EUROPEAN COMMISSION: FOCUS ON CITIZENS' INFORMATION AND IGC.

Financial grants.

The draft work programme 2003 now on perusal with the Commission makes a distinction within the first category between grants with and without calls for proposals. In the case of grants without calls for proposals and intended for establishments of European relevance, the draft programme earmarks in particular Euro 2,400,000 for the College of Europe in Bruges, 4,330,00 for the European University Institution in Florence, 1,300,000 for the European Law Academy in Treves and 800,000 for the European Public Administration Institute in Maastricht. In this case, in common with the other two categories, the maximum level of EU funding is 80%. Those benefiting from operating grants for European organisations and think tanks promoting the idea of Europe include: "Notre Europe" (Euro 600,000 euros), European Citizens' Action Service, the Centre for European Studies, in Strasbourg, the Centre Europeen Juif d'Information, the "Amis de l'Europe", and the "Academie d'Avignon pour les PME et l'artisanat en Europe". Support for the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) is planned as an operating grant for European study groups.

As for grants to be awarded following a call for proposals, the secretariat is keen on awarding grants to any non-governmental organisation which is based in one or more EU Member States or candidate countries and is mainly concerned with conserving the memories of the victims of Nazi...