Q. How to understand the meaning of ”activities outside the programme“ area? For example, if a project partner from outside the programme area conducts activities inside the programme area, then should the activities of this partner be counted as activities in the programme area or activities outside the programme area?

A. “Programme area” refers to “eligible area” (as defined in the Joint Operational Programme) in regard to the 20% threshold indicated in articles 39.2 and 45.4 of the ENI CBC IR.

The amount of EU contribution allocated to the beneficiaries located outside the programme area shall not exceed 20% of the programme total EU contribution, as stipulated in article 45.4.

The EU contribution corresponding to the cost of any activity located outside the programme area by whichever partner (located inside or outside the programme area) shall not exceed the 20% of the programme total EU contribution, as stipulated in article 39.2.

Even if the percentage of each threshold is the same, they have to be calculated separately. Consequently, the amounts allocated to activities inside the programme area by a partner located outside it do not count for the 20% threshold in article 39.2, but do count for the 20% of the threshold in article 45.4.

Therefore, the budget annexed to the grant contract and the financial reports must clearly indicate the amount allocated to activities outside the programme area for all partners and must clearly stipulate the total amount allocated to each beneficiary.