Description
Approximately 80% of the EU budget under direct management is disbursed through grants and procurement. For Commission officials, mastering these channels is a core operational requirement; for external applicants, it is the key to securing funding. This guide details the strict competitive procedures designed to ensure transparency and value for money, shifting the focus from “free money” to highly regulated co-financing and service delivery.
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Grants vs. Procurement: A comparative analysis of the two channels—grants co-finance external policy actions (supporting the beneficiary), while procurement purchases goods and services for the Commission’s own needs (the Commission as client).
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The Grant Lifecycle: A 10-stage timeline from Programming and Call Publication through to Evaluation Summary Reports (ESR), implementation monitoring, and formal audit/closure.
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Writing for the Evaluator: Tactical advice on delivering “CLEAR” (Structured, Responsive, Self-Contained) proposals, emphasizing that evaluators typically read 10–20 proposals per session and score only what is explicitly visible.
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The Three Evaluation Pillars: Mastering the Horizon Europe model of scoring: Excellence (clarity/novelty), Impact (quantified benefits), and Implementation (work plan/budget). Relentless Quantification: Replacing vague adjectives with verifiable data (e.g., “TRL 7,” “15% emissions reduction”) to build credibility and meet scoring criteria.
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Budget Design: Strategies for ensuring the budget is “the work plan in numbers,” matching person-months to Gantt charts and travel lines to planned meetings.
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Consortium Building: Principles for assembling partners based on complementarity and geographic balance rather than existing friendships.
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Procurement Procedures: Navigating the thresholds for Open, Restricted, and Negotiated procedures, and the legal weight of the “Equal Treatment” principle.
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Drafting Terms of Reference (ToR): A section-by-section guide to writing ToRs that “write the evaluation for you” by defining specific, measurable objectives and weighted award criteria.
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Contract Management: Operational duties including the 30-day payment rule, handling amendments, and managing underperformance through penalty clauses.
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Funding & Tenders Portal: Technical tips for the single electronic platform, including the “Submit 24 hours early” rule to avoid server-load rejection.