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Press release25 June 2014European Anti-Fraud Office

Hercule III programme for fighting fraud in Europe: Calls for proposals published today

25/06/2014

PRESS RELEASE No 10/2014
25 June 2014

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The European Commission published today three Calls for Proposals launched under the Hercule III Programme. The Calls encourage applications for financial support for actions aiming to protect the European Union’s financial interests. Supported actions will focus on preventing and combatting fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the EU budget. The financial support that can be given consists of grants covering up to 80% of the eligible costs of an action such as the purchase of technical equipment or the training of law enforcement staff. The overall amount available under these Calls is EUR 8.9 million.

The applications for funding that can be submitted concern different types of actions and beneficiaries:

The first Call for Proposals will support actions undertaken by national and regional administrations to strengthen their technical capacity to fight EU fraud (“Technical Assistance”). For example, applications can be submitted by customs authorities for the purchase of x-rays scanners used at the EU’s external borders to check containers and vehicles for the presence of smuggled tobacco products. Applications can also be made for the purchase and interconnection of Automated Number Plate Recognition Systems (ANPRS) that customs and police forces use for tracking suspected cars or trucks. Training, feeding and housing of sniffer dogs is another example for which financial support can be provided. The available budget for technical assistance grants is EUR 7.45 million and applications must be submitted by Monday, 1 September 2014, at the latest. A grant may cover up to 80% of the eligible costs of the action. In exceptional and duly justified cases set out in the Call, the grant may even cover up to 90% of the eligible costs.

The second Call for Proposals targets Universities and research institutes (“Legal Training”). Such institutions can submit applications for the organisation of conferences, seminars and studies concerning the prevention and deterrence of fraud in the EU. The available budget for legal training grants is EUR 550,000 and applications must be submitted by Monday, 8 September 2014 at the latest. A grant may cover up to 80% of the eligible costs of the action. In exceptional and duly justified cases, the grant may even cover up to 90% of the eligible costs.

The third Call for Proposals (“Training”) concerns the organisation of conferences and seminars for law enforcement staff, policy makers and academics to enable the exchange of information on best practices in the area of fraud prevention and the fight against EU fraud. Applications can be submitted by national and regional administrations as well as research institutes and universities. The available budget for the “Training” grants is EUR 900,000. A grant may cover up to 80% of the eligible costs of the action and applications must be submitted before Monday, 15 September 2014.

Each application submitted will be examined on the basis of the selection criteria mentioned in the three Calls.

Background:

Further information for applicants is available on the website of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) who is managing the Hercule III programme on behalf of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/funding/hercule-iii/index_en.htm

OLAF
The mission of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is threefold: it protects the financial interests of the European Union by investigating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities; it detects and investigates serious matters relating to the discharge of professional duties by members and staff of the EU institutions and bodies that could result in disciplinary or criminal proceedings; and it supports the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, in the development and implementation of anti-fraud legislation and policies.

For further details:
Alina BUREA
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 2 295 73 36
E-mail: olaf-mediaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud

Details

Publication date
25 June 2014
Author
European Anti-Fraud Office
News type
OLAF press release