ANNEX

I.   DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS

Complementary information on access to the programme

Civil society organisations as mentioned in Article 6 include, inter alia, trade unions, educational institutions and organisations active in the field of voluntary work and amateur sport.

ACTION 1:   Active citizens for Europe

This action forms that part of the programme directed specifically at activities involving citizens. These activities fall under two types of measures as follows:

Town-twinning

This measure is aimed at activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town-twinning activities. These may be one-off or pilot activities, or take the form of structured, multi-annual, multi-partner agreements following a more programmed approach and comprising a set of activities ranging from citizens' meetings to specific conferences or seminars on subjects of common interest, along with related publications, organised in the context of town-twinning activities. This measure will actively contribute to strengthening mutual knowledge and understanding between citizens and between cultures.

For the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, structural support may be provided directly to the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), a body pursuing an aim of general European interest, active in the field of town twinning.

Citizens' projects and support measures

Under this measure, a variety of projects of a transnational and cross-sectoral dimension, directly involving citizens, will be supported. Priority is given to projects aimed at encouraging local level participation. The scale and scope of such projects will depend on the developments within the society and will explore, through innovative approaches, the possible responses to the identified needs. The use of new technologies, in particular information society technologies (IST), will be encouraged. Those projects will gather citizens from different horizons, who will act together or debate on common European issues, thereby developing mutual understanding as well as raising awareness of the process of European integration.

In order to improve town-twinning and citizens' projects, it is also necessary to develop support measures to exchange best practices, to pool experiences between stakeholders at local and regional levels including public authorities, and to develop new skills, for example through training.

As an indication, at least 45 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

ACTION 2:   Active civil society in Europe

Structural support for European public policy research organisations (think-tanks)

Bodies providing new ideas and reflections on European issues are important institutional interlocutors able to provide independent strategic, cross-sectoral recommendations to the EU institutions. They can undertake activities that feed the debate notably on citizenship of the European Union and on European values and cultures. This measure is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of those organisations, which are representative, provide real European added value, can bring about important multiplier effects and, finally, are able to cooperate with other beneficiaries of the programme. The strengthening of transeuropean networks is an important element in this area. Grants may be awarded on the basis of a multi-annual work programme bringing together a range of themes or activities.

For the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, structural support may be provided directly for the association ‘ Groupement d'études et de recherches Notre Europe ’ and for the ‘Institut für Europäische Politik’ , as bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest.

Structural support for civil society organisations at European level

Civil society organisations are an important part of the civic, educational, cultural and political activities for participating in society. They need to exist and to be able to operate and cooperate at European level. They should also be able to participate in policy-making through consultation. This measure will provide them with the capacity and stability to act in a cross-sectoral and horizontal dimension as transnational catalysts for their members and for civil society at European level, thus contributing to the objectives of the programme. The strengthening of transeuropean networks and European associations is an important element of this area of work. Grants may be awarded on the basis of a multi-annual work programme bringing together a range of themes or activities.

For the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, structural support may be provided directly for three bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest: the Platform of European Social NGOs, the European Movement and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations

Civil society organisations at local, regional, national or European level involve citizens or represent their interests through debate, publications, advocacy, and other concrete transnational projects. Introducing or building on a European dimension in the activities of civil society organisations, will enable them to enhance their capacities and reach wider audiences. Direct cooperation among civil society organisations from different Member States will contribute to mutual understanding for the different cultures and points of view and to the identification of shared concerns and values. While this may be in the form of single projects, a longer-term approach will also ensure a more sustainable impact and the development of networks and synergies.

As an indication, approximately 31 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

ACTION 3:   Together for Europe

High-visibility events

This measure will support events organised by the Commission, where appropriate in cooperation with the Member States or other relevant partners, which are substantial in scale and scope, strike a chord with the peoples of Europe, help to increase their sense of belonging to the same community, make them aware of the history, achievements and values of the European Union, involve them in intercultural dialogue and contribute to the development of their European identity.

These events may include the commemoration of historical events, the celebration of European achievements, artistic events, awareness-raising around specific issues, European-wide conferences and the awarding of prizes to highlight major accomplishments. The use of new technologies, in particular IST, shall be encouraged.

Studies

In order to get a better understanding of active citizenship at European level, the Commission will carry out studies, surveys and opinion polls.

Information and dissemination tools

Given the focus on citizens and the variety of initiatives in the field of active citizenship, comprehensive information on the various activities of the programme, on other European actions related to citizenship and on other relevant initiatives needs to be provided through an Internet portal and other tools.

For the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, structural support may be provided directly for the ‘ Association Jean Monnet ’, the ‘ Centre européen Robert Schuman ’ and the ‘Maisons de l'Europe’ federated at national and European level, as bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest.

As an indication, approximately 10 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

ACTION 4:   Active European Remembrance

Under this action projects of the following types may be supported:

—

for the preservation of the main sites and memorials associated with the mass deportations, the former concentration camps and other large-scale martyrdom and extermination sites of Nazism, as well as the archives documenting these events and for keeping alive the memory of the victims, as well as the memory of those who, under extreme conditions, rescued people from the Holocaust;

—	for the commemoration of the victims of mass exterminations and mass deportations associated with Stalinism, as well as the preservation of the memorials and archives documenting these events.

Approximately 4 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

II.   PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

The implementation of the programme will be guided by the principles of transparency as well as openness, to a large variety of organisations and projects. As a consequence, projects and activities will be selected, as a general rule, by means of open calls for proposals. Derogations will be possible only in very specific circumstances and in full compliance with Article 168(1) points (c) and (d) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002.

The programme will develop the principle of multi-annual partnerships based on agreed objectives, building on the analysis of the results, in order to ensure mutual benefits for both civil society and the European Union. The maximum duration of funding allocated through a single grant agreement under the programme shall be limited to 3 years.

For some actions, it might be necessary to adopt indirect centralised management by an executive agency or, especially for action 1, by national agencies.

All actions will be implemented on a transnational basis. They will encourage mobility of citizens and ideas within the European Union.

The elements of networking and focussing on the multiplier effects, including the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), will be important and will be reflected both in the types of activities and the range of organisations involved. The development of interaction and synergy among the various types of stakeholders involved in the programme will be encouraged.

The programme budget may also cover expenditure associated with the preparation, follow-up, monitoring, auditing and evaluation activities directly necessary for the management of the programme and the realisation of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenditure associated with the IT networks for the exchange of information and any other administrative and technical support expenditure on which the Commission may decide for the management of the programme.

The overall administrative expenditure of the programme should be proportional to the tasks provided for in the programme concerned and, as an indication, should represent approximately 10 % of the total budget allocated to the programme.

The Commission may undertake information, publication and dissemination activities as appropriate, thereby ensuring broad knowledge and a high impact of the activities supported by the programme.

III.   CONTROLS AND AUDITS

For projects selected in accordance with this Decision, a sampling audit system will be established.

The beneficiary of a grant must make available to the Commission all supporting documents relating to expenditure for a period of five years from the date of the final payment. The beneficiary of a grant must ensure that, where applicable, supporting documents in the possession of partners or members are made available to the Commission.

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the grant carried out either directly by its own staff or by any other qualified outside body of its choice. Such audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the contract and for a period of five years from the date of payment of the balance. Where appropriate, the audit findings may lead to recovery decisions by the Commission.

Commission staff and outside personnel authorised by the Commission must have appropriate access to the offices of the beneficiary and to all the information, including information in electronic format, necessary for such audits.

The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) will have the same rights, especially of access, as the Commission.