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CEF Synergy – 2016 CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – General

06 December 2016

1. SCOPE OF THE CALL/GUIDANCE INFORMATION 2. DEFINITIONS

3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – APPLICANTS 4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – ACTIONS (NEW FAQ) 5. MEMBER STATES' SUPPORT (NEW FAQ) 6. COMPLIANCE WITH EU LAW 7. SELECTION CRITERIA: FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY 8. FUNDING SOURCES / FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9. ELIGIBLE COSTS / CO-FUNDING RATES (NEW FAQ) 10. SUB-CONTRACTING / IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACTS 11. COST-BENEFIT / COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 12. APPLICATION FORMS 13. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

14. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 15. eSUBMISSION MODULE / SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

16. GRANT AGREEMENT PREPARATION / MANAGEMENT 17. SELECTION PROCESS 18. MISCELLANEOUS

All questions in blue text have been added since the previous FAQ version.

1. SCOPE OF THE CALL / GUIDANCE INFORMATION

1.1. Why is a synergy call published?

Enabling and strengthening the synergies between its three sectors is among the key priorities of the CEF. Actions across sectors may enable costs or results to be optimised through the pooling of financial, technical or human resources, thus enhancing the effectiveness of EU funding.

Moreover, the present call responds to the requirement of Article 17(7) of the CEF Regulation,

which reads: "Work programmes shall be coordinated in such a way as to exploit the synergies between transport, energy and telecommunications, in particular in such areas as smart energy grids, electric mobility, intelligent and sustainable transport systems, joint rights of way or infrastructure coupling. The Commission shall adopt at least one multi-sectorial call for proposals for actions eligible under Article 7(5), with the financial amounts allocated for each sector being weighted according to each sector's relative involvement in the eligible costs of the actions selected for financing under the CEF".

1.2. What kind of synergy area can be explored under the CEF Synergy call 2016?

Proposals submitted under the CEF Synergy call 2016 shall contribute to projects exploiting synergies between the transport and energy sectors in areas such as:

• smart energy grids, • joint use of facilities for compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) for

energy purposes and for the use of alternative fuels in mobility,

• electricity transmission systems and their components having the potential to facilitate the

integration of electromobility, • electricity storage and gas storage facilities connecting to high-voltage electricity

transmission lines or to high-pressure gas transmission pipelines, respectively, having the potential to contribute to the supply of energy for use in transport, including the conversion to alternative fuels,

• intelligent transport systems combined with demand management systems on an electricity

smart grid, • joint rights of way of transport and energy facilities or infrastructure coupling while

ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity where appropriate, • preparation of joint permitting procedures, including environmental impact assessments,

for transport and energy combined facilities,

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• actions creating benefits in terms of the environmental effects of energy and transport linked to infrastructure facilities,

• systems to recover pressure-let-down energy at natural gas metering and regulating stations for transport uses,

• financial engineering studies, including development of cost benefit analyses taking into account synergies,

• any combination of the above areas particularly with a view of elaborating innovative

synergies between transport and energy.

1.3. What type of actions can be funded under the CEF Synergy call for proposals 2016?

A proposal submitted under the CEF Synergy call for proposals 2016 must address studies as defined in Article 2(6) of the CEF Regulation. Works proposals will not be funded under this call.

Studies may include pilot activities that will aim:

to develop, improve or adapt a new technology or an innovative solution and implement it in order to test its feasibility and suitability as well as its added value before deploying it on a larger scale; and/or

to deploy an existing technology, infrastructure or service (i.e. already in use elsewhere but new to a particular sector, system or geographical area) in order to gain experience and/or

create market conditions for deployment on a larger scale.

The pilot activities of a study may include the deployment of a certain type of infrastructure or technology but on a limited scale and at a reasonable price and with the objective of testing and validating the viability of the innovative actions proposed for future scale up and roll out. Pilot activities of a study should be of an experimental nature and designed to test the feasibility of an innovative action and its usefulness for future large scale implementation. They should not be associated with research activities that are not covered by this call.

Priority will be given to studies with pilot deployment. Please see section 2 of the call text for more information. 1.4. What could be studies without pilot deployment cover?

Studies without pilot deployment could be feasibility, environmental, permitting studies, studies for joint rights of way as well as financial engineering studies and cost benefit analyses.

1.5. What should be the aim of studies with pilot deployment?

Studies with pilot deployment should aim at supporting the initial deployment phases of actions combining transport and energy. This should in particular relate to synergies for the deployment of alternative fuels. Such studies should aim at: (1) the optimisation of the technology to bring unit costs down, and

(2) the optimisation of the business-client relation to better understand the client's needs and address it appropriately. At the end of the trial, as part of the study, an analysis must be made, showing how to scale-up the trial to mass application, in the form of a business plan. Please see section 2 of the call text for information.

1.6. I would like to have an appointment with someone at INEA to prepare a proposal.

For reasons of equal treatment of all applicants, INEA does not provide tailored advice to potential

applicants on the preparation of their proposals.

Any questions related to the ongoing calls can be addressed only in writing to the call helpdesk. The replies to questions received are made available to all potential applicants through Frequently Asked Questions, to facilitate the preparation of proposals.

1.7. Is there already an indicative call planning for future synergy calls?

There is currently no formal decision on the work programmes and calls for the coming years, priorities that would be covered and the potential funding envelopes.

1.8 Can an application for this call be submitted after the deadline for consideration at a later stage?

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An application for a CEF Synergy 2016 call must be completed and submitted before the call deadline, 13 December 2016 at 17:00.00 Brussels time, as specified in section 13 of the call text. Any applications submitted after the call deadline will be considered inadmissible.

1.9. Are there any standard forms or templates to be used in the applications?

Yes. The CEF Synergy call uses a four-part application form which applicants must complete and submit electronically using the TENtec eSubmission module.

A link to the application forms and the TENtec module is also provided on the call webpage, accessible via the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/2016-cef-synergy-call The Guide for Applicants, also available on the call webpage, provides step by step information about how to complete each part of the application.

The four parts of the application form, including their respective annexes, are as follows: 1. Part A identifies the main characteristics of the proposal (e.g. summary of the proposed Action and description of its activities, contact details and characteristics of the applicants, as well as information related to the funding requested etc.) 2. Part B provides administrative information about the applicants, their designated affiliated

entities and/or implementing bodies and their operational and financial capacity

3. Part C provides information on the compliance of the proposed Action with EU law and other sources of EU funding 4. Part D provides technical and financial information on the proposed Action submitted for funding See also FAQ section 12 for questions on to how to fill the application form.

1.10. If I have a question about the call whom I could contact?

The European Commission and INEA follow a strict policy of equal treatment of all applicants. Therefore, individual advice to the potential applicants on the preparation of their proposals is not

provided. All call-related questions must be addressed to the call helpdesk (INEA-CEF-SYNERGY-CALLS@ec.europa.eu). To respect the principle of equal treatment of all applicants, INEA does not reply individually. Questions received will be made anonymous as required and published with their respective answers in these FAQs.

Questions related to the call should be submitted at the latest by 30 November 2016 to ensure sufficient time for the last update of the FAQs by 6 December 2016. Questions which are specific to

a particular proposal and where the answer would provide a comparative advantage to the

applicant will not be answered.

INEA will respond bilaterally to questions relating to technical problems with the TENtec eSubmission module until the call deadline.

1.11 Are the statistics on funding requests available on a public domain/website?

After the call closure, statistics such as the number of proposals received and the total requested

funding may be published on the INEA website. Please regularly check our News section and follow

us on Twitter.

1.12. Where can the guidelines for participation in this call for proposals be found?

All requirements relevant to this call for proposals are contained in the work programme and call

for proposals, which are accessible on the call website at the following link:

https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/2016-cef-synergy-call

The Guide for Applicants is also available on this website.

1.13 Are the presentations made at the Synergy Info Day available?

A virtual Info Day was organised for the CEF Synergy 2016 call on 10 October 2016. Presentations and video recording can be found at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/news-events/events/cef-synergy-call-virtual-info-day

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2. DEFINITIONS

2.1. What is CEF?

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is an EU funding programme which aims to support and

accelerate investment in the trans-European networks in the transport, energy and telecommunication sectors and to leverage funding from both the public and private sectors. The legal basis of the programme is the EU Regulation 1316/2013.

2.2. What is meant by "beneficiary"?

A "beneficiary" is any entity who signs directly or through a mandate to the coordinator a grant agreement with INEA, whether or not the beneficiary requests funding from the EU. Applicants, whose proposal is selected for funding by the Commission, are expected to become the beneficiaries of the financial aid awarded for the selected Action. Affiliated entities or sub-contractors are not beneficiaries in the sense of the grant agreement.

2.3. What is meant by "implementing body"?

An implementing body is a public or private undertaking or body that may be designated by a beneficiary, where the beneficiary is a Member State or an international organisation, to implement the proposed Action. Such designation should be decided upon by the beneficiary under its own

responsibility, and, if it requires the award of a procurement contract, in compliance with the applicable EU and national public procurement rules.

2.4. What is meant by "Member State"?

A Member State is considered a State member of the European Union. As an applicant, this refers to a ministry would be a part of the government entitled to represent the Member State authority at the international level.

2.5. What is meant by "public body"?

Public bodies are regional or local authorities, a body governed by public law or association formed by one or several such authorities or one or several such bodies governed by public law, international organisations.

For the purpose of assessing compliance with the selection criteria as set in the Call for proposals, will be assimilated to a public body any entity that is: (a) established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character; and

(b) having legal personality; and

(c) financed, for the most part by the State, or regional or local authorities, or other bodies governed by public law; or subject to management supervision by those bodies; or having an administrative, managerial or supervisory board, more than half of whose members are appointed by the State, regional or local authorities or by other bodies governed by public law. Examples of public bodies would also include cities, municipalities, or public universities.

Please note that national authorities (i.e. ministries) are omitted from this definition, as national ministries are considered as an entirely separate category, which is "Member State". However, a national authority (such a national environmental agency) that has independent legal personality from a ministry would be considered as being a public sector body governed by public law. 2.6 What is a "project promoter"?

In the context of CEF Energy, a project promoter is a transmission systems operator (TSO), a

distribution system operator or other operator or investor developing a project of common interest. Where there are several TSOs, distribution system operators, other operators, investors, or any group thereof, the project promoter is the entity with legal personality under the applicable national law, which has been designated by contractual arrangement between them and which has the capacity to undertake legal obligations and assume financial liability on behalf of the parties to

the contractual arrangement. In the context of CEF Synergy this term is also used to refer to entities developing a proposal to be submitted under the call. 2.7 What is a "TSO"?

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Third Energy Package of 20091 defines a transmission systems operator (TSO) as a "natural or legal person who carries out the function of transmission and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of, and, if necessary, developing the transmission system in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other systems, and for ensuring the long-term ability of

the system to meet reasonable demands for the transport of gas/ transmission of electricity".

2.8 Section 6.3 of the call mentions a requirement related to a cross-border section.

What can be considered as a cross-border section?

In line with Article 2(2) of the CEF Regulation, a cross border section in the transport sector, is a section that ensures continuity of a project of common interest between the nearest urban nodes on both sides of the border of two Member States or between a Member State and a neighbouring country. The urban node in this context is the first urban area of economic importance, which includes or is close to at least one of the following infrastructures: ports, including passenger

terminals, airports, railway stations, logistic platforms and freight terminals.

To be eligible for funding from the CEF such cross-border sections must have a written agreement between the Member States concerned or between the Member States and third countries concerned by the completion of the cross-border section, as set out in Article 7(2) of the CEF Regulation.

2.9 What is a project of common interest in the transport sector?

In line with Article 7of the TEN-T Guidelines, projects of common interest shall contribute to the

development of the trans-European transport network through the creation of new transport infrastructure, through the rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing transport infrastructure and through measures promoting the resource-efficient use of the network. A project of common interest shall:

contribute to the objectives falling within at least two of the four categories set out in Article 4 of the TEN-T Guidelines

comply with Chapter II, and if it concerns the core network, comply in addition with Chapter III;

be economically viable on the basis of a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis; demonstrate European added value.

In the transport sector, project of common interest are sometimes referred to as a global project.

Please see also FAQ 2.10.

2.10 What is a project of common interest in the energy sector? How are PCIs selected? Where can I find the latest list of PCIs?

PCIs are key energy infrastructure projects that are essential for completing the European internal energy market and for reaching the EU's energy policy objectives of affordable, secure and sustainable energy. The process of selection of PCIs is described in Article 3 of the TEN-E Guidelines. The identification of PCIs takes place in 12 Regional Groups established by the TEN-E Guidelines, which include

representatives from the Member States, the European Commission, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), national regulatory authorities, project promoters, and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). The Regional Groups assess projects' compliance with the criteria for projects of common interest. Based on the regional lists, the Commission then

adopts the Union-wide list of projects of common interest via a delegated act procedure. This list of projects is updated every two years.

The latest list of PCIs is the second Union List of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) adopted in

November 2015 and published in January 2016. It can be found under: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:JOL_2016_019_R_0001&from=EN

1 Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal

market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC and Directive 2009/72/EC of the European Parliament and of the

Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 2003/54/EC

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An interactive map of the PCIs can be accessed under:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/infrastructure/transparency_platform/map-viewer

2.11. In the Guide for Applicants, a term "global project" is used in some instances, what does it refer to ?

A global project is a term typically used in CEF Transport and refers to situations where several technically and financially separated parts (including one or more Actions) contribute to the completion of a high, indivisible objective. For example, a railway line connecting two or more metropolitan areas can be composed of several sections which are technically and financially identifiable, but the line (i.e. the global project) cannot start operations until all of the sections are complete.

2.12 What is a cluster of PCIs in the Energy sector? Some PCIs form part of a cluster because of their interdependent, potentially competing or competing nature. The following types of cluster of PCIs are established:

Cluster of interdependent PCIs: Such cluster has been formed to identify PCIs that are

all needed to address the same bottleneck across country borders and provide synergies if implemented together. In this case, all the PCIs have to be implemented to realise the EU-wide benefits;

Cluster of potentially competing PCIs: Such cluster reflects an uncertainty around the extent of the bottleneck across country borders. In this case, not all the PCIs included in the cluster have to be implemented. It is left to the market to determine whether one,

several or all PCIs are to be implemented, subject to the necessary planning, permit and regulatory approvals. The need for PCIs shall be reassessed in a subsequent PCI identification process, including with regard to the capacity needs; and

Cluster of competing PCIs: Such cluster addresses the same bottleneck. However, the extent of the bottleneck is more certain than in the case of a cluster of potentially competing PCIs, and therefore only one PCI has to be implemented. It is left to the market to determine which PCI is to be implemented, subject to the necessary planning, permit

and regulatory approvals. Where necessary, the need for PCIs shall be reassessed in a subsequent PCI identification process.

All PCIs are subject to the same rights and obligations established under the TEN-E Guidelines. 2.13. Can you clarify the difference between works and studies with pilot deployment?

In particular, can you clarify why "deploying an existing service or technology" would be different from "developing new technology solutions"? Is there a definition in terms of the size of the budget which would determine whether a proposal is that for works or studies with pilot deployment? "Studies with pilot deployment" remain "studies" in the sense that they always have an experimental nature and that the expected results have not yet been fully validated. "Studies with

pilot deployment" correspond to the last stage of testing before the final implementation of a project. Though "studies with pilot deployment" imply "real-life trials", the scale of the trials remains limited compared to the final projects and there is always a risk that the results of the real-life trials would lead to the non-implementation of the technology. These studies are mainly used to bridge the gap between the demonstration and the market roll out. Works proposals relate to the roll out itself.

See also the definition of "works" in the Glossary of the Synergy Guide for applicants. 3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – APPLICANTS

3.1. Who can apply to receive financial support under the CEF Synergy call for

proposals 2016?

According to section 6.1 of the call text, applications can be presented by:

• one or more Member States, and / or

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• with the agreement of the Member States concerned, by international organisations, joint undertakings, or public or private undertakings or bodies or entities established in Member States.

Proposals may be submitted by entities which do not have legal personality under the applicable

national law, provided that their representatives have the capacity to assume legal obligations on their behalf and offer a guarantee for the protection of the Union's financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

Project proposals submitted by natural persons are not eligible.

Participation of applicants from third countries is also possible under certain conditions (see FAQ 5.8).

3.2. Who is responsible for determining the legal status of applicants?

It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify their legal status against the applicable national legislation and the definition of public sector bodies provided in the Guide for Applicants. Should clarifications on the legal status be necessary, applicants may be contacted during the evaluation

of proposal.

3.3. According to the definition of "public sector body" in the Guide for Applicants and

FAQ 2.5, an entity must be "established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character" to be assimilated to a public body. Are TSOs or DSOs considered as having industrial or commercial character?

The determination in this respect can only be done on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the

company's act of establishment and statutes.

3.4. If a limited liability company performing an industrial and commercial activity is fully owned by an entity that in turn is majority-owned by the State, can it be considered a public undertaking if it also performs a public service under a close control by administrative authorities?

To be considered a public body a company must meet all the conditions in the definition above (see

FAQ 2.5). If a company's main activity is that of an industrial and commercial character, it cannot be considered as meeting condition a) above, even if it also performs a public service mandated by the State.

3.5. If a company that is legally and financially autonomous and operating under commercial law has a minority-shareholder which is majority-owned by the State, can it be considered a public undertaking?

To be considered a public body a company must meet all the conditions in the definition above (see FAQ 2.5).

In this case and on the basis of the information provided, the condition c): financed, for the most part by the State, or regional or local authorities, or other bodies governed by public law; or subject to management supervision by those bodies; or having an administrative, managerial or supervisory board, more than half of whose members are appointed by the State, regional or local authorities or by other bodies governed by public law may not be sufficiently demonstrated.

3.6 What is a “private undertaking or body” and can you provide example of “private undertakings”?

A private undertaking is an entity not governed by public law or which do not meet the definition of public body (see definition in the guide for applicants).

Examples of “private undertakings” which may be eligible under CEF synergy 2016-1call may include: private companies, start-up companies, etc.

3.7. What should be the role of SMEs as participants in CEF projects?

There is no specific role or conditions for SMEs under the CEF Programme. SMEs are treated as any other applicants and must respect the eligibility and selection criteria of the call.

3.8. What is an affiliated entity? When can affiliated entity participate in the proposal?

Affiliated entity is an entity affiliated to the beneficiary within the meaning of Article 122 of the

Financial Regulation, available at the following link: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32012R0966.

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Applicants of the CEF Synergy call may designate affiliated entities to support the implementation of the proposed Action. Such designated affiliated entities must comply with the eligibility criteria for applicants and declare that they do not fall within one of the exclusion situations referred to in

section 6.2 of the call. 3.9.Can a proposal be submitted by a public entity which is not a Member State?

Yes, in line with section 6.1 of the call, public entities which are not a Member State ministry can submit an application, provided they have secured the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned by the proposed Action (application form A2.3 duly signed and stamped).

3.10. Can a proposed Action be submitted by a private company or a non-profit organisation without involving public entities or as coordinating applicant with other public entities?

Yes. Private entities (regardless if they are profit or non-profit organisations) can submit proposals without involving public entities whether in a multi-applicant proposal with other private and/or public entities or as single applicants, provided that they can demonstrate the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned by the proposed Action (application form A2.3 duly signed and stamped).

All applicants must also comply with other applicable provisions, notably in respect of its operational and financial capacity.

3.11. Can research institutions participate in the CEF Synergy calls?

Research institutions may apply for funding, as long as they comply with the eligibility criteria for applicants and actions proposed for funding as laid down in the work programme and the call for proposals. Research activities per se are however not funded under the CEF.

3.12. Can you apply as a single applicant or do you need partners to submit a proposal?

Both options are possible: you can apply as a single applicant or as a part of a multi-applicant proposal. The agreement of the Member State(s) concerned by the proposed Action is to be

secured in both cases.

3.13. Can a proposal imply participation of partners outside the EU?

As stated in section 6.1 of the call text, applicants from outside the EU can participate in the current calls for proposals, under certain conditions.

More specifically, applications may be presented by neighbouring countries or entities established in neighbouring countries, with the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned. They may not

receive financial assistance unless it is indispensable for the achievement of the objectives of a given project of common interest.

In addition to the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned, proposals with participation of such entities must also provide a declaration on why the participation of the neighbouring country applicant is necessary and/or indispensable (Annex B-IV of the application form part B) and, for entities established in neighbouring countries, proof of the support of the neighbouring country authorities (Annex III of the application form part B).

Please see section 5.3.5 of the Guide for Applicants for specific requirements.

3.14. Is there a recommended number of applicants in a proposal?

No, it is up to the applicants themselves to determine the number of applicants needed to implement the proposed Action.

3.15. What are the practical or legal arrangements to be completed for an organisation to be part of a project with an observer status, without requesting any funding for its participation? Which type of documents would the organisation be requested to provide

related to its legal entity and financial capacity?

There is no observer status in CEF applications, but applicants can participate in proposals without requesting any CEF funding. If such an organisation applies as one of the applicants in a proposal, all the necessary documents requested of applicants must be submitted in the application, even if the entity will not be receiving any CEF funding. Please also see FAQ 16.2 on the provisions of the model grant agreement regarding beneficiaries not receiving EU funding.

3.16. Can a Member State ministry which is also an official contact point for the certification of applicants participate in a call as a member of a multi-applicant proposal?

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Yes. Member States are eligible to apply for the CEF Synergy call.

3.17. Does having an applicant which is a government/public entity or having financial support of public entity have a positive impact on the evaluation of the proposal?

No, the fact that a public entity is an applicant in a proposal or financially supports the proposal does not itself influence the evaluation of the proposal.

Whether or not a public entity is an applicant or provides funding to the eligible costs depends on the nature of the proposal itself, its objectives and activities.

3.18. Can an applicant participate in a proposed Action, even though the proposed Action is not taking place in the country where this applicant is established?

Yes. There is no restriction for entities to participate only in proposed Actions implemented in the country of their establishment. In any case, the agreement of the Member State concerned by the proposed Action is compulsory.

3.19. Is the signature of a partnership/consortium/association agreement a necessary

prerequisite before submitting multi-applicant proposals?

No, such agreements are not a formal requirement for submitting a proposal. However, it is strongly recommended to sign an internal cooperation agreement in view of the implementation of

the grant agreement, if the proposal is selected for funding. The signature of such an agreement already at the application stage may nevertheless contribute to demonstrating a high level of preparedness and may underline the maturity of a proposal.

3.20. Can an entity that has never applied for EU funding apply under this call for

proposals? There is no eligibility criteria linked to past EU grants. This means that an entity that has never received an EU grant may apply under this call for proposals if the eligibility criteria related to the applicant and the project described in the work programme and in the call for proposals are met.

3.21 Can the same applicant submit more than one proposal under the CEF Synergy call?

The same applicant can submit more than one proposal under the CEF Synergy call, provided that

the proposals are related to distinct actions and that the applicant and the proposals comply with the eligibility criteria.

4. Eligibility criteria - ACTIONS

4.1. In which part of the TEN-T and TEN-E networks should the actions be deployed?

Synergy actions must contribute to the implementation of at least one project of common interest (PCI) in each of the transport and energy sectors. Such actions must be deployed on the Core and Comprehensive Network for transport with emphasis along the Core Network Corridors, while complying with the definition of PCIs under the energy sector, as well as strategic trans-European energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas in line with the TEN-T and the TEN-E Guidelines and Annexes thereto.

More specifically, synergy actions must support the implementation of the PCIs contained in the second Union list of PCIs (2nd PCI list) in the energy sector, within the scope of the global and generic objectives and priorities defined in the CEF Synergy Work Programme. 4.2. If a project addresses both the energy and transport sectors, but is considered as

a project of common interest (PCI) only in one of the two sectors, can it be eligible under

this call? No. In line with Article 7(5) of the CEF Regulation and section 6.3 of the call text, only Actions related to projects of common interest under both the TEN-T Guidelines and TEN-E Guidelines are eligible to apply for funding under the CEF Synergy call. For the definitions of PCIs in the respective sectors, please refer to FAQ 2.9 and 2.11.

4.3. Is our project considered as a project of common interest (PCI) in the energy sector

if it is included in the second PCI list adopted by the Commission in 2015?

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Yes, if a project is included in the second PCI List established in 2015 (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89 of 18 November 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013) it is considered as PCI in the energy sector.

4.4. Are all projects of common interest in the second PCI list under CEF Energy (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89) eligible for under CEF?

All electricity, gas, and CO2 PCIs are eligible for CEF funding under this call, but not the oil PCIs. Please note that the second list of PCIs does not contain any CO2 PCIs. 4.5. Is our project considered eligible as a project of common interest (PCI) in the energy sector if the project is only included in the first PCI list adopted by the Commission in 2013 but not anymore on the second list?

No, if a project is included only in the first PCI list identified in the Commission Delegated Regulation 1391/2013, it is not eligible anymore to submit proposals under the CEF Synergy 2016-1 calls for proposals. Only PCIs from the second PCI list of 2015 are eligible to apply. 4.6. Can we submit the proposal if our energy PCI is currently applying to be on the PCI list but is currently not on the second PCI list (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU)

2016/89)? No, even if your project is currently in the process of applying to be on the next PCI list, but has not been identified in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89, your proposal would not be eligible for funding under the current call for proposals. 4.7. I submitted a proposal under previous CEF Transport/Energy calls but it was not

selected for funding. Can I submit the same proposal to the CEF Synergy 2016 call?

A proposal already submitted but not selected for funding under a previous call in the field of transport or energy can be submitted to the CEF Synergy 2016 call provided it meets the criteria of the current call. Any such proposals must be submitted as a new proposal, using the application forms of the current call, encoding all the requested information in the TENtec eSubmission module, and providing the necessary supporting documents.

Any proposal submitted under the CEF Synergy 2016 call will be assessed on its own merits against the criteria set out in the call and in competition with other proposals on the basis of equal

treatment. Application forms or documents submitted to previous calls as well as the results of previous evaluations will not be taken into account in the evaluation of the current call.

4.8. Can our project be supported by CEF Synergy funding if it has received funding from other EU sources (e.g. Structural Funds)? And if is the continuation of an ongoing Action funded by CEF under previous calls?

According to the section 11.1.1 of the call texts and pursuant to Article 129 of the Financial Regulation, the same costs cannot be supported more than once by the EU budget. The same Action thus cannot be supported by different EU sources.

It is however possible that a larger project to which a proposed Action relates receives funding from different EU sources for different activities. These activities can be implemented simultaneously or at different stages of the development of such larger project. In such cases, the activities have to be operationally and financially managed and reported as separate Actions, to

exclude any ambiguity of double funding.

4.9. Our company is a transport sector project promoter and would like to submit a

proposal under the CEF Synergy call. However, we don't have a partner in the energy sector yet. How can we identify energy PCI promoters to see if they would be interested in jointly developing a proposal and/or participating in our project?

The Technical document on the PCI list published in the Synergy call webpage provides the list of promoters involved in the implementation of the specific energy PCIs. Please note that the list was elaborated when the second PCI list was approved and last updated in the beginning of October 2016. 4.10. We would like to do a feasibility study to explore ways of improving the profitability of an LNG/CNG facility by selling LNG/CNG for use in the transport sector.

Could such a study be supported under the CEF Synergy call?

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Yes, such a study could be supported under the CEF Synergy call, provided that the proposed Action contributes to at least one PCI in each sector, i.e.: the LNG terminal has to be related to one of the energy PCIs as identified in the second PCI list and contributes to a PCI in the transport sector.

However, please keep in mind the definitions of the PCI and the project promoter in Article 2 of the TEN-E Regulation. Please also note that as the proposal will be assessed notably against its direct

contribution to PCI implementation, it should demonstrate appropriate cooperation with the project promoter of the PCI. 4.11. We would like to conduct a study to explore opportunities to use energy initially stored for transport purposes (including CNG and LNG storage) for energy transmission grid balancing purposes. Would such a project be supported under CEF Synergy call?

Yes, such a study could be supported under the CEF Synergy call provided that the proposed Action contributes to at least one PCI in each sector. Namely, the energy must be fed into the transmission grid at one of the infrastructure components (e.g. transmission line, substation) which is part of the energy PCI as identified on the PCI list. In case the proposal aims to transfer energy to the electricity distribution grid, please note that

only Smart Grid are related to the medium voltage distribution grid. Please also keep in mind the definitions of the PCI and the project promoter in Article 2 of the TEN-E Regulation. Please also note that as the proposal will be assessed notably against its direct contribution to PCI implementation, it should demonstrate appropriate cooperation with the project promoter of the PCI.

4.12. The proposal relates to a study by a transport sector promoter to explore opportunities for future synergies with a PCI in the energy sector. Does the promoter of the energy PCI need to be one of the applicants in the proposal? If not, does the applicant need to provide a letter of support or any other document certifying that the energy PCI promoter has been informed and is interested in the results of the study?

While it is not mandatory, it is recommended that the proposals under the CEF Synergy call are jointly presented by promoters from the two sectors. Energy PCIs promoters are only required to be applicants in a proposal if they will participate in the implementation of the activities of the

proposed Action. In any case it is recommended that all proposals under the CEF Synergy call explain the modes of cooperation between promoters from the two sectors, including supporting documents where

available.

4.13. Could you provide examples of synergy projects in areas such as joint rights of way of transport and energy facilities or infrastructure coupling?

Joint rights of way of transport and energy facilities refer to proposals addressing possible synergies that could arise in developing transport and energy infrastructure in the same location or

along the same route (e.g. a tunnel accommodating both a railway line and an electricity transmission line).

4.14. Could you clarify what type of proposals should ensure a high-level of cybersecurity?

Proposals submitted under the CEF Synergy call should ensure a high-level of cybersecurity, as relevant to the contents of the specific proposal. 4.15. Could you confirm that a demonstration project related to the testing of a road infrastructure allowing electromobility of trucks would be eligible under this call? The technology has been already tested but a real size test in a real portion of road is needed

in order to validate important features such as safety. The prototype is not meant to remain on site once the project is ended, but this testing is paramount to be able to push the solution in the market. Such a proposal could be eligible under the call if it is implemented on the Core or Comprehensive Network and if at the same time it also relates to one of the PCIs of the energy sector, as identified

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in the second PCI list. Please note however that CEF Energy PCIs relate only to the energy infrastructure categories specified in Annex II (1) & (2) of the TEN-E Guidelines. Please also note that such a proposal should concern a real-life trial (not just a demo) as described

in section 2 of the call text, as this aspect will be assessed during the evaluation under the relevance criterion.

Alternatively, we invite applicants to consider the 2016 CEF transport calls that have been published in October 13.

4.16. According to section 6.3 "Eligible actions" of the call text, actions may be deployed on both the Comprehensive and the Core Network for transport. However, the text also specifies that priority will be given to actions contributing to the implementation of Core

Network Corridors. How will such prioritisation be done in practice during the evaluation?

This aspect will be taken into account during the assessment of the 'relevance' criterion, which also refers to the EU added value of the proposal in light of the definition of the TEN-T Guidelines. While projects deployed on the Comprehensive Network for transport can be funded, in comparative terms proposals addressing the Core Network Corridors have more chances to be funded under the

CEF Synergy call. 4.17. Would a proposal which relates to energy storage other than of CNG or LNG and aims at both balancing the energy grid and supplying the transport sector be supported under the CEF Synergy call? Yes, in principle proposals related to any energy storage could be supported under the CEF

Synergy call, provided that the proposed Action contributes to at least one PCI in each sector. As an example, the energy must be fed into the transmission grid at one of the infrastructure elements (e.g. transmission line, substation) which is part of the energy PCI as identified on the PCI list. In case the proposal aims to transfer energy to the energy distribution grid, please note that CEF

Energy PCIs relate to the transmission grid and not the distribution grid (except for smart grid PCIs).

Please keep in mind that, as described in section 2 of the call text, if a trial test is foreseen as a part of the action, such proposals should aim at conducting a real-life trial of a limited size, in order to investigate/test the possibilities for a future roll-out (= works). The size of the trial should be big enough to be able to reliably extrapolate to the roll-out and prepare a realistic business plan which

could be the basis of a future investment. 4.18. In many Energy-PCIs the term "increase of capacity" is mentioned. May this also be interpreted as increase of virtual capacity? The increase of capacity is an objective of many energy PCIs who often have to improve their capacity in their implementation. A proposal aiming at studying an increase of virtual capacity

could therefore fall under the scope of the synergy call. Please keep in mind that, as described in section 2 of the call text, such proposals should aim at conducting a real-life trial of a limited size, in order to investigate/test the possibilities for future use. 4.19. What is meant by market-sided innovation in relation to a CEF Synergy proposal?

The concept of market-sided innovation refers to the optimisation process which brings innovative ideas developed in research and demo projects to the (mass-) market, by bridging as quickly as possible the gap between the two stages of development. For synergy proposals, the real-life trials are encouraged to focus on two income streams from both transport and energy sectors, so that viability of the concept is reached even faster.

An example would be a proposal which would examine the possibility to store energy bought during either periods of low demand or when the energy supply (i.e. from alternative energy sources – with possible very low marginal costs) is abundant and selling it either back to the grid during periods of high demand or for the use in the transport sector.

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See also FAQ 4.15. 4.20. Why does the CEF Synergy call require proposals which contribute to at least one PCI in each sector when PCIs in the energy sector are distributed unevenly across the

EU? Does not this create inequalities between the Member States? This requirement stems from the CEF Regulation, which Article 7(5) provides that only those

actions contributing to projects of common interest under at least two sectors of the CEF can be eligible under a synergy call for proposals. The list of PCIs in the energy sector includes at least one gas or electricity PCI in each of the EU Member States. This list is drawn up in a process which involves the stakeholders active in the energy sector at European and national level, taking into consideration policy objectives, geographical constraints and the needs of the Member State and the region.

See also FAQ 2.10. 4.21. Are there any specific participation conditions applying to the applicants included in a proposal?

The Applicant is expected to be the entity responsible for implementing the action and which will incur the related estimated eligible costs. This is without prejudice of the right of Member States

and International Organisation to designate implementing bodies to execute the action and of the public and private bodies to designate affiliated companies to implement the action. It is the responsibility of the Partners to agree on the design of the proposal and in particular the list of applicants.

All applicants of a proposal are subject to the conditions of participation to the Call for proposals, in particular the eligibility and selection criteria for applicants. Notably, applicants shall not be in any of the exclusion situation as listed in section 6.2 of the Call for proposals. For further details, please

refer to sections 6 and 7 of the Call for proposals.

If the proposal is selected for funding, the applicants concerned are expected to become the beneficiaries of the grant agreement to be signed with the Agency. During the action implementation, beneficiaries will be subject to the rights and obligations as specified in the grant agreement, notably in terms of technical and financial reporting. Specific tasks and responsibilities will also be allocated to the beneficiary, which holds the role of coordinator according to the grant

agreement. Please also note that the costs incurred by a beneficiary should comply with eligibility criteria as specified in Article II.19 of the model grant agreement. For further details on the terms

and conditions of CEF grants, please refer to section 11 of the Call text, as well as the model grant agreement (notably Articles II.1, II.9, II.10, II.19, II.20, II.23 and II.27), which are available on the Call page.

4.22. Could a project consisting in a large-scale deployment of LNG refuelling stations for

road transport in Europe be funded under the CEF Synergy call?

The CEF Synergy call, as described in section 2, targets proposals which contribute to the implementation of at least one PCI in the transport and one PCI in the energy sector. So, first and foremost, such a proposal must be clearly linked to one of the energy PCIs as identified in the second PCI list.

Furthermore, only studies (with or without pilot deployment) will be funded under this call. The pilot activities of a study may include the deployment of a certain type of infrastructure or

technology but on a limited scale and at a reasonable price and with the objective of testing and validating the viability of the innovative actions proposed for future scale up and roll out. A

proposal for a large-scale deployment would fall under the definition of works and thus cannot be funded under the CEF Synergy call.

Alternatively, we invite applicants to consider the 2016 CEF transport calls that have been published on October 13, 2016.

4.23. Are proposals concerning real life trial related to, for example, road infrastructure for dynamic electromobility (not recharging) or hydrogen trains eligible under the CEF Synergy call?

The CEF Synergy call, as described in section 2, targets proposals which contribute to the implementation of at least one PCI in the transport and one PCI in the energy sector. So, first and

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foremost, such a proposal must be clearly linked to one of the energy PCIs as identified in the second PCI list. If the proposal only relates to the transport sector, it will not be eligible under the CEF Synergy

call. Alternatively, we invite applicants to consider the 2016 CEF transport calls that have been published on October 13, 2016. However, if the proposal also contributes to the implementation of a CEF Energy PCI (see Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89), then, it could be eligible

under the CEF Synergy Call for proposals. 5. MEMBER STATES' SUPPORT

5.1. What is the definition of "Member State concerned" by the proposed Action?

'Member State concerned' should be understood as the Member State in the territory of which the proposed Action is planned to be (or is being) implemented.

5.2. What are the responsibilities of a Member State agreeing to a proposal submitted under the CEF Synergy 2016 call?

The agreement of a Member State on proposals submitted under the CEF Synergy 2016 call provides reassurance to the Commission that the Member State(s) concerned by a given proposal is duly informed of an Action that will be or is being implemented on its territory and/or by a

beneficiary established on its territory.

The agreement by a Member State to a proposal does not imply a financial commitment of the

Member State to the proposed Action.

Furthermore, in line with Article 22 of the CEF Regulation, Member States are entrusted with the technical monitoring, financial control and certification of funded action and/or of beneficiaries' expenditure. These tasks may be undertaken by the Member State in which the beneficiary is established, or by the Member State which has approved the proposal.

Please refer to the model grant agreement for more details about this obligation (Article II.23).

5.3. Who is responsible for giving an approval on behalf of a Member State?

It is the sole responsibility of each Member State to define the Ministry and the person(s) authorised to endorse the proposal by signing the application form part A2.3.

A Member State may have a particular process in place for providing its approval for proposals under CEF Transport calls for proposals. It is strongly recommended that applicants contact the

relevant Member State authorities at an early stage of the preparation of proposals to clarify any specific procedures for obtaining such approval.

A list of Member State contact points for CEF Transport is available on the call webpage: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/cef_transport_contact_persons.pdf

A list of contact points for the CEF Energy is available on the call webpage: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/cef_ener_coordination_committee_-_contact_list.pdf

5.4. If the proposed Action is to be carried out on the territory of several Member States but there is only one applicant in the proposal, do all Member States need to sign

the proposal? And if so, how this agreement should be provided?

If a proposal is to be carried out on the territory of several Member States, all these Member States must provide their agreement to the proposal, even if there is only one applicant.

The agreement of the Member State concerned should be provided in application form A2.3, which

must be completed, signed and stamped by the concerned EU Member State. It must be scanned and uploaded as a supporting document before proposal submission.

The eSubmission module provides a possibility to enter information of only one approving Member

State per applicant. There is no possibility to add additional tabs for Member State information for the same applicant. In case your proposal involves only one applicant but requires agreement of more than one Member State, the information on one of the concerned Member States must be included within the eSubmission module. The Word version of the application form part A available on the call webpages must be used in order to provide the information of the remaining concerned Member States.

5.5. Is it possible that only one Member State provides its support to a proposal submitted by several applicants established in different Member States?

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According to section 6.1 of the call text, the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned is to be provided for all applicants which are not a Member State. In multi-applicant proposals, each applicant must receive the approval of a Member State concerned and all Member States concerned by the proposed Action must give the approval to at least one of the applicants.

As stated in FAQ 5.1, 'Member State concerned' should be understood as the Member State on the territory of which the proposed Action is planned to be (or is being) implemented.

This means that applicants can receive the endorsement from a Member State that is not the

Member State where they are established.

Please see General FAQ 5.2 regarding the responsibilities of a Member State agreeing to a proposal submitted under the CEF Synergy 2016 call.

5.6. Can a public entity submit a proposal with the endorsement of the Ministry of which this public entity is dependant?

Yes, if the Ministry of which this public entity is dependant can be considered as a competent

Ministry, it may then provide such an approval by signing the application form part A2.3.

5.7. Can an applicant send a copy of the approval of the national ministry and only send the original version upon request?

As the Guide for Applicants explains, once the information on the Member State representative approving the application is entered in the system, the form must be printed, signed and stamped

by the Member State. The signed version of this document then must be scanned and uploaded into TENtec eSubmission module as a separate and well-identified document. There is no need to send any physical copies or the original of the document. However, applicants must be able to provide the original documents and send them to INEA or the European Commission upon request.

5.8. Application form part A2.3 asks for approval of an EU Member State. A proposed Action and a PCI to which it relates is not located in an EU Member State. Is EU Member State approval needed in this case? Yes, as mentioned in the call for proposals and in the application form, proof of support of one of the EU Member State(s) concerned by the PCI(s) to which the proposed Action relates is necessary

for applications filed by third countries or entities from third countries. Please note that in addition, such applicants must also provide the following information:

a declaration on why the participation of the applicant is indispensable (Annex B-IV to the application form part B), and

proof of support of the third country authorities (Annex B-III to the application form part B).

If possible, it is recommended that any proposals that include applicants from third countries are submitted jointly with applicants established in the EU. 5.9. Do we need approval of an EU Member State if the project promoter from that Member State will not take part in the application?

As stated in Article 9 of the CEF Regulation, "Proposals shall be submitted […] with the agreement

of the Member States concerned". 'Member State concerned' should be understood as the Member State in the territory of which the proposed Action is planned to be (or is being) implemented.

If the activities of the proposed Action are taking place on a territory of a Member State, its approval is necessary even if there is no applicant from that Member State participating in the application. If none of the activities takes place in such Member State and none of the applicants is

established in that Member State, then its approval is not needed. 5.10. How can entities established in third countries provide evidence of the support of an EU Member State? Is there a template letter which can be provided by INEA? By which national authority shall this support be provided?

The support of an EU Member State is provided by filling in the application form part A2.3 and having it signed by a competent Ministry of a Member State concerned by the proposal or the PCI.

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The list of contact points in the transport and energy sector is available on the CEF Synergy call page (see also FAQ 5.3).

5.11. As the CEF Synergy call relates to both the transport and energy sectors, which

national authority should the applicant get the support from?

In the framework of the CEF Synergy call, the signature of only one Member State authority for each applicant is sufficient. Each applicant can therefore choose to contact the national authority in the transport or energy sector.

The list of Member States contact point under CEF Transport is available on:

https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/2016-cef-synergy-call

The list of Member states contact point under CEF Energy is available on: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/cef_ener_coordination_committee_-_contact_list.pdf

5.12 Does an Applicant need the agreement of the Member State of establishment if this one is not the Member State concerned by the proposed action?

No, only the Member State(s) on the territory of which the proposed Action is planned to be (or is being) implemented needs to give its agreement by signing application form A2.3. Please also refer

to FAQ 5.1 and 5.9.

5.13 In case of a study with pilot deployment involving two Member States but where the physical intervention is planned in the territory of only one Member State, is it necessary to have the agreement of both Member States or only of one?

As mentioned in FAQ 5.1, the Member State concerned by the Action is considered the one on the territory of which the proposed Actions is planned to be (or is being) implemented.

If the study covers two Member States but only one is concerned by the physical intervention, only the latter is required to be asked to provide its agreement by signing application form A.2.3.

6. COMPLIANCE WITH EU LAW

6.1. Should section I of Application Form C on compliance with EU environmental policy be filled in for any type of action?

No. Section I of Application Form C should be filled in only for actions which relate to studies with

physical interventions.

6.2. What activities can be considered as physical interventions?

There is no exhaustive list of types of physical interventions but some examples, also mentioned in the Guide for Applicants, are excavations, destructive tests, installation of antennas. Building / construction / supplement constructions or elements of existing buildings (e.g. cables, antennas)

would also be regarded as physical interventions. Hardware installation would typically be regarded as a physical intervention, depending on the type of hardware installed. Please bear in mind that some of the hardware installations may fall under the exceptions mentioned in Section I of application form part C.

Procurement activities (e.g. management of a tender process, purchase of goods, etc.) are not regarded as physical intervention.

6.3. Is Annex C-I required for proposals which do not need to fill in Section I of the

application form part C?

No. Annex C-I is to be provided only if the reply to Point 5 of Section I of the application form part C is "NO". If your proposal is exempt of filling in Section I, then you do not need to provide Annex C-I either.

6.4. In multi-applicant proposals, is it necessary to complete a separate form C for each applicant?

The information required in application form part C refers to the proposed Action as a whole, not to

the individual contribution of each applicant and must reflect the situation in all of the Member States concerned by the proposed Action.

If the signature of different competent authorities is needed for different activities of the proposed Action, for example as far as environmental compliance, the respective sections of the application form part C can be completed as many times as the number of the respective environmental

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authorities to be consulted.

6.5. Where can we find a list of the ‘competent authorities’ that should sign application form part C and/or Annex C-I?

Each Member State defines the competent authorities responsible for the monitoring of Natura 2000 sites (Annex C-I), the EIA Directive (point 3.4) or the Water Framework Directive (point 6)

The Member State contact points referred to in FAQ 5.3 can be contacted by applicants to enquire about the contacts of the relevant competent authorities.

6.6. Would a CEF grant constitute a state aid?

CEF funding is not considered as a state aid.

6.7. In the application form part C, section IV “Compatibility with EU law on public procurement” is it sufficient if the applicant confirms the compliance of the proposed Action with national law transposing European Directives?

The question in section III of the application form part C aims to establish whether the proposed Action is to be implemented in compliance with EU law on public procurement, especially with Directives 2004/18/EC and 2004/17/EC as amended. If the answer to this question is ‘yes’, no

further information from the applicant is necessary. Should the answer be ‘no’, further explanations should be included.

7. SELECTION CRITERIA: FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY

7.1. Shall all applicants demonstrate their financial and operational capacity?

No. Applicants which fall into one of the following categories do not have to demonstrate their financial and operational capacity:

- Member States,

- Neighbouring/third countries,

- Transmission System Operator certified in accordance with Article 10 or 11 of Directive 2009/72/EC or Directive 2009/73/EC

- Public sector undertakings or bodies established in the EU,

- International organisations,

- Joint Undertakings,

European Economic Interest Groupings are not required to demonstrate their financial and

operational capacity, if they are 100% owned by public bodies.

7.2. If the result of the financial capacity check is 'weak', should we submit a letter of support from a parent company or a third party?

The letter of support is only necessary if the applicant has been operating for less than one year. In such case, the letter of support can be provided by a parent company or another applicant in the proposal.

If the result of the financial capacity check is "weak", an applicant may be asked to provide a

financial guarantee. However, this is not necessary at the time of the application. It will be determined at the stage of the grant agreement preparation, if the proposal is selected for funding.

7.3. If an applicant has not been operating for the last financial year, a letter of support is required together with the positive financial capacity check for the entity providing support. Is it also necessary to include a financial guarantee?

No, a financial guarantee is not necessary at the stage of the submission of a proposal. A financial guarantee may be requested only if the proposal is selected for funding. If an applicant is newly established, a letter of support must be provided in the application, together with the financial capacity check form for the entity providing the support and financial statements of this entity (i.e. balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) for the

last financial year for which the accounts were closed. The template for the letter of support is provided in the financial capacity check form.

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7.4. Does the exact date of a TSO certification decision matter? Does it need to be a recent date and would a certification decision dated in 2012 be acceptable? According to the conditions of the call, certified TSOs are exempt from demonstrating their financial

and operational capacity, but are requested to provide their valid certification decision as part of the proposal. The date of the certification does not matter, as long as the certification decision is valid and no changes in the structure of a TSO that would require a new certification decision have

taken place. 7.5. The financial statements of the applicant from the previous years should be attached to the application. Since the company of the applicant was established only in 2015 it does not have any official financial statements yet. Should an interim financial statement be attached to the application instead?

If an applicant has not been operating for one year, a letter of support must be provided in the application, together with the financial capacity check form for the entity providing the support and financial statements of this entity (i.e. balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) for the last financial year for which the accounts were closed. The template for the letter of support is provided in the financial capacity check form.

7.6. If we have to use the Financial Capacity Check form which is structured differently from the financial statements of our company as published and audited on December 2015, do you consider that these new forms should be audited/certified? No, they do not have to be audited/certified. However, they have to reconcile overall with each other.

8. FUNDING SOURCES / FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

8.1. What are the financial instruments the calls refer to? Where is it possible to find more information about them?

In addition to grants, financial support is available to projects through innovative financial instruments such as guarantees and project bonds or other risk-taking instruments . Financial instruments are delivered through designated financial institutions, notably the European

Investment Bank (EIB) which has been entrusted by the Commission for the delivery of a number of financial instruments including CEF financial instruments. The most notable initiative launched in

the form of financial instrument to help overcome the current investment gap in the EU is the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

More information is available following the hyperlink below: http://www.eib.org/efsi/index.htm For more information on other financial instruments managed or involving the EIB, please see the following links:

http://www.eib.org/products/blending/index.htm

http://www.eib.org/products/lending/equity_funds/infrastructure_equity_funds/marguerite_fund.htm

8.2 Is it necessary to provide information on the financial sustainability of the proposed Action following its implementation? Do applicants need to explain which type of follow-up activities are foreseen?

As the CEF Synergy call will only fund studies proposals, the implementation of any future steps

are likely to depend on the results of the study. In application form D, applicants are requested to provide information on the contribution of the proposed action to the implementation of the energy

and transport PCI(s) it relates to (section 1 of Form D) as well as on the expected impact of the study on decision-making regarding PCI(s) development (section 4 of Form D). There is no specific question in the application form about the financial sustainability of a proposed Action beyond its implementation period. It is nevertheless advised to provide information on the sustainability of the

project beyond the proposed Action.

9. ELIGIBLE COSTS / CO-FUNDING RATES

9.1. Is there a maximum duration for actions submitted under the current call for proposals?

The call text indicates that the date of completion of the proposed Action should be 31 December

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2019 at the latest and applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals for studies which are mature enough to be completed by the end of 2019.

9.2. Which costs are eligible under CEF? Where is it possible to find more information

about them?

The conditions on the eligibility of costs are included in section 11.2.2 of the calls. Article II.19 "Eligible direct costs" of the model grant agreement (available on each call webpage) provide detailed descriptions of what is considered to be an eligible cost, as well as the specific eligibility

conditions linked to these costs.

Costs incurred between the date of submission of the application and the completion date of the proposed Action, which should be no later than 31 December 2019, may be considered as eligible.

For proposed Actions that have already started by the time the application is submitted, costs incurred before the date of submission will not be considered as eligible.

9.3. Is it possible to apply for CEF financing for a study which is part of a contract which

covers a number of activities and, where some of the activities under the contract (other studies) have already been contracted, delivered and/or paid?

Yes, it is still possible to apply for CEF Energy funding for those activities which haven’t yet been delivered and paid.

According to Article II.19 of the model grant agreement, costs of contracts for goods, works or services or of subcontracts are considered to be incurred when the contract or subcontract (or a part of it) is executed, i.e. when the goods, works or services are supplied, delivered or provided,

and not the date of the invoice, payment or signature of the contract. Please note that, for proposals submitted under this call, costs will be eligible, at the earliest, from the date on which the application is submitted and until the date of completion of the Action, which should be 31 December 2019 at the latest.

9.4. What is the applicable funding rate for studies with and without pilot deployment?

The maximum funding rate under this call is 60%, both for studies with or without a pilot

deployment or not.

9.5. What is the expected amount of funding that a proposal can request?

To achieve the desired European dimension, proposals requesting CEF contribution of at least €600,000 (total eligible costs of €1,000,000) are expected.

Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposal requesting other amounts considered by the applicants as appropriate to the contents of their proposal. The size of the proposal and the requested CEF funding must be commensurate to the activities of the proposed Action and will be assessed under the 'Quality' criterion. 9.6. Can an Action that has finished before the closure of the call be eligible?

Pursuant to Article 130 of the Financial Regulation, no grants may be awarded retrospectively for

actions already completed. A grant may be awarded for an action which has already begun provided that applicant(s) can demonstrate the need for starting the action prior to signature of the grant agreement. Therefore, if an action finishes before the grant agreement is signed, such action will not receive EU funding. Please note that costs are eligible, at the earliest, from the date on which the application is submitted.

9.7. Is the cost of equipment and infrastructure which is treated as capital

expenditure by the beneficiary eligible up to its entirety?

Yes, full costs of purchase of equipment and infrastructure which is treated as capital expenditure is an eligible cost based on Article 8(4) of the CEF Regulation and conditions of the call, provided such costs meet the general conditions of the eligibility of costs as laid down in Article II.19 of the model grant agreement. Depreciation costs are not eligible for purchased equipment.

9.8. How are project management costs handled under CEF calls? Can these costs be built into the actual costs for activities or could project management be a separate

activity?

These type of costs are an example of "transversal activities". The direct costs of transversal activities can be presented as a separate activity or as part of other activities, as long as they are

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clearly identified. This is a choice to be made by the applicant, depending on which option would better suit the structure of the proposed Action.

Please bear in mind that during the evaluation process the proportionality of proposed activities

and estimated costs will be thoroughly analysed and inconsistencies may lead to low scoring against the criterion of quality.

9.9. What is the minimum budget of a proposal submitted under these calls?

There is no minimum budget for proposals under this call. However, as stated in section 11.2.1 of

the call texts, to achieve the desired European dimension, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals requesting CEF contribution of at least €600,000 (total eligible costs of €1,000,000). Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

9.10. Are losses an eligible cost?

The conditions on the eligibility of costs are described in Article II.19 of the model grant agreement

available on the call webpages. Provisions for losses or debts and exchanges losses are not considered as eligible cost under CEF.

9.11. Are costs related to the preparation of proposals for CEF Synergy calls eligible?

No, costs related to the preparation of proposals for the CEF Synergy 2016 call are not eligible according to the conditions of the call for proposals section 11.2.2 and Article II.19 of the model grant agreement, as they are incurred before the submission of the application.

Please note also that costs of translation of proposals are NOT reimbursed under this call.

9.12. Are overhead costs eligible? Should they still be included in the costs of the proposed Action?

No, according to section 11.2.2 of the call texts, indirect costs – costs which are not identifiable as direct costs, but which have nevertheless been incurred in connection with eligible direct costs of the Action – are not eligible. Therefore, they should not be included in the eligible costs of the proposed Action.

9.13. Are costs incurred under employment, service and work contracts eligible?

These costs can be eligible as long as they fulfil all the eligibility conditions stated in Article II.19 of

the model grant agreement.

9.14. Are there any instructions concerning how the eligible costs included in the budget have to be considered (e.g. hourly rate for staff costs)?

Eligible costs for the work carried out under the action for all categories of personnel, other than

SME owners and natural persons not receiving a salary, may be declared using unit costs determined according to the beneficiary's/applicant's usual cost accounting practices using annual

productive hours. For more information, please Commission Decision C(2016) 478 on the reimbursement of personnel costs of beneficiaries of the Connecting Europe Facility, available on the call webpage.

All eligible costs have to comply with Article II.19 of the model grant agreement.

Personnel costs of beneficiaries may either be declared as Unit Costs or as actual personnel costs.

For the declaration of personnel as unit costs (so called 'average personnel costs') they shall be based on the beneficiaries usual cost accounting practices and in compliance with the conditions

laid down in Commission Decision C(2016) 478 available on the call webpage. The Decision also

provides that personnel costs of SME owners not receiving a salary must be declared as unit costs.

The declaration of actual personnel costs must be identifiable and verifiable; they must be necessary for implementing the action and must be actually used during the action. Evidence regarding the actual hours worked shall be provided through a time recording system for which the following minimum requirements are set out in Commission Decision C(2016)478 (see section 2.3).

9.15. Are costs relating to personnel working on an Action and staff travelling costs eligible for CEF co-funding?

In general, personnel and travel costs are eligible for reimbursement, as long as they meet the general criteria for the eligibility of costs according to Article II.19 of the model grant agreement,

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in particular that they are incurred in connection with the Action and that they are necessary for its implementation.

9.16. What is the correct way of calculating the exchange rate for application for

actions that are taking place in countries outside the euro zone?

The exchange rate used when preparing the application should be specified in the application. In converting to euros, use the monthly accounting rate established by the Commission (ideally the rate of the month of submission of the application or, if not published at the time of the submission, the rate from the preceding month). The exchange rate is published on the following

website:http://ec.europa.eu/budget/inforeuro/index.cfm?Language=en. 9.17. Are costs related with land acquisition considered as eligible costs?

No. As stipulated in Article 8(6) of the CEF Regulation, costs related to the purchase of land shall

not be an eligible cost.

9.18. The call text indicates that costs may be eligible at the earliest from the date on

which an application is submitted and up to the date of completion of the Action, which

should be 31 December 2019 at the latest. Does this imply that the proposed Action should be completed by end of 2019? What could happen in case of delays in the implementation? Would the costs incurred after 2019 not be eligible and not be funded?

The sentence in the call indeed limits the eligibility of costs until 31 December 2019, meaning that applicants will not be able to introduce any costs after 2019 in the application. More concretely,

this means that at the application stage, the submitted actions should be designed and planned so as to be completed by 31 December 2019. Where delays occur during the implementation of a selected Action for which a grant agreement has been signed, an extension of the duration of the Action may be considered in reasonable and duly justified cases, subject to the submission of a request for amendment duly substantiated by the beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of the grant agreement. Requests for extension are duly assessed by the Agency/ Commission on a case by case basis taking into account the equal treatment principle.

9.19. May a beneficiary of the CEF funding use the cost certification already used for its Horizon 2020 projects?

According to the section 11.1.1 of the call texts and pursuant to Article 129 of the Financial Regulation, the same costs cannot be supported more than once by the EU budget. In addition, CEF and H2020 templates for costs certifications are different as they accommodate the specificities of different legal basis. It is thus not possible to refer to a cost certification used to justify costs under the Horizon 2020 (presumably for activities and costs financed through H2020

Programme) to justify costs under the CEF programme.

9.20. Is it possible to include in the proposed Action sections that are not covering the intersection between the Core/Comprehensive Network for transport and the energy PCI? If yes, are these costs eligible for funding?

As indicated in section 6.3 of the call text, in line with article 7(5) of the CEF Regulation, only actions contributing to projects of common interest eligible under both the TEN-T Guidelines and

TEN-E Guidelines may receive EU financial assistance under this call, also referred to in Article 17(7) of the CEF Regulation.

Proposed Actions may be part of a global project going beyond the abovementioned part of the network. However only the costs related to the action covering the purpose of the Synergy call and

contributing to projects of common interest eligible under both the TEN-T Guidelines and TEN-E Guidelines may be eligible for funding.

10. SUBCONTRACTING / IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACTS

10.1. Is it possible to contract/ subcontract an activity (or part of an activity) to another beneficiary of the same grant agreement?

The need to contract/ subcontract an activity to another beneficiary of the same grant agreement is exceptional. It has to be duly justified and the award must be done while respecting the conditions established by Article II.9 (award of contracts) and/or Article II.10 (subcontracting) of the model grant agreement. Please note that subcontracting may be possible provided it covers the

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implementation of a limited part of the action.

10.2. Can an applicant from a Member State contract/ subcontract activities to an entity established in another Member State, and vice-versa? Is it possible to contract/

subcontract activities to an entity established outside the EU?

Contractors/ subcontractors are not applicants in a proposal and their place of establishment is thus not relevant.

All contracting/ subcontracting to be done in relation to the activities of the proposed Action should

be clearly explained in the application form part D (question 3.6).

10.3. Is subcontracting within the meaning of Article II.10 of the model grant agreement allowed for some part of the activities? If yes, what is the maximum percentage which can be subcontracted?

Yes, it is possible to subcontract the implementation of a limited part of the proposed Action. The call and the model grant agreement do not specify the maximum percentage of activities which can

be subcontracted.

If it is necessary to subcontract certain elements of the proposed Action or activities, this must be clearly identified in the application form, in particular in the application form part D, question 3.6. Proposals involving sub-contracting must explain:

• What tasks will be subcontracted and for what reasons

• How the potential subcontractor will be selected in accordance with the provisions of the grant agreement (e.g. transparency, equal treatment and best value for money)

• The basis on which the estimated cost of subcontracting has been calculated

Please note however that pursuant Article II.1.3 of the model grant agreement, the coordinator shall not subcontract any part of its project management tasks as specified in the above-mentioned article to the other beneficiaries or to any other party.

10.4. As from which date costs of contracts are considered as incurred?

According to Article II.19.1(a) of the model grant agreement, costs of contracts for goods, works or services or of subcontracts are considered to be incurred at the date when the contract or

subcontract (or a part of it) is executed, i.e. when the goods, works or services (including studies) are supplied, delivered or provided, and not the date of the invoice.

10.5. If the applicant is a public body and awards tenders for the implementation of an Action (or parts of it) to a private company, does the latter need to be also included as an applicant in the proposal? Which entity is responsible for the implementation of the Action?

Tenderers are not applicants in a proposal. If the applicant is a public body and has awarded (or foresees) tenders for the implementation of the Action (or some of the activities), this should be clearly explained in the application. Only the applicant/ so-to-be beneficiary would remain the responsible entity for the implementation of the Action in accordance with Article II.9/ Article II.10 of the model grant agreement.

10.6. Can the coordinator subcontract part of the project management tasks?

As stated in FAQ 10.3, Article II.1.3 of the model grant agreement does not allow the coordinator

to subcontract any part of its project management tasks listed in this article to the other beneficiaries or to any other party.

11. COST-BENEFIT / COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

11.1 Is a CBA required for a proposal for a study with pilot deployment?

No. However, if a CBA exists for the proposed Action, it may be included as a supporting document.

12. APPLICATION FORMS

12.1 Where can I find the application forms to be used for submission under the CEF Synergy 2016 call?

All call-related documents can be accessed on the call webpage at the following link:

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https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/2016-cef-synergy-call

12.2 How can I submit a proposal?

Applications must be submitted electronically by 13 December 2016, 17:00.00 Brussels time,

using the TENtec eSubmission module accessible at the following link:

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/tentec/grant/esubmission. The link is also available on the call

webpage.

All the required application forms (parts A, B, C and D) must be completed and all required supporting documents uploaded in the module. The Guide for Applicants available on the call

webpage provides guidance on how to fill the application forms and how to use the TENtec eSubmission module.

Any proposals or part(s) of proposals submitted by-email or in hard copy will not be admissible.

12.3 Which forms should be provided by affiliated entities?

Affiliated entities must provide the information required in the application form part A2.4, a legal entity form (see application form part B, point 1) and Annex B-II of the application form part B. They do not need to provide the Financial Identification form.

Where designated affiliated entities need to demonstrate compliance with selection criteria, this will

be requested during the grant agreement preparation.

12.1 Application form A

12.1.1 In the application form part A4.1, the list of all Actions co-financed by the EU is requested. Should all grants received in the past years by the applicant for all PCIs be listed under this question or only those actions related to the PCI concerned by the

current application?

The response should only list the actions co-financed by the EU that relate to the PCI(s) addressed by the proposal. 12.1.2 In the application form part A1, field "Summary of Action" has a limit of 2000 characters. Is it a strict limit and does it include space characters?

The technical limit of characters in this field is somewhat larger than 2,000 to allow for spaces and

other formatting characters. However, applicants must make their utmost effort to provide answers that are concise and fit within the specified limit. Please note that question 2.1 of the application form part D does not have a character limit and allows the applicants to expand on the summary of the proposed Action and activities, consistent

with the information provided in the application form part A. 12.1.3. Application form part A2.2 and A2.3 requires the forms to be signed. How can these be uploaded into the system? As described in the Guide for Applicants, once the information on either the representative authorised to sign the application or the Member State providing support is entered in the system,

the respective form should be printed and signed. The signed version of the document must then be scanned and uploaded into TENtec eSubmission module as a separate and well-identified document. Please note that applicants must be able to provide the original documents and send them to INEA/Commission upon request.

12.1.4.In the application form part A3.1 is it possible to only indicate a location in a third country? Yes, it is possible. 12.1.5 Does an implementing body need to submit application form parts A2.1, A2.2, the legal entity form, the financial entity form and/or Annex B-1 required of applicants?

No. None of the above-mentioned forms are required for the implementing body. However, the Member State or international organisation which is designating the implementing body must include the implementing body's administrative information in the application form part A2.3.

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12.2 Application form Part B 12.2.1 Is it possible to re-use the Legal Entity Form and/or Financial Identification Form

used for the proposal submitted under previous CEF call?

The validity period for the Legal Entity Form and/or Financial Identification Form is established at 6

months. If the previously provided forms are older than 6 months, the applicant will have to provide a new Legal Entity Form and/or Financial Identification Form.

12.3 Application form D 12.3.1. Are annexes included in the 40 pages limit for application form part D? Which are

the consequences if the 40 pages limit is not respected?

Annexes are not included in the 40-page limit for application form part D. However, annexes that are not specifically requested will not systematically be read for the purposes of the evaluation.

12.3.2. Can hyperlinks to supporting documents/evidence be inserted into application form part D (e.g. statements of strategy or government policy documents)?

Please note that only the information contained in the application forms (A, B, C and D) will be used for the evaluation of proposals. Therefore, the information provided must be complete, clear

and self-explanatory. Hyperlinks may be inserted to illustrate or expand on information already provided, however they will not be systematically referred to.

13. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

13.1. Is the use of the Interactive Map Editor mandatory or can maps created with other tools and be uploaded?

The use of the Interactive Map Editor (IME), embedded in the TENtec eSubmission module, is compulsory for the geographical information required in the proposal and the system will not allow the submission of the application if the Interactive Map Editor is not completed. The IME requires the applicant to submit the location of the proposed Action by entering at least one point, one line or one polygon as its geographic representation. The data entered in the IME will be used as the

main source of information on the location of the proposed Action during the evaluation of the

submitted proposals. It is therefore in the interest of the applicant to provide such information and at a sufficient level of detail using the Interactive Map Editor.

IME also allows import of GIS data from other sources and in various formats. Please refer to the user manual available on the call webpage for more details.

Any further graphical information on the location of the proposed Action can be uploaded as part of the application form part D or as supporting documents.

14. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

14.1. Do the supporting documents also need to be submitted in English or together with an English translation, if submitted in another EU official language?

Proposals will be evaluated in English. Consequently, as stated in section 13.2 of the call texts, it is strongly recommended that applications are submitted in English or together with an English

translation. This concerns the application form parts A, B, C, D. Other supporting documents do not need to be translated. Please refer to section 6 of the Guide for Applications for more information.

15. eSUBMISSION MODULE / SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

15.1 Could you confirm that only an electronic submission is required?

Yes, only electronic submission of proposals in TENtec eSubmission module is necessary under the

current call. For full details of the submission procedure, please refer to the section 6. Admissibility requirements of the call text and the Guide for Applicants.

15.2 Do applicants need to submit any original copies of the signed documents by post or

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should they only be available upon request?

As indicated in section 6.1 of the Guide for Applicants: "For any parts of the application requiring signatures or stamps (e.g. forms A2.2, A2.3, annexes B-I, B-II and B-III, C-I), the signed,

stamped and dated originals must be scanned and uploaded in the TENtec eSubmission module's "Supporting Documents" section, under "Additional supporting documents for application. Applicants must keep the originals and provide them to INEA/Commission upon request."

Therefore, original copies of signed documents should not be submitted by post but should be kept

by the applicant and be available upon request from INEA. To this end, for multi-applicant proposals, it is up to the applicants to decide whether the coordinating applicant keeps the originals for all the other applicants or if they are kept by each applicant.

15.3. Is it possible for a third-party (e.g. consultant), which is not an applicant, to complete and submit the application forms electronically, using the TENtec eSubmission module on behalf of the coordinating applicant and all the other applicants?

It is within the sole responsibility of applicants to organise the process of the preparation and encoding of their application.

Please note that, in order to be able to use the TENtec eSubmission module, the users must have an ECAS account and these accounts are linked to individual users (natural persons). The

modalities to create an ECAS account are described in section 4 of the Guide for Applicants.

The user that has created the application in the first place (the application owner) is the only one that can submit the application. Please be aware that it is not possible to change the application

owner in the TENtec eSubmission module after the proposal is created.

In case a third-party is preparing the application on behalf of an applicant, it is recommended that the applicant creates the new application (thus becomes the application owner) and adds the third-party as a contributor. Once all the encoding is done, the application owner will be able to submit the application and will be the only one entitled to do so.

16. GRANT AGREEMENT PREPARATION / MANAGEMENT

16.1 When would a grant agreement be signed for a proposal selected under this call?

As indicated in section 5 "Indicative timetable" of the call for proposals, the preparation of the

individual grant agreements for proposals is foreseen to start as of May 2017. Grant agreements

for proposals selected for funding are expected to be signed within 9 months of the call deadline,

i.e. by September 2017. The precise signature dates will vary depending on the progress of

preparation with the beneficiaries of an individual grant.

16.2 Can an applicant participate in a proposal without declaring costs and without receiving EU funding (e.g. it could be the case for a partner with very limited tasks for which the administrative burden to declare costs and be co-funded would be inefficient)?

Yes, the model grant agreement provides a possibility for participation of beneficiaries without

declaring costs and without receiving EU funding. For more information about the implementation of Action tasks by beneficiaries not receiving EU funding, please refer to Article 18 of the model grant agreement, available on the call webpage.

16.3 Can a payment made by INEA (based on reimbursement of eligible costs for each beneficiary) be then shared differently amongst the beneficiaries?

INEA determines the final amount of the grant on the basis of eligible costs incurred for the action by each beneficiary and according to the applicable co-funding rate, and will pay the coordinator

accordingly as stated in the grant agreement. It is the responsibility of the coordinator of the action to distribute the received funding amongst the different beneficiaries. Any further redistribution is subject to the agreement between the beneficiaries, regardless if it is part of the consortium agreement or of any other internal arrangements.

16.4. What are the conditions related to the ownership of the results of the action by the beneficiaries of CEF Synergy grants?

As indicated in Article II.8.1 of the model grant agreement, unless stipulated otherwise in the individual grant agreement, ownership of the results of the action, including industrial and intellectual property rights, and of the reports and other documents relating to it, shall be vested in the beneficiaries.

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16.5 Is there any official template for an internal cooperation agreement between the beneficiaries referred to in Article 12 of the model grant agreement?

No, there is no such template. Nevertheless, when preparing and signing such an agreement, beneficiaries must ensure that it is consistent with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement to be signed with the Agency, in line with Article II.1 (c) / II.1.1 (c) of the model grant agreement:

"The beneficiaries shall: (…) (c) make appropriate internal arrangements for the proper implementation of the action,

consistent with the provisions of this Agreement; where provided for in the Special Conditions, those arrangements shall take the form of an internal co-operation agreement between the beneficiaries."

It should be noted that under the CEF-Synergy-2016-1 call, the signature of an internal cooperation agreement is not mandatory. However, it is strongly recommended in view of the implementation of the grant agreement, if the proposal is selected for funding.

16.6. How many months does the approval of a request for payment take?

This depends on the type of payment involved. The Agency must pay the amount of the pre-financing to the coordinator within 30 days upon entry into force of the grant agreement. The time limit for the balance of payment is 90 days. See the provisions of Article 4 of the model grant agreement, available on each individual call webpage, for more information on payment arrangements.

16.7. What if the real costs of an action differ from the estimated costs provided in the

application?

The proposal can only be prepared on the basis of estimated costs. However, all payments during the lifetime of the action are based on the real costs incurred. The individual grant agreement indicates a maximum amount of funding per proposal and a maximum funding rate. The aggregated payments can never go beyond the maximum amount awarded to the action and indicated in the individual grant agreement. The final amount of the grant will be determined on

the basis of actually incurred costs in accordance with Article II.25 of the model grant agreement.

16.8. Is the Member State authority approving a proposal submitted under the CEF Synergy call financially liable, should the applicant not deliver the requested results and is incapable to pay back the money which was granted to it?

A Member State approving a proposal will not be financially liable should the beneficiaries of a grant not meet the requested results.

16.9. How is the grant awarded to successful applicants in a multi-beneficiary proposal?

Is the grant distributed solely to the coordinating beneficiary or is it distributed to each beneficiary according to the activities it is planning to carry out?

Section 11.2.3 of the Call for proposals provides that the coordinator will have inter alia the responsibility for receiving the payment(s) made by the Agency. The coordinator will then be responsible for "[ensuring] that all the appropriate payments are made to the other beneficiaries without unjustified delay…" in accordance with Article II.1.3 (e) of the model grant agreement. It is therefore the responsibility of the coordinator to make the appropriate payments to each of the

beneficiaries after each payment from the Agency to the coordinator.

16.10. May additional applicants be added to a proposal at the grant agreement preparation stage if there is a redistribution of tasks amongst the applicants and the overall budget does not change?

Yes. However, these changes must be duly justified during the grant agreement preparation and there cannot be any changes to the maximum CEF funding allocated to the action. In addition, new

applicants will have to fulfil the eligibility and selection criteria as outlined in sections 6 and 7 of the call text.

16.11. Is there a specific project management model/method that should be used in the eventual project management of the proposed Action?

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Applicants are free to use any project management method – there is no recommended or required style to be used for the grant management. In any case, any arrangement agreed between applicants shall not undermine the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.

16.12. We submitted a proposal under a call which has since closed, and now we realize that there is an inconsistency in the order of the activities that we provided in the application. Is this something that we can rectify in the grant agreement preparation if our proposed Action is selected for funding?

Yes. If the inconsistency only refers to ordering of activities/names, this can be clarified during the grant agreement preparation.

16.13. Does the beneficiary of a funded pilot project have the obligation to retrieve the pilot infrastructure once the proposed Action is implemented or can it remain at the pilot

site?

The infrastructure funded through CEF Synergy call must remain at the pilot site during the implementation of the proposed Action. Once the proposed Action has been completed, there is no specific obligation to retrieve the pilot infrastructure nor to keep it.

17. SELECTION PROCESS

18. MISCELLANEOUS