FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The procedure for creation of the Pre-application form for an integrated project on Synergie CTE involves at the beginning the sending of request from the Lead Partner to the JS for creation of the Pre-application form at : programme_med@REGIONPACA.FR You should attentively follow the instructions of the Synergie guide for integrated projects – Guide for the pre application (Interreg Med Programme website : http://interreg-med.eu/en/synergie-guides/).

If you want to create a proposal as Lead Partner, kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: name of your organisation, ASP/Synergie number and user name. If you are going to participate as project partner, you will receive the confirmation e-mail only if your proposal is approved.

If you want to create a proposal as Lead Partner, kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: Acronym of the proposal, Axis – Objective, Type of projects, ASP number of the organization (LP), Name of the contact person, Address of the contact person, E-mail address.  

Very often this occurs because you changed your profile on the system. Only “Project coordinator (Lead Partner’s profile)” have access to the Application. If this is your case kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: the acronym and the Synergie number of the proposal, LP organisation and your username.  

Each Lead Partner account only allows to create one project proposal. If you want to create another proposal you will have to create another Lead Partner account using a different e-mail address.

Your proposal is on the system but you changed your profile and now you are considered as a simple project partner, this is the reason why have no access. In order to correct this situation, kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr writing “Synergie” in the object of your mail , and including in the text of your message the following information: name of your organisation, ASP/Synergie number and user name.

It is highly recommended not to work several persons at the same time in the same proposal. The system may loose or have problems to save some information.

As the proposal is already created in the system, you can make this change directly in the system. If the Lead Patner is leaving the project you should erase the partner from the list of the partners. However, in case you wish to keep this organisation in the partnership but only as project partner, unclick the box “is this partner the Lead Partner ?” in the partner’s details and then choose your Lead Partner by ticking the box “is this partner the Lead Partner” , to give the possibility to the contacts of the structure to have the profiles granted for Lead Partners.

At the first stages of the application it is only the Lead Partner that is allowed to create an account. If the project is approved, then the partners will have access to Synergie CTE.

At the first stages of the application it is only the Lead Partner that is allowed to create an account. If the project is approved, then the partners will have access to Synergie CTE.

At the application stage, only Lead Partner coordinator profile should have access to the Application form. Partners will have access only to the approved projects.

At the application stage, only Lead Partner coordinator profile should have access to the Application form. Partners will have access only to the approved projects.

Kindly make sure that you fill in all the relevant information of this section before clicking on the first save button: starting date, ending date, title in English, title in French, Short description in English, Short description in French, Reference language.

It means that you did not use the administrative code format. Please find the list of the authorised administrative codes and the format in which these codes should be presented in the Appendix B of the Synergie guide.

The validation of the organisation will be performed by the MA after the closure of the call. Please do not take into consideration this comment.

No, this is not possible.

You can not remove completely the partner from your proposal. Removed partners will appear crossed out.

Kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: acronym of the proposal, old type of project and new type of project. Please note that if the type of project is changed information already included in your work plan would be lost.

Kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: acronym of the proposal, old axis – objective and new axis – objective.

Kindly note that the correct amount is the one included in table D.1. The IT team will correct the incoherence after the submission of the proposals.

Yes, you must go to tab “Description”, change your acronym and fill in all the information requested. Then click on the first save button.

For the fist call of “modular projets”, kindly include as staring date of your poject September 1st, 2016.

Before creating the activities you must change the sarting and ending date of your proposal. If, despite, this you cannot create activities, kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr writing “Synergie” and “dates”in the object of your mail , and including in the text of your message the following information: acronym of the proposal.

Due to a dysfunction of the online monitoring tool this information will not be requested in the first call for modular projects.

Only one target group can be selected for each activity, please chose the main target group for each activity. If there are other target groups involved please include it in the comment. Kindly remember that all the target groups selected would be used in section “C.2.2 Target groups” (see Step # 12 of the Synergie guide), so please be sure that that all relevant target groups have been selected at least one along the Application Form.

This comment box can not be removed from the system but it does not have to be filled in in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme. Please do not take into consideration this comment.

In the section – Enter main elements – / – Working Plan -, the field regarding the description of the work package (as well as the field – Supply -) should not be completed. Those comment boxes cannot be removed from the system but they do not have to be filled in in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme. The description of the Work Packages should only be completed once, via the index (C.5 Work plan, from C.5.3 to C.5.20, choosing only the WPs relevant for your project type), with a limitation of 2000 character maximum per each WP description.

In the section – Enter main elements -, tab – Indicators -, no information should be completed. Those comment boxes cannot be removed from the system but they do not have to be filled in in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme.

Those activities are considered “pilot activities” and you have to tick on “Is a pilot activity” in order to make them appear on the list.

The fields of this section should not be completed. The budget should only be completed via the Enter main elements -> Work Plan -> Work Package -> Expenditure forecast. No sub-categories should be created, nor cost units. Please refer to Step # 11 of Synergie guide, last paragraph, for further information.

In this section kindly include information only in line with relevant partners and activities to be implemented outside the MED area. Activities to be implemented by partners outside the MED area should not be included. Not relevant lines may remain empty.

In this section kindly include information only in line with relevant partners and activities. Please note that a line is created per partner and activity belonging to a WP where the partners has budget. Do not take into consideration the amount displayed, because that is the total amount of the WP and not of the activity. Please do not take into consideration the last amount of the page. Not relevant lines may remain empty. Please check Step # 11 of the Synergie guide for further information regarding the information to be included in concerned lines.

You do not have to fill in this section on the System but to handwrite the information needed after the validation of the Application Form on Synergie.

The associated partner should be registered under the status “Associated” in the description of the partner (step # 8.8. of Synergie guide). The associated partner will appear in the list of project partners, but there is no need to complete the former experience and additional partner’s information or any financial information for the associated partners. The associated partners will not be considered as Project Partners, therefore they are not counted in the maximum number of project partners.

To link the deliverable to an activity, you should enter information via – enter main elements – work plan – update activity – add a deliverable – and then add the number of deliverables per year Deliverables should not be created via the section – enter main elements – deliverables tab.

Due to a malfunctioning of the online monitoring tool this information is not well displayed in this table. Make sure that the information is well recorded in each activity. Please note that all the information recorded on the system will be taken into consideration during the evaluation phase.

Do not take it into consideration. Please note that the index is the same for all proposals and the work plan is adpated to each type of project.

Do not take this message into consideration this message. Partners’ contact data would be updated after the approval of the projects.

After entering the total eligible budget and the ERDF percentage, you should first enter the co-financing amount and then save the global financial plan table.

If you do not remember the exact password, do not hesitate to click on “forgotten password” in order to receive a new one.

If the maintenance has finished, the problem is that your browser keeps the page as it was before (during the maintenance). To overcome this, you need to clear your browser cache.

In order to report a problem related to Synergie to the MED JS, please send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: acronym of the proposal, username of the contact person, ASP number of the organisation concerned. If possible, please include as well a screenshot of the problem or error message concerned.

In order to make this change, you need to send us an e-mail stating that you want to change the type of module, and attest that you give us the permission to do it, knowing that it will erase your initial workplan from the system and you will have to re-write it on Synergie.

Kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: the acronym and the Synergie number of the proposal you want to remove.

We actually cannot remove an institution from Synergie but we can delete the contacts attached to it. You would need you to send us a list of the contacts to delete with a name and an e-mail address for us to proceed. Once this is done, you will be able to create a new institution entry on Synergie and be attached to it.

You should contact the JS in order to give you access for modifications to your already validated proposal. Then you will be able to make modifications and you should validate the proposal again on the Synergie within the deadlline of the Call in order to be considered as submitted.

Send us the right code/VAT number and we will modify data in the system.

It means that you did not use the correct administrative code format. Please find the list of the authorised administrative codes and the format in which these codes should be presented in the Appendix B of the Synergie guide.

Kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: ASP/Synergie number, wrong data and correct data.

Kindly send an e-mail to programme_med@regionpaca.fr indicating in the object of your mail “Synergie”, and including in the text of your message the following information: ASP/Synergie numbers, wrong data and correct data.

Large organisations as Universities and Research Centres have to be recorded on the cross-programme database just once. Then, every time that a proposal will be created they will have to select it from the database the University or Research Centre and include in section “Service” faculty, department or institute in charge of the implementation of the project (partners description section). If the faculty, department or institute is recorded in the database please contact the JS (programme_med@regionpaca.fr).

Large organisations as Regional Governments have to be recorded on the cross-programme database just once. Then, every time that a proposal will be created they will have to select it from the database the Regional Governments and include in section “Service” department or ministry in charge of the implementation of the project (partners description section). If the department or ministry is recorded in the database please contact the JS (programme_med@regionpaca.fr).

Due to a dysfunction of the online monitoring tool the information included in the PDF is not correct. Please follow the rules included in the Synergie guide.

Due to a malfunctioning of the online monitoring tool all information included on the system is not well displayed on the PDF version of the Application Form. Please note that all the information recorded on the system will be taken into consideration during the evaluation phase.

The De Minimis declaration is only for the partners whose activities within the project are State Aid relevant and that are willing to apply to the De Minimis Regulation. Please refer to the chapter 3 of the Programme Manual (point 3.1).

Please kindly note that you should just click on the SAVE button in order to upload the file. After the uploading of the mandatory annexes on the Synergie CTE platform, there is no other additional button to press. . Your application will be then under administrative and eligibility check.

The Application Form confirmation page should be signed by the legal representative of the Lead Partner’s organisation. Still, if the legal representative’s substitute has a legal ability to sign the official documents, then it can be done by the substitute. In this case, you should provide us an official letter confirming that the substitute is empowered to sign the official documents.

The electronic signature is authorized but there must be the original stamp on the document.

The same institution can integrate proposals in modular and horizontal projects. Nonetheless, it cannot integrate a modular project and a horizontal project approved in the same specific objective. Should an institution be involved in  approved horizontal and modular projects of the same specific objective, it will be requested to abandon one of them.

There is no limit to the number of applications in which an institution can participate (as a partner or lead partner). However, institutions have to demonstrate the technical and administrative capacity to develop the activities in which they engage. This capacity will be analysed during the evaluation of proposals.

International organisations acting under international law are only eligible as partners and they cannot act as Lead Partners. They can participate in projects only upon their explicit acceptance of all requirements deriving from the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union and the regulations applicable in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme, including – but not limited to – the following: • Adherence to applicable community policies, including the respect of rules on public procurement; • Acceptance of the national control requirements set in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme by the Member State in which the organisation acting as partner is located; • Acceptance of controls and audits by all those bodies entitled to carry out such controls in the framework of the Interreg MED Programme, including the Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat, the Audit Authority and the European Court of Auditors as well as the relevant national authorities of the Member State in which the international organisation acting as project partner is located. Storage of all documents required for these controls must allow performing them in the geographical area covered by the Interreg MED Programme; • Final financial liability for all sums wrongly paid out. • A project proposal involving international organisations acting under international law in the partnership must include an ad hoc declaration to be provided and signed by these institutions. For reasons of legal security, additional legal information may be requested to these institutions prior to granting the fund. The non-compliance with these requirements could lead to the exclusion of such partners.

All protected areas designations are eligible (including European and/or National territorial designation categories, “Fishing protected areas” and “Fish stock recovery areas). As a consequence, projects in spaces that are not necessarily in protected areas, but that aim to improve the conservation status and to incorporate further management conservation objectives are eligible (for example, development of fish stock recovery areas or fishing protected areas; implementation of further management conservation objectives in habitats already defined or being of high interest, in order to afford opportunities to achieve higher levels of protection in this space, etc.)

Yes, The reimbursement of these costs will follow the principles detailed below: • The lump sum is not automatic. Preparation costs budget must be indicated in the Application Form, giving concrete information on the amount allocated to the concerned ERDF project partner(s); • The lump sum will amount to EUR 30 000 of total eligible expenditure per project; • The co-financing rate of the preparation costs will be in line with the co-financing rate applicable to the partner(s) to which the lump sum is allocated; • The lump sum covers all costs linked to the preparation of the project; • Any difference between the granted lump-sum and the real costs occurred for preparation is neither checked nor further monitored by the Programme; • Only ERDF partners are entitled to budget and claim preparation costs. Preparation costs are covered by a lump sum and there is no possibility for the projects to opt for real preparation costs

Any expenditure incurred in a currency other than the Euro shall be converted into Euro using the monthly accounting exchange rate of the European Commission in the month during which that expenditure was submitted for verification by the concerned partner to its First Level Controller.

No, Project budgets must be structured according to the following 5 budget lines (predefined): 1) Staff costs 2) Office and administrative expenditure 3) Travel and accommodation costs 4) External expertise and services costs 5) Equipment expenditure

There is no established number of project approved for each call. Nonetheless, according to the ToR of the 1st call for Modular projects, the approximative number of projects to be approved is split as follows: SO1: Innovation M1 – Studying: about 2 projects M2 – Testing: about 6 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 3 projects M1 + M2: about 4 projects M2 +M3: about 2 projects SO2.1: Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings M1 – Studying: about 1 project M2 – Testing: about 2 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 1 project M2 +M3: about 2 projects SO2.2: Renewable Energy M1 – Studying: about 1 project M2 – Testing: about 2 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 1 project M2 +M3: about 2 projects SO2.3: Low Carbon Transport Systems and multimodal connections. M1 – Studying: about 1 project M2 – Testing: about 2 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 1 project M2 +M3: about 2 projects Axis 3.1: Sustainable Tourism M1 – Studying: about 2 projects M2 – Testing: about 2 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 2 projects M1 + M2: about 2 projects M2 +M3: about 2 projects Axis 3.2: Sustainable Tourism M1 – Studying: about 2 projects M2 – Testing: about 2 projects M3 – Capitalising: about 2 projects M1 + M2: about 2 projects M2 +M3: about 1 project

As we cannot comment on the eligibility of a structure before the evaluation of a proposal, in a matter of impartiality and fairness, we advise you to read carefully the Terms of Reference and Manual of the Programme here : http://interreg-med.eu/en/programme-manual/, and to contact the national contact point. For your information, in case the JS will not be able to decide on the real nature of the LP organisation, we will ask the NCP to decide, thus we suggest you to check it  with your NCP.

For the preparation costs the total amount of expenditure is 30.000 EUR. This is a lump sum. The project participants can choose to claim this expenditure and insert 30.000 or not to claim this expenditure and insert 0,00. Intermediate amounts are not possible. The corresponding amount of ERDF funds will be paid out if the project proposal is approved.

It is strongly recommended, not mandatory. For information external expertise plus staff costs should not exceed 85% of the project budget.

In our eligibility grid there are not thresholds for that kind of expenditures. On the other hand, of course, if your budget would be eventually assessed and you do not respect our recommendations, you have to well justify why.  For information external expertise plus staff costs should not exeed 85% of the project budget.

There is no project budget limit set for the participation of IPA partners in modular projects.

There are no restrictions about Associated Partners. Only take into account that they will not be able to participate in public procurements launched by the same project where they are included, even if only as “associated”. They have to justify their presence through a real, precise added value for the whole partnership.

Regarding the registration of partners in the system, the same procedure should be followed for all project partners. In any case, the involvement of IPA countries is explained in detail in the Programme manual. So, please check all the information available in the programme documents described here http://interreg-med.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7.-Partnership-architecture-requirements-and-relevance.pdf

The number of partners per country has to be coherent with the needs and actions proposed by the project. As a minimum requirement, the partnership must involve at least four financing partners, from at least four different countries from the Interreg MED Programme area and with at least three of the partners located in the Union part of the Interreg MED Programme area (three ERDF partners within the MED Programme area). In addition, there are further indications with regards to the recommended size of the partnership in each Terms of Reference.

Project assessment is based on their coherence. In that sense, if you manage to demonstrate the benefit for a project of having several partners coming from the same country, there is no rule blocking that option. On the other hand, there are limits on budget distribution per country and partner. Please refer to the programme manual to make sure these limits are respected.

An organisation from a country outside the European Union cannot be a project partner. However, they would be eligible as Associated Partner, which means they could participate in the project and benefit from its outcomes but they would not be able to receive any funding.

With regards to the “De Minimis Declaration” , it must be completed only by the ERDF partners and so only by partners concerned by the State Aid rules. IPA partners must fill in only the specific declaration for IPA partners. Please pay attention to the art 7) included in the IPA partners Declaration in which it is explicitly stated that : “ the institution I represent does not carry out any economic activity in the project (undertaking offering goods and services on the market regardless of its legal status and whether its aim is to make profit or not) “ For additional information on State Aid please check the Factsheet “State Aid” included in the Programme Manual. I also advise you to check the general rules in relation to the IPA partners included in the Factsheet “ Partnership architecture, requirements, relevance” of the Programme Manual.

According to our eligibility rules, there is no limit regarding the number of proposals submitted as LP. On the other hand, in the evaluation it might be interpreted in different ways with regards to a certain lack of resources (human and financial) or a lack of strategy (focus): it will have to be explained and will depend on the type of organisation.

The module structure for an integrated project remains the same as for any form of any other modular project.

You can find on the Programme’s website in an excel file in the section Projects –Past calls – List of operations all approved projects – http://interreg-med.eu/en/past-calls/

You can find all the Administrative and eligibility criteria for the projects in the Application pack where you can download the Terms of Reference of each type of projects by Specific Objectives, on this page : http://interreg-med.eu/en/open-calls/.

You can have a look at our Forum and post a message about partnerships, sorted by thematic objectives. You may also contact the National Contact Point of the relevant country (contact details available on our website). http://interreg-med.eu/en/national-information/

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You should ask the JS to delete the post from the forum.