Technical support for detecting and investigating contraband or counterfeit tobacco products
The “HERCULE II” Programme is an EU action Programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the EU's financial interests for the period 2007-2013. The overall objective of this Programme is to provide technical support and expertise to the competent law enforcement authorities and to support their anti-fraud activities through training measures, promoting exchanges of specialised staff and the holding of seminars and conferences to reinforce the protection of the EU's financial interests.
The smuggling of cigarettes into the EU results in significant financial losses to the EU budget as well as to the finances of the Member States. Those losses are currently estimated to be €10 billion annually. This call for proposals is an expression of OLAF’s determination to support activities which will facilitate investigative and operational activities in the fight against cigarette smuggling.
This call for proposals relates to the Grant Programme “Technical Assistance for Law Enforcement Agencies Combating Fraud”, as adopted by the Commission in OLAF’s Annual Work Programme for 2011 under item 24. 0201 of the Budget of the European Union “Grant Programme for Anti-Fraud Measures” as part of the “HERCULE II” Programme and is for the purchase of equipment used in the prevention, detection and investigation of the smuggling of illicit consignments of tobacco products. Equipment which may be eligible for financial support includes, but is not limited to, scanning equipment, audio-visual equipment, tool-kits, endoscopes, analytical software and hardware and scientific instruments for the analysis of tobacco. Equipment used for covert operations is not covered by this call for proposals.
This call for proposals is directed at national law enforcement agencies such as customs, police and border services and other specialised agencies in the Member States, which have the legal authority, and are active, in combating cigarette smuggling.
Applications must be submitted by a national law enforcement agency such as customs, police or border services or other specialised agency in the Member States, which have the legal authority, and are active, in combating cigarette smuggling.
a) The total amount available for projects within the scope of this call for proposals is defined in article 24. 0201 of the 2011 budget of the EU (“Grant Programme for Anti-Fraud Measures”), subject to the annual availability of appropriations. The estimated amount for this action is approximately €2.1 million.
b) OLAF’s financial contribution takes the form of a grant, subject to the principle of co-financing. It shall not exceed 50% of the total eligible expenditure of the equipment including delivery and when necessary, installation costs.
c) The total amount of the grant will be calculated according to the number and quality of the projects, as well as the cost/effectiveness ratio of the corresponding budgets.
d) The grants are given for specific actions and confer no automatic obligation on OLAF for co-financing in subsequent years.
Contact:
OLAF-FMB-HER-II-CIGARETTES-D6@ec.europa.eu
frantz.liisberg@ec.europa.eu
Meer lezen: http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/programmes/techn-assist/2011/tobacco-products.html
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