European Commission launches CFPs for Improving Expertise in the Field of Industrial Relations

Deadline: 15 July 2020

The European Commission is currently seeking proposals for improving expertise in the field of industrial relations.

The overarching objective of this call is to improve expertise and knowledge on industrial relations through analysis and research, at EU level as well as in comparative terms (identifying convergences and differences in the industrial relations systems in place in the EU Member States and in Candidate Countries), thereby contributing to developing and reinforcing quality and effectiveness of industrial relations structures and processes in the Member States and in Europe as a whole.

Topics

Topics of specific interest Actions that address the following themes will be particularly welcome:

• The role and contribution of industrial relations, including social dialogue at different levels
  • in responding to the major challenges and in seizing the opportunities related to the transition to a climate-neutral and digital economy, including artificial intelligence, as well as globalisation, demographic ageing and technological change;
  • to addressing the employment, social and economic challenges as identified in the European Pillar of Social Rights;
  • in the context of the European Semester and Economic and Monetary Union;
  • to reaching economic and social outcomes in terms of: economic growth and competitiveness; social inclusion and fairness; job creation, job retention and job quality;
  • to tackling the employment, social and economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis.
• Functioning and effects of coordination of collective bargaining across different levels and territories, including the role of collective bargaining systems in ensuring fair minimum wages for all workers in the European Union.

Types of Actions to be Funded

The following categories of actions are targeted:

• Activities to further deepen the analysis on topics/key findings that were examined in the European Commission’s Industrial Relations in Europe series and/or the chapters on social dialogue in Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Report;
• Research activities on industrial relations and social dialogue, such as studies, surveys and other forms of data collection, monitoring exercises, action research;
• Measures to enhance the collection and use of (comparative) information on industrial relations systems in EU Member States and Candidate Countries and on developments at European level;
• Initiatives to promote awareness of effective industrial relations practices, at both national and European level, including by bringing together relevant actors such as academia, social partners and policy makers;
• Measures to identify and exchange information in the area of industrial relations, including through the activities of networks between industrial relations parties and/or experts;
• Actions to disseminate such findings in publications, round tables, seminars, conferences, training measures and training tools.

Expected Results

Improved beneficiaries’ and concerned stakeholders’ expertise and knowledge on industrial relations through analysis and research, at EU level as well as in comparative terms in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Funding Information

• The total budget earmarked for the EU co-financing of projects under this call is estimated at EUR 4.150.389.
• The EU grant requested should indicatively be between EUR 150.000 and EUR 500.000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Legal entities properly established and registered in the following countries are eligible as single applicants or lead applicants:
  • EU Member States.
• Legal entities properly established and registered in the following countries are eligible as co-applicants, affiliated entities or associate organisations:
  • EU Member States;
  • Candidate Countries: Albania, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. In derogation from these requirements, international organisations whose registered headquarters are outside the eligible countries are also eligible.
• Types of entities
  • Single applicants
    • The single applicant must be an international organisation.
  • Consortia
    • Actions may involve consortia.
      • To be eligible as consortium, actions must include a lead applicant and at least one co-applicant.
      • Lead, co-applicant, affiliated entities and associate organisations must fall within one of the following categories: non-profit-making organisations such as universities and research institutes; social partners; public authorities; international organisations, European-level organisations.
      • The consortium must be composed of at least one non-profit-making university or research institute as lead or co-applicant. This requirement is not applicable if the lead applicant is an international organisation.
      • If the lead applicant is not a European-level or international organisation, it must be in a consortium with at least one organisation (co-applicant) from a different eligible country to that of the lead applicant.
      • Affiliated entities and associate organisations are eligible for consortia.
• Affiliated Entities
  • Affiliated entities may participate in the implementation of the action for consortia.
  • Legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, which is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation and which satisfy the eligibility criteria, may take part in the action as affiliated entities, and may declare eligible costs. For that purpose, applicants shall identify such affiliated entities in the application form
• Associate Organisations
  • Associate organisations are entitled to participate in consortia provided that their role and added value is clearly specified and demonstrated in the technical proposal. They may not declare eligible costs.

Geographical Location

To be eligible, actions must be fully carried out in the Member States of the European Union or the Candidate Countries. This applies equally to activities carried out by International Organisations. However, in duly justified circumstances, project management costs incurred in the headquarters of International Organisations established outside the EU Member States or outside the candidate countries could be considered eligible.

For more information, visit https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=629&langId=en&callId=598&furtherCalls=yes