European Commission: Home Affairs

• Annual Programme and call for proposals 2006
  • Annual Programme and call for proposals 2006 (PDF File 160 KB)
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• Documents for Applicants
  • Application Form (Word File 1.2 MB) (New version of 21/2/2006)
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  • Budget Form (XLS File 110 KB)
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  • How to use the EXCEL Budget form (PDF File 115 KB)
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  • Guide to the EPCIP 2006 Programme (PDF File 93 KB)
    
    
  • Summary timetable for implementation (XLS File 20 KB)
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  • Explanatory note on officials (XLS File 30 KB)
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  • Partnership Declaration (Word File 26 KB)
    
    
  • Model Grant Agreement for an Action (PDF File 95 KB)
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• Financial identification
  • Financial Identification
• Legal Entities Form
  • Legal Entities Form
• Privacy statement
  • Privacy statement (PDF File 77 KB)
• Frequently asked questions
  • Frequently asked questions (PDF File 100 KB)
• Reporting documents
  • Final narrative report form (Word File 80 KB)
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  • Final financial statement (XLS File 4.6 MB)
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  • Request for final payment (XLS File 32 KB)
• List of grants awarded
  • 2005-2006 Community Actions - List of grants awarded (PDF File 10 KB)
• For more information
  • Cooperation in practice EU funding opportunities in the area of justice and home affairs

EPCIP European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection

I) Latest developments

II) General context

More funding related to the protection of critical infrastructure is possible under the Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security Related Risks Programme.

Background on EPCIP

On 17 - 18 June 2004, the European Council asked the Commission to prepare an overall strategy to enhance the protection of critical infrastructures¹. In response, the Commission transmitted on 22 October 2004 a Communication entitled "Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Fight against Terrorism"² putting forward suggestions to enhance European prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks involving critical infrastructures (CI).

The Commission's intention to propose a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) and a Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) was accepted by the 16 - 17 December 2004 European Council³ in the Council conclusions on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks⁴ and in the Solidarity Programme⁵, both adopted by the Council on 2 December 2004.

Throughout 2005, intensive work was done on the elaboration of EPCIP. Two European seminars on critical infrastructure protection and a number of informal meetings were held bringing together experts from all EU Member States. This work culminated in the adoption by the Commission on 17 November 2005 of the Green Paper on a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (COM (2005) 576 final).

The financing of EPCIP

The Green Paper on the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (COM (2005) 576 final) clearly foresees a number of funding sources for activities related to the protection of critical infrastructures in Europe. The Commission is prepared to participate in the funding of CIP related measures including relevant studies and the development of specific methodologies. Funding for concrete hardware updates however, would have to be found from other sources.

The Commission’s financial commitment to enhancing the security of Europe’s critical infrastructures was demonstrated in the Pilot Project on the Fight against Terrorism.

EPCIP funding under the Pilot Project

The Commission adopted on 15 September 2005 the Decision C/2005/3179 on the financing of a Pilot Project containing a set of preparatory actions with a view to strengthening the Fight Against terrorism.

The general objective of the Pilot Project, as defined in the description of Article 18 05 06 of the 2005 general budget of the European Union, is to tap into the full potential of the fight against terrorism and to speed up the Community’s activities to further improve the security of citizens and to combat terrorism, in particular by filling the gaps between the various existing Community activities.

As mentioned, the Decision C/2005/3179 concerns a set of preparatory actions that cover both the award of subventions and calls for tenders.

One of the key elements of the Project is the Pilot Programme for Critical Infrastructure which supports activities associated amongst others with the specific objective of enhancing protection of critical infrastructure.

What is the purpose of the Pilot Project on CIP

The general focus of the Pilot Project with regard to the protection of critical infrastructure is to support the forthcoming European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection.

What is the future of the Pilot Project on CIP

The Commission is committed to a longer-term approach to the protection of critical infrastructures in Europe. Consequently, a number of funding opportunities will become available in the coming months and years.

2005/2006 Work Programme

General objective

The 2005/2006 Work Programme specifies that the Pilot Project’s objective is to support the identification and development of measures to protect critical infrastructure including the development and refinement of methodologies.

What are the specific themes for projects

The 2005/2006 Work Programme foresees six themes under which specific projects can be financed:

1. Enhancement of protection measures for critical infrastructure
2. Vulnerabilities and resilience of critical infrastructure, including developing methodologies
3. Risk mitigation strategies and threat assessments for critical infrastructure
4. Development of contingency plans
5. Development of common security standards and innovative technologies for protection of critical infrastructure
6. Trans-national projects, which must involve partners in at least two Member States, or at least one Member State and an applicant country.

The EU contribution to the costs

The EU contribution to the cost of the activities concerned will be limited to 85% of all eligible costs.

The total budget planned for grants in the 2005 work programme of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection is 3 million euros.

The Call for proposals was published in January 2006 (O.J. C 016 of 21.01.2006) with deadline for submission of proposals on 10 March 2006.

Who can benefit from CIP Pilot Project funding

The Pilot Project is addressed to:

• all those that are owners and operators of critical infrastructure
• regulators
• professional bodies and business/industry associations
• standardisation bodies
• those responsible for critical infrastructures

Projects may be submitted by and grants can be awarded to Member States authorities dealing with critical infrastructure protection, relevant national and EU research institutions, the owners/operators of critical infrastructures, business/industry associations and standardisation bodies.

For more information on the EPCIP programme, please contact:
JLS-CFP2006-EPCIP@ec.europa.eu
 

1 10679/2/04 REV 2, no. 19
2 13979/04, COM (2004) 702
3 16238/1/04 REV sub 5, bullet 6
4 15232/04, no. 17
5 EU Solidarity Programme of 2 December 2004 on the consequences of terrorist threats and attacks (revised/widened CBRN Programme), 15480/04; see nos. 24 and 25 and Annex, no. 2

III) Documents and Reports