Call for proposals � Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys

The European Commission is launching a call for proposals (ref. ECFIN/A3/2010/020) for carrying out surveys as part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys in the 27 EU Member States and in the candidate countries: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland and Turkey.

Cooperation will take the form of a framework partnership agreement between the Commission and specialised bodies over a period of four years.

The programme is designed to gather information on the state of the economies in the EU Member States and the candidate countries, so as to be able to compare their business cycles for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) management purposes.

The Joint Harmonised EU Programme involves specialised bodies/institutes carrying out opinion surveys on a joint financing basis. The Commission is looking to conclude agreements with bodies and institutes suitably qualified to carry out one or more of the following surveys for the next four years:
- Investment survey
- Construction survey
- Retail trade survey
- Services survey
- Industry survey
- Consumer survey
- Ad hoc surveys on topical economic issues (surveys are occasional and are carried out in addition to the monthly surveys, using the same established samples as the monthly surveys, to obtain information on specific economic policy issues)

The surveys target managers in the industry, investment, construction, retail trade and services sector as well as consumers.

A framework partnership agreement will be concluded between the parties. Under the agreement, which will specify the common objectives and the nature of the actions planned, specific annual grant agreements may be concluded between the parties.

The body or institute will be selected for a maximum period of four years. Four annual specific grant agreements may be concluded. The first of the specific grant agreements will concern the period from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012.

The total annual budget available for the period May 2011—April 2012 for these surveys is in the region of €5.62 million. Amounts for subsequent years could be increased, subject to budgetary resources available, by about 2% per year.

Commission funding will not exceed 50% of eligible costs.

The call for proposals is open to bodies and institutes with legal status in one of the EU Member States, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland or Turkey.

The deadline for applications is 8 November 2010.

Reference: 2010/C 271/04

(Added 2010-10-07)