|
- This is a call for submission of projects, in particular
by consumer organisations and independent public bodies,
to promote the interests of the consumers within the
framework of the implementation of Article 2(c) of Decision
No 283/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of theCouncil
of 25 January 1999 establishing a general framework
for Community activities in favour of consumers. Consumer
projects from EFTA/EEA States can also receive co-funding.
- Any natural or legal person or association of natural
persons that acts independently of industry and commerce,
in particular consumer organisations and appropriate
independent public bodies, interested in submitting
project proposals in the subject areas under point 2
of this call, is/are invited to carefully examine the
assessment criteria and the procedures for submission,
selection and approval of projects set out in this call.
- In defining the criteria for the selection of specific
projects, and in selecting the specific projects to
be funded, the Commission shall be assisted by a committee
of advisory nature composed of the representatives of
the Member States and chaired by the representative
of the Commission (see Article 9 of Decision No 283/1999/EC).
SPECIFIC PROJECT PROPOSALS
- Within the context of Article 4 of Decision No 283/1999/EC,
laying down the specific areas which theactions providing
financial support will concern, the Commission invites
proposals for projects in the subject areas listed below.
The projects presented under each subject area should
be consistent with the objectives and priorities established
in the new consumer policy strategy (2). A separate
notice has been published concerning financial support
for the activities of European consumer organisations
in 2003 to assist them in fulfilling their special role
of promoting consumer interests at European level. This
is one of the main ways of promoting a stronger consumer
voice through Community funding.
Under this principal policy objective the Commission
also supports specific projects presented by national
or regional consumer organisations.
Subject 1: Product safety
Description
Projects submitted under this heading should establish
networks between consumer associations in different
Member States with the aim of exchanging know-how and
of setting up joint programmes to assess the safety
of consumer products by inspection and/or testing, for
the following product categories:
- toys,
- electrical products,
- sport equipment,
- playground equipment,
- lighters.
The projects should be designed in a way that will promote
the dissemination of best practice and of technical
expertise.
Objectives
- To help consumer organisations in all Member States
to raise their level of expertise and to benefit from
the experience of other associations.
- To provide information regarding the safety of specific
products.
Subject 2: Labelling and quality marks
Description
Theconsume r should beableto choose a product with full
knowledge of the facts. Labelling and the quality marks
are essential instruments for this information. They
can give very important information on the composition
of a product, its safety and its quality. Labelling
may or may not be obligatory, and be more or less complex.
Their comprehensibility, legibility and reliability
also varies substantially. Projects submitted under
this heading should investigate existing labels and/or
quality marks and/or trustmarks for non-food products
and for services and appraise them in terms of legibility,
comprehensibility and accuracy.
Objectives
Information on existing labels and information they
provide on non-food product contents, health, safety
and other warnings, nutritional information, trustmarks,
quality marks.
- Identification and evaluation of the information provided
by labels in the market and on use and abuseof labels
or marks.
- Reflection on what consumers require in terms of content,
legibility, etc. for labels and marks.
Subject
3: Consumer law
Description
Assuring a proper involvement of consumer organisations
in EU policy making is one of the three key objectives
of the Commission's consumer policy strategy for 2002-2004.
Consumer organisations require expertise in a broad
range of technical and legal issues if they are to make
an effective input into the policy making process. Not
least, they require a thorough knowledge of existing
EU consumer law and how this relates to national legislation,
what is thepractical impact of legislation for consumers,
as well as an understanding of emerging issues in this
area. Proposed projects should be designed to establish
networks of legal experts, covering as many Member States
as possible, which can provide legal support to consumer
organisations in their efforts to influence EU policies.
Objectives
- To prepare position papers and to help consumer organisations
prepare their input in various EU consultation forums
(advisory committees, hearings etc.).
- To analyse EU policy proposals and contribute to the
response of consumer organisations to the proposals.
Subject 4: Participation of consumer representatives/
organisations in international forums in order to promote
European consumer interests
Description
It is increasingly necessary that European consumers
are able to make their views known in international
forums that deal with issues of direct interest to consumers.
This requires networking, expertise on the substance
of the issues under discussion as well as expertise
in the techniques of consumer advocacy and representation.
Objectives
- To increase the effectiveness of the promotion of
consumer interests at international level.
- To enhance the ability of consumer representatives
to cooperate effectively internationally.
- To make possible early exchanges of view and discussion
of possiblecommon positions.
|
-
Financial support may be granted to any natural or legal
person or association of natural persons that acts independently
of industry and commerce and is actually responsible for
the implementation of the projects, where the main objectives
of these projects are to promote and protect the interests
and health of consumers.
- The financial support for specific projects shall be
granted on the basis of the description of the project,
submitted according to the application procedures .A detailed
project timetable must be attached to the application.
The Commission reserves the right to reject such proposals
that do not respect the minimum information requirements
as laid down in the application form. This concerns in
particular the request for a detailed breakdown of proposed
project costs and a one-page project summary submitted
according to the instructions in theapplication form.
- Actions in progress or completed at the date of publication,
projects for research or studies, are not eligible.
- Community funding will be exclusively in the form of
a financial contribution, theamount of which will be determined
as a percentage of the estimated expenditure which the
beneficiary intends to actually use for the implementation
of the project; this amount may not in principle exceed
50 %.
- The beneficiary will give a commitment to ensure co-funding
of the project selected and will keep specific detailed
accounts for the project in question.
- On completion of the project, the beneficiary must submit
a statement of expenditure and revenue arising from the
project and thefinal amount of theCommunity contribution
will be calculated applying the percentage established,
bearing in mind actual expenditure and any other revenue
used directly for project implementation.
- The implementation of the project must commence in 2003
and be completed by 30 November 2004.
- Payments in kind may not cover more than 20 % of the
expenditure.
- No funding will be given for operating expenses, except
where these are directly related to the proposed project. |
