SECTION 2

The Commission shall issue calls for proposals for indirect actions in accordance with the requirements laid down in the relevant specific programmes and work programmes, which may include calls targeted at special groups such as SMEs. In addition to the publicity specified in the Implementing Rules, the Commission shall publish calls for proposals on the Internet pages of the Seventh Framework Programme, through specific information channels, and at the national contact points set up by the Member States and the associated countries. Where appropriate, the Commission shall specify in the call for proposals that the participants need not establish a consortium agreement. Calls for proposals shall have clear objectives so as to ensure that applicants do not respond needlessly. The Commission shall not issue calls for proposals for the following: coordination and support actions to be carried out by legal entities identified in the specific programmes or in the work programmes when the specific programme permits the work programmes to identify beneficiaries, in accordance with the Implementing Rules; coordination and support actions consisting of a purchase of goods or services subject to the rules on public procurement set out in the Financial Regulation; coordination and support actions relating to the appointment of independent experts; other actions, where so provided by the Financial Regulation or the Implementing Rules. The Commission shall evaluate all the proposals submitted in response to a call for proposals on the basis of the principles for evaluation, and the selection and award criteria set out in the specific programme and the work programme. The following criteria shall apply for the ‘Cooperation’ and ‘Capacities’ Programmes: scientific and/or technological excellence, relevance to the objectives of these specific programmes, the potential impact through the development, dissemination and use of project results, the quality and efficiency of the implementation and management. The following criteria shall apply for the ‘People’ Programme: scientific and/or technological excellence, relevance to the objectives of this specific programme, quality and implementation capacity of the applicants (researchers/organisations) and their potential for further progress, quality of the proposed activity in scientific training and/or transfer of knowledge. For support for ‘frontier’ research actions under the ‘Ideas’ Programme the sole criterion of excellence shall apply. For coordination and support actions, project-related criteria may apply. Within this framework the work programmes shall specify the evaluation and selection criteria and may add additional requirements, weightings and thresholds, or set out further details on the application of the criteria. A proposal which contravenes fundamental ethical principles or which does not fulfil the conditions set out in the specific programme, the work programme or in the call for proposals shall not be selected. Such a proposal may be excluded from the evaluation, selection and award procedures at any time. Proposals shall be ranked according to the evaluation results. Funding decisions shall be made on the basis of this ranking. Where a call for proposals specifies a two-step evaluation procedure, only those proposals that pass the first step, based on the evaluation against a limited set of criteria, shall go forward for further evaluation. Where a call for proposals specifies a two-stage submission procedure, only those applicants whose proposals pass the evaluation for the first stage shall be requested to submit a complete proposal in the second stage. All applicants shall be swiftly informed of the results of the first-stage evaluation. The Commission shall adopt and publish rules governing the procedure for the submission of proposals, as well as the related evaluation, selection and award procedures and publish guides for applicants including guidelines for evaluators. In particular, it shall lay down detailed rules for the two-stage submission procedure (including as regards the scope and nature of the first-stage proposal as well as those of the complete second-stage proposal), and rules for the two-step evaluation procedure. The Commission shall provide information and set out redress procedures for applicants. The Commission shall adopt and publish rules to ensure consistent verification of the existence and legal status of participants in indirect actions as well as their financial capacity. The Commission shall refrain from renewing such verification unless the situation of the participant concerned has changed. The Commission shall appoint independent experts to assist with evaluations of proposals. For coordination and support actions, referred to in Article 14, independent experts shall be appointed only if the Commission deems it appropriate. Independent experts shall be chosen on the basis of skills and knowledge appropriate to the tasks assigned to them. In cases where independent experts will have to deal with classified information, the appropriate security clearance shall be required before appointment. Independent experts shall be identified and selected on the basis of calls for applications from individuals and calls addressed to relevant organisations such as national research agencies, research institutions or enterprises with a view to establishing lists of suitable candidates. The Commission may, if deemed appropriate, select any individual with the appropriate skills from outside the lists. Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure reasonable gender balance when appointing groups of independent experts. For ‘frontier’ research projects, experts shall be appointed by the Commission on the basis of a proposal from the Scientific Council of the European Research Council. When appointing an independent expert, the Commission shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the expert is not faced with a conflict of interests in relation to the matter on which the expert is required to provide an opinion. The Commission shall adopt a model appointment letter, hereinafter ‘the appointment letter’, which shall include a declaration that the independent expert has no conflict of interest at the time of appointment and that he undertakes to inform the Commission if any conflict of interest should arise in the course of providing his opinion or carrying out his duties. The Commission shall conclude an appointment letter between the Community and each independent expert. The Commission shall publish once a year in any appropriate medium the list of the independent experts that have assisted it for the Seventh Framework Programme and each specific programme. The participants shall implement the indirect action and shall take all necessary and reasonable measures to that end. Participants in the same indirect action shall implement the work jointly and severally towards the Community. The Commission shall draw up, on the basis of the model provided for in Article 19(8) and taking into account the characteristics of the funding scheme concerned, a grant agreement between the Community and the participants. Participants shall make no commitments incompatible with the grant agreement. Where a participant fails to comply with its obligations regarding the technical implementation of the indirect action, the other participants shall comply with the grant agreement without any complementary Community contribution unless the Commission expressly relieves them of that obligation. If the implementation of an action becomes impossible or if the participants fail to implement it, the Commission shall ensure the termination of the action. Participants shall ensure that the Commission is informed of any event which might affect the implementation of the indirect action or the interests of the Community. Where provided for in the grant agreement, the participants may subcontract certain elements of the work to be carried out to third parties. The Commission shall set out redress procedures for participants. The grant agreement shall establish the rights and obligations of the participants with regard to the Community, in accordance with Decision No 1982/2006/EC, this Regulation, the Financial Regulation, and the Implementing Rules, and in accordance with the general principles of Community law. It shall also establish, in accordance with the same conditions, the rights and obligations of legal entities who become participants when the indirect action is ongoing. Where appropriate, the grant agreement shall specify which part of the Community financial contribution will be based on the reimbursement of eligible costs, and which part will be based on flat rates (including scale of unit costs) or lump-sums. The grant agreement shall specify which changes in the composition of the consortium are to require the prior publication of a competitive call. The grant agreement shall require the submission to the Commission of periodic progress reports concerning the implementation of the indirect action concerned. Where appropriate, the grant agreement may provide that the Commission is to be notified in advance of any intended transfer of ownership of foreground to a third party. Where the grant agreement requires participants to carry out activities that benefit third parties, the participants shall advertise this widely and identify, evaluate and select third parties transparently, fairly and impartially. If provided for in the work programme, the grant agreement shall establish criteria for the selection of such third parties. The Commission reserves the right to object to the selection of the third parties. The grant agreement may lay down time-limits for participants to give the various notifications referred to in this Regulation. The Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member States, establish a model grant agreement in accordance with this Regulation. If a significant modification of the model grant agreement proves necessary, the Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member States, revise it as appropriate. The model grant agreement shall reflect the general principles laid down in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. It shall address, as appropriate, synergies with education at all levels; readiness and capacity to foster dialogue and debate on scientific issues and research results with a broad public beyond the research community; activities to increase the participation and role of women in research; and activities addressing socio-economic aspects of the research. The model grant agreement shall provide for supervision and financial control by the Commission or any representative authorised by it, and the Court of Auditors. The grant agreement shall establish the respective rights and obligations of the participants with regard to access rights, use and dissemination, in so far as those rights and obligations have not been laid down in this Regulation. For those purposes, it shall require the submission to the Commission of a plan for the use and dissemination of foreground. The grant agreement may specify the conditions under which the participants may object to a technological audit of the use and dissemination of the foreground being carried out by certain authorised representatives of the Commission. The grant agreement shall specify the grounds for its termination, in whole or in part, in particular for non-compliance with this Regulation, non-performance or breach, as well as the consequences for participants of any non-compliance on the part of another participant. In the case of indirect actions to support existing research infrastructures and, where applicable, new research infrastructures, the grant agreement may lay down specific provisions relating to confidentiality, publicity and access rights and commitments that might affect users of the infrastructure. In the case of indirect actions to support training and career development of researchers, the grant agreement may lay down specific provisions on confidentiality, access rights and commitments relating to the researchers benefiting from the action. In the case of indirect actions in the field of security research, the grant agreement may lay down specific provisions in particular on changes to the consortium's composition, confidentiality, classification of information and information to Member States, dissemination, access rights, transfer of ownership of foreground and the use thereof. Where appropriate, the grant agreement for indirect actions addressing security issues, other than those referred to in paragraph 3, may also include such specific provisions. In the case of ‘frontier’ research actions, the grant agreement may lay down specific provisions relating to dissemination. The grant agreement shall enter into force upon signature by the coordinator and the Commission. It shall apply to each participant that has formally acceded thereto. Save where otherwise provided in the call for proposals, all participants in an indirect action shall conclude an agreement, hereinafter ‘the consortium agreement’, to govern inter alia the following: the internal organisation of the consortium; the distribution of the Community financial contribution; rules on dissemination, use and access rights, additional to those in Chapter III and to the provisions in the grant agreement; the settlement of internal disputes including cases of abuse of power; liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements between the participants. The Commission shall establish and publish guidelines on the main issues that may be addressed by participants in their consortium agreements, including provisions on promoting the participation of SMEs. The legal entities wishing to participate in an indirect action shall appoint one of their number to act as coordinator to carry out the following tasks in accordance with this Regulation, the Financial Regulation, the Implementing Rules, and the grant agreement: to monitor the compliance by participants in the indirect action with their obligations; to verify whether the legal entities identified in the grant agreement complete the necessary formalities for accession to the grant agreement; to receive the Community financial contribution and to distribute it in accordance with the consortium and grant agreement; to keep the records and financial accounts relevant for the Community financial contribution and to inform the Commission of its distribution in accordance with Articles 24(1), point (b) and 36; to be intermediary for efficient and correct communication between the participants and to report regularly to the participants and to the Commission on the progress of the project. The coordinator shall be identified in the grant agreement. The appointment of a new coordinator shall require the written approval of the Commission. The participants in an indirect action may agree to add a new participant or to remove an existing participant in accordance with the respective provisions in the consortium agreement. Any legal entity which joins an ongoing action shall accede to the grant agreement. In specific cases, where provided for in the grant agreement, the consortium shall publish a competitive call and advertise it widely using specific information support, particularly Internet sites on the Seventh Framework Programme, the specialist press and brochures, and the national contact points set up by the Member States and associated countries for information and support. The consortium shall evaluate offers in the light of the criteria which governed the initial action and with the assistance of independent experts appointed by the consortium, in accordance with the principles laid down in Articles 15 and 17 respectively. The consortium shall notify any proposed change of its composition to the Commission, which may object within 45 days of the notification. Changes in the composition of the consortium associated with proposals for other changes to the grant agreement which are not directly related to the change in composition shall be subject to written approval by the Commission. The Commission shall monitor the implementation of indirect actions on the basis of the periodic progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 19(4). In particular, the Commission shall monitor the implementation of the plan for the use and dissemination of foreground, submitted pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 20(1). For those purposes, the Commission may be assisted by independent experts appointed in accordance with Article 17. The Commission shall set up and maintain an information system allowing for this monitoring to take place in an efficient and coherent manner across the Seventh Framework Programme. Subject to Article 3, the Commission shall publish information on the funded projects in any appropriate medium. The monitoring and evaluation referred to in Article 7 of Decision No 1982/2006/EC shall include aspects relating to the application of this Regulation, in particular aspects relevant for SMEs, and shall address the budgetary impact of the changes in the cost calculation regime as compared to the Sixth Framework Programme and its effects on the administrative burden for participants. The Commission shall appoint, in accordance with Article 17, independent experts to assist with evaluations required under the Seventh Framework Programme and its specific programmes, and, as deemed necessary, for the evaluation of previous Framework Programmes. In addition, the Commission may set up groups of independent experts appointed in accordance with Article 17, to advise on the design and implementation of Community research policy. Having due regard to Article 3, the Commission shall, upon request, make available to any Member State or associated country any useful information in its possession on foreground arising from work carried out in the context of an indirect action, provided that the following conditions are met: the information concerned is relevant to public policy; the participants have not provided sound and sufficient reasons for withholding the information concerned. Under no circumstances shall the provision of information pursuant to paragraph 1 be deemed to transfer to the recipient any rights or obligations of the Commission or of the participants. However, the recipient shall treat any such information as confidential unless it becomes public or is made available publicly by the participants, or unless it was communicated to the Commission without restrictions concerning confidentiality.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.