Important Documents
- Lifelong Learning Programme Guide - Part I – General Provisions
- Explanations on the actions - ERASMUS Academic Networks
The programme is open to:
- the 27 EU Member States
- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
- Turkey, Croatia
- Switzerland
Third countries
However, projects and networks are at liberty in their applications to make a case for including partners from other countries where the organisations concerned have demonstrably important expertise to share with their European counterparts. In all instances the involvement of partners from third countries must be justified in terms of the value added to experience within the European countries participating in the programme.
Eligibility period
The period of eligibility for costs and activities starts and finishes on the dates indicated in the Grant Agreement. Under no circumstances can the eligibility period for costs and activities start before the date for submission of the grant application.
Financial capacity
For grants exceeding EUR 750.000:
- an audit report produced by an approved external auditor certifying the accounts for the last financial year available
Financial Provisions
- Reimbursement of a percentage of eligible costs: the applicant will define his expenditure in terms of real costs (where maximum eligible rates may apply). European Union financing will be calculated by applying a percentage to real eligible expenditure. The contribution will be reduced pro rata if, at final reporting stage, the project is not fulfilled or is only partially fulfilled or funds have been spent on ineligible expense items. Where the reported costs are less than foreseen, the contribution will be reduced by applying the percentage fixed in the Grant Agreement.
- Applicants from countries outside the Euro zone must use the conversion rates published in the Official Journal of the EU, series C, on the date of publication of the Call for proposals. (p 41)
Applicants shall base the project budget:
- on real daily staff cost rates. Under no circumstances may these exceed the maximum rates indicated in Table 5a below. Any excess amount will be considered as ineligible. The veracity of these costs may be the subject of an audit;
- on real daily subsistence rates. Under no circumstances may these exceed the maximum rates indicated in Table 5b below. Any surplus will be considered as ineligible;
- on real costs with regard to other categories of cost, as indicated in the application form.
Eligible costs
The following criteria apply to the cost category for which the cost is estimated and either the associated number of units (which will lead to the estimated cost applying the appropriate formula) or the estimated cost as such.
- They must relate to activities involving countries that are eligible to participate in the programme. Any costs relating to activities undertaken outside these countries or by organisations that are not registered in an eligible country are not eligible unless they are necessary for the completion of the project and duly explained and justified in the application form.
- They must be actually incurred by the beneficiary and members of the consortium and be recorded in their accounts in accordance with the applicable accounting
principles, and be declared in accordance with the requirements of the applicable tax and social legislation; - This means no "in kind" contributions.
- VAT is eligible only if it is not recoverable under the applicable national VAT legislation. The only exception relates to activities or transactions in which states, regional and local government authorities and other public bodies engage as public authorities.
Non-eligible Costs
- exchange losses
- costs declared by the applicant and covered by another action or work programme receiving a European Union grant or any other source of funding
- costs associated with the preparation of the application for the Lifelong Learning Programme;
• costs of opening and operating bank accounts (costs of transferring funds are eligible);
Eligible Indirect Costs
The eligible indirect costs are those costs which, with due regard for the conditions of eligibility described above, are neither identifiable as specific costs directly linked to the project nor can be booked to it directly, but which have nevertheless been incurred in the management of the project. They may not include any eligible direct costs.
The indirect costs of the project eligible for EC funding are a flat-rate amount set at a maximum of 7% of the total amount of eligible direct costs. The corresponding costs need not be justified by accounting documents. Indirect costs shall not be eligible under a project grant awarded to a beneficiary organisation which is already receiving an operating grant from the Commission during the period in question.
Examples of indirect costs are:
- All costs for equipment related to the administration of the project (i.e. PC's, portables, etc.)
- Communication costs (postage, fax, telephone, mailing, etc.)
- Infrastructure costs (rent, electricity, etc.) of the premises where the project is being carried out
- Office supplies
- Photocopies