Commission Decision of 19 June 2008 concerning the financial contribution by the Community, for the year 2008, towards pilot projects and preparatory actions in the field of animal welfare (2008/466/EC)

ANNEX U.K.

Domain: Food safety, animal health and welfare and zootechnics

I. Preparatory Action under budget line 17 04 03 03 U.K.

Legal basis: Article 49(6) point (b) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002

1. Criteria for applicants U.K.

Applications will be restricted to the following target organisations: consortium of partners covering at least:

• one competent authority of a Member State of the EU in charge of the approval of control posts according to Regulation (EC) No 1255/1997,

• one research group specialised at least on applied farm animal welfare sciences, and

• one NGO internationally active for animal welfare in at least the EU.

2. Selection criteria U.K.

• Financial capacity of the applicant

  Applicants must show that they have the financial capacity to carry out the operation to be financed.

  Applicants must provide evidence of availability of the own resources needed, to complement the co-financing of the Community required.

• Technical and professional capacity of the applicant

  Applicants must have the technical capacity and the professional capability to carry out the action to be financed. They must provide evidence of their knowledge and experience in the field of animal related infrastructure and animal transport operations. They should provide certification and descriptions of projects and activities undertaken in the last three years and more particularly of projects related to the relevant issue. They must provide detailed curriculum vitae of each member of the team and demonstrate the managerial capabilities of the project director and manager, including his or her educational background, degrees and diplomas, professional experience, research work and publications.

  Applicants must demonstrate that national competent authorities in the Member States and organisations applying for the action are committed to the objectives of the project and to support the principle of introducing a certification scheme for control posts which is to be implemented by the action. They must provide evidence of the contacts and international stakeholders that they intend to consult, in particular as regards certification, and whose resources they intend to draw upon in the course of the execution of the preparatory action.

3. Award criteria U.K.

The following general award criteria shall apply:

• soundness of the approach (20 %),

• organisation of work and degree of involvement of competent authorities/organisations in the Member States covered by the action (30 %),

• interest of project at European level and multiplier effect (30 %),

• cost effectiveness ratio of the project (20 %).

The coverage of more than three Member States in Phase 2 of the action will be regarded as an asset.

4. Level of co-financing U.K.

The preparatory action will be divided in two phases:

• Phase 1 shall include a feasibility study, recommendations and specifications for the establishment of a certification scheme for control posts with a maximum amount granted of EUR 300 000 covering at maximum 90 % of the eligible costs,

• Phase 2 shall include the building or the renovation of pilot control posts and the validation of a experimental certification scheme for control posts to be harmonised with EU requirements with a maximum amount granted of EUR 3 700 000 and at maximum 70 % of the total eligible costs of the operation. This action shall cover at least three Member States and it shall depend on the approval of the feasibility study of Phase 1.

5. Time schedule U.K.

The preparatory action shall be performed by one call for proposals. The call is expected to be launched in June 2008 and will be open for three months. The award decision is expected in 2008 or early in 2009.

Appropriations 2008:

17 04 03 03 — Control posts (resting points) in relation to the transport of animals: EUR 4 000 000

Number of specific actions planned: One call for proposals.

This action shall be governed by the rules laid down in Title VI of Part One of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and Title VI of Part One of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

II. Pilot project under budget line 17 01 04 06 U.K.

Legal basis: Article 49(6) point (a) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002

Appropriations 2008:

17 01 04 06 – pilot project: improved methods for animal-friendly production: EUR 1 000 000

Number of specific actions planned: An open call for tender for a contract for services is expected to be launched in June 2008. The contract will be signed before the end of the year.

The action shall be governed by the rules laid down in Title V of Part One of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and Title V of Part One of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.