Archives: April 2009

Support is available under PROGRESS to activities to promote diversity and eradicate discrimination in the implementation of national policy and legislation. Projects may take the form of training activities; awareness-raising
events; identification analysis; or dissemination of good practices.
Deadline: 25 May
Contact: Niall McCutcheon/ Deirdre Ni Neill, Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform
http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=1907&langId=en

The European Commission, DG for Energy & Transport, is launching a call for proposals under FP7 Energy and the Intelligent Energy Europe programme to award grants for preparatory actions relating to sustainable energy on islands. Actions to define, develop and implement medium to long-term Island Sustainable Energy Actions Plans(ISEAPs) for the applicant islands; development of a set of ready-to-finance and bankable investment projects based on renewable energy sources/energy efficiency (RES/EE); and public relations campaigns to involve residents in their island's strategy may be considered for support.
Deadline: 29 May
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/sustainable/grants/doc/2009/2009_tren-prep-2009-d3-islands.pdf

This DG Enterprise grant action under the Competitiveness & Innovation Programme aims to support networks of destinations at local and regional level so as to create a favourable framework for tourism sustainability. This is to be achieved by improving cooperation on relevant issues through tourism networks, increasing the level of awareness of enterprises about good practices, and fostering sustainabilitydriven innovation in the tourism sector.
Deadline: 20 May
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=2599&userservice_id=1&request.id=0

The LIFE+ 2009 call for proposals will be published on 15 May. This programme supports the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation relating to the 6th Environmental Action Programme and incorporates components relating to nature & biodiversity, policy & governance and information & communication. The upper value on his call is EUR250 million.

The 2009 applications package will be made available when the call is published. However, there are unlikely to be significant changes with respect to the 2008 call, so potential applicants can begin preparing their applications using last year's guidance.

A National Information Day will take place in Dublin on 29 May. This will be mainly aimed at newcomers to the programme who are considering preparing a proposal or at those who have been unsuccessful previously. Contact Vanina Dubois, lifeie@mwhglobal.com to secure a place.

Deadline for submitting proposals to the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government: 15 September
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus/call/index.htm

The 2009 call for 'Intelligent Energy - Europe' under the Competitiveness & Innovation Programme is providing EUR65 million to co-finance non-technology projects to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transport across 4 strands:
- SAVE (Energy-efficient buildings and products);
- ALTENER (electricity from renewable energy sources; renewable energy heating/cooling; small-scale renewable energy applications in buildings; biofuels);
- STEER (alternative fuels and clean energy-efficient vehicles; energy-efficient transport; capacity-building in transport for existing local and regional agencies);
- Integrated activities (networking for local action; sustainable energy communities; bio-business; energy services; intelligent energy of higher education teachers).

Later this year, the IEE financial facility for cities will be operational under the European Investment Bank and the Commission and will provide EUR15 million for local or regional authorities including those adhering to the Covenant of Mayors Initiative with the commitment to contribute to the objective of the EU sustainable energy policy, i.e. to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020. It will strengthen the potential of such authorities to obtain large scale loans (e.g. from the EIB) by providing technical assistance to develop bankable projects or investment programmes, notably in the fields of urban sustainable energy,buildings and urban transport.

Deadline: 25 June
Call text and 2009 Work Programme:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/call_library_en.htm

Almost EUR1 billion of financing is available for European transport infrastructure projects in three separate work programmes under the 2009 Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Calls for Proposals, launched on 31 March. This includes a EUR500 million allocation as part of the Commission's European Economic Recovery Plan, with the aim of stimulating economic demand in construction and other sectors by accelerating investments which can be largely implemented during 2009-2010.

Additionally, there will be funding opportunities under the TEN-T Multi-Annual Programme, with priorities including 'Motorways of the Sea' freight routes, Intelligent Transport Systems integrating information and communications technology for road safety, and harmonised rail signalling systems. The complementary TEN-T Annual Programme includes EUR60 million in loan guarantees. Proposals will be evaluated on their relevance to TEN-T priorities and policy objectives, their impact - particularly on the environment -and their completeness, clarity, soundness and coherence.

Deadline: 15 May
http://ec.europa.eu/tentea