Successful project
proposals
Daniel von Hugo
Evaluation Manager, R1 - INEA
2014 CEF Transport Calls Info Days
Brussels, 10 October 2014
Overview
• The Application Form
• Preparing successful proposals
• Specificities for Cohesion Countries
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Overview
• The Application Form
• Preparing successful proposals
• Specificities for Cohesion Countries
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
3
Application form A
• Essential information on the applicants (general)
and the proposal (content and finance) to be
encoded online in the TENtec electronic tool
• Includes Form A2.2 that requires signature of
the applicants and Form A2.3 for Member State
validation
• Start early, save frequently
• Allows for access and editing by more than one
person
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Application form B
• Administrative information on applicants and
information on the operational and financial
capacity
• Some categories of applicants do not need to
demonstrate their operational and financial
capacity (Member States, third countries, public
bodies established in the EU)
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Application form C
• Collects information to allow the assessment of
compliance with EU law
 Environmental protection (e.g. EIA, Natura 2000,
Water Framework Directive, consultation with
environmental authorities) and requires declaration
by relevant environmental authorities
 State aid
 Public procurement
 Other sources of EU financing
 Transport mode specific law (i.e. on interoperability)
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Application form D
• Technical information describing the proposed
Action and its activities in detail
• Structure reflects the four blocks of Award
Criteria
• Should provide all information needed by the
technical experts and the Commission for a fair
and comprehensive evaluation of the proposal
• Cannot exceed 40 pages
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Overview
• The Application Form
• Preparing successful proposals
• Specificities for Cohesion Countries
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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General CEF funding characteristics
• Competitive call for proposals, only high
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quality proposals will receive funding
Funding is awarded to specific actions only
and cannot be transferred to other actions
Not meeting objectives or deliverables is
likely to cause reduction of funding
Limited scope for extending the lifetime of an
action
"Use it or lose it" principle
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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How to improve your proposal
• Anticipate competition and oversubscription
• Read the work programme, call text and
Guide for Applicants very carefully
• Take available guidelines seriously,
especially on formal, selection and award
criteria
• Use the application check list & consult
the FAQ regularly for updates
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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How to improve your proposal
• Start early (especially for MS endorsement,
compliance with EU law and multi-applicant
proposals)
• Pay attention to each question, they may not
seem important to you, but they are for
evaluators (project management, risk
assessment, communication, etc.)
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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How to improve your proposal
• Provide enough detail
 Objectives and the means to achieve these
 Realistic planning & reliable financial data
 Elaborate and explain on each question, avoid
mere statements
• Do a consistency check of the financial tables,
double check formatting of decimals
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How to improve your proposal
• Re-read your proposal and ask yourself
 Is it clear and does it cover all points the
evaluators need to know?
 Does it make the case for why it should
receive EU funding above others?
• Do not submit by mistake Part A based on MS
Word, only submit the eSubmission print out!
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Overview
• The Application Form
• Preparing successful proposals
• Specificities for Cohesion Countries
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Cohesion Fund allocation
Funding Objective 4
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Indicative allocations* €4 billion
Core Network Corridors: €3.2 billion
Other sections of the Core Network: €400 million
ERTMS: €100 million
Innovation: €130 million
Safe and secure infrastructure: €70 million
Motorways of the Sea: €100 million
*includes Programme Support Actions
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Cohesion Fund allocation
Funding Objective 4
• Member States eligible for the Cohesion Fund:
PT, CY, MT, EL, RO, BG, HU, HR, SI, CZ, SL, PL, LT,
LV, EE
• Theoretical maximum co-financing rate 85% (except
for reducing rail freight noise, freight transport
services & secure parking on the road network 20%)
• Actual maximum co-financing rates according to
national Operational Programmes for the Cohesion
Fund (currently still under discussion)
CEF Transport Info Day – 9-10 October 2014
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Cohesion Fund allocation
Funding Objective 4
• Multi-applicant proposals with other Member States
require separate applications, but should be crossreferenced to be evaluated jointly
• Derogation for proposals under Priority Motorways of
the Sea from eligibility for proposals with only two
applicants of which one is from a country eligible to
the Cohesion Fund
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Cohesion Fund allocation
Funding Objective 4
• CBA is required for works proposals and should be
according to Cohesion Fund CBA methodology
• Cohesion Fund rules for eligible costs apply:
 Land purchase is an eligible cost under specific
conditions
 VAT is an eligible cost except recoverable VAT
under national VAT legislation
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In case of questions
2014 CEF Transport call helpdesk:
INEA-CEF-transport-calls-2014@ec.europa.eu
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