Question 1

What is the purpose of the call for b-solutions pilot actions?

Accepted Answer

With this call, we want to provide additional support to the beneficiaries of b-solutions who have received advice on legal or administrative obstacles hindering cross-border cooperation. To do so, we will select 10 pilot actions that will each receive a sub-grant of 30,000 € to develop a chosen solution identified in the expert report and advance its implementation.

Question 2

What are the successful applicants expected to deliver?

Accepted Answer

Beneficiaries are expected to develop pilot actions that will lead to a solid agreement by which the relevant public bodies commit to implementing the chosen solution.
The aim of the pilot actions is to develop solutions for previously analysed legal and administrative obstacles hindering cross-border cooperation. This involves working with competent authorities across the cross-border area to improve governance, share information, and streamline processes.

Question 3

How are the pilot actions funded?

Accepted Answer

The selected beneficiaries receive sub-grants from AEBR to implement the pilot actions. The sub-grants amount to a maximum of 30,000 euros per pilot action.

There is no requirement for co-financing.

The sub-grants are intended to reimburse eligible actual costs incurred by the beneficiary(ies) for the implementation of the pilot actions, and include an overhead of indirect costs up to a maximum of 7% of the direct costs.

Question 4

Can the budget of the pilot action be above 30,000 euros?

Accepted Answer

Yes, applicants can also present a budget for more than 30,000 euros. However, the sub-grant will not be higher than 30,000 euros. Additional costs are to be covered with the applicant’s own resources – no other EU funding should be used to the pilot action though.

The budget will need to indicate what costs are to be covered with the sub-grant and which will be covered with own resources (see columns C and F of the budget). The beneficiary will be requested to provide AEBR documentation to prove costs covered by the sub-grant only.

Question 5

What types of activities are eligible to be developed as part of the pilot actions?

Accepted Answer

The pilot actions’ aim is to support in organising activities that can help the development of the solution envisaged. Key aspects of a pilot actions are the engagement of relevant stakeholders, research and development to explore and/or evaluate the potential impact and practicality of proposed solutions, fostering policy and legal reforms and administrative innovation to remove barriers and capacity building and awareness raising of partners, stakeholders and the public.

Eligible activities can therefore involve 
-organising events that bring together key stakeholders and enable exchange (consultations, task forces, etc);
-conducting feasibility studies on proposed solutions;
-reviewing existing laws and proposing legal or administrative solutions;
-implementing training programmes and organising raising awareness campaigns.

A more comprehensive list can be found on page 5 of the call.

Question 6

How will the sub-grant be distributed?

Accepted Answer

The sub-grants will be split in three instalments:

·        40% will be received as pre-financing 15 days after the sub-grant agreement between AEBR and the beneficiary is signed;
·        40% will be received after six months of implementation;
·        20% will be received at the end of the implementation period, contingent upon the approval of the related report.  
The sub-grant will be transferred to the main applicant, who will distribute it to the partner(s), if applicable, according to the individual needs and management of the pilot action. Partners can then autonomously decide how to share costs and contributions, and Partners do not need to make a financial commitment.