Grants for Sustainable Development of the Prespa Lake Area (North Macedonia)

Deadline: 15-Aug-23

The European Commission (EC) is offering grants to address environmental, social or economic challenges identified by the local communities in the Prespa Lake area.

Objectives of the Programme and Priority Issues

• The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:
  • To enhance the participation and mobilisation of citizens and local communities in solving local problems
  • To support eco-friendly socio-economic development that will generate green job opportunities for young people and women
  • To improve cross-border exchanges and cooperation with neighbouring countries.
• The priorities of this call for proposal, consulted with local stakeholders in Resen in April 2023, are:
  • Priority 1: Conservation and valorisation of culture, natural and cultural heritage and values
  • Priority 2: Improving the offer of sustainable eco-friendly tourism
  • Priority 3: Enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation with Albania and Greece for the preservation and sustainable development of the Prespa Lake area

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1,470,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
• Size of grants
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
    • minimum amount: EUR 150,000
    • maximum amount: EUR 400,000
• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 18 months nor exceed 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant(s)
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person, and
    • be non-profit-making and
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary, and
    • be a specific type of institution or organisation such as:
      • Civil society organisations, including professional associations, farmers associations, chambers of commerce, chambers of crafts and trades and association of SMEs, etc.;
      • Central, regional and local government units (ministries, municipalities, departments, agencies) and agencies for local or regional development;
      • National parks management bodies and other organisations for nature protection;
      • Formal and non-formal education and training institutions (e.g. primary schools, VET schools, Universities, etc.) including research centers;
      • Cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, institutions for protection of cultural heritage, etc.;
      • Public enterprises and emergency services such as fire/emergency services.
• Co-applicant(s)
  • The lead applicant must act with at least one (1) co-applicant(s). Each grant application must include at least one co-applicant established in the Municipality of Resen. In addition, it is encouraged to include a co-applicant from one of the neighbouring countries (i.e. Albania or Greece).
  • Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action, and the costs they incur are eligible in the same way as those incurred by the lead applicant.
  • Co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant himself.
  • Co-applicants must sign the mandate form.
• Affiliated entities
  • The lead applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies).
  • Only the following entities may be considered as affiliated entities to the lead applicant and/or to co-applicant(s):
    • Only entities having a structural link with the applicants (i.e. the lead applicant or a co-applicant), in particular a legal or capital link.
    • This structural link encompasses mainly two notions:
      • Control on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings:
        • Entities affiliated to an applicant may hence be:
          • Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the applicant (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the applicant (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
          • Entities directly or indirectly controlling the applicant (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the applicant;
          • Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the applicant (sister companies).
      • Membership, i.e. the applicant is legally defined as a e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the applicant participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association,) as the proposed affiliated entities.

For more information, visit European Commission.