EU Proposals for Conservation and Development in Marine Environment

Deadline: 9 January 2015
Proposals are invited by the European Union (EU) for the conservation and development in marine environment. The project links up with the Integrated Maritime Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy  in areas such as the protection of the marine environment, local development, conservation of fisheries resources, improvement and dissemination of knowledge and information, fight against marine litter, preservation of the marine cultural heritage and diversification and improvement of services.
Themes of the program

1. Test in Mediterranean coastal regions, the feasibility of professionally reorienting fishermen using fishing vessels reassigned to activities other than fishing.
2. Identify and develop technical solutions for sea cleaning, such as for example to solve the problem of collecting small plastic debris and small fragments.
3. Identify the economic conditions and operational costs of vessels operating as a platform for a number of environmental and maritime activities outside fishing and identify ways for future funding.
4. Identify the relevant training needs of fishermen, and where appropriate, vessel owners, and identify ways to cover these needs and fund them.
5. Support reduction of fishing capacity in line with CFP Reform objectives by providing incentives to both fisherman and vessel owners to leave the sector and opt for professional reorientation.

The total budget estimated at € 600 and the indicative grant per project will be between €200 and € 300.
Eligibility criteria

• Applicants established in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, France and Spain are eligible.
• Public authorities (national, regional, local administration), public or semi-public bodies, profit or non-profit making private bodies, research centers and educational institutions entities located in a Mediterranean coastal region are eligible to participate.
• Applicants must demonstrate the availability of an EU fishing to be withdrawn or that has been withdrawn from the EU fishing fleet since no longer than 6 months prior to the publication of this call.
• Applicant must be equipped with a valid fishing license and must further demonstrate that the fishing vessel is being or has been modified for the new reassignment outside fishing activities and that the crew, where appropriate, has been or will be trained to perform the new activities.
• Affiliated entities, i.e. legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, who is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation, shall take part in the action as applicants in order to declare eligible costs.
• Applications must be drafted in one the EU official languages.
• Applicants will be excluded from participating in the call for proposals procedure if
  • They are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities.
  • They have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify including by decisions of the EIB and international organizations.
  • They are not in compliance with their obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or those of the country where the grant agreement is to be performed.
  • They or persons having powers of representation, decision making or control over them have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organization, money laundering or any other illegal activity, where such an illegal activity is detrimental to the Union’s financial interests.
  • They are currently subject to an administrative penalty referred to in Article 109(1) of the Financial Regulation (FR).

How to apply?
Applications shall be submitted on the correct form, duly completed, dated, showing a balanced budget (revenue/expenditure), submitted in 5 copies (one original clearly identified as such, plus 4 copies), and signed by the person authorized to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organization. Documents to be found on the website:

1. Application form
2. Model grant agreement
3. Legal entity form
4. Financial information form
5. Estimated budget form
6. Any other relevant statement according to the call.

For more information visit European Union Proposals.