VAPRO

The Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) has published a new consultative guideline for the state aid scheme: Regional development stimulation through investments for processing and marketing of agricultural products to obtain non-agricultural products and the minims scheme: Support for consulting services needed for the implementation of the investments projects for processing and marketing of agricultural products to obtain non-agricultural products. The documents can be consulted here.

We present further details regarding these financing lines, for the private sector:

The State aid scheme GBER: Regional development stimulation through investments for processing and marketing of agricultural products to obtain non-agricultural products.

• Type of investments to be financed: Constructions, extension and endowment of processing units from food industry; Purchase of new equipment, installations and specialized transportation vehicles.
• Grant awarded: up to 500.000 euro.
• Financing rate: up to 50% of eligible expenses.

The minims scheme: Support for consulting services needed for the implementation of the investments projects for processing and marketing of agricultural products to obtain non-agricultural products.

• Grant awarded: up to 000 euro representing consultancy expenditure of an investment project for processing agricultural products.
• Financing rate: up to 100% of the consultancy eligible expenses.

The Ministry of European Funds presented in the press conference held yesterday, 4^th February 2016, the updated calendar of the launches of calls for projects for POCU, POC and POR for 2016.

Below you can find the foreseen launching date for some of the most important project calls:

Calls within Human Capital Operational Programme (POCU):

Axis 1 and 2:

• Employment and training measures for young NEETs – March;
• Measures in the field of entrepreneurship for young people – March;

Axis 3:

• SO 3.1-3.6 – Measures for employment and training for unemployed people, persons from rural area and Roma people – October;
• SO 3.7 – Supporting of entrepreneurship, including in creative fields – March;
• SO 3.8 and 3.9 – Human resources management and outplacement – December;
• SO 3.12 – Training for employees – September;

Axis 4:

• SO 4.1 and 4.2 – Reducing the number of people in risk of poverty and social exclusion (Roma and non-Roma) – March and May;
• SO 4.8 and 4.9 –Training for people from medical field and screening activities – starting with March;

Axis 6:

• SO 6.1 – “Second chance” programmes – March;
• SO 6.2 – 6.6 – Reducing early school leaving phenomenon – March;
• SO 6.11 and 6.12 – Sustaining the participation to initial and continuous training – July;
• SO 6.7 – 6.10 – Sustaining the participation to university and non-university tertiary education (scholarships etc.) – July;

Within Competiveness Operational Programme (POC):

• Action 113 – Section H – Creating synergies to RDI actions of the framework program HORIZON 2020 of EU and other RDI international programs – launch in the first trimester of 2016
• Actions: 111 Section A – Investments for RD departments of companies, Section B – Innovative clusters, Section C – Investments projects for RD/universities public institutions and SO 1.3. Technological project – will be launched during the year.

In the case of Regional Operational Programme (POR) almost the entire available allocation (about 95%) is going to be launched for contracting in 2016, through 33 calls for proposals.

The complete calendar can be accessed here.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Achim Irimescu announced in the press conference held yesterday that the launch of the first calls for agricultural projects will be opened starting with March 2016:

• Sub measure 4.1 Investments in agricultural holdings

Type of investments to be financed: Construction, extension, modernization and endowment of constructions from livestock or vegetal farms etc.
Grant awarded: up to 2.000.000 euro. Financing rate: up to 90% of eligible expenses.

• Sub measure 4.1.a Investments in fruit-growing holdings

Type of investments to be financed: modernization of fruit-growing farms, reconversion of fruit plantations, modernization of fruit nurseries, storage systems etc.
Grant awarded: up to 1.050.000 euro. Financing rate: up to 90% of eligible expenses.

• Sub measure 4.2 Support for investments in processing / marketing and / or development of agricultural products

Type of investments to be financed: Setting-up, extension and / or modernization and endowment of processing units, including investments in products’ marketing (e.g. labeling, packaging), local networks of collection, reception, storage, conditioning, selection and packaging capacity etc.
Grant awarded: up to 2.500.000 euro. Financing rate: up to 50% of eligible expenses.

• Sub measure 4.2.a Support for investments in processing / marketing of products in the fruit-growing sector

Type of investments to be financed: Setting-up, extension and / or modernization of processing units for raw material in the fruit-growing sector, mobile processing units / local networks for collection, reception, storage, conditioning, selection and packaging; Purchasing of new machinery, installations, equipment and specialized transportation.
Grant awarded: up to 1.500.000 euro. Financing rate: up to 50% of eligible expenses.

• The minims scheme: Support for consulting services in the investments projects implementation for processing and marketing of agricultural products to obtain non-agricultural products.

Grant awarded: up to 200.000 euro representing consultancy expenditure of an investment project in the processing of agricultural products.

The European Commision, DG Communication, through the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has opened the project submission session for “Europe for Citizens” 2014-2020 program.
The main objectives of the program: to contribute to citizens’ understanding of the Union, its history and diversity and to foster European citizenship and to improve conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level.
The total program allocation: 185.468.000 euro (for 2014-2020 period).

The program has 2 components for NGOs, different associations, education/research institutions:

Component 1: European remembrance:
Project type: projects reflecting on causes of totalitarian regimes in Europe, commemorate the victims of their crimes and other defining moments and reference points in recent European history (tolerance, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation).
Eligible Beneficiaries/Partners: public local/regional authorities or non-profit organizations, including civil society organizations, and cultural.
Partners: A project must involve organizations from at least 1 member state.
Maximum eligible grant for a project: 100.000 euro.
Maximum project duration: 18 months. 

Component 2: Democratic engagement and civic participation (Measure: Civil Society Projects):
Project type: Promotion of societal engagement and solidarity (debates/campaigns/actions on the themes of common interest), gathering of opinions of the citizens on topics of common interest, volunteering (promoting solidarity among Union citizens).
Eligible Beneficiaries/Partners: non-profit organizations, including civil society organizations, educational, cultural or research institutions.
Partners: A project must involve organizations from at least 3 eligible countries of which at least one is an EU Member State.
Maximum eligible grant for a project: 150.000 euro.
Maximum project duration: 18 months.

Deadline for submission of financing applications: 1^st of March 2016.

Ministry of European Funds – Directorate for Human Capital Operational Programme, published for consultation the Applicant’s Guide – Specific Conditions of the call for proposals “Training of staff involved in the implementation of priority health programs”.

• The specific objective pursued in this investment priority aims at: “Improving skills of professionals in the health sector”;
• Eligible beneficiaries: Ministry of Health/ public authorities (including public health authorities, institutes and medical institutions) alone or in partnership with relevant stakeholders (universities, NGOs, etc.);
• Eligible target group: specialists in providing medical care;
• Project value: maximum 5.000.000 euro;
• Maximum project/projects implementation period: 36 months, but not later than 31st December 2023.

All questions related to the Applicant’s Guide – Specific Conditions and also proposals and suggestions for improvement can be submitted until November 26th, 2015 by email at: consultare.pocu@fonduri-ue.ro.