EU funding programs

The majority of the EU budget flows in the form of funding programs into the common agricultural policy to support agriculture (around 55 billion euros annually ≙ 43% of the budget) and into cohesion policy for regional development in the EU member states as well as research and development Innovation (around 60 billion euros annually ≙ 45% of the budget ).

The European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund are available as financial instruments for agricultural support. Regional structural funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund . Typically, these grants are not paid out directly by the EU Commission , but via national and regional authorities in the EU member states. In most cases, these are large infrastructure projects in which EU funds have to be co-financed with federal, state, municipal and other public funds, possibly also private funds .

The EU Commission pays financial aid directly to government or private organizations and institutions with legal personality, such as universities , technical colleges , companies , interest groups and non-governmental organizations . These funds flow into projects in the fields of research and development , education, environmental protection , consumer protection , information society , energy and transport, as well as in EU external aid measures . In exceptional cases, individuals are also supported.

The procurement directives, payment rules and procedures for all EU grants are set out in the 'Financial Regulation' and its implementing rules. Among other things, the Financial Regulation stipulates that the EU must publish an annual report on the funding with all the names and addresses of the beneficiaries.

Research and Development

The European Union funds both basic and applied research. The best-known funding instrument is the Research Framework Program , and the European Commission also awards funds through the Research Executive Agency and its Directorates-General .

education

BOLOGNA GOALS (f. UNIVERSITIES)
easily understandable and comparable degrees undergraduate / graduate system Credit system promoting the mobility of students and teachers European cooperation in quality assurance promoting the European dimension

In order to achieve the goals developed by the Bologna Process , the Tempus program supports cooperation in higher education between EU Member States and partner countries from the newly independent states, south-east Europe and the Mediterranean. Joint projects as well as travel expenses are funded.

Leonardo promotes international cooperation and stays abroad by trainees and employees in order to improve the quality of vocational training. At the same time, innovation is to be promoted and the “European dimension” in vocational training systems and teaching methods strengthened. In particular, SMEs are addressed. In addition to mobility and language skills , Leonardo also aims at transnational pilot projects to develop innovative training methods, including using modern communication technology . Leonardo also promotes transnational networks of various institutions for the long-term development of training methods and projects to analyze future training and qualification needs. Data comparison projects are also supported.

The Socrates program aims to promote general education and consists of a whole series of sub -programs : Minerva (promoting European cooperation in the field of open and distance learning and information and communication technologies in education), Erasmus (universities), Comenius ( Schools), Lingua (promoting linguistic diversity) and Grundtvig ( adult education , lifelong learning). Erasmus also includes the Arion program , which promotes study visits for education professionals and decision-makers. Information activities are also supported as accompanying measures to Erasmus. In the area of non-formal extracurricular education, the EU program “Youth in Action” supports stays abroad, volunteer services and initiatives by young people.

traffic

InterCityExpress : The TEN-V funding program also includes cross-border long-distance rail transport

With the Priority Program Trans-European networks - Transport (TEN-T, Engl .: TEN-T) is the unification of the transport system aimed at. It will run from 1995 to 2019 ; the first projects mainly concern railways , motorways , waterways , freight transport and information systems . More recent projects deal with cycle routes and cell phone coverage of the corridors.

Environment and energy

From 2007 to 2013, LIFE + is the EU's main financial instrument in the areas of environmental and nature protection. LIFE + promotes both the development of innovative and integrated technologies ( LIFE + "Environmental Policy and Administrative Practice" ) and the protection of threatened species and natural habitats ( LIFE + "Nature and Biodiversity" ). Information campaigns can also receive support ( LIFE + "Information and Communication" ).

The Intelligent Energy Europe program was still running until 2006 . Local, regional and national initiatives in the fields of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and energy-specific aspects of transport are supported by this program.

Rural area

The EU has launched the LEADER community initiative for the development of rural areas . Support for disadvantaged rural areas in the EU is regulated by means of the compensatory allowance for disadvantaged areas .

Judiciary

The Daphne program supports European measures to combat violence against children, young people and women. With Grotius II intra-European exchange of judges, attorneys, etc. bailiffs is promoted to facilitate aiming the cooperation of the Member States by better mutual knowledge of legal and judicial systems.

Media and culture

Since the Maastricht Treaty , the European Union has also had competence in the field of culture, which it takes into account through funding programs, among other things.

The first EU cultural funding programs were the Raphael , Kaleidoskop and Ariane programs .

From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006, culture was funded mainly through the Culture 2000 framework program .

The Culture 2007-2013 program has been running since January 1, 2007 .

economy

The EU supports other programs in the various areas, e. B .:

External programs

The external funding relates to projects that are carried out in countries outside the EU and primarily benefit people and institutions outside the EU, for example development aid projects in the Third World . These possibilities for financial support are nevertheless also of interest to people and institutions in the EU. European NGOs, for example in the fields of the environment or development, can apply for projects with which they can e.g. B. contribute to environmental protection or poverty reduction in the third world. Six different instruments are available for external funding.

The instrument of stability aims to address crises and instability in third countries as well as cross-border challenges such as nuclear safety, non-proliferation, the fight against illegal trade, organized crime and terrorism.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance affects potential candidate countries, replacing the instruments PHARE , ISPA , SAPARD and CARDS as well as several other regulations.
The European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument provides external aid to third countries that participate in the European Neighborhood Policy. B. Countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean basin, Ukraine , Moldova , Belarus and the southern Caucasus . Cross-border cooperation between member states and neighboring states to support neighborly relations at the borders is also promoted. This instrument also promotes the strategic partnership between the EU and Russia . There are action plans and agreements with Moldova, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel and the Palestinian authorities. The award is made through tenders. The MEDA programs and parts of TACIS were previously responsible for these tasks.
The Instrument for Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation covers all countries, territories and regions that are not covered by either of the previous two instruments. This will replace programs such as ALA and EEF1.
Humanitarian aid includes all food aid.
Macro-financial assistance is approved to countries that have exceptional financial needs to cover their balance of payments deficits .

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