Awards without publication of CfPs

Only in the following circumstances can grants be awarded without the organization of a call for proposals:

1. In duly substantiated exceptional cases of urgency, i.e. where unforeseeable events oblige the European Commission to act with an urgency incompatible with the periods laid down for calls for Proposals procedures. The circumstances cited as grounds for extreme urgency must in no way be attributable to the European Commission (e.g. imminent expiry of the financing agreement).
2. Actions carried out in crisis situations as described in Annex A11a are considered to satisfy the test of extreme urgency; this provision is mutatis mutandis applicable to EDF.
3. Under emergency assistance provided for in article 72 and/or 73 of the Cotonou Agreement, it is also possible the direct award of grants.
4. Where the grant is awarded to a body with a de jure or de facto monopoly, duly substantiated in the award decision. For these purposes, “de facto” or “de jure” monopoly means that the beneficiary, which may be a consortium:
   • has exclusive competence in the field of activity and/or geographical area to which the grant relates pursuant to any applicable law; or
   • is the only organisation (i) operating or (ii) capable of operating in the field of activity and/or geographical area to which the grant relates by virtue of all considerations of fact and law.
5. Where the grant is to be awarded to a body identified by the relevant basic act as beneficiary of a grant.
6. In the case of research and technological development, to bodies identified in the annual work programme, where the basic act expressly provides for that possibility, and on condition that the project does not fall under the scope of a call for proposals.
7. For actions with specific characteristics that require a particular type of body on account of its technical competence, its high degree of specialisation or its administrative power, on condition that the actions concerned to no fall within the scope of a call for proposals. These cases shall be duly substantiated in the award decision.
8. In case of grants of a low amount in decentralised management (see Decentralization to Commission delegations).

In all cases, the European Commission must prepare a report explaining the manner in which the grant beneficiaries were identified and the grant amounts established, and the grounds for the award decision. The EC must ensure that all the basic principles for grants are respected (including eligibility and exclusion).



Sources and useful links:

• Practical Guide to Contract procedures for EC external actions