CALL FOR PROPOSALS — eParticipation 2007/1

(2007/C 131/08)

1.   Objectives and description

eParticipation is a preparatory action that aims to harness the benefits of Information and Communications Technologies to improve legislative and decision-making processes and to enhance public participation in such processes at all levels of government decision-making.

Under the eParticipation Work Programme 2007, the Commission hereby invites consortia to submit proposals.

2.   Eligibility of consortia

The call is open to proposals from legal entities in the 27 EU Member States.

The minimum number of participants in a proposal is three independent legal entities, from at least two different Member States.

3.   Evaluation and selection

Proposals received will be evaluated by the Commission with the assistance of independent experts. The criteria used for the evaluation are defined in the eParticipation Work Programme. Proposals that pass the evaluation will be ranked in terms of quality.

The process for the evaluation of grant applications by the Commission is set out in the Financial Regulation applicable to the General Budget of the European Communities (1).

4.   Community support

Community funding will not exceed 75 % of eligible costs incurred by each partner.

In all cases, Community funding must not have the effect of creating a profit for a recipient.

5.   Call budget

The total budget for this call for proposals is EUR 4,7 million.

6.   Deadline and address for submission

The deadline for receipt of proposals by the Commission is 13 September, 17.00 hours (Brussels local time).

Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted for evaluation.

Where the same proposal is submitted successively, the Commission will examine the last version received before the deadline.

Proposals are to be sent to the following address:

7.   Timetable

The Commission aims to inform proposers of the outcome of the evaluation and selection process within three months after the deadline for submission and to finalise negotiations with the selected proposers within four months after the deadline for submission. The execution of projects will start after the finalisation of negotiations.

8.   Additional information

Detailed information on how to prepare and submit proposals is given in the eParticipation Guide for proposers 2007. This document, along with the eParticipation Work Programme 2007 and other information relating to this call and the evaluation process, can be downloaded from the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/egovernment_research/eparticipation/index_en.htm

All correspondence relating to this call must cite the call identifier eParticipation 2007/1.

All proposals received will be treated in strict confidence.

(1)  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1). Regulation as amended by Regulation No 1995/2006 (OJ L 390, 30.12.2006, p. 1).