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List of all approved projects
List of all planned
Projects
List with the current Call
for Proposals.
List with the current public
tenders.
Project proposal selection and contract awarding procedures
A clear distinction needs to be made between the process of selecting project proposals and the awarding of a contract for supplies and services. These two procedures are totally independent of one another and unrestrictedly apply to the ten states that became members of the EU in May 2004. The procedures applicable to Romania and Bulgaria within the scope of the enlargement contribution may diverge. Once the two bilateral framework agreements with Romania and Bulgaria have been signed, the corresponding procedural stipulations will be published.
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How are projects selected?
The National Coordination Unit (NCU) is responsible for selecting suitable projects in the corresponding country. Generally, the following procedures are used:
- Project designs are submitted for consideration in general in response to a call for proposals.
List with the current Call for
Proposals - Project proposals are examined on the basis of selection criteria, which are described on the NCU’s Website.
The NCU examines incoming project proposals on the basis of the established selection criteria, checking the accuracy and completeness of project proposals and making sure that they match the terms and thematic priorities agreed upon in the bilateral framework agreement with Switzerland.
As a rule, an advisory committee supports the NCU in the selection of project proposals, based on previously established criteria. Project proposals approved by the NCU will be forwarded to the Swiss Agency for Development SDC or State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, depending on the theme of the project. The SDC orSECO will examine the proposals, make a definitive selection, and decide on the financing of the projects. The SDC and SECO can only accept project proposals that have been submitted to them through the NCU. Linklist of the ten NCU’s Websites
What basic criteria should be met by project proposals?
In order to be considered for funding earmarked for Switzerland's contribution to EU enlargement, project proposals must be submitted in accordance with the procedures established in the bilateral Framework Agreement signed with each country and must match the thematic priorities. The National Coordination Unit (NCU) provides timely information regarding the various project proposal options.
Only projects that are in the public interest will be financed through the Contribution to enlargement. No support will be given to commercial projects.
List with the thematic priorities of the ten partner states (27 KB)
Bilateral Framework Agreements of the ten partner states
Where can project proposals be submitted?
Only the National Coordination Unit (NCU) in each of the ten partner countries may select project proposals. The SDC and SECO can consider only project proposals that are referred to them by the NCU. In most partner countries, the NCU is the same government office that is also responsible for the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds and the EEA/Norwegian Finance Mechanism.
Who can submit project proposals to the National Coordination Unit (NCU) ?
Generally speaking project proposals may be submitted to the NCU’s by public bodies and institutions in a partner country, such as communes and regional and national authorities (e.g. individual, competent ministries), international organizations, and non-governmental organisations. An NCU may also consider project proposals from national or community enterprises or proposals from private institutions that have a public mandate.
For specific details, visit the NCU’s Websites:
Linklist of the ten
NCU's Websites
How long will National Coordination Units (NCUs) continue to examine project proposals?
The deadline runs up until 13 June 2012 for: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Cyprus.
The deadline is 4 December 2014 for Bulgaria and Romania.
What is the composition of the advisory committee that helps the NCU examine project proposals?
The advisory committee that helps the National Coordination Unit (NCU) examine project proposals is comprised of representatives from specialised ministries, non-governmental organisations, regions, social partners and the NCU. Switzerland may hold observer status on these committees.
Contract awarding procedure
The awarding of contracts for supplies and services is an independent process downstream of the selection and authorisation of a proposal.
As part of project implementation and in accordance with applicable law (national, EU and WTO regulations), calls for bids for supplies, as well as for construction and other services required for
projects that fall under the Contribution to EU enlargement, will be publicly advertised by those responsible for a project in the ten partner statesWhere EU guidelines apply, the entire bidding
process will take place according to public procurement rules and in a transparent manner. In such cases, calls for bids will be publicised not only in the ten partner states, but also throughout the
EU.
The following EU website can be consulted in the latter case: 
http://ted.europa.eu/.
Information about public awarding of contracts in the EU can be found at http://simap.europa.eu/.
Information about public awarding of contracts in the ten partner states can be found at the NCU Webistes
The Executing Agency responsible for conducting the project is also responsible for tendering the contracts. On completion of the tendering procedure, the Executing Agency signs the supply and
service contracts with the selected service providers.
Information sheet - The government procurement of the EU [en] [de] [fr] [it] (241 KB)
List with the current
public tenders