ANNEX XIRULES ON THE ELIGIBILITY OF EXPENDITURE — INTEGRATION FUND
II.Categories of eligible costs (at project level)
II.1.Direct eligible costs
The direct eligible costs of the project are costs that, with due regard to the general conditions of eligibility set out in part I above, are identifiable as specific costs directly linked to the implementation of the project. Direct costs shall be included in the estimated overall budget of the project.
The following direct costs are eligible.
II.1.1. Staff costs
II.1.1.1.General rules
1.Direct costs for staff are eligible only for persons that have a key and direct role in the project, such as project managers and other staff operationally involved in the project, for example planning project activities, implementing (or monitoring) operational activities, delivering services to the final recipients of the project, etc.
Costs for other members of staff in the final beneficiary organisation who only provide a supporting role (such as the general manager, accountant, procurement support, human resources support, information technology support, administrative assistant, receptionist, etc.) are not eligible as direct costs and are considered to be indirect costs (see point II.2).
2.Staff costs shall be detailed in the forward budget, indicating functions, number of staff and names.
If the names of the persons are not yet known or cannot be disclosed, indication shall be provided of the professional and technical capacities of the persons set to implement the relevant functions/tasks within the project.
3.The cost of staff assigned to the project, i.e. salaries and social security contributions and other statutory costs, shall be eligible, provided that this does not exceed the average rates as regards the final beneficiary's usual policy on remuneration. Where applicable, this figure may include all the usual contributions paid by the employer, but it must exclude any bonuses, incentive payments or profit-sharing schemes. Levies, taxes or charges (in particular, direct taxes and social security contributions on wages) arising from projects co-financed by the Fund amount to eligible costs only where they are actually borne by the final beneficiary of the grant.
II.1.1.2.Specific conditions for staff costs of public bodies
Staff costs of public bodies implementing the project are considered to be direct eligible costs only in the following situations:
(a)
a person contracted by the final beneficiary solely for the purpose of implementing the project;
(b)
a person employed on a permanent basis by the final beneficiary who:
fulfils tasks specifically linked to the implementation of the project on the basis of overtime remuneration, or
is seconded by a duly documented decision of the organisation to tasks that are specifically linked to the implementation of the project which do not form part of his/her normal routine and he/she is replaced for his/her usual tasks by another person recruited by the organisation.
II.1.2. Travel and subsistence costs
1.Travel and subsistence costs are only eligible as direct costs for:
(a)
staff of the final beneficiary whose costs are eligible as defined in point II.1.1;
(b)
in duly exceptional and justified cases, staff of the final beneficiary providing a supporting role as defined in point II.1.1;
(c)
other persons outside the final beneficiary who participate in the activities of the project. In this case, attendance lists should be kept as supporting evidence.
2.Travel costs shall be eligible on the basis of the actual costs incurred. Reimbursement rates shall be based on the cheapest form of public transport and flights shall, as a rule, be permitted only for journeys over 800 km (return trip), or where the geographical destination justifies travelling by air. Boarding passes must be kept. Where a private car is used, reimbursement is normally made either on the basis of the cost of public transport, or on the basis of mileage rates in accordance with published official rules in the Member State concerned or used by the final beneficiary.
3.Subsistence costs shall be eligible on the basis of real costs or a daily allowance. Where an organisation has its own daily rates (subsistence allowances), they shall be applied within ceilings established by the Member State in accordance with national legislation and practice. Subsistence allowances are normally understood to cover local transport (including taxis), accommodation, meals, local telephone calls and sundries.
II.1.3. Equipment
II.1.3.1.General rules
1.Costs pertaining to the acquisition of equipment (based on depreciation of purchased assets, leasing or rental) are only eligible if they are essential to the implementation of the project. Equipment shall have the technical properties needed for the project and comply with applicable norms and standards.
2.Costs for day-to-day administrative equipment (such as printer, laptop, fax, copier, phone, cabling, etc.) are not eligible as direct costs and are to be considered as indirect costs (see point II.2).
3.The choice between leasing, rental or purchase must always be based on the least expensive option. However, if leasing or renting are not possible because of the short duration of the project or the rapid depreciation in value, purchase is accepted and the costs related to depreciation, as described below, may be eligible on the basis of national depreciation rules.
II.1.3.2.Renting and leasing
Expenditure in relation to renting and leasing operations is eligible for co-financing subject to the rules established in the Member State, national legislation and practice and the duration of the rental or lease for the purpose of the project.
II.1.3.3.Purchasing
1.Where equipment is purchased before or during the lifetime of the project, only the portion of equipment depreciation corresponding to the duration of use for the project and the rate of actual use for the project is eligible.
2.Equipment that was purchased before the lifetime of the project, but which is used for the purpose of the project, is eligible on the basis of depreciation. However these costs are ineligible if the equipment was originally purchased through a Community grant.
3.Purchase costs of equipment shall correspond to normal market costs and the value of the items concerned is written off in accordance with the tax and accounting rules applicable to the final beneficiary.
4.For individual items costing below EUR 1 000, the full purchase cost is eligible, provided that the equipment is purchased during the first three months of the project.
II.1.4. Real estate
II.1.4.1.General rules
The real estate shall have the technical properties needed for the project and comply with the applicable norms and standards.
II.1.4.2.Rental
Rental of real estate is eligible for co-financing where there is a clear link between the rental and the objectives of the project concerned, under the conditions set out below and without prejudice to the application of stricter national rules:
(a)
The real estate shall not have been purchased through a Community grant.
(b)
The real estate should only be used for implementation of the project. If not, only the portion of the costs corresponding to the use for the project is eligible.
II.1.4.3.Office space for the final beneficiary
Costs for the purchase, construction, renovation or rental of office space for the routine activities of the final beneficiary are not eligible. Such costs are considered to be indirect costs (see point II.2).
II.1.5. Consumables, supplies and general services
1.The costs of consumables, supplies and general services are eligible provided that they are identifiable and directly necessary for the implementation of the project.
2.However, office supplies as well as all kinds of small administrative consumables, supplies, hospitality costs and general services (such as telephone, internet, postage, office cleaning, utilities, insurance, staff training, recruitment, etc.) are not direct eligible costs; they are included in indirect costs, as referred to in point II.2.
II.1.6. Subcontracting
1.As a general rule, final beneficiaries must have the capacity to carry out the activities relating to the project themselves. Therefore, subcontracting must be limited and shall not exceed 40 % of the direct eligible costs of a project unless duly justified and approved in advance by the responsible authority.
2.Expenditure relating to the following subcontracts is ineligible for co-financing by the Fund:
(a)
subcontracting of tasks relating to the overall management of the project;
(b)
subcontracting that adds to the cost of the project without adding proportionate value to it;
(c)
subcontracting with intermediaries or consultants where payment is defined as a percentage of the total cost of the project, unless such payment is justified by the final beneficiary by reference to the actual value of the work or services provided.
3.For all subcontracts, subcontractors shall undertake to provide all audit and control bodies with all the necessary information relating to subcontracted activities.
II.1.7. Costs deriving directly from the requirements linked to EU co-financing
Costs needed to meet the requirements linked to EU co-financing, such as publicity, transparency, evaluation of the project, external audit, bank guarantees, translation costs, etc., are eligible as direct costs.
II.1.8. Expert fees
Legal consultancy fees, notarial fees and costs of technical and financial experts are eligible.