Call for proposals MARE/2020/08 Strengthening regional cooperation in the area of fisheries data collection.
Objectives
The shared funding for data collection in the EMFF is based on the national envelopes (per MS) and does not foresee EU-wide or regional funding mechanisms. Therefore, this grant aims to support the operation and functioning of the Regional coordination groups (RCGs), helping RCGs to advance beyond national approaches, to achieve in a transparent and impartial way, the expected results of coordinated regional work for data collection. Building on the results of the call for proposals launched in 2014 and 2016 and other relevant existing work, this call for proposals aims to support projects that further enable RCGs and MS to strengthen regional or EU-wide cooperation on data collection. The purpose of the call helps to provide, as well as develop the tools and support to accomplish further regional or EU-wide cooperation but not to finance activities on a recurrent basis.
Ativities
The detailed description of the objectives, themes, priorities and expected outputs as well as the description of the work packages for each grant category can be found in the Annexes 1 to 3.
Annex 1: Establishing regional work plans for the following regions covered by the work of RCGs: Baltic / North Atlantic, North Sea, Eastern Arctic / Med & BS / long distance fisheries / large pelagics.
Annex 2: Actions in support of the work of RCGs (administrative support, website, future structure and financing).
Annex 3: Development, of the Regional Database for the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
In order to realise the objectives and priorities outlined above, projects should implement targeted activities resulting in concrete, and measurable outputs and results. In all cases, the proposed activities must:
- Be in line with and contribute to ongoing operations of RCGs.
- Be adapted to meet specific issues and needs linked to progress of RCGs, including assistance to the Commission where relevant (e.g. presentations on relevant forums).
- Be built on experiences from the past Data Collection projects and other relevant existing works as mentioned in section 2.1.
Applicants are invited to propose the activities that meet the needs of the selected Annex to this call (Annexes 1 to 3) always considering the detailed description of the work packages provided in these Annexes.
Expected outputs
The expected outputs resulting from this call for proposals are (i) regional work plans, (ii) actions in support of the work of RCGs, and (iii) development work for a Regional Database for the Mediterranean and Black Seas in order to:
- further develop regionally/EU-widely tools and processes applicable for the data collection framework (data collection, management, storage and transmission);
- facilitate the implementation and regional/EU-wide coordination of MS pilot studies (2017-2019) and results of the 2014 and 2016 grants that detail data collection requirements in specific fields;
- support the implementation of results (from earlier grants) on the establishment and coordination of available and new regional sampling plans, including transfer of knowledge and training of staff in Member States and RCGs;
- facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between MS in the different sea basins on fisheries data collection (including regarding observer on board programmes, statistically sound sampling schemes, execution of scientific surveys and data storage systems);
- conduct work between the annual meetings of RCGs and the Planning Group on Economic Issues (PGECON) on the implementation of their work programmes; and
- support the development and establishment of Regional Data Bases as provided for in the DCF Regulation.
- Applicants must be legal entities. Natural persons are not eligible as applicants for the purpose of the present call.
- The following types of entities are eligible to participate in the Call as applicants: non-profit organisations (private or public); public authorities (national, regional, local); international organisations; universities; educational institutions; research centres.
- Legal entities must be established in one of the EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories).
- In the event of private bodies, they must be properly constituted and registered under national law.
- To be considered a public entity, the body in question must fulfil all of the following criteria: The body has been created by a public authority or is governed by private law with a public service mission; The public interest of the body must be explicitly mentioned in the relevant legal or administrative act(s); The body is financed totally or to a large extent by public sources; In the event that the entity stops its activities, all rights and obligations including financial rights and obligations will be transferred to a public authority. For bodies to be considered as public entities, proof of compliance with all above criteria must be provided together with the proposal.
- Affiliated entities Legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, which is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation, may take part in the action as affiliated entities, and may declare eligible costs as specified in section 11.2. For that purpose, applicants shall identify such affiliated entities in the application form. The affiliated entities will have to comply with the eligibility and exclusion criteria.
- Participation of applicants from the UK Please be aware that following the entry into force of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement on 1 February 202018 and in particular Articles 127(6), 137 and 138, the references to natural or legal persons residing or established in a Member State of the European Union are to be understood as including natural or legal persons residing or established in the United Kingdom. UK residents and entities are therefore eligible to participate under this call.
The call was open on 04/05/2020 and the deadline for submissions is 31/07/2020.
Participants will be informed of the evaluation process outcomes in October 2020.
The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of all projects under this call for proposals is estimated at € 1.300.000 and shall be financed from budget line 11.066201 of the General Budget of the European Union for 2020. The Commission expects to fund 6-8 proposals, with an average budget of approximately € 200.000. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. The EU grant is limited to a maximum co-funding rate of 85% of eligible costs actually incurred.
For more information please see here.