possible.

The European Commission is pleased to announce a new Call for Proposals entitled “Transatlantic Methods for Handling Common Global Challenges between the European Union and the United States”.

Transatlantic Methods for Handling Global Challenges

 

Note: This is a summary intended for information purposes. Grant applicants should read carefully and in full the materials referenced above.

 

BACKGROUND

€ 2.5 million is earmarked in the EU’s 2007 budget to support pilot projects on “Transatlantic methods for handling global challenges” (budget line 19.05.03). The objective of the pilot project is to fund innovative ventures between European and US policy makers that cannot be pursued under existing EU-US instruments of cooperation, and to promote mutual learning amongst EU and US policy researchers and policymakers on more effective transatlantic approaches to challenges with a global dimension.

DG RELEX is therefore launching this Call for Proposals (application deadline: 2 October 2007) to identify projects that are eligible for financial support in the following areas. These have been chosen because they deserve further attention from the policy community and public at large and fit well with the broader agenda set by the EU-US Summit of 30 April 2007:

  1. Bio-safety/biodiversity. Identifying common challenges posed to the EU and US in relation to the safe transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food imports.
     

  2. Arctic marine environment policy. Given the need better to protect the Arctic in order to avert climate change at global level, reviewing ways of adapting to the impacts of changes on the marine environment and in particular on the arctic ice cover.
     

  3. Safety of nanotechnologies. Building on experience from the EU’s 6th Research Framework Programme, promote closer international cooperation with economically advanced countries in nanoscience and nanotechnologies in order to share knowledge and reap the benefits of critical mass.
     

  4. Enforcement of intellectual property rights (in particular counterfeiting in third countries). Increasing public awareness of the dangers of and the need to address infringements, sharing ideas on ways to improve enforcement and co-operation with SMEs.
     

  5. Reconstruction following natural disasters. Promoting coherent EU-US policy and operational approaches towards reconstruction and stabilisation in regions recovering from natural disasters (e.g. tsunami in Aceh, earthquake in Kashmir), dovetailing with established multi-lateral frameworks.
     

  6. Justice and home affairs. Promoting analytical comparisons of EU and US efforts in areas such as expedited secure travel for bona fide travellers and future perspectives in law enforcement information sharing.

PROJECT OUTPUTS

Each project has to comprise: (a) a comparative analysis of current US and EU policy; (b) a conference involving the research and policy communities on both sides of the Atlantic to be made available on the internet; and (c) publication in easily accessible form of the projects’ findings and recommendations. An additional part of the initiative will be a final wrap-up conference organised by the Commission in winter 2009 for all projects, with a view to gathering recommendations to be published and presented to the EU-US Summit of 2010.

TARGET AUDIENCE FOR PROJECTS

Conferences and publications are aimed at representatives of the academic community, the media, civil society and non-governmental organisations, the business community, legislators and policy executives at the relevant government level in both the EU and the US.

ELIGIBLE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES

The following type of activities will be eligible: (a) Seminars, conferences and workshops; (b) Publications; and (c) Briefing sessions, speaking tours and study visits targeting decision-makers and opinion-formers, such as federal or national/state legislators and staff; civil servants; business people, civil society organisations, NGO representatives and journalists.

 

PROFILE OF APPLICANTS

Subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria, proposals are invited from the following kinds of organisations: think tanks and other policy-oriented non-governmental organisations; other NGOs and civil society organisations; universities, research centres; not-for-profit business associations; trade unions and labour organisations. Applications involving both EU and US organisations are strongly encouraged, with the EU partner being the leading applicant. The activities of a project may take place both in the EU and in the US.

 

GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE

The organisations selected will receive funding in the form of a grant towards approved project costs for activities taking place no earlier than 1 January 2008 and no later than 30 June 2009 (maximum project duration should be 12-18 months). The total budget is €2,500,000. Between five and seven grants will be awarded, depending on the nature and quality of proposals received. The maximum grant awarded to any applicant will be €500,000 and the minimum €350,000. Based on the principle of co-financing, individual grant amounts will not exceed 90% of the allowable costs of the activities covered in the proposal.

CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD OF A GRANT

Proposals submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines and meeting the eligibility and selection criteria above will be evaluated according to the following quality criteria: relevance of the proposal and activities, design of the activities, clarity of the work-plan and time-table, expected impact, visibility, the transatlantic dimension of the proposal, and cost-effectiveness.

HOW TO APPLY?

All applicants must submit an application package comprising following elements:

  • An official grant request letter, dated and signed;
     

  • A detailed proposal (5 pages maximum), explaining (i) the purpose and the contents of the project proposed, and specifying (ii) the detailed timetable of the activities, (iii) the expected impacts consistent with the objectives, (iv) the nature and purpose of any resulting publications or other information products, (v) the means of dissemination of those products, ensuring effective targeting of interested groups, and (vi) the responsibilities and contributions of all staff involved, the itemized budget of project costs and revenues, in euro in sufficiently detail to allow identification and monitoring of the activities involved; it should be drawn up in accordance with the model annexed to the Grant Application Form;
     

  • A fully completed and signed Grant Application Form together with the required supporting documents indicated in the annex to the Grant Application Form. NB: in the event of a grant being awarded, the same individual signing the Grant Application Form must also sign the Grant Agreement, and have the authority to legally commit the applicant organisation to the terms of that Agreement.

     

Please note:

  • All applicants should read carefully the “Guidelines for applicants” which explain in detail how to prepare the application package, and provide information on grants from the European Commission.
     

  • Applicants must submit all of the information indicated above or their application will be considered ineligible and their proposal will not be examined, as explained in the eligibility criteria established for this call for proposals. In particular, applicants are reminded to pay attention to the issue of co-financing (see Section 1.4 of the “Guidelines for Applicants”)
     

  • Applications must be signed and dated by the authorised representative.

     

The Grant Application Form, the “Guidelines for applicants”, and the model Grant Agreement may be downloaded from this web site at http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/us/grants/index.htm . Those who cannot access the internet may request materials from Ms Yasmina Sioud (Telephone +32.2.292.13.93; Fax +32.2.299.02.08; e-mail:  yasmina.sioud@ec.europa.eu).

Applications submitted by fax or e-mail will not be accepted. All application documents must be submitted in English.

Applicants should send one original of their application package, completed in accordance with the instructions in the “Guidelines for applicants”, plus two (2) copies, by registered mail, or by courier service to:

Ms Yasmina SIOUD
European Commission
DG RELEX C1, CHAR 14/009
(Ref. Call RELEX C1/2007/PP)
Avenue du Bourget n°1
1140 Evere, Brussels
Belgium
e-mail: yasmina.sioud@ec.europa.eu

 

 

Applications should be submitted at the earliest date possible, but must be postmarked no later than 2 October 2007.