HERCULE II: Call for proposals � OLAF/2012/D5/05: Technical Support for Detecting the Presence of Cigarettes and Tobacco

Decision 878/2007/EC established a Community action programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the Community's financial interests (Hercule II). This call relates to activities under Article 1a(a) of that Decision concerning the fight against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities, and the development and implementation of fraud prevention and detection policies, and specifically: technical assistance for national authorities through the provision of specific knowledge, equipment and information technology tools facilitating transnational cooperation and cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF); support for joint operations; and the enhancement of staff exchanges.

This notice is aimed at national or regional administrations of a Member State or a country outside the European Union which promotes the strengthening of European action to protect the European Union's financial interests.

Actions eligible for funding under this call are:

— technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, dedicated to the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting,
— equipment as part of an action of law enforcement agencies to improve the detection and investigation of illicit consignments of tobacco products,
— equipment as part of an action of law enforcement agencies to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods on the basis of its scent characteristics.

The total budget available is €3.3 million. The financial contribution will take the form of a grant and will not exceed 50% of eligible costs.

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2012.

Further details are available from the OLAF website

Reference: 2012/C 162/08

(Added 2012-06-09)