Call for proposals IX-2013/02 � �Grants to political foundations at European level�

The European Parliament is launching a call for proposals with a view to the awarding of grants to political foundations at European level. This call relates to grant applications for the financial year 2013, covering the period of activity from 1 January to 31 December 2013. The objective of the grant is to support the beneficiary’s annual work programme.

In order to be eligible for a grant, a political foundation at European level must:
- be affiliated with one of the political parties at European level
- have legal personality in the Member State where it has its registered office
- must observe, in particular in its programme and in its activities, the principles on which the European Union is founded, namely the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law
- must not promote profit goals
- have a governing body with geographically balanced composition

Furthermore, it must also satisfy the conditions laid down in Article 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003: within the framework of this Regulation, it remains for each political party and foundation at European level to define the specific modalities for their relationship, in accordance with national law, including an appropriate degree of separation between the daily management as well as the governing structures of the political foundation at European level, on the one hand, and the political party at European level with which the former is affiliated, on the other hand.

The funding for the financial year 2013 under Article 403 of Parliament’s budget, ‘Contributions to European political parties’, is put at a total of €12.4 million. It is subject to approval by the budgetary authority.

The maximum amount paid to the beneficiary by the European Parliament will not exceed 85% of the eligible operating costs of political foundations at European level. Funding will take the form of an operating grant.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2012.

Further details are available on the Europarl website

Reference: 2012/C 177/07

(Added 2012-06-20)