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GOVERNMENT OF

ROMANIA

EUROPEAN UNION

MANAGING AUTHORITY

GOVERNMENT OF
BULGARIA

NATIONAL AUTHORITY

MINISTRY OF REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

MINISTRY OF REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WOKS

ROMANIA

BULGARIA

Applicants Guide

www.interregrobg.eu
Call for proposals no.3
2017

Applicants Guide

Draft version

2017

Table of Contents
Glossary of terms...................................................................................3
Glossary of Acronyms..............................................................................4
Explanation of text-boxes........................................................................6
Legal basis...........................................................................................6
I. GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................................8
I.1. Overview of Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria...............................8
I.2. Programme Strategy..........................................................8
i. Programme Objectives and priority axes..............................9
I.3. Programme Implementation Structures..................................10
I.4. Programme Financial Allocation...........................................10
I.5. Programme Indicators ......................................................11
I.6 Financial allocation for the call for proposals............................14
I.7. State Aid.......................................................................15
I.8. Revenue Generating Projects..............................................17
II. RULES OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS.....................................................19
II.1. Type of call for proposals..................................................19
II.2. Eligibility Criteria...........................................................23
i. Eligibility of Applicants..................................................23
ii. Eligibility of Actions.....................................................29
iii. Eligibility of Expenditure.............................................38
II.3. How to apply for funding...................................................40
i. How to fill in the Expression of interest.............................40
ii. How to fill in the Application Form and its Annexes...............46
iii. How to submit the applications......................................69
iv. Deadline for receipt of applications.................................69
II.4. Evaluation and Selection of Applications................................69
III. Pre-Contractual conditions.................................................................73
IV. Annexes.........................................................................................75

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Glossary of terms

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Applicant
Beneficiary
Biodiversity
Discounting
Discount rate

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2017

Any legal entity meeting the eligible criteria which submits an


application to be financed by the Programme
Any applicant whose application has been approved for financing
The variability of living bodies within the land, sea, continental
aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes; this comprises the
intra-specific, inter-specific and ecosystems diversity
The process of adjusting the future value of cost and benefits to
the present by a discount rate.
The rate at which future values are discounted to the present

Eligible
expenditure

Expenditures made by a Beneficiary, related to the projects


financed through the Programme, which could be financed from
the structural instruments, as well as from the state budget
and/or own Beneficiary contribution
Eligible
The Romanian counties and Bulgarian districts located in the
area/region
border area, as mentioned in the programming document
approved by the European Commission
Hard project
Project that has an investment component or which grants more
than half of its total eligible budget for the purchase of equipment
Internal rate The discount rate at which a stream of costs and benefits has a
of
net present value of zero. The internal rate of return is compared
Return (IRR)
with a benchmark in order to evaluate the performance of the
proposed project
Investment
Capital cost incurred in the construction of the project
cost
Investment
A project whose results involve the achievement of an objective by
project
investing capital, which means that their main component is to
carry out a work, without excluding the procurement of services
(as consultancy or technical assistance) or goods (procurement of
necessary equipments for the respective objective) related to the
respective objective.
Joint
The structure responsible for assisting the Programme
Secretariat
management bodies in carrying out their duties. Cross Border
Cooperation Regional Office Calarasi for Romanian Bulgarian
Border is hosting the Joint Secretariat for Interreg V-A RomaniaBulgaria Programme
Lead
A Beneficiary designated by the beneficiaries involved in a project
Beneficiary
responsible for coordinating the process of development,
submission and implementation of that specific project
Managing
The structure responsible for managing the operational
Authority
programme. The Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and
Public Administration is the Managing Authority for Interreg V-A
Romania-Bulgaria Programme
National
The counterpart of the Managing Authority in the partner state.
Authority
The Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
is the National Authority for Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria
Programme
National
The legislation of the state on whose territory the beneficiary is
Legislation
located
Natural
Land, aquatic and/or underground area hosting savage fauna and
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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protected
area

Net
Present
Value
(NPV)
Operating
costs
Priority Axis

Potential
applicant
Potential
beneficiary
Project

Reference
period
Residual value
Revenue
generating
project
Revenues
Soft project
Secondary
nodes
Tertiary
nodes

Draft version

2017

flora species, bio-geographical, landscape, geological, paleontological, speleological or other elements and systems with
outstanding ecological, scientific or cultural value, governed by
special preservation and protection rules in compliance with legal
provisions
The sum that results when the expected costs of the investment
are deducted from the discounted value of the expected benefits
Cost incurred in the operation of an investment, including cost of
routine and extraordinary maintenance but excluding depreciation
or capital costs
A strategic priority within the operational programme, that
corresponds to a thematic objective and comprises one or more of
the investment priorities of that thematic objective in line with
the EU Regulations
Any legal entity meeting the eligible criteria for submitting an
application to be financed by the programme
Any applicant or potential applicant is a potential beneficiary until
the decision for financing its project has been issued
An operation comprising a series of works, activities or services
intended in itself to accomplish an indivisible task of a precise
economic or technical nature, which has clearly identified goals,
expressed as the application form and its annexes.
The number of years for which forecasts are provided in the cost
benefit analysis
The net present value of assets at the final year of the reference
period selected for evaluation analysis
Any project involving an investment in infrastructure, the use of
which is subject to charges borne directly by users, and any
project involving the sale or rent of land or buildings or the
provision of services against payment
Income to be expected from an investment through pricing or
charges
Project that does not have an infrastructure component or which
does not grant more than half of its total eligible budget to
purchase of equipments
Secondary nodes are the branching or crossing points of the core
and comprehensive networks, provided they represent cities (at
least of regional importance) and/or multimodal connections
Tertiary nodes are urban areas (regional towns, towns, cities)
providing jobs and public and private services (e.g. schools, health
or social care, employment services, banks) beyond their
administrative boundaries, and/or places of multimodal nodes

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Glossary of Acronyms

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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AA

Audit Authority

BG

Republic of Bulgaria

CU

Certifying Unit (the Managing Authority took the role of Certifying


Authority)

CBC

Cross-Border Cooperation

CBC RO
Calarasi

Cross Border Cooperation Regional Office Calarasi for RomaniaBulgaria Border

CBA

Cost Benefit Analysis

EC

European Commission

ERDF

European Regional Development Fund

EU

European Union

GD

Government Decision

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IRR

Internal Rate of Return

IT

Information Technology

MC

Monitoring Committee

JS

Joint Secretariat

MA

Managing Authority

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MRDPA

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration

MRDPW

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

MF

Ministry of Finance (Bulgaria)

MPF

Ministry of Public Finance(Romania)

MEF

Ministry of European Funds

MoI

Memorandum on Implementation - Arrangements between MS


participating in the Interreg V-A Romania Bulgaria Programme

MS

Member States

NA

National Authority

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

NUTS

Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics

OP

Operational Programme

PC

Personal Computer

e-MS

The Information System of the Programme

PSC

Project Steering Committee

Programme

Interreg V-A Romania Bulgaria

R&D

Research and Development

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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RTD

Research and Technological Development

RO

Romania

SMEs

Small and Medium sized Enterprises

SWOT

Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats

VAT

Value Added Tax

2017

Explanation of text-boxes
Across the following pages you will find a series of highlighted text. Highlights draw attention
on important issues, possible mistakes or offer practical advices.

Legal basis
In the elaboration of this guide the following legal provisions have been observed:
Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme;
Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17
December 2013 on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional
Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the
specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing
Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17
December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional
Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries
Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development
Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006
Implementing Acts
(http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/implementing/index_en.cfm)
Delegated Acts
(http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/delegated/index_en.cfm)

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Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 481/2014 of 4 March 2014 supplementing


Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with
regard to specific rules on eligibility of expenditure for cooperation programmes
Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March
2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts,
public supply contracts and public service contracts and Directive 2014/24/EU
Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February
2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (from 18 April 2016).
Other relevant national and European legislation (Annex L).
Please note that all this legal provisions must also be observed by the applicants during
both project elaboration and implementation phases.

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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I. GENERAL INFORMATION
This Applicants Guide aims to provide practical information for project applicants to
the Interreg V-A Romania - Bulgaria. It is the most practical level of documentation
needed for the successful submission of a project under this programme. This guide
provides information on how to fill in the application, budget and related forms, the
application procedure, the project selection criteria, the decision procedure and
other practical advices.

Please bear in mind that this call for proposals only concerns Priority Axis 1, 2
and 3.
I.1. Overview of Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria
The Programme is financed by the European Union through the European Regional
Development Fund and co-financed by Romania and Bulgaria through contributions
from state budget and from project beneficiaries.
The programming document drafted jointly by the two countries through a large
partnership with national, regional and local stakeholders was approved by the
European Commission on 12th of February 2015.
The Programmes eligible area includes 7 counties from Romania (Mehedinti, Dolj,
Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Calarasi, Constanta) and 8 districts from Republic of Bulgaria
(Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich).

The Programme and annexes are available on www.intrerregrobg.eu.


I.2. Programme Strategy
The programme was drafted starting from the status of current links between the two
countries at border level.
The core element of the programme strategy is to bring together the cross-border
communities as the first step towards sustainable cooperation and to promote their
common actions to overcome the physical and socio-cultural barriers, and to better
exploit the opportunities offered by the development of the cross-border area for a
mid-long-term sustainable growth.
The strategy of cooperation focuses on the problems and opportunities where the
border is an important factor and where cross-border action is a key requirement. It is
intended as a coherent and effective response to the needs, obstacles and
weaknesses identified in the area and intends to be the vehicle for its cross-border
socio-economic sustainable development.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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The focus in 2014-2020 is on results, which are quantified by reaching the


Programme output and result indicators.

i. Programme Objectives and priority axes


The strategy, therefore, sets out to address the specific needs of the BulgariaRomania border area both in the short and longer term and supports the overall
strategic goal:
To bring together the people, communities and economies of the RomaniaBulgaria border region to participate in the joint development of a cooperative
area, using its human, natural and environmental resources and advantages in a
sustainable way.
The overall aim of the programme, with the core elements of the strategy derived
from the SWOT analysis, together led to the formulation of the following specific
objectives of the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria and the related priority axes,
which must be taken into account when preparing a project:

Priority Axis 1: A well connected region


o Specific objective 1.1: Improve the planning, development and
coordination of cross border transport systems for better connections
to TEN-T transport network
o Specific objective 1.2: Increase transport safety on waterways and
maritime transport routes

Priority Axis 2: A green region


o Specific objective 2.1: To improve the sustainable use of natural
heritage and resources and cultural heritage
o Specific objective 2.2: To enhance the sustainable management of the
ecosystems from the cross-border area

Priority Axis 3: A safe region


o Specific objective 3.1: To improve joint risk management in the crossborder area

Priority Axis 4: A skilled and inclusive region


o Specific objective 4.1 To encourage the integration of the cross-border
area in terms of employment and labour mobility

Priority Axis 5: An efficient region

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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o Specific objective 5.1: To increase cooperation capacity and the


efficiency of public institutions in a CBC context

Priority Axis 6: Technical Assistance

The above specific objectives and priority axes focus on the establishment of a sound
basis for joint development of the eligible area.
For further details on programme strategy please refer to the programming
document and to the Project Implementation Manual.
Only the first five priority axes finance projects submitted by regular applicants
while the sixth one is dedicated to ensuring the proper functioning of the
programme implementation bodies.
I.3. Programme Implementation Structures
According to the EU Regulations on Structural Instruments, the two partner states in
the programme - Romania and Bulgaria - have established a number of bodies forming
the implementation and monitoring mechanism of the programme. The most relevant
bodies for the potential beneficiaries are:
Managing Authority (MA) the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Public
Administration - is responsible for managing and implementing the operational
programme in accordance with EC Regulations and the principles of sound financial
management. The Managing Authority signs the ERDF subsidy contracts with the Lead
Beneficiaries as well as the co-financing contracts with the Romanian project partners
(for the co-financing granted from the Romanian state budget). The Managing
Authority took over the role of certifying the expenditures (role of Certifying
Authority).
National Authority (NA) - the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public
Works is the counterpart of the Managing Authority and will sign the co-financing
contracts with the Bulgarian project partners (for the co-financing granted from the
Bulgarian state budget).
Monitoring Committee (MC) is formed of representatives at national, regional and
local level from both countries, supervises the programme and selects the projects.
All the decisions relevant for the Programme implementation are taken by the
Monitoring Committee.
Joint Secretariat (JS) is based within the Cross Border Cooperation Regional Office
Calarasi for Romania-Bulgaria Border, situated in Calarasi (Romania), within the Cross
Border Cooperation Regional Office Calarasi for Romania-Bulgaria Border. It assists the
Managing Authority in carrying out their respective duties and is the main contact
point between the programme and the potential beneficiaries/project partners.

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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A JS Antenna (JSA) is a structure within the CBC RO Calarasi, organized as its branch,
located in Ruse, Bulgaria, that develops information and monitoring related activities,
having as main role to serve as local contact point for potential beneficiaries/project
partners (tasks related to information and monitoring).
For further details on programme implementation structure please refer to the
programming document.
I.4. Programme Financial Allocation
The total budget of the programme for the entire 7-year programming period is
258,504,126 Euro, of which 215,745,513 Euro is represented by EU contribution
through the European Regional Development Fund. The remaining 42,758,613 Euro are
national contributions from state budgets and project partners.
The breakdown of the total budget of the programme on priority axes and national
contributions approved by the European Commission as part of the programme is
shown in the table below:
Priority axes by source of funding (in euro)
Community
Funding

National
counterpart

Total funding

(a)

(b)

(a)+(b)

81,983,295

14,467,641

96,450,936

Priority Axis 2 A green region

53,936,379

9,518,185

63,454,564

Priority Axis 3 A safe region

40,991,647

7,233,821

48,225,468

Priority Axis 4 A skilled and


15,102,186
inclusive region

2,665,093

17,767,279

Priority Axis 5 An effective


10,787,276
region

1,903,637

12,690,913

Priority Axis 6
Assistance

12,944,730

6,970,236

19,914,966

215,745,513

42,758,613

258,504,126

ERDF (a)
Priority Axis 1
connected region

Total

well

Technical

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*Includes the contributions from state budgets and local budgets from both countries
For further details on programme financial provisions please refer to the programming
document and to the Project Implementation Manual.
Please note that the programme financial allocation is not broken down by state or
NUTS III eligible region (county/district).
I.5. Programme Indicators targeted by the call
The focus in the 2014-2020 programming period is on the results.
The Programme results are measured by indicators. The performance framework is
one of the tools to achieve a result-orientation of the ESI Funds. It is a table in which
a set of milestones and targets is defined for each priority in the programme. The
achievement of milestones will be assessed by the European Commission in 2019 and
in case of failure it could lead to the suspension of payments. The achievements of
final targets will be assessed in 2025 and might form the basis of financial
corrections.
Indicators measure whether the project has achieved its objectives or not. In this
respect, each project must contribute to the achieving of the programme indicators
(both output and result indicators). The choice of appropriate indicators and the way
your project contributes to the Programme results is important for the project and its
selection by the Monitoring Committee.
Below you will find a situation of Programme indicators targeted by the present calls
(outputs and results), namely the indicators which are not reached or overreached (in
principle) after selection of projects under the first call, as well as their current
status.
Attention! The current call will finance only project proposals contributing to the
below indicators.
Priority Axis 1 A well connected region

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Output indicators

2017

Programme
Target

Contribution
of
projects
selected
under the first call

To be achieved
(by the present
call)

I1 - Total length of reconstructed


or upgraded roads

120 km

79.940 km

40.06 km

I2 - Number of joint mechanisms


(e.g.
route
guidance,
incidents/emergencies
detection
and management, studies on
traffic flows, feasibility studies
addressing cross-border transport
issues, traffic safety measures,
black-spot maps, awareness raising
activities); to facilitate the
connection of secondary/tertiary
nodes to TEN-T infrastructure

30

22

I3 - Number of studies, strategies


and action plans to improve safety
of the navigation on the Danube
and the Black Sea supported

I4 - Total length of new


improved inland waterway

20 km

8 km

12 km

81,983,295.00
euro

31,593,951.74 euro

50,389,343.26
euro

Contribution
of
projects
selected
under the first call

To be achieved
(by the present
call)

1,83%

21.88%

I5 - Financial indicator

Result indicators

or

Programme
Target

I7 - % of the RO-BG CBC Danube


length and Black Sea where safety
23.71%
of the navigation has been
improved by joint actions

Priority Axis 2 A green region

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Output indicators

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Programme
Target

Contribution
of
projects selected
under the first call

To
be
achieved (by
the
present
call)

I9 - Number of integrated
tourism
products/services
created

100

52

48

I10 - Number of common


strategies,
policies
or
management
plans
for
valorising (including raising
awareness) the cultural and
natural heritage through its
restoration and promotion for
sustainable economic uses

50

24

26

I12 - Financial indicator

53,936,379.00
euro

23,032,651.01 euro

30,903,727.99
euro

Priority Axis 3 A safe region


Output indicators

Programme
Target

Contribution
of
projects
selected
under the first call

To
be
achieved (by
the present
call)

I16 - Population benefiting


from flood protection measures

1,250,000.00

692,871.00

557,129.00

I17 - Population
from forest fire
measures

1,250,000.00

540,006.00

709,994.00

I18
Number
of
joint
partnerships in the field of
joint
early
warning
and
emergency response

50

41

I19 - Financial indicator

40,991,647.00
euro

27,586,520.64 euro

13,405,126.3
6 euro

benefiting
protection

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Result indicators

I20- The quality of the joint


risk management in the CBC
area

Draft version

Programme
Target

The satisfaction
degree of the
stakeholders in
the area 3 satisfactory

2017

Contribution
of
projects
selected
under the first call

12 projects will
provide
contribution to this
indicator.

To
be
achieved
(by
the
present
call)
Since this is a
qualitative
indicator, a
quantificatio
n of projects
contribution
cannot
be
made at the
present
moment.
Therefore
surveys shall
be used for
identify the
satisfaction
degree of the
stakeholders
in the area.

N.B. The indicators marked in red are concerning the performance framework
I.6 Financial allocation for the call for proposals
The total amount allocated for this call for proposals for the three priority axes,
matched by national public and private funding is TBD Euro, broken down as
follows:
Priority Axis

Community Funding

Total funding

ERDF (a)

National
counterpart*

(a)

(b)

(a)+(b)

PA1
PA2
PA3
Total

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*Includes the contributions from state budgets and local budgets from both
countries

I.7. State Aid


Article 107(1) of the Treaty defines State aid 1 as any aid granted by a Member State
or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to
distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain
goods [], in so far as it affects trade between Member States.
Considering the activities financed under the current call, activities for which the
beneficiaries do not act as economic operators and for which there are no
considerations to assume that the competition will be distorted, the projects shall not
be subject to state aid rules.
To this end, the following provisions shall be fulfilled by each project:

All expenditure must be made according to the national laws on public


procurement of the country on whose territory the partner which organizes the
procedure is located. For Romanian NGOs a special procedure is applicable.
The procedure for the Romanian NGO may be changed unilaterally by the
Managing Authority. The procurement procedure (performed by either
Romania/Bulgarian partners) has to be open (to allow all interested and
qualified bidders to participate in the process), transparent, sufficiently wellpublicized, non-discriminatory and unconditional. When a tender procedure
complies with these principles, it can be presumed that the transactions are in
line with normal market conditions. For direct procurements the market price
level is observed (try to refer to any well-known suppliers available at national
level - print screen from websites are accepted and recommended).
The project must not create an economic advantage to an economic
operator/undertaking. The undertakings are defined as entities engaged in an
economic activity, regardless of their status and the way in which are financed.
The classification of a particular entity as an undertaking thus depends entirely
on the nature of its activities. This general principle has three important
consequences:

First, the status of the entity under national law is not decisive. For example, an
entity that is classified as an association or a sports club under national law may
nevertheless have to be regarded as an undertaking within the meaning of Article
107(1) of the Treaty. The only relevant criterion in this respect is whether it
carries out an economic activity.
Second, the application of the state aid rules as such does not depend on
whether the entity is set up to generate profits.

1 See also the Commission Notice on the notion of State aid as referred to in Article 107(1)
of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2016/C 262/01)
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Third, the classification of an entity as an undertaking is always relative to a


specific activity. An entity that carries out both economic and non-economic
activities is to be regarded as an undertaking only with regard to the former. Any
activity consisting in offering goods and services on a market is an economic
activity.

A service that is reimbursed at market price is not conveying an advantage. - All


studies or other results of the non-investment research and development
projects shall be made available for free to all interested individual or legal
persons, in a non-discriminatory way.
In the field of research&development&innovation activities, the following
activities are generally of a non-economic character:
a) primary activities of research organisations and research infrastructures, in
particular:
education for more and better skilled human resources. Public
education organised within the national educational system,
predominantly or entirely funded by the State and supervised by the
State is considered as a non-economic activity
independent R&D for more knowledge and better understanding,
including collaborative R&D where the research organisation or
research infrastructure engages in effective collaboration2
wide dissemination of research results on a non-exclusive and nondiscriminatory basis, for example through teaching, open-access
databases, open publications or open software.
b) knowledge transfer activities, where they are conducted either by the
research organisation or research infrastructure (including their departments
or subsidiaries) or jointly with, or on behalf of other such entities, and where
all profits from those activities are reinvested in the primary activities of the
research organisation or research infrastructure. The non-economic nature of
those activities is not prejudiced by contracting the provision of
corresponding services to third parties by way of open tenders.
Where a research organisation or research infrastructure is used for both
economic and non-economic activities, public funding falls under state aid
rules only insofar as it covers costs linked to the economic activities. Where
the research organisation or research infrastructure is used almost
exclusively for a non-economic activity, its funding may fall outside state aid
rules in its entirety, provided that the economic use remains purely ancillary,
that is to say corresponds to an activity which is directly related to and
necessary for the operation of the research organisation or research
infrastructure or intrinsically linked to its main non-economic use, and which
is limited in scope. This should be considered to be the case where the
economic activities consume exactly the same inputs (such as material,
equipment, labour and fixed capital) as the non-economic activities and the
capacity allocated each year to such economic activities does not exceed 20
% of the relevant entitys overall annual capacity. Making the project results

2 Provision of R&D services and R&D carried out on behalf of undertakings are not
considered as independent R&D
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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available only for certain individual or legal persons is strictly forbidden!


Also, the project results should not create an economic advantage to a
certain undertaking/activity/the production of certain goods.
Special provisions regarding state aid are included in section II.2.ii of the
Guide dedicated to the eligibility of actions under a priority axis.
However, if State support is granted to an activity which has a purely local impact,
there may not be an effect on intra-EU trade, e.g. where the beneficiary supplies
goods or services to a limited area within a Member State and is unlikely to attract
customers from other Member States. Moreover, the measure should have no-or most
marginal-foreseeable effects on cross-border investments in the sector or the
establishment of firms within the EUs Single Market.
I.8. Revenue Generating Projects
Revenue generating projects shall be financed under the present call for proposals. A
revenue-generating project means:

any project involving an investment in infrastructure the use of which is subject


to charges borne directly by users or

any project involving:


o

the sale or rent of land or buildings or

o any other provision of services against payment.


Eligible expenditure on revenue-generating projects shall not exceed the current
value of the investment cost less the current value of the net revenue from the
investment over a specific reference period for:
(a) investments in infrastructure; or
(b) other projects where it is possible to objectively estimate the revenues in
advance.
Where not all the investment cost is eligible for co-financing, the net revenue shall be
allocated pro rata to the eligible and non-eligible parts of the investment cost. The
potential net revenue generated by the project shall be determined in advance by
calculating the discounted net revenue of the project, according to Article 61(3)b of
Regulation 1303/2014. Applicants shall respect the provisions of Section III of
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 480/2014 when calculating the discounted
net revenue of operations generating net revenue.
The net revenue generated during implementation of the project, resulting from
sources of revenue not taken into account in determining the potential net revenue of
the project, shall be deducted from the eligible expenditure of the project, no later
than in the final payment claim submitted by the beneficiary.
Where it is objectively not possible to determine the revenue in advance, the net
revenue generated within three years of the completion of a project, or by the
deadline for the submission of documents for programme closure, whichever is
earlier, shall be refunded to the MA and/or to NA according to the ERDF and national
state budget contributions.
The implementation of the provisions mentioned above is done by the following
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measures:

In the preparation phase, in the application form, the applicants shall mention if
their project is revenue generating 3. The projects generated net revenues are
deducted from the investment cost, thus establishing the eligible costs of the
project.

According to the EC interpretation (please see the EC documents related to the revenuegeneration
projects)
corroborated
with
the
EIB
interpretation
(http://www.eib.org/epec/resources/blending-ue-structural-investment-fund-ppp):
Project
revenues comprise cash inflows from private users (i.e. not including availability payments made by
the procuring authority) for the use of the service (or part of the service) provided by the project,
as well as any cash from the sale or rent of buildings.Therefore, it has to be determined and
justified by the beneficiaries in the Application Form whether the project has positive or negative
net revenue.

If a projects revenue is less than its operating costs (i.e. negative net revenue), the project is no
longer considered a revenue-generating project (independent of whether or not the infrastructure
asset has a positive residual value).

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The projects budget included in the application form shall not include the net
revenue. Net revenue shall be mentioned however, in the application form in
section 2.8.

In the implementation phase, a monitoring of the generated revenues shall be


done throughout the implementation period of the project or for the next 3
years following the completion of the project.

II. RULES OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS


II.1. Type of call for proposals
The present call for proposals will be a two-step process. The first phase will
target expressions of interest, which will be assessed for compliance with
Programme rules and objectives, administrative and eligibility criteria. Only the
pre-selected projects on the first phase will be able to move forward to the
second phase.
The financing under the Interreg V-A Romania Bulgaria shall be made available to
potential beneficiaries through a competitive process.
The Managing Authority together with the National Authority and the Joint
Secretariat are launching the present call for proposals with .. deadline for
submitting the expressions of interest.
From the date the list of pre-selected projects are announced
(www.interregrobg.eu) two more months will be available for the second phase submitting the application forms.
Please have in mind that during the call, we strongly recommend you to send your
questions regarding the rules of this call up to 2 days before the deadline. Any
other question received in this interval may not receive answer in due time
(considering the necessary time for analyzing, drafting replies, consulting within
Programme structures, no. of questions).
The e-mail addresses where you may send your questions are:
helpdesk_robg@calarasicbc.ro, robg@mdrap.ro, NA-RO-BG@mrrb.government.bg
The present call for proposal has the goal of establishing solid partnerships in the
eligible area by financing both soft projects (as studies, strategies, seminars, knowhow exchanges) and hard projects (projects involving investments with a concrete
impact to the cross-border area or which grants more than half of its total eligible
budget to purchase of equipment).
All investment projects must observe the relevant national provisions regarding the
elaboration, financing and approving (see Annex L - Relevant national and EU
legislation).

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II. 1. 1. Phase 1: Expressions of interest selection


In phase 1 the beneficiaries should submit their expression of interest filling the
relevant sections from the AF, together with Annexes 1-6 . In case more than one
annexes is completely missing, the Application form will be rejected.
The expressions of interest are submitted by the Lead Beneficiaries and should state
the following main points:
1. Project Summary and indicative budget
2. Partnership. Who are your partners? (can be modified in phase two only in case
of unforeseen events and with duly justification)
3. Project relevance and cross-border character
4. Project focus expected results and main outputs. To which of the Programme
indicators are you contributing to (including quantification, where
appropriate)?
In particular, the following sections of the AF have to be filled in:
PART A Project Summary
A.1 Project identification
Select programme priority, specific objective and fill in information about project
title, project acronym, name of the Lead partner (beneficiary) in original language
and English and project duration.
A.2 Project summary
Short overview of the project (in the style of a press release) describing:

the problem youre addressing

the objective youre aiming for, budget

how you are going to achieve the objectives (main activities)

the result youre going for (and how is that related to the Programme
indicators)

For the expressions of interest the project indicative budget will also be mentioned in
this section as well as reference of the project contribution to the achievement of the
Programmes Output Indicators targeted by the 3-rd call.
PART B Project Partners
Annexes to be submitted on stage 1:
1 Declaration of submission
2 Legal documents of the applicants
3 Mandates of delegation from the legal representatives of beneficiaries, if the
case
4 Declarations of Eligibility
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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5 Declarations of Commitment
6 Partnership declarations

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PART C Project Description including:


C.2 Project focus

The maximum number of beneficiaries in a project will be five (5), including the
Lead Beneficiary!
Please make sure you correlate the budget of your project with the contribution
you bring to the Programme indicators listed in the table in section I.5 above
(for this, please consult the available financial allocation).
The expressions of interest are to be submitted within the deadline only via the E-MS
system from the link: http://tstrobg.mdrap.ro/.
Please note this is a demo version for you to see how the system works and the
real version might be slightly changed. The demo version does not reflect at the
moment the two step process, however the information from the application form
will not change!
Please note that in order to upload the expression of interest the Lead Beneficiary
must create a user account. We highly recommend you to create the user and
password at least a week before the deadline in order to avoid any difficulties.
The deadline is: .2017 (16:00 oclock)
Please note that the system is allowing uploading expressions of interest within
the abovementioned deadline, you will not be able to upload it afterwards,
therefore we strongly encourage you not to wait until the last day to upload your
expression of interest.
The Programme bodies will assess the expression of interest and eligibility of
applicants during phase 1 according to the criteria in Annex B.

xpressions of interest are selected by the MC for the second phase.

II. 2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA


In order to be eligible for funding under the programme, a project should meet three
criteria: the eligibility of applicants, activities and expenditure.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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i. Eligibility of Applicants
The applicants have to comply with a set of requirements related to their:
- legal status,
- geographical location,
- professional and financial background.
(1) The applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
Be Romanian or Bulgarian non-profit making bodies/organizations (that were not
established with the goal to obtain profit), legally established according to the
national legislation of the state on whose territory they are located;
Be non-governmental organizations (associations or foundations), public sector
operators, local/regional/national authorities which fulfill one of the following
criteria:
have their headquarters in the eligible cross border region or;
are organizations whose headquarters are not situated in the eligible area, but
are located in Romania or Bulgaria and have local/regional branch offices with legal
statute (legal entity) established in the eligible area.
are Romanian or Bulgarian national public authorities whose area of
competence, established by legal acts, extends to the eligible area of the
programme.
If the applicant has its headquarters outside the eligible area but the legal
possibility to open a local/regional branch office with legal personality exists, than
this branch should apply for financing without any budgetary restrictions. In case
the above applicants do not have the option of opening and applying with an
local/regional branch office with legal personality they may participate in project
provided that the project budget limitation of 20% for partners outside the
programme eligible area is respected.
In case the applicant is a Romanian or Bulgarian national public authority whose
area of competence, established by legal acts, extends to the eligible area of the
programme, than the applicant may apply without any budgetary restriction.
The applicants, located in Romania and Bulgaria, but whose headquarters are not
situated in the eligible area and cannot legally open a local/regional branch office
with legal personality in the eligible area and whose area of competence does not
extend to the eligible area may participate in projects provided that the project
budget limitation of 20% for partners outside the programme eligible area is
respected . In this case the applicant should be the mother organization.
Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action together
with their partners, not acting as an intermediary (e.g. one of the partner has a
single task, for example some communication activities, and plans to externalize
entirely that activity, thus its role in the project is purely formal, the respective
partner, in this case, would act as an intermediary);
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Appoint, for each project, a lead beneficiary among the project partners. The
tasks of the Lead Beneficiary are provided in the framework subsidy contract (Annex
H) and in the model partnership agreement (Annex J);

Have at least one partner on the other side of the border, which must fulfill the same
eligibility criteria. Applicants without any partners from the other side of the border
will not be eligible (with the exception of sole beneficiaries, as defined art. 12 of
Regulation 1299/2013);
The maximum number of beneficiaries in a project will be five (5), including the
Lead Beneficiary!

Have stable and sufficient financing sources to ensure the continuity of the
operation of their organization throughout the project and, if necessary, to
contribute to its financing;

Be able to demonstrate their capacity to manage their share of activities in the


project for which the subsidy is requested;

Be the body/institution entitled to take action in the field/fields addressed by the


project;

Have not benefited of financing support from public funds in the past 5 years before
the deadline for submitting the applications under this call for proposals for the
same project in terms of objectives, activities and results (for infrastructure
projects, this provision refers to the same infrastructure/segment of infrastructure).
For investment projects, the applicants must prove they hold a right under the
property law over the land and/or building by the following documents:
a) the applicant is the owner of the land and/or building:
1. for public authorities:
- the legal act (e.g. government decision, law, government ordinance,
decision of local counties, Council of Ministers Decrees etc.) stating the
public property on the land and/or building;
- documents related to the registration of property of the respective
applicant on the land and/or building in the relevant public registers.
2. for NGOs
- property act on the land and/or building;
- documents related to the registration of the land and/or building in the
relevant public registers.
b) the applicant has received the land and/or building in concession or holds any
other right under the property law:
1. for public authorities:

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- the legal act (e.g. government decision, law, government ordinance,


decision of local counties, contracts etc.) proving the concession or the
real property right; it must be proved that the duration of the concession
or the real property right of the land is in line with the provisions of
article 71, paragraph 1 from Regulation 1303/2013 and that the owner has
given its written agreement saying that the applicant may perform the
investment.
- declaration from the land and/or building owner that the land and/or
building is:
o free of any encumbrances;
o not the object of an pending litigation;
o not the object of a claim according to the relevant national
legislation.
- documents related to the registration of the land and/or building in the
relevant public registers to be submitted before contracting of the
project.
2. for NGOs
-

the legal act proving the concession or the real property right; it must be
proved that the duration of the concession of the land and/or building is
in line with the provisions of article 71, paragraph 1 from Regulation
1303/2013 and that the owner of the land and/or building has given his
written agreement saying that the applicant may perform the investment.
- Declaration from the land and/or building owner that the land and/or
building is:
o free of any encumbrances;
o not the object of an pending litigation;
o not the object of a claim according to the relevant national
legislation.

documents related to the registration of the land and/or building in the


relevant public registers to be submitted before contracting of the
project.

The land and/or building, which are subject of the application for financial
support for investment, must:
-

Be free of any encumbrances;

Not be the object of a pending litigation;

Not be the object of a legal claim according to the relevant national


legislation.
Political parties are not eligible.
(2) Exclusion criteria
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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All applicants (Lead beneficiaries and Project Beneficiaries) shall prove their
professional and financial liability by not falling under any of the cases presented
below.
Potential applicants are not allowed to participate in calls for proposals if:
(a) they are bankrupt or being wound up, they have their affairs administered by the
courts, they have entered into an arrangement with creditors, they have
suspended business activities, they are the subject of proceedings concerning
those matters or they are in any analogous situation, arising from a similar
procedure provided for in the national legislation or EU regulations;
(b) the legal representative has been convicted of an offence concerning professional
conduct by a judgment which has the force of res judicata (i.e., against which no
appeal is possible);
(c) the legal representative is guilty of serious professional misconduct proven by any
means;
(d) they have not fulfilled obligations related to the payment of debts to the central
or local budget;
(e) the legal representative has been the subject of a judgment which has the force of
res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organization or any
other illegal activity detrimental to the Communities or national financial
interests;
(f) they have been declared to be in serious breach of contract for failure to comply
with their contractual obligations in connection with a procurement procedure or
other grant award procedure financed by the Community or national budget.
Applicants are also excluded from participation in calls for proposals or the award of
financial support if, at the time of the call for proposals, they:
(g) are subject to a conflict of interests; the conflict of interests represents any
circumstances that may affect the evaluation or implementation process, in an
objective and impartial manner. Such circumstances may result from economic
interests, political or national preferences or family connections.
(h) are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the
Managing Authority/ Joint Secretariat as a condition of participation in the call for
proposals or fail to supply this information;
(i) have attempted to obtain confidential information or influence the evaluation
bodies during the evaluation process of current or previous calls for proposals
under the Programme;
In the cases referred to in points (a), (c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) above, the exclusion
applies for a period of two years from the time when the infringement is established.
In the cases referred to in points (b) and (e), the exclusion applies for a period of four
years from the date of notification of the judgment.
In the signed Declaration of eligibility included in the application form (Annex A.4),
applicants must declare that they do not fall into any of the above categories (a) to
(i).
The applicants must state their financial and administrative capacity to manage
their share of the project, namely:
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have the capacity to ensure their own contribution and the financing for noneligible expenditures of the project; they must also have the capacity to ensure
the temporary availability of funds until they are reimbursed by the programme.
The own contribution represents the share of the total eligible expenditure
that will be supported by the beneficiaries of the project;
The value of the own contribution of the applicant, the list of eligible expenditures
and the list of Ceilings for expenditure (Annex D to the present Guide, the prices are
calculated without VAT) must be followed when completing the budget of the project
in the Application Form. In case equipment is not on the list or beneficiary duly
justifies enhanced/superior technical specifications for an item, 3 offers or an
independent evaluation of the cost will be provided. Independent evaluations are to
be provided only in case of special items, where 3 offers cannot be provided. They
are provided by an expert, a person that has the know-how on that particular item.
The applicant should prove the absolute necessity of purchasing of equipment with
enhanced/superior parameters and to demonstrate how it will contribute to the
implementation of project activities and achievement of programme indicators. In
case the service which is going to be purchased is not following the list of ceilings,
the proposal to exceed the ceiling will be analyzed, when a proper and clear
justification is provided, as well as the related supporting documents (including 3
offers or an independent evaluation of the cost). The proposal will be analyzed and
will be subject to acceptance / rejection from the evaluators.
In case you do not submit the 3 offers to the evaluators (clarifications included, if
applicable), nor an independent evaluation, if the case, nor observe Annex D,
then the following consequences exist:
-for services: the entire amount for the service concerned will be deducted from
the budget
-for equipment: the evaluators will amend the budget with the price they consider
reasonable, according to their professional judgment.
Any non-eligible expenditure and any additional expenditure that may appear in the
implementation period of the project shall be covered by the applicants.
All applicants shall annex to the Application form the Declaration of Commitment
(Annex A.5) regarding the coverage of expenditures related to the project.
According to the Declaration of Commitment, the applicants shall:
- provide their own contribution to the eligible expenditure and ensure the
temporary availability of funds necessary to run the project until their
expenditures will be reimbursed;
- cover all non-eligible expenditures corresponding to their activities incurred
during project implementation;
- ensure that the representatives in the project management team are available
throughout the entire project implementation period;
- ensure the availability of all other resources planned to be used for
implementing the project, as they were described within the Application Form.
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The Managing Authority or the Joint Secretariat may demand at any time additional
documentary evidence and argumentations regarding financial capacity.
Examples of potential applicants for all three Priority axes (list is indicative,
not exhaustive):
Counties/ District Administrations;
Bodies governed by public law;
Cities/Communes/Municipalities;
Associations of local public authorities;
Chambers of Commerce/ SMEs associations;
Educational and research institutions (schools, universities etc.);
Ministries and their local/regional departments/bodies;
NGOs acting in the fields addressed by the present call
EGTCs.
Given the provisions of the General Regulation concerning the durability of
operations, the duration of an entity acting as beneficiary under this
programme, according to its legal establishing documents, should be at least 5
years from the final payment to the beneficiary.
All State Aid provisions must be observed! (see I.7 and sections dedicated to the
eligibility of actions II.2.ii)
ii. Eligibility of Actions
The project must be in line with the specific objective of the priority axis for which
the Lead Beneficiary applies.
The activities have to be implemented in the Programme eligible area. However,
in case a project has to be implemented partially outside the eligible area, it has
to prove that it is for the benefit of the programme area. The share of the costs
incurred outside of the eligible area (related to any activity or any category of
expenditure) shall be limited to 20% of the total eligible project budget,
irrespective of the location of the partner.
In order to avoid the risk of double financing the activities proposed must not be
financed by EU funded programmes or projects in Romania and Bulgaria. All State
Aid provisions must be observed for any type of action! (see I.7)
Please pay special attention to the types of actions marked with a * or **,
which were identified as being most susceptible to be subject of state aid
provisions!
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Soft projects: project which does not have an infrastructure/works component or


which does not grant more than half of its total eligible budget to purchase of
equipment
Hard projects: project which has an infrastructure/works component or which
grants more than half of its total eligible budget for the purchase of equipment
The feasibility studies or the equivalent technical documents shall be
prepared/updated with maximum 1,5 year before the expression of interest
submission date.
The types of indicative actions financed under each Priority axis and Investment
Priority, as well as projects duration and budget limits are described below:
Priority Axis 1 A well connected region:
Specific Objective 1.1
Improve the planning, development and coordination of
cross-border transport systems for better connections to TEN-T transport
networks
State aid: the funding of infrastructure that is not meant to be commercially
exploited is in principle excluded from the application of the State aid rules. This
concerns, for instance, infrastructure that is used for activities that the State
normally performs in the exercise of its public powers (for instance, military
facilities, air traffic control in airports, lighthouses and other equipment for the
needs of general navigation including on inland waterways, flood protection and low
water management in the public interest, police and customs) or that is not used for
offering goods or services on a market (for instance roads made available for free
public use). Such activities are not of an economic nature and consequently fall
outside the scope of the State aid rules, as does, accordingly, the public funding of
the related infrastructure4.
State aid: for the actions marked with * the following conditions must also be
observed:
* the operation and administration of the infrastructure are tendered
out/procured in accordance with the EU and national legislation respecting the
principle of open, transparent, non-discriminatory and unconditional procurement
* the royalty, for the leased infrastructure, must be established in an objective
and transparent manner in order to ensure that does not confer an economic
advantage, therefore the royalty must be proportional to the value of the leased
infrastructure
Indicative operations

4 According to Commission Notice on the notion of State aid, as referred to


in Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
(2016/C 262/01)
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1. Developing cross-border/joint action-based solutions,


strategies, feasibility studies, environment impact assessments
projects for public infrastructure (waterways, roads etc.)
secondary and tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure and to
time and optimising logistics;

2017

management plans,
etc., related to works
in order to connect
reduce transportation

2. Developing co-ordinated concepts, standards and tools on the cross-border level for
improved mobility services in the public interest (e.g. for disadvantaged groups, for
shrinking regions);
3. Facilitating active cooperation among the providers of traffic and travel
information and value added services in order to improve the local public transport in
the cross-border area and the connection between twin cities (e.g., harmonisation of
timetables, provision of bilingual information on cross-border timetables, operating
cross-border transport public services especially between twin cities);
4. Improving the cross-border secondary and tertiary nodes connections to TEN-T
infrastructure (e.g., improve/build bicycle routes, bicycle-sheds, construction and
modernization of road infrastructure)*
5. Setting up of joint traffic management for smart mobility in the cross-border area
(e.g. route guidance, incidents/emergencies detection and management, studies on
traffic flows, traffic safety measures, black-spot maps)
Types of outputs
Within the indicative operations different types of outputs can be obtained. Types of
outputs (without being limited to this list) can thus be:
o Joint solutions and strategies in order to connect secondary and tertiary nodes
to TEN-T infrastructure and to reduce transportation time and improve public
mobility services;
o Investments for the construction/modernization of road infrastructure,
(including) to improve the cross-border secondary and tertiary nodes
connections to TEN-T infrastructure.
Project duration
For soft projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 18 months from the
starting date of the project.
For hard projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 36 months from the
starting date of the project.
Project budget
For soft projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 200,000 Euro and 600,000 Euro.
For hard projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 1.000,000 Euro and 8,000,000 Euro. In case a entire new road is
constructed, the budget could go up to 10,000,000 Euro.
Please make sure you correlate the budget to the contribution to indicators. The
maximum limit is envisaged only for projects ensuring a major contribution to an
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indicator targeted by the call or for contribution to multiple indicators targeted by


the call.
Please note that only roads proving cross border impact and connecting secondary
or tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure (core or comprehensive) will be
financed!

Figure 1: Infrastructure map, including indicative secondary and tertiary nodes (indicative map)

Specific Objective 1.2Increase transport safety on waterways and maritime


transport routes
State aid: for the actions marked with * the following conditions must also be
observed:
*the beneficiaries may be only public bodies which have the right to declare a
service as a service of general economic interest and when applying for a
project, the service must be defined through a legal/administrative act as a
service of general economic interest;
the infrastructure for implementing the project has to be the property of the
public body, only the administration and services may be entrusted to an economic
operator through a public tender procedure, and only under the condition that the
economic operator pays a proportional market royalty to deliver this service) and
only in such manner that the rent for the infrastructure administration and the
royalty for service operation paid by the economic operator are at the market
price (e.g. if a ferry crossing point is developed, the public authority must be the
owner of the infrastructure-port and ferryboat- and the service of transferring
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passengers may be externalized to an economic operator, through a public tender


procedure, and only under the condition that the economic operator pays a market
royalty to deliver this service);

the beneficiary has the obligation to stipulate in the contract that all
renovation or reparation works must be supported by the economic operator to
who the contract is awarded.
The existence of state aid is excluded where the State acts by exercising public
power or where authorities emanating from the State act in their capacity as
public authorities. Any entity may be deemed to act by exercising public powers
where the activity in question is a task that forms part of the essential functions of
the State or is connected with those functions by its nature, its aim and the rules
to which it is subject. Generally speaking, unless the Member State concerned has
decided to introduce market mechanisms, activities that intrinsically form part of
the prerogatives of official authority and are performed by the State do not
constitute economic activities. Examples are activities related to: the army or the
police; air navigation safety and control; maritime traffic control and safety; antipollution surveillance and the organisation, financing and enforcement of prison
sentences.
Indicative operations
1. Exchanging experience: joint seminars, study visits, surveys and trainings leading to
implementation of new methods in order to maintain the navigability of the
Danube/Black Sea during winter as well.
2. Investing (infrastructure and equipment) in improved freight and passenger on river
and sea transport on cross-border level*;
3. Developing integrated plans and measures in order to improve the navigation
conditions for the common sector of the Danube and the Black Sea in the cross-border
area (e.g., joint feasibility studies, engineering planning documents, morphological
and hydrodynamic studies in establishing the sediment accumulation conditions etc.
on river regulation works, unify the reference system used in Romania and Bulgaria on
the Danube and introduce the River Information system, elaboration of maritime
spatial plans (MSP) for the Black Sea);
4. Developing and implementing joint co-ordinated strategies, tools and pilot
applications to improve the development of multimodal nodes and port services;
Types of outputs
Within the indicative operations different types of outputs can be obtained. Types of
outputs (without being limited to this list) can thus be:
o Integrated plans and measures in order to improve the navigation conditions;
o Joint co-ordinated strategies, tools and pilot applications;
o Investments to improve freight and passenger river and sea transport.
Project duration
o For soft projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 18 months
from the starting date of the project.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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o For hard projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 36 months
from the starting date of the project.
Project budget
For soft projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 200,000 Euro and 600,000 Euro.
For hard projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 1.000,000 Euro and 6,000,000 Euro.
Priority axis 2 - A green region
State aid: Please note that the costs for participation of undertakings in fairs are not
eligible.
State aid: for the actions marked with * the following conditions must also be
observed:
* The infrastructure is not designated to selectively favor a specific undertaking or
sector but provides benefits for society at large;
* Should not confer an indirect advantage (should not channel its secondary effects
towards identifiable undertakings or group of undertakings);
* Wide dissemination of common tourism products and services on a non-exclusive and
non-discriminatory basis. The tourism products/cultural events must not grant an
advantage in a selective way to certain undertakings or categories of undertakings,
therefore their must not contain any reference to a particular tour operator /some
tour operators

Specific Objective 2.1


To improve the sustainable use of natural heritage and
resources and cultural heritage
1. Preparing joint studies, strategies, joint management plans etc. in the field of
common preservation, development and utilisation of cultural/natural heritage
2. Modernizing/constructing roads to natural and cultural heritage interest points that
will be part of a cross-border tourism product*
3. Developing common tourism products and services based on the natural and
cultural heritage and joint promotion*
Types of outputs
Within the indicative operations different types of outputs can be obtained. Types of
outputs (without being limited to this list) can be:
o Joint studies, strategies, management plans to preserve, develop and promote
cultural/natural heritage;
o Common tourism products and services based on the sustainable joint
utilisation of the cultural/natural heritage;
o Investments in joint and sustainable touristic infrastructure and cultural
monuments to develop cultural/natural heritage.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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Project duration
o For soft projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 18 months
from the starting date of the project.
o For hard projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 36 months
from the starting date of the project.
Project budget
o For soft projects, the total financial support from the programme for one
project will range between 200,000 Euro and 600,000 Euro.
o For hard projects, the total financial support from the programme for one
project will range between 500,000 Euro and 1,000,000 Euro.
Obiectivul specific 2.1 Pentru a mbunti utilizarea durabil a patrimoniului i a resurselor
naturale i a patrimoniului cultural
1. Pregtirea de studii comune, strategii, planuri comune de management, etc., n domeniul
conservrii comune, dezvoltarea i utilizarea patrimoniului cultural / naturale
2. Modernizari / construcia de drumuri la punctele de interes ale patrimoniului natural i
cultural, care vor face parte dintr-un produs turistic transfrontalier *
3. Dezvoltarea de produse i servicii turistice comune, bazate pe patrimoniul natural i
cultural i promovarea n comun *
Tipuri de ieiri
n cadrul operaiunilor indicative pot fi obinute diferite tipuri de ie iri. Tipuri de ie iri (fr
a fi limitat la aceast list) pot fi:
o studii, strategii, planuri comune de management pentru conservarea, dezvoltarea i
promovarea patrimoniului cultural / natural;
o produse i servicii turistice comune, bazate pe utilizarea n comun durabil a patrimoniului
cultural / natural;
o Investiii n infrastructura turistic i culturale monumente comune i durabile pentru a
dezvolta patrimoniul cultural / natural.
durata proiectului
o Pentru proiectele "soft", durata unui proiect nu trebuie s dep easc 18 luni de la data de
ncepere a proiectului.
o Pentru proiectele "hard", durata unui proiect nu trebuie s dep easc 36 de luni de la data
de ncepere a proiectului.
Bugetul proiectului
o Pentru proiectele "soft", sprijinul financiar total din partea programului pentru un proiect va
varia intre 200.000 Euro si 600.000 Euro.
o Pentru proiectele "hard", sprijinul financiar total din partea programului pentru un proiect
va varia ntre 500.000 Euro i 1.000.000 Euro.

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Priority Axis 3 A safe region


Specific Objective 3.1

To improve joint risk management in the cross-border area

1. Increasing co-ordination and efficient reactions of the authorities in the emergency


situations caused by natural disasters (flood, fire, heat waves, earthquakes, storms),
as well as setting up common rules/legislation on deforesting and construction in the
areas affected by natural and anthropic hazards
2. Setting-up and integrating harmonized standards and systems for better forecasting
and managing natural and anthropic hazards in the CBC area (flood, earthquake, fire,
storms), including preparing/updating hazard maps and ecosystem-based solutions(for
floodplains, wetland preservation, forest management)
3. Setting up of harmonised integrated tools for risk prevention and mitigation
(including detection, early warning and alert systems, risk mapping and assessment) creation of joint structures for urgent, unexpected situations (including highly
specialized response units/civil protection modules), and development of small-scale
regional level cross-border infrastructure in the field of emergency preparedness (e.g.
transport accidents, disasters, etc.), including in cases of weather-related risks (such
as storms, extreme temperature events, forest fires, droughts, floods) and
geophysical risks (such as landslides, earthquakes).
4. Elaborating of joint detailed maps and data bases indicating natural and
technological risks, and land use for regional planning authorities, environmental
agencies and emergency services;
5. Exchanging experience and knowledge, including raising awareness in the field of
efficient risk prevention and management in the cross-border area (including training
and learning programmes, community-based training initiatives, bilingual maps,
information sheets, brochures about natural and anthropic hazards) targeted at
specific target groups (children/youth, development planners, emergency managers,
local government officials etc.)
6. Land improving for regions with high and medium hazard risk level, preferably by
nature-based ecosystem solutions (including: sanitation and reforestation of river
banks, building green infrastructure flood and coastal defences, building flood and
coastal defence (dikes, reservoirs), forestation/reforestation of non-permanent
vulnerable land to torrential formations, reducing desertification tendencies and high
drought risks, replanting floodplain forests) rainwater harvesting, reforestation)
7. Supporting and promoting cross-border investments into the green infrastructure
that helps reduce the risk and mitigate disasters (like systems for rainwater
harvesting, reforestation)
8. Measuring/monitoring environmental parameters that are important for early
warning and effective mitigation measures (e.g. emission levels, water purity, analysis
of soil and water samples etc.), through the purchasing of common equipment and
joint assessment of results.

Types of outputs
Within the indicative operations different types of outputs can be obtained. Types of
outputs (without being limited to this list) can thus be:
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o Common strategies for hazard management and risk prevention including joint
action plans;
o Joint partnerships created in the field of joint early warning and emergency
response;
o Action plans for disaster resilience and mitigation;
o Integrated and common standards for the urban planning and risk management
o Equipment in the field of environmental parameters monitoring, equipment in
the field of hazard management and disaster resilience;
o Awareness raising campaigns for the cross-border population on the hazards
and risk and on the measures for their mitigation, management, reduction;
o Exchanges of experiences.
Project duration
For soft projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 18 months from the
starting date of the project.
For hard projects, the duration of a project should not exceed 36 months from the
starting date of the project.
Project budget
For soft projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 200,000 Euro and 600,000 Euro.
For hard projects, the total financial support from the programme for one project
will range between 500,000 Euro and 1,000,000 Euro.
Please make sure you correlate the budget to the contribution to indicators. The
maximum limit is envisaged only for projects ensuring a major contribution to an
indicator targeted by the call or for contribution to multiple indicators targeted by
the call.

Rules applicable for all projects


Cooperation criteria
The projects must have direct CBC impact, which shall be understood in terms of
respecting at least joint development and joint implementation and,
additionally, one of the two: joint financing or joint staffing .
Additional points in the evaluation will be granted for respecting all four
cooperation criteria!
Joint development means that the project must be designed in common by
partners from both sides of the border. This means that project proposals should
integrate the ideas, priorities and actions of stakeholders on both sides of the
border. The Lead Beneficiary is the coordinator of this process but should
include other partners from the beginning of the development process. The joint
development shall be proved by each partner submitting Partnership
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Declarations.
Joint implementation means that activities must be carried out and
coordinated among partners on both sides of the border. It is not enough that
activities run in parallel. There must be clear content-based links between what
is happening on either side of the border and regular contact between the two
sides. The Lead Beneficiary is responsible for ensuring that activities are
properly coordinated, that schedules are kept and that the right quality levels
are achieved;
Joint staffing means that the project should not duplicate functions on either
side of the border. Therefore, regardless of where the person is located, there
should be one joint project manager, one joint financial manager etc., (of
course more staff may be required for larger projects). These staff will be
responsible for project activities on both sides of the border. The Lead
Beneficiary is generally the employer of core project staff;
Joint financing means that there will be only one contract per project and
therefore there must be one joint project budget. The budget should be divided
between partners according to the activities carried out. A project with 0 Euro
or very small financing from one side of the border cannot be considered as
having joint financing. There is also only one project bank account for the ERDF
contribution (held by the Lead Beneficiary) and payments representing EU
support are made from the programme to this account. The Lead Beneficiary is
responsible for administration and distribution of these funds and for reporting
on their use. Match-funding should come from both sides of the border and
illustrates the commitment by each partner to the joint project.
To be noted that according to article 12 from Regulation 1299/2013, operations
selected under cross-border cooperation shall involve beneficiaries from both
participating countries. An operation may be implemented in a single country,
provided that cross-border or transnational impacts and benefits are identified.
Applicable law
The projects must be in line with the relevant national and European legislation
(including that concerning equal opportunities, environmental protection and public
procurement). The project must observe the European legislation provisions on
information and publicity.
The project must include activities for information and publicity, according to
the European Commission Regulations and observing the Visual Identity Manual
of the Programme (published at www.interregrobg.com).
Programme/project financing
The ERDF will finance 85% of the eligible expenditure and the state budgets of the
two countries shall provide an additional 13% to public bodies and NGOs. 2%
represents own contribution of project partners. This means that every single cent
financed from the operation shall be reimbursed from these three sources, not that
part of the expenditures will be financed by ERDF and part from national cofinancing.

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Eligibility of Expenditure

There is one single list of eligible expenditures at Programme level (please


consult Annex E)
Only eligible costs can receive financial support. The categories of eligible
expenditures are detailed in Annex E. The beneficiaries shall also respect the
following conditions for eligibility of expenditure during preparation and
implementation of the project.
Conditions for eligible costs

is necessary for initiating and carrying out the project and must comply with the
principles of sound financial management, in particular value for money and costeffectiveness.

it does not exceed the ceiling set in the present Guide (Annex D). Please note
that the prices in the annex exclude the VAT, so in case your organization does not
recover the VAT you can add it in the prices budgeted for the project. In case one
item is not found in Annex D, the projects must submit evidence about the market
price of that particular item (either 3 offers from operators well-known on the
market print-screens from websites of such operators are accepted, prints from
national systems on public procurements are accepted - or an independent
evaluation of the cost of that particular item). In case of 3 offers, the budgeted
prices must not exceed the average value of the 3 offers (calculated at the
Inforeuro exchange rate from September 2016). In case equipment is not on the
list or beneficiary duly justifies enhanced/superior technical specifications for an
item, 3 offers or an independent evaluation of the cost will be provided. The
applicant should prove the absolute necessity of purchasing of equipment with
enhanced/superior parameters and to demonstrate how it will contribute to the
implementation of project activities and achievement of programme indicators. In
case the service which is going to be purchased is not following the list of
ceilings, the proposal to exceed the ceiling will be analyzed, provided a proper
and clear justification is provided, as well as the related supporting documents
(including 3 offers or an independent evaluation of the cost). The proposal will be
analyzed and will be subject to acceptance / rejection from the evaluators.
Annex D values will be periodically updated and during the implementation period
of the projects, the beneficiaries may use the updated version, provided the total
budget per category of expenditure is not exceeded.

is in line with the provisions of the subsidy contract, co-financing contracts /


national and European legislation;

the costs are definitively borne by the partner and would not have arisen without
the project.

Is paid out by the beneficiary the latest in 2 months after the project
implementation period, but no later than 31.12.2023 (but please note the
expenditures committed after the implementation period are not eligible, the
commitment for the expenditure must be made at the latest before the
finalization of the implementation period).

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the expenditure has actually been paid out. Expenditure is considered to be paid
when the amount is debited from the partner institution bank account. The date
when the invoice was issued, recorded or booked in the accounting system does
not count as a payment date.

is recorded in the beneficiaries accounts and tax documents, is identifiable and


verifiable, and is backed up by supporting documents;

is verified and validated as eligible by the first level controllers;

has not been subject to financing from other public funds;

Preparation costs are eligible if they are incurred between 01.01.2014 and expression
of interest submission date.
Preparation costs have to be requested for reimbursement at the first reimbursement
claim. Therefore, they have to be paid before requesting the first level control (for
the first reimbursement claim).
Preparation costs include: travel and accommodation costs related to meetings
between project beneficiaries, external expertise and services, feasibility study or
equivalent technical document, Cost Benefit Analysis, studies and costs for
documentation necessary to obtain the necessary endorsements and authorizations,
documentation concerning the urban planning plan, impact assessments, location
studies/appraisals, including their technical verification and shall be reimbursed as
real costs (support documents will be necessary).
Preparation costs are eligible in a 10% limit applied to the direct costs (Budget lines:
Travel and accommodation, External expertise and services, Equipment,
Infrastructure and works).
Implementation expenditures are eligible from the first day after approval of the
project by the Monitoring Committee on the phase two.
The Programme decided to use simplified costs flat rate on staff and office and
administrative costs. For details please consult both Annex List of Eligible
Expenditures and Annex Simplified costs).
Using this simplified cost option means that no justification, no supporting
documents will be requested by any Programme bodies for staff costs and office
and administrative costs.
All national legislation should be observed, regardless of using or not simplified
costs.
II.3. How to apply for funding
i. How to fill in the Expression of interest
The expression of interest is to be submitted via e-MS system accessible from the link:
http://ems-robg.mdrap.ro/app/main?execution=e1s1
The fields to be filled-in for the expression of interest are fields that will be part of
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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the application form in case the expression of interest is selected by the Monitoring
Committee for step 2 (the e-MS will link the expression of interest fields with the
application form).
Make sure you fill in the Expression of Interest fields correctly and completely, in
English.
In order to record an expression of interest in e-MS system, the lead applicant has to
follow the system procedure:

Select the call and apply

PART A Project Summary


A.1 Project identification
Select programme priority, specific objective and fill in information about project
title, project acronym, name of the Lead partner (beneficiary) and project duration.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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A.2 Project summary


Short overview of the project (in the style of a press release) describing:
-

the common challenge of the programme area you are jointly tackling in your
project;

the overall objective of the project and the expected change your project will
make to the current situation;

the main outputs you will produce and who will benefit from them;

the approach you plan to take and why is cross-border approach needed;

what is new/original about it.

For the expressions of interest the project indicative budget will also be mentioned in
this section.

PART B Project partners


In part B you should provide the details related to each of the project partners
(beneficiaries), according to the requirements of the system.

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For each partner (beneficiary):

Choose the partner role in the project (lead partner/project partner) and
fill in its name in native language and in English, the abbreviation and
the position of the Legal representative (only position in the
organization, not name).
The Lead Beneficiary is responsible for the implementation of the
entire project. The Lead beneficiary will be the addressee of the
entire correspondence during both phase 1 and 2 of the assessment
and during selection process. More information about the role and
tasks of the Lead Beneficiary are included in the draft contracts
annexed to this Applicant Pack.
For address section:

First choose a Nuts 0, Nuts 2 and Nuts 3 regions. In case the partner is
from outside the eligible area of the programme, thick the box From
all regions and then select the relevant option for Nuts 0, Nuts 2 and
Nuts 3 regions.
Fill in the relevant fields for street, number, postal code, City and web
page if the case.

For legal and financial information section:


Choose the Type of partner (legal status) relevant for the respective partner,
using the list available in the system.
In case the partner has a VAT number, fill it in the relevant box.
In case the partner doesnt have a VAT number, leave un-clicked the VAT
Number box and fill in Other National Identifying Number with your fiscal
code and mention in the Type of Identifying Number: fiscal code
Choose the partner VAT recovery option from no/yes/partly and, in case you
selected partly describe the VAT recovery.
For Legal Representative section:
Fill in the title, name, last name, email address and Phone Fax of the partners
legal representative.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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For Contact Person section:


Fill in the title, name, last name, email address and Phone Fax of the partners
contact person.
For Object of activity section - fill in the relevant information in the field.
For relevance of the beneficiary for the field addressed by the project section fill in the relevant information in the field.
For Previous EU financing experience section - fill in the relevant information in
the field.

All beneficiaries must fulfill the eligibility criteria described in Eligibility of


applicants section of the Applicants Guide!
Partnerships having at least 2 of project beneficiaries with previous average
weighted financial execution rates (also taking into consideration the last
approved value of their budgets) of less than 50% for projects financed under
Romania-Bulgaria CBC Programme 2007-2013 will not be accepted for financing!
This section can be modified in phase 2 only in case of unforeseen events and with
duly justification!
PART C Project description
C.1 Project relevance
C.1.1 What are the common territorial challenges that will be tackled by the project?
Please describe the relevance of your project for the programme area in terms of
common challenges and opportunities addressed.

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C.1.2 How does the project tackle the identified common challenges and/or
opportunities and what is new about the approach the project takes?
Please describe new solutions that will be developed during the project and/or
existing solutions that will be adopted and implemented during the project lifetime
and in what way the approach goes beyond existing practice in the
sector/programme area/participating countries.
C.1.3 Why is cross-border cooperation needed to achieve the projects objectives and
result?
Please explain why the project objectives cannot be efficiently reached acting only
on a national/regional/local level and/or describe what benefits the project
partners/target groups/ project area/programme area gain in taking a cross-border
approach.
C.1.4 Please select all cooperation criteria that apply to your project and describe
how you will fulfill them.
The proposal must respect the principles of Joint Development and Joint
Implementation. In addition, you should choose at least one of the following criteria
as well: Joint staffing or Joint financing. In the column Justification, you should
explain how the project meets the selected cooperation criteria.
Avoid answering the question with a simple, one-sentence answer (e.g. The project
proposal was developed by all project partners). You are advised to be more
convincing by describing what has been the exact role of each partner organization in
the project development. The same recommendation refers to the other cooperation
criteria as well.

Focus on your project's concept!


You have to demonstrate why the Romania-Bulgaria area needs your project, what
measurable and tangible change you want to achieve and why it matches the
objectives of Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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! Stick to the essence. Operational details are for the next round.
C.2 Project focus
C.2.1 Project objectives, expected results and main outputs
In this section you will have to explain how your project contributes to the
Programmes result and output indicators and to which ones.

Any further version of the same project proposal will not be considered as valid and
will not be assessed!
ii. How to fill in the Application Form and its Annexes
In case the expression of interest is accepted by the Monitoring Committee for phase
2 of the call, the application form is to be filled in and submitted via E-MS system.
The system will link your expression of interest with the application form (The project
id ROBG-XX will be identical in system).
Make sure you fill in correctly and completely, the application form and its annexes
and annex all related documents. The annexes are part of the Application Form.
Annexes not available as template in the E-MS must be submitted (scan version) using
the standard templates included in the Applicants Guide (pay particular attention to
observing the limit of characters imposed in the template of application formcharacter includes space, otherwise the system will not allow you to submit your
application form).
The application and its annexes must be filled in using English. The supporting
documents issued by national/local authorities or other bodies shall be attached (pdf)
in the original language accompanied by a translation in English (authorized
translations are not required!).
Where the format of the annexes requires, they should be signed and stamped by the
legal representative of the lead beneficiary or of the beneficiary to which the annex
refers (in case of annexes which should be annexed for each beneficiary) or by an
empowered person (a letter of empowerment will be attached) wherever this is
requested by the standard templates.
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You can watch at the link below tutorials on how to fill in the Application Form.
Please note that not all the fields were used in our application form, so some extra
fields may appear in the tutorial.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvYGVfGv4leEn2QC4ztZAFAwlCQztWGyY.
Please note that the Programme is using simplified costs for staff costs and
administrative costs.
All documents should be valid at the date of submission!
The Application Form will be filled in by the Lead Beneficiary. The Annexes are part of
the Application Form and must also be filled in and submitted in the attachments
section together with the Application form.
In order to record a full application in e-MS system, the Lead Beneficiary has to follow
the system procedure (will edit the expression of interest approved for phase 2).

ii.1. Application Form


PART A Project Summary
A.1 Project identification
Dates about project title, name of the Lead partner, project duration, priority axis,
and specific objective are to be provided.
A.2 Project summary
Short overview of the project (in the style of a press release describing):
-

the common challenge of the programme area you are jointly tackling in your
project;

the overall objective of the project and the expected change your project will
make to the current situation;

the main outputs you will produce and who will benefit from them;

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the approach you plan to take and why is cross-border approach needed;

what is new/original about it.

The information concerning A1 and A2 is already filled in in these fields for the
expression of interest approved for phase 2!
A.3 Project budget overview is automatically filled in by E-MS from part B and part
D

A.4 Project output indicators is automatically filled in by E-MS from part D

PART B Project partners


In part B you should provide the details related to each of the project partners
(beneficiaries), according to the requirements of the system.
E-MS will make available the information already filled in in these fields for the
expression of interest approved for phase 2.
This section can be modified in phase 2 only in case of unforeseen events and with
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duly justification!
In case you need to operate such changes, please refer to the indication above for
filling in Part B for the expression of interest.

PART C Project description


C.1 Project relevance e-MS will make available the information already filled in in
these fields for the expression of interest approved for phase 2. In case you need to
operate such changes, please refer to the indication above for filling in Part C.1 for
the expression of interest.

C.2 Project focus


C.2.1 Project objectives, expected results and main outputs e-MS will make
available the information already filled in in these fields for the expression of interest
approved for phase 2. In case you need to operate such changes, please refer to the
indication above for filling in Part C.1 for the expression of interest.

C.2.2 Target groups


*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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Target groups
(automatically
work plan)

inserted

from

Draft version

Please further specify the target groups (e.g.


bilingual elementary schools, environmental
experts, etc.).

2017

Target value
Please indicate the size
of the target group you
will reach.5

Target group type 1


Target group type 2
Target group type n

C.2.3 Durability of project outputs and results


How will the project ensure that project outputs and results have a lasting effect beyond project
duration?
Please describe concrete measures (including institutional structures, financial resources etc.) taken during and
after project implementation to ensure and/or strengthen the durability of the project outputs and results. If
relevant, explain who will be responsible and/or who will be the owner of results and outputs.

5 To avoid double counting of target groups, the quantification of the target groups reached had to be taken out of the work
plan section.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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C.3 Project context


C.3.1 How does the project contribute to the wider strategies and policies?
Please describe the projects contribution to relevant strategies and policies; in particular, those concerning the
project or programme area.

Indicate if the project contributes to the following strategies and describe in what way.6
EU 2020 Strategy
EU Strategy for the Danube Region
Blue Growth Strategy
Other
EU/national/regional/local
strategies/programmes/initiatives

C.3.2 What are the synergies with past or current EU and other projects or initiatives the project makes
use of?

Relevant strategies need to be listed; its usually only one macro regional or sea basin strategy per programme area.

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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C.4 Horizontal principles


Please indicate which type of contribution to horizontal principles applies to the project, and justify
the choice.
Horizontal principles

Type of contribution

Sustainable development

Drop-down list: neutral, positive


effects, negative effects

Equal opportunities and nondiscrimination

Drop-down list: neutral, positive


effects, negative effects

Equality
women

Drop-down list: neutral, positive


effects, negative effects

between

men

and

Description of the contribution

C.5 Work plan per work packages


*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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In order to record all the work packages the Lead Beneficiary has to follow the eMS procedure:

WP Nr

WP title

WP
month

Project preparation

MM.YYYY

start

WP
month

end

WP budget
Automatically
filled in from part
D or E

MM.YYYY

Partners involvement
Involved partners

Drop-down list

Summary description of activities carried out and contribution of each partner.

WP Nr

WP title

WP
month

Project management

Automatic
activities

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


www.interregrobg.eu

start
from

WP end month

WP budget

Automatic
activities

Automatically
filled in from

from

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part D or E

Partners involvement
WP responsible partner

Lead partner automatically inserted from Part B - Partners

Involved partners

Drop-down list

Describe how the management on the strategic and operational level will be carried out in the
project, specifically:
-

structure, responsibilities and procedures for the day-to-day management and co-ordination;

communication within the partnership;

reporting and evaluation procedures;

risk and quality management.

Please describe activities and deliverables within the work package.


Activity title
Activit
y 1.1

D 1.1.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 1.2

D 1.2.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 1.3

D 1.3.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 1.4

Activity description

D 1.4.1

Deliverable

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


www.interregrobg.eu

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
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month

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 1.5

D 1.5.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

WP Nr

WP title

WP
month

Communication activities

Automatic
activities

start

from

WP end month

WP budget

Automatic
activities

Automatically
filled in from
part D or E

from

Partners involvement
WP responsible partner

Drop-down list

Involved partners

Drop-down list

Project specific objectives

Communication objectives

Approach/Tactics

What can communications do to


reach
a
specific
project
objective?

How do you plan to reach your


target groups?

Specific objective 1
(Pre-filled from C.2.1)

Specific objective 2
(Pre-filled from C.2.1)

Specific objective 3
(Pre-filled from C.2.1)

Possibility to fill in 0 - 2 communication


objectives per project objective

Possibility to fill in 0 - 2 communication


objectives per project objective

Possibility to fill in 0 - 2 communication


objectives per project objective

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Please describe activities and deliverables within the work package.


Activity title
Activit
y 2.1

D 2.1.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 2.2

D 2.2.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 2.3

D 2.3.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 2.4

D 2.4.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 2.5

D 2.5.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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WP Nr

WP title

3-7

IMPLEMENTATION?

Draft version

WP
month
Automatic
activities

2017

start

from

WP end month

WP budget

Automatic
activities

Automatically
filled in from
part D or E

from

Partners involvement
WP responsible partner

Drop-down list

Involved partners

Drop-down list

Summary description and objective of the work package including explanation of how will
partners be involved (who will do what).

Please describe project main outputs that will be delivered based on the activities carried out in
this work package. For each project main output a programme output indicator should be chosen.
Please note that they need to have the same measurement unit.
Project main output7

Describe your project main


output

Quantify
your
contributio
n

Deliver
y
month

Choose
a
programme output
indicator to which
the project main
output
will
contribute

Main output 1

Number

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

Main output 2

Number

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

(500 characters)

Output 3.1
(automatic
numbering)

Output 3.2
(automatic
numbering)

Not every work package must/will have one or several project main outputs. Good guidance will be needed to instruct
projects on what to consider a project main output (an output that contributes directly to the project result) and what to
consider a deliverable (a side-product of the project that contributes to the project main output).
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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Output

(automatic
numbering)

Draft version

Main output n

Number

2017

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

Target groups involvement


Who will use the main outputs delivered in this
work package?

Drop-down list of pre-defined target groups (multiple


selection possible)

How will you involve target groups (and other


stakeholders) in the development of the project
main outputs?
Please describe activities and deliverables within the work package.
Activity title
Activit
y 3.1

D 3.1.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 3.2

D 3.2.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 3.3

D 3.3.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 3.4

D 3.4.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activit
y 3.5

Activity title

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Activity description
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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D 3.5.1

Draft version

2017

Deliverable

Target value

Delivery
month

(MM.YYYY)

WP Nr

Investment title8

WP
month
Automatic
activities

8-n

start

from

WP end month

WP budget

Automatic
activities

Automatically
filled in from
part D or E

from

Partners involvement
WP responsible partner

Drop-down list

Involved partners

Drop-down list

Summary description and objective of the work package including explanation of how will
partners be involved (who will do what).
Investment description including technical specification and quantification.

Justification
Explain the need for investment to achieve project objectives and results.
Describe clearly the cross-border relevance of the investment.
Describe who is benefiting (e.g. partners, regions, end-users etc.) from this investment and in what
way.
In case of pilot investment, please clarify which problem it tackles, which findings you expect from
it, how it can be replicated and how the experience coming from it will be used for the benefit of
the programme area.

8 Its either/or option with the section C.8 Investment.


*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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Location of the investment


Location of the physical investment; if possible a concrete
address where the investment will take place

Drop-down list (NUTS3 codes + whole programme area)

Risks associated with the investment


Description of the risks associated with the investment, go/no-go decisions, etc. (if any)

Investment documentation
Please list all technical requirements and permissions (e.g. building permits) required for the
investment according to the respective national legislation. In case they are already available
attach them to this application form, otherwise indicate when do you expect them to be available.

Ownership
Who owns the site where the investment is located?
Who will retain ownership of the investment at the end of the project?
Who will take care of maintenance of the investment? How will this be done?

Please describe project main outputs that will be delivered based on the activities carried out in
this work package. For each project main output a programme output indicator should be chosen.
Please note that they need to have the same measurement unit.
Project main output9

Describe your project main


output (500 characters)

Quantify
your
contributio
n

Deliver
y
month

Choose
a
programme output
indicator to which
the project main
output
will
contribute

Main output 1

Number

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

Main output 2

Number

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

Main output n

Number

MM.YYYY

Drop-down list

Output 8.1
(automatic
numbering)

Output 8.2
(automatic
numbering)

Output

(automatic
numbering)

Target groups involvement


Who will use the main outputs delivered in this
work package?

Drop-down list of pre-defined target groups (multiple


selection possible)

Not every work package must/will have one or several project main outputs. Good guidance will be needed to instruct
projects on what to consider a project main output (an output that contributes directly to the project result) and what to
consider a deliverable (a side-product of the project that contributes to the project main output).
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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How will you involve target groups (and other


stakeholders) in the development of the project
main outputs?
Please describe activities and deliverables within the work package.
Activity title
Activit
y 8.1

D 8.1.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 8.2

D 8.2.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 8.3

D 8.3.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 8.4

D 8.4.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

Activity title
Activit
y 8.5

D 8.5.1

Start month

End month

(MM.YYYY)

(MM.YYYY)

Target value

Delivery
month

Activity description

Deliverable

(MM.YYYY)

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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C.6 Activities outside (the Union part of) the programme area 10
If applicable, please list activities to be carried out outside (the Union part of) the programme
area. Describe how these activities will benefit the programme area.

Total budget of activities to be carried out outside (the Union part of) the
programme area (indicative)

EUR

ERDF outside (the Union part of) the programme


area (indicative)

EUR

% of total ERDF (indicative)

may be limited to 20%


(30%11)

manually inserted

manually inserted

10

All activities to be carried out outside the fund eligible area should be described (including activities by
partners located inside and partners located outside (the Union part of) the programme area). In line with Art 20
ETC Regulation, the benefits of any activity carried out outside (the Union part of) the programme area need to be
justified.

11

Applicable to programmes covering outermost regions.

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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C.7 Indicative time plan12 (automatically generated)


Period 1
Work packages
and activities

Month
1

Period 2
Month
2

Month
3

Month
4

Period 3
Month
5

Month
6

Month
7

Month
8

Month 9

WP 1 title
A 1.1 title
A 1.2 title

D.1.2.113

A 1.3 title
A 1.4 title
A 1.5 title

D.1.4.1
O1.1

WP 2 title
A 2.1 title
A 2.2 title
A 2.3 title
A 2.4 title
A 2.5 title
WP 3 title
Etc.

12

There are different options to show time: implementation month / calendar month / period / quarter of the

year.

13 In case a delivery date has been specified for deliverables (optional field), deliverables could also be shown in
the Gantt chart.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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C.8 Investments
Investment number

1-n

Title

Name of the investment

Description

Investment description including technical specification and quantification.

Justification

Explain the need for the investment to achieve project objectives and results.
Describe clearly the cross-border relevance of the investment.
Describe who is benefiting (e.g. partners, regions, end-users etc.) from this investment
and in what way.
In case of a pilot investment, please clarify which problem it tackles, which findings you
expect from it, how it can be replicated and how the experience coming from it will be
used for the benefit of the programme area.
Location of the physical investment; if possible a concrete address where the investment
will take place

Location

Drop-down list (NUTS3 codes + whole programme area)

Risks associated with the


investment

Description of the risks associated with the investment, go/no-go decisions, etc. (if any)

Start date

MM.YYYY

Delivery date

MM.YYYY

Investment documentation

Please list all technical specifications and permissions (e.g. building permits) required for
the investment according to the respective national legislation. If they are already
available, attach them to this Application Form; otherwise indicate when do you expect
them to be available.

(incl. specification
requirements)

and

Responsible partner

Drop-down list

Involved partners

Drop-down list

Ownership

Who owns the site where the investment is located?


Who will retain ownership of the investment at the end of the project?
Who will take care of maintenance of the investment? How will this be done?

WP nr or Activity nr

Drop-down list

Investment budget

EUR (manually inserted)

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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C.9 External expertise and services, Equipment 14


External
expertise
description

and

services

Please list the planned contracts with


external experts and service providers,
and describe their links to the project
activities.

WP nr
Drop-down
list

Contracting
partner
Drop-down list

Budget
(breakdown
indicative)
EUR

Small value contracts (below 20.000 EUR)


for the same type of service can be
grouped and described under one line.

Automatically filled
from PART D / PART E

Total

Equipment description
Please list and justify
equipment in the project.

Total

WP nr
the

use

of

Drop-down
list

Contracting
partner
Drop-down list

in

Budget
(breakdown
indicative)
EUR

Automatically filled
from PART D / PART E

in

Advance payments of the national co-financing (13%) will be granted in a


percentage established by each Members State, as follows: from national
cofinancing estimated at 60% for the Romanian beneficiaries (cofinancing
contracts will state the exact percent) and 80% for the Bulgarian beneficiaries
according to the exact percentage stated in the signed cofinancing contract. The
final payment of the national co-financing will be up to 40% (Romanian
beneficiaries) / 20 % (Bulgarian beneficiaries) depending on the total amount
absorbed under the project. The information will be inserted in the co-financing
contracts (and also published on Programme website and Facebook page of the
Programme, this information is presented here to allow you to perform a better
14 Programmes that use PART E as an obligatory part of the Application Form may decide that section C.9 is not relevant.
Information about planned contracts with external experts and service providers, as well as on equipment needed for the project
can be provided by each partner in table E.4.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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planning of your budget).


ii.2 Annexes to the Application Form
No legalization of documents or official translations is necessary!
All annexes duly filled in by each beneficiary (where this is required by the
template) will be scanned and will be submitted in electronic format in the E-MS
system!
In case more than 3 annexes to the Application Form are missing the project will
be rejected without further analysis! In case three or less annexes are missing clarifications may be requested, and if after clarifications 3 annexes are still
missing, the project will be rejected.
Annex 1 to the Application Form - Declaration of submission of the Application
Form
The format provided in Annex A.1 must be filled in, duly signed and stamped by the
legal representative of the Lead Beneficiary or by an empowered person (a letter of
empowerment and its translation in English, if the case, will be attached to the
Application Form in this case) and annexed to the Application Form.
There is no need to sign and stamp every single page of the documentation (just
where the format requires so, see below). The legal person takes the full
responsibility of everything submitted by signing this form!
Annexes 2 to the Application Form - Legal documents of the applicants
All legal documents of all beneficiaries and their English translation (if issued in other
language than English) must be copied and attached to the Application Form. Legal
documents of the applicants: documents proving the establishing of the project
partner entities (law, decree, government decision, statute, registration act, article
of association etc.) if the legal document is a law, government decision or any
similar very large document, please attach to the Application Form only the relevant
sections of the document.
Annex(es) 3 to the Application Form - Mandates of delegation from the legal
representatives of beneficiaries (in case the application form and annexed
declarations are not signed by the legal representatives of the Lead beneficiary /
beneficiaries) and English translation (if issued in other language than English) will be
annexed to the Application Form.
Annexes 4 to the Application Form - Declarations of Eligibility
The format provided in Annex A.4 will be filled in by each beneficiary, duly signed and
stamped by the legal representative of the Lead Beneficiary and beneficiaries or by
an empowered person (a letter of empowerment and English translation, if issued in
other language than English will be attached to the Application Form in this case) and
will be annexed to the Application Form.
Annexes 5 to the Application Form - Declarations of Commitment
The format provided in Annex A.5 will be filled in by each beneficiary, duly signed and
stamped by the legal representative of the Lead Beneficiary and beneficiaries or by
an empowered person (a letter of empowerment and English translation, if issued in
other language than English will be attached to the Application Form in this case) and
will be annexed to the Application Form. In case of participation of Bulgarian second
degree depositors, (e.g. District administrations for example), a letter of support to
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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the project from the respective first degree depositor to be requested, (e.g. Council
of Ministries for the given example). In case of participation of Bulgarian
municipalities a Decision of Municipal Council regarding the project development and
implementation has to be provided as well.
Annexes 6 to the Application Form - Partnership declarations
The format provided in Annex A.6 will be filled in by each beneficiary, duly signed and
stamped by the legal representative of the Lead Beneficiary and beneficiaries or by
an empowered person (a letter of empowerment and English translation, if issued in
other language than English will be attached to the Application Form in this case) and
will be annexed to the Application Form.
Annex 7 to the Application Form - Cost-Benefit Analysis (only for investment
projects)
Investment projects for which Cost-Benefit Analysis is required will be rejected
without further analysis in case the Cost-Benefit Analysis (Annex A.7) is not
included in the initial package of the Application Form!
The Cost-Benefit Analysis and English translation (if issued in other language than
English) will be annexed to the Application Form. For more explanation on filling in
the
Cost-Benefit
Analysis
please
also
see
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/cba_guide.pdf.
This annex is mandatory for all applications including infrastructure/investments
generating revenues as it is an evaluation instrument regarding the advantages of the
investments from the point of view of all interested target groups, on the basis of the
monetary values for all positive and negative consequences of the investment.
Important for Bulgarian applicants:
Cost benefit analysis is not required for investment projects related to risk prevention
and development of road infrastructure. Annex(es) 8 to the Application Form Documents certifying the right of property/ concession/ administration/ rent/
loan on the land and/or building and English translation (if issued in other language
than English) will be annexed to the Application Form.
Annex(es) 9 to the Application Form - Feasibility studies / equivalent technical
documents (only for investment projects) and English translation (if issued in other
language than English) will be annexed to the Application Form. For Romanian
beneficiaries it should be annexed: feasibility study for new investments/DALI plus
energy audit plus technical expertise for upgrading/reconstruction. For Bulgarian
beneficiaries it should be annexed: preliminary design (including estimation of bill of
quantities and values) or technical design.
In order to evaluate the technical characteristics of a new investment project, the
applicants must annex the feasibility studies or the equivalent technical documents
for the investment project to the application form. The elaboration and approval of
the feasibility studies or equivalent technical documents must observe the national
provisions in this matter (see Annex L Relevant national and EU legislation).
The Feasibility Study or equivalent technical documents should not have been
elaborated or updated more than 1,5 year before the expression of interest
submission date (the document must bear the date of elaboration/revision). If not,
Annex A.9 will be considered as missing, therefore the project will be rejected.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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However, this/these document/-s should be submitted as annex to the application


form and should be accompanied by the legal agreements and approvals. In case legal
agreements and approvals are not submitted together with the Feasibility
study/equivalent technical documents, Annex A.9 will be considered as missing,
therefore the project will be rejected.
The following documents must be provided after project selection, before project
contracting (during the pre-contractual phase).
Annex 10 to the Application Form - Urban planning permit (mandatory for
applications including infrastructure related activities only Romanian beneficiaries)
and English translation (if issued in other language than English) will be annexed to
the Application Form. Only Romanian beneficiaries have to submit the urban planning
permit.
Annex 11 to the Application Form - Environmental agreement (mandatory for
applications including infrastructure related activities) and English translation (if
issued in other language than English) will annexed to the Application Form.
The applicants must present an official statement/act from the competent
environment authority stating that the investment project either:
observes the legal provisions of environment protection (For Bulgarian
beneficiaries a letter from the competent body that a procedure under
chapter VI of Environmental Protection Act is not required) or
completed the first phase of the EIA procedure screening (For Bulgarian
beneficiaries the decision of the competent body for the necessity of carrying
out of Environmental Impact Assessment).
Annex 12 to the Application Form - Environmental Impact Report (mandatory for
applications including infrastructure related activities) and English translation (if
issued in other language than English) will be annexed to the Application Form.
For the applications which need a study containing data on the estimated impact on
the environment of the investment project as required by the national legislation, a
description of the projects impact on the environment must be submitted together
with the Application Form.
Annex 13 to the Application Form - Environmental Impact Study (for applications
including infrastructure related) and English translation (if issued in other language
than English) will be annexed to the Application Form. The Bulgarian beneficiaries
have to present the Environmental Impact Assessment (if necessary according the
Bulgarian legislation).
For the applications which need a study containing data on the estimated impact on
the environment of the investment project as required by the national legislation, the
submission of the document as annex to application form is not mandatory, but it
must be presented during the pre-contractual phase, if the project is selected for
funding.
iii.

How to submit the applications

The applications are submitted only via the E-MS system.


*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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The annexes are being uploaded into the system. Please make sure the size of each
document does not exceed 50 Mb per document.
iv. Deadline for receipt of applications
Expressions of interest (phase one) may be uploaded in the system at any moment
starting with the publication of the present Guide and until
Application forms (phase two) may be uploaded in the system for two months after
the publication on the programme website of the selected expressions of interest by
the Monitoring Committee until .
Projects uploaded in the E-MS system after the deadline will not be taken into
account.
II.4. Evaluation and Selection of Applications
The project evaluation and selection criteria prepared by the Managing Authority
together with the Bulgarian National Authority and the Joint Secretariat are approved
by the Monitoring Committee and are available to potential beneficiaries as annex to
the present Applicants Guide.
For Phase 1:
The assessment of expressions of interest is performed by the Joint Secretariat, after
the deadline set for phase 1 of the call.
In order to pass to phase 2 of the call, an expression of interest has to be first
selected by the Monitoring Committee. The expressions of interest are pre-ranked in
descending order according to the score awarded and are grouped into two
categories:
1. Expressions of interest proposed for selection for phase 2
2. Expressions of interest proposed for rejection
Subsequently, all Lead Beneficiaries will receive notification on the
selection/rejection of their expressions of interest and may appeal the decision of the
Monitoring Committee..
The complaints will be analyzed by a special committee appointed by the Monitoring
Committee, according to the procedure described in Annex G to the present Guide.
For phase 2:
The project evaluation is performed by the Joint Secretariat, with support from
external expertise for technical specific fields in which the JS does not already
possess the expertise.
The evaluators may request clarifications and/or additional documents to be
submitted by the applicant. During the process of evaluation of an application
maximum 3 requests for clarification can be submitted per project.
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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The evaluators shall be very clear in specifying what kind of information and/or
document they ask for and they will equally treat all the applications checked (all
applications with the same type of problem will be requested to clarify the issue in
the same manner).
The clarifications are sent by fax and e-mail (scan version) to the no./address
indicated in the application form/expression of interest.
Applicants will have maximum 5 working days but no less than 3 working days granted
to submit the requested information and/or documents, via the e-MS (change in the
application forms for parts of the application forms/ scanned documents uploaded for
annexes).
The projects evaluation shall be performed after the deadline, for the applications
submitted before the respective deadline.
In order to be considered for financing, the applications must respect the
administrative and eligibility criteria and receive at least 60 points at the technical
and financial evaluation. The 60 points represent a minimum condition and does not
guarantee the project selection, the Monitoring Committees decision takes into
consideration when deciding the list of selected project also the Programme status,
level of reaching indicators, absorption targets, and timeframe also. .
The projects are evaluated in the order they are received. In case a project has at
least 85 points as final score it goes immediately to the Monitoring Committee for
approval and, after observing the contracting procedure, the financing contracts
are signed.
The rest of the projects are proposed for financing when the evaluation is finalized,
according to the score received, in the limit of the available financing and after
analysis of Programme indicators, which may influence the selection process. At the
proposal of the Managing Authority, the Monitoring Committee may decide to create a
reserve list.
The projects are pre-ranked in descending order according to the score awarded and,
taking into consideration also the contribution to Programme indicators (output and
result), grouped into two categories:
1. projects proposed for financing;
2. projects proposed for rejection.
The contribution to Programme indicators (output and result) shall be taken into
consideration at selection.
After the pre-ranking, the projects are forwarded to the Monitoring Committee, which
selects the projects for financing and approves the list of rejected projects.
Subsequently, all Lead Beneficiaries will receive notification on the
approval/rejection of their projects and may appeal the decision of the Monitoring
Committee.
The complaints will be analyzed by a special committee appointed by the Monitoring
Committee, according to the procedure described in Annex G to the present Guide.
One beneficiary cannot simultaneously have more than four projects in
implementation. In case 5 projects are selected, the fifth one shall be put on a
reserve list (and could be contracted after the finalization of at least one of the
other projects, provided the Programme has the financial allocation available).
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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The decision of the Monitoring Committee is followed by the pre-contractual phase


and then the contracts will be concluded.
Since the focus on 2014-2020 period is on the results, please note that an analysis will
be performed at the selection moment when projects contribute to indicators (in
theory, by contracting) in a percent of at least 120% and when the financial indicators
from the Performance framework are secured (in theory, by contracting). Depending
on the analysis (performed at Programme level) the Monitoring Committee may
decide to stop contracting although the financial allocation was not reached.

Any attempt to obtain confidential information or to influence the evaluators


within the evaluation process will lead to your disqualification!
The clarifications provided in the evaluation phase cannot bring new elements
that would alter the initial content of the application form.
Any project proposal will be excluded in case it is proven that the evaluators are
seriously misled by false information provided by the applicant, that has being
taken into consideration in the evaluation process or if the evaluators were not
informed on issues that would have led to a different decision.
Please refrain from asking questions related to the expression of interest/project
evaluation, especially during the evaluation process. The communication is made
in the procedural framework, when requesting clarifications or when informing on
the results of the process.
Project evaluation and selection procedure
Phase 1
Expression of interest

Applicants appoint the Lead Beneficiary and start drafting the expression of interest

The applications must be filled in and submitted in e-MS system within the deadline specified for phase 1 of the call for p
e-MS submission

Assessment Working Group withing the Joint Secretariat


The expressions of interest are assessed by the assessment working group formed with JS staff

The expressions of interest are ranked according to the score and submitted to the Monitoring Committee of the Program
Monitoring Committee
Lead Beneficiaries can submit complaints after the Monitoring Decision is communicated.
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Phase 2

Application form and annexes


Beneficiaries appoint the Lead Beneficiary and start drafting the project (application and ann

The applications must be submitted in e-MS within the deadline specified for the second step of t
e-MS submission

The applications are assessed by the assessment working group formed with JS s
Assessment Working Group withing the Joint Secretariat

The applications are ranked according to the score and submitted to the Monitoring Committee of the Programme for decision. Lead Beneficiaries c
Monitoring Committee

Additional documents and information may be requested and verified by the JS or MA, on-the-spo
Pre-contractual phase

The ERDF contract is signed between the Lead Beneficiary and MA; separate co-financing contracts from state budgets are
Contracting

III. Pre-Contractual conditions


After the Monitoring Committee approves the projects, the JS notifies each Lead
Beneficiary if its project has been approved, or rejected.
The starting date for the eligibility of expenditures except the project preparation
expenditures (which are eligible starting with 1st of January 2014) is the first day
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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after approval of the project by the Monitoring Committee. Therefore, the day after
the project approval by the Monitoring Committee, the project can proceed with
expenditures (other than the ones for preparing the project). These expenditures will
be eligible from this date (subject to the MA signing of the contract with the related
final budget).
For the projects approved, the JS prepares the subsidy contracts (for ERDF
contribution), which are concluded between the MA and the Lead Beneficiary. The JS
also prepares the co-financing contracts, which are concluded between the Managing
Authority (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration from Romania)
and Romanian partners on the other hand. The National Authority (Ministry of Regional
Development and Public Works from Bulgaria) prepares co-financing contracts, which
are concluded between NA and Bulgarian partners.
Please bear in mind that the Managing Authority has the right to decide not to sign
a financing contract in case a Beneficiary already has in implementation 4
projects. After the finalization of one project the decision may be reconsidered,
provided the financial allocation is available.
Before signing the contracts, other documents may be requested by the JS/MA (e.g.
proof that there are no debts to the consolidated budgets or to the Programme
budget, proof that the VAT is non-recoverable from other sources etc.) and on-thespot visits may also take place. On-the-spot visits may be performed by the MA, NA,
JS and by any other body with responsibilities in the implementation of the
programme. All partners have the obligation to provide all necessary documents and
to be available for the on-the-spot visits in order for the contracts to be signed (e.g.
partnership agreement - see Annex J for model - must be presented to the MA/JS
before the signing of the contract). Please take into consideration that failure to
provide the requested documents within the set deadlines during pre-contracting
period will lead to the rejection of the project.
All partners in a project must sign a partnership agreement before the signing of the
subsidy contract with the MA that stipulates the rights and duties of the partners. A
model of partnership agreement is annexed to the present Guide. The partners may
decide, with prior agreement of the MA, to stipulate additional or more restrictive
provisions than those mentioned in the model partnership agreement.
A project may submit a reimbursement claim at any given time (the latest being at 5
months after the project is finalized), for one or more beneficiaries, the only
condition being that it is not lower than 5.000 euro ( see Project Implementation
Manual
available
at
http://www.interregrobg.eu/en/rules-ofimplementation/programme-rules/project-implementation-manual.html).
Progress reports will be submitted independently of reimbursement claims (once
every three months).
The schedule for submitting first level control claims is submitted in the precontractual phase (for each beneficiary).
Due attention is to be paid to the schedule, particularly to the amount set for the
middle of the implementation period (this sum will be mandatory to be
established and its planning is extremely important, since at the middle of the
implementation period, the Programme will analyse this particular amount, and
may decide to decommit funds from your project). The schedule of
reimbursement shall mention the amounts to be requested for reimbursement for
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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each beneficiary, according to the template provided by MA. At the half of the
implementation period (the execution at half on the implementation period is
mandatory to be mentioned in the schedule), the JS shall analyse the project
financial execution, as compared to the initial schedule. In case the project has a
financial execution lower than:
- 75%, a 10% decommitment will apply to the budget of the beneficiaries who have
not respected the initial schedule of reimbursement.
- 50%, a 25% decommitment will apply to the budget of the beneficiaries who have
not respected the initial schedule of reimbursement.
Also, considering the focus on the 2014-2020 period is on results, the same
approach shall be used for reaching the indicators. The JS shall analyse the
project contribution to indicators, as compared to the application form. In case
the project has reached:
- 75% (average at project level considering all indicators), a 10% decommitment
will apply to the budget of the beneficiaries.
- 50% (average at project level, considering all indicators), a 25% decommitment
will apply to the budget of the beneficiaries.
In case the JS analysis shows that the project did not contribute to the result
indicators (a non-quantifiable one) a 10% decommitment will apply to the budget
of the beneficiaries.
In case the JS analysis shows the project goal was not reached, the contract shall
be terminated.
In any of the abovementioned cases, the Lead Beneficiary will be granted a two
weeks deadline to submit a revised budget and in case such a budget is not
provided within the deadline, the decommitment will be applied proportionally to
all budgetary lines for the concerned beneficiaries. The Lead Beneficiary and its
beneficiaries may decide to stop implementing the project, but in this case all the
paid funds shall be reimbursed.
The subsidy contracts will be signed by MA and then sent to the Joint Secretariat.
The Lead Beneficiaries will be invited to the Joint Secretariat to sign the contract
until a certain deadline. In exceptional circumstances, the contracts may also be
submitted for signature via post. In this case, the LB has a 5 working days
deadline, from the receipt of the contacts, to submit the signed contract back to
the JS (stating the date of the signature on the contract), otherwise the MA may
decide to cancel the financing.
MA and NA decided to grant advance payments to beneficiaries in an amount of
60% for Romanian beneficiaries, respectively 80% for Bulgarian beneficiaries of
the signed national co-financing contracts.
The contracts annexed to this Guide are only indicative; the final version of all
contracts will be presented to the beneficiaries of the selected projects in the
pre-contractual phase.

IV. Annexes
Annex A. Application Form and its annexes
A.1.

Declaration of submission the application form.

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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Legal documents of the applicants

A. 3. Mandates of delegation (in case the application form is not signed by the
legal representative of the Lead Beneficiary)
A. 4.

Declarations of Eligibility

A. 5.

Declarations of Commitment

A. 6.

Partnership declarations

A. 7.

Cost-Benefit Analysis (if the case)

A. 8. Documents certifying the right of property/ concession/ administration/


rent/ loan on the land and/or building (if the case)
A. 9.

Feasibility studies / equivalent technical documents (if the case)

A. 10. Urban planning permit (if the case)


A. 11. Environmental agreement (if the case)
A. 12. Environmental Impact Report (if the case)
A. 13. Environmental Impact Study (if the case)
Annex B. Evaluation Expressions of Interest
Annex C. Evaluation Grids of the Application Form
Annex D. Ceilings for expenditures (the prices are calculated without VAT)
Annex E. List of eligible expenditures
Annex F. Simplified costs
Annex G. Complaint procedure for evaluation results
Annex H. Template Framework subsidy contract
Annex I1. Template Framework cofinancing contract for Romanian Beneficiaries
Annex I2. Template Framework monitoring agreement for Romanian Beneficiaries

Annex J. Template Partnership Agreement


Annex K. Programme methodology for result indicators
Annex L. Relevant national and EU legislation
Although we do not plan to, in case changes to the present Guide are necessary,
please note that we will use the following means of communication:
1. Announcement on the Programme website: www.interregrobg.eu
*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates
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2. Announcement
on
the
Programme
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RomaniaBulgariaCbcProgramme

2017

Page:

3. E-mail to the JS database


4. Also, you can send an e-mail to robg@mdrap.ro and MA will make sure you are
informed, directly to the e-mail indicated, to any corrigenda/material errors
on the present Guide.
We will use methods 3 and 4, but please rely on methods 1 and 2, since e-mail
dysfunctionalities may appear.
We wish all the potential beneficiaries best of luck! We rely on your proposals
to improve the eligible area according to the set objectives!

*common output indicator; **calculation basis for the flat rates


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