Eligibility of beneficiaries, projects, activities, costs

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Should you not find your answers here, please submit your question in your national language to: information@eni-cbc.eu.

  1. Can the Joint Technical Secretariat consult whether a beneficiary, a project or an activity is eligible?
    • Please, note that the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.3.2 states that "in the interest of equal treatment of applicants, the JTS cannot give a prior opinion on the eligibility of a Lead Beneficiary, a beneficiary, a project or specific activities". The Joint Technical Secretariat can only provide reference to parts of the Programme documents, covering certain aspects of eligibility.
  2. Can technical documentation be prepared under a project for the construction, which is planned after the project is over?
    • Please, note that the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.1.4 "Non-supported Projects and Activities" states that examples of such projects or activities include projects aimed solely at preparation of feasibility studies and technical documents. Such activities will not be favoured in the projects, as the Programme is aimed at immediate benefit for the inhabitants of the border regions of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus.
  3. Are only national, regional and local authorities eligible to take part in the projects under the priority 2.1 "Increasing Capacity of Local and Regional Authorities to tackle Common Challenges"?
    • The Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.1.2 (page 15) state that "under this Priority, regional and local authorities, as well as other public bodies acting in the fields of nature and environment management, safety and security shall improve their skills and capacities to deal with natural and manmade disasters, and to ensure safety and security in the region".
  4. Can infrastructure be funded by the European Union under the priority 1.2 “Stimulating Employment through Entrepreneurship and Innovations”?
    • Infrastructure is not foreseen in the list of eligible activities of this particular priority (Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, pages 12-14). 
  5. Is a type of Lithuanian organisations registered as "viešoji įstaiga" (public establishment) eligible as Lead Beneficiary or Beneficiary?
    • The requirements on eligibility of the lead beneficiaries and beneficiaries are listed in the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.2.1 "Eligibility of Lead Beneficiaries and Beneficiaries". In principle, the Lithuanian "viešoji įstaiga" type of organisations are legal non-profit making organisations, therefore they can be treated as eligible. However, the final decision on the eligibility of each organisation will be made on case-by-case basis during the eligibility check of the applications submitted.
  6. Can a religious community be eligible as beneficiary?
    • The requirements on eligibility of the lead beneficiaries and beneficiaries are listed in the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.2.1 "Eligibility of Lead Beneficiaries and Beneficiaries". We would like to draw your attention that "communities" is mentioned among the eligible types of applicants: "Non-state actors (established for the specific purpose of meeting needs for the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character and having legal personality): [...] local citizens’ groups; communities; public enterprises";
    • N.B. It is stated in the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.1.4 that "activities of political, ideological or religious nature" are not eligible under the Programme. These activities include infrastructure works in the buildings where regular worship activities are held or in the territories of such buildings. 
  7. Under what conditions is improvement of infrastructure and purchase of equipment eligible under thematic objective 3 "Promotion of Local Culture and Preservation of Historical Heritage"?
    • An object, where the infrastructure works are planned under the project, must appear on a heritage list;
    • Improvement of infrastructure and purchase of equipment may be eligible if a building is not included into lists of heritage objects, however, it regularly hosts cultural or historical valuable items or collections and improvement of infrastructure or equipment is necessary to ensure better storage and exposition conditions;
    • Improvement of infrastructure and purchase of equipment may be eligible if a building is not included into lists of heritage objects, however, valuable activities of local culture regularly take place in its premises (e.g. folk music rehearsals, handicraft masterclasses, etc.).
    • In all of the abovementioned cases the improvement of infrastructure and purchase of equipment must be well justified in the Annex II “Detailed Description and Justification of Equipment and Works” to the Grant Application Form and in relevant sections of the application and must follow the rationale of economic efficiency (buying and renovating must be more efficient than renting premises or equipment). N.B. that the chapter 2.1.4. of the Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries mentions "investment-driven projects which are based on artificial cooperation in order to implement the investments" as non-supported projects.
  8. Can feasibility studies or technical documents be prepared under the projects?
    • The Guidelines for Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.1.4 states that examples of non-supported projects and activities are: [...] "projects aimed solely at preparation of feasibility studies and technical documents". This means that preparation of feasibility studies and technical documents are not eligible under the Programme. 
  9. Can automobiles, buses or cargo vehicles be purchased under the projects?
    • Annex 1 Detailed Rules on Eligibility of Expenditure of the Guidelines for Applicant and Beneficiaries, section 5. Budget Heading 4 "Works and Long-term Investments", chapter 5.1.b.vii (page 15) states that "Eligible components of this type of long-term investments costs are: [...] vehicles, when special transport (fire brigade cars, ambulances, etc.) is necessary to reach project results and ensure its durability". Other means of transport are not eligible under the Programme.
  10. Can feasibility studies or technical documents be prepared during the projects? 
    • No, preparation of feasibility studies and technical documents is not eligible under the Programme (Guidelines for Grant Applicants and Beneficiaries, chapter 2.1.4 states examples of non-supported projects and activities). The feasibility studies and technical documentation, if needed for infrastructure development or purchase of equipment during the project, should be submitted together with the application.
  11. Is buying equipment and refurbishment of premises eligible under Priority 2.1?
    • Yes, if this is necessary for achieving the objective of the project.
  12. Can a not fully built building be purchased for further construction and adaptation to social services?
    • Yes, if the amount does not exceed 10 % of the project budget. If reconstruction works are planned, all technical documentation needs to be submitted together with the GAF. The building or land will have to be purchased following Programme procurement rules.
  13. Can project events take place outside the Programme area?
    • In justified cases – yes. They must be necessary for achievement of project objectives and indicated in application.
  14. Can we purchase and transfer equipment for the organisations that we represent (they wouldn‘t be project beneficiaries)?
    • No, equipment and infrastructure financed by the project shall be kept (be on a balance of your organisation) by a respective Lead Beneficiary or beneficiary for at least 5 years after reception of the balance payment from the Managing Authority.
  15. Are associates eligible in the 3rd Call for Proposals?
    • No, associates are not eligible.