2.10.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 250/45

CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/31/08

Action 4.1 — Support for bodies active at European level in the field of youth

(2008/C 250/10)

1. Objectives and description

The purpose of this call for proposals is to provide support for the permanent activities of bodies active at European level in the field of youth and pursuing an aim which is of general European interest.

These activities must help encourage young people to participate as citizens in public life, in society and in the development and implementation of European cooperation actions in the broadly defined field of youth.

An annual grant may be awarded to help such bodies meet their operating costs. These bodies may be:

—	a not-for-profit organisation performing its activities on behalf of young people at European level,

—	a European network representing bodies working on behalf of young people.

The grant is awarded with due respect for the body's independence in the selection of its members and its autonomy in the detailed definition of its activities.

The present call for proposals does not concern organisations having concluded a Framework Partnership Agreement with the Agency for 2008-2010.

The call for proposals aims to the selection of organisations for the conclusion of annual operating grant agreements covering the budget year 2009. Organisations selected under the call EACEA/20/07 for the reception of an annual operating grant for 2008, as well as organisations which did not apply or were not selected under the call EACEA/20/07 are welcome to apply if their profile corresponds to the description below.

2. Eligible candidates

2.1. Eligible bodies

To be eligible for an operating grant, a body must:

—	be non-governmental,

—	have been legally established for at least one year on the date of submission of applications,

—	be non-profit-making,

—	be a youth organisation or one having a broader scope but including a section dedicated to youth,

—	involve young people in managing activities developed with them in mind,

—	have at least one (salaried or non-salaried) permanent member of staff. An exception is granted to bodies that have never received grants under this action and that intend to employ a permanent member of staff if this grant is awarded.

2.2. Eligible countries

Bodies established in any one of the following countries are eligible to apply:

—	the Member States of the European Union,

—	the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in the European Economic Area (EEA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,

—	the countries applying for membership of the European Union and benefiting from a pre-accession strategy: Turkey,

—	the countries of the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia,

—	some East European countries: Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine.

Applicant bodies must have active organisations in at least 8 of the aforementioned countries.

3. Eligible activities

Organisations must schedule within their annual work plan for 2009 (1 January 2009-31 December 2009) a series of activities which comply with the principles underpinning Community action in the field of youth.

The activities likely to contribute towards strengthening and improving the efficiency of Community action are as follows:

— Group 1: representing the views and interests of young people in their diversity at European level,

— Group 2: youth exchanges and voluntary services,

— Group 3: non-formal and informal learning and activity programmes targeted at young people,

— Group 4: promoting intercultural learning and understanding,

— Group 5: debate on European matters, EU policies or youth policies,

— Group 6: dissemination of information on Community action,

— Group 7: actions promoting participation and initiative by young people.

4. Award criteria

Applications for funding will be evaluated in the light of the following qualitative criteria:

—	their suitability in terms of the programme's objectives,

—	the quality of the activities planned,

—	the impact and multiplier effect of these activities on young people,

—	the geographical impact of the activities planned,

—	the involvement of young people in the organisation of the bodies concerned,

and of the following quantitative criteria:

The number of:

—	activities planned,

—	groups of activities involved,

—	topics covered,

—	young people taking part in the activities, in particular those with fewer opportunities,

—	the countries involved.

5. Budget

The total budget earmarked for cofinancing the operation of bodies active at European level in the field of youth is estimated, for 2009, at EUR 1 400 000. Community financial assistance cannot exceed 80 % of the total operating costs.

The maximum Community grant for each body will be EUR 35 000 for an annual operating agreement.

For the calculation of the amount of the operating grant, applicant organisations can choose between two systems of financing:

1.	a flat rate financing;

2.	the traditional eligible costs budget financing (budget based calculation).

6. Submission of applications

Only applications submitted on the correct form, duly completed, dated, submitted in duplicate (1 original), and signed by the person authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant body will be accepted.

Grant applications should be sent to the following address by 1 December 2008:

Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency

Youth Unit (P6)

Grant application ‘Youth in Action’ — Action 4.1 — 2009

Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOUR — 1/01)

B-1140 Brussels

—	by post (date of postmark),

—	by courier service (date of receipt by the courier service).

Applications sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

7. Additional information

Applications must comply with the provisions contained in the Application Guidelines — Call for proposals EACEA/31/08 —, be submitted on the application form provided for this purpose and contain the relevant annexes. The said documents can be found on the Internet at the following address:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm