12 - PARTNERS LOCATED IN THIRD COUNTRIES

Can a public or private body located outside the Programme eligible area, including countries outside the EU, apply as project partner in the framework of the 1st Calls for Proposal of the Programme? If yes, may this subject be the project leader or a simple partner as the lead applicant should be only a subject located within the Programme eligible area?

It is not allowed for institutions located outside the Programme area (other than Assimilated Partners) or in third countries to participate as Lead Partner or Project Partners in a project proposal submitted in the framework of the 1st Set of Calls for Proposals. On the contrary, activities implemented by the Lead Partner and Project Partners outside the Programme area - including the participation in missions, study visits and events – can be accepted only in exceptional and duly justified cases. The following requirements must be respected:

They are for the benefit of the regions of the Programme area;
They are essential for the implementation of the project;
They are explicitly foreseen in the Application Form or, if not, have been previously authorized by the MA/JS.
It is warmly recommended to limit as much as possible the organisation of the project’s meetings, events and seminars outside the Programme area, as they have to be under the ceiling of 20% ERDF of the Project’s budget. Such activities and related project expenditure should be detailed in a dedicated field of the Application Form (Section H – Activities outside the Programme area).

According to article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 and to the INTERREG V A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme, the MA/JS must closely monitor all activities located outside the Union part of the Programme area, both at the application and at the implementation phase.