Lead applicant seminar - 22 October 2008

The first lead applicant seminar in the framework of the South East Europe Programme took place in Budapest on 22 October 2008. The seminar was organised by the SEE Joint Technical Secretariat and on this occasion, a number of 148 participants (lead applicants) coming from no less than 11 countries and representing 90 projects, have met with the JTS members in order to discuss the main aspects of the second step of the Call for proposals. 

During the seminar, the main aspects of the application process have been presented, among which: filling in the application form, budgeting, and communication. The main objective of the seminar was to highlight the specific elements of the SEE Programme application package and procedures and to prepare the applicants for submitting high quality project proposals by providing them with detailed and clear information on how to fill in the application form.		 

Ivan Curzolo, the head of the project management unit within the JTS, opened the seminar with a comprehensive presentation of the application procedure. He congratulated the participants for being among the 95 invited to participate in the second step of the call and highlighted the high competition for the SEE programme in both the first and the second step of the call.

Furthermore, detailed explanations regarding the contents of the application package have been provided by the JTS project managers, including a practical "filling in the application form" exercise, conducted by Roberta Calcina, a description of the annexes by Alessandra Pala and of the main state aid issues by Kirill Dimanopulosz. Beáta Marczis, the head of the financial management unit made a complete overview of the budgeting issues as well as of the financial tables in the application form. An outline of the communication requirements, delivered by Lelia Rotaru, communication manager of the programme, has concluded the series of presentations.

 

The applicants were then given the opportunity to have their questions answered during the Q&A session which ended the event. The issues raised by the participants covered a varied area, such as: partnership, control, management of IPA funds, or communication. The seminar also provided the participants with networking opportunities and the possibility of meeting many of the national contact points who have also attended the event.

The series of events dedicated to the support and guidance of the project partners will continue after the final selection of the projects with a lead partner seminar. The second step of the first call is open as of 13 October 2008 and applicants can submit their proposals until 21 November 2008.