16/2/2016
The programme "Aid to tourism SMEs for their modernisation and upgrading the quality of services provided" is financed by the "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" Operational Programme (EPAnEK) of PA 2014 – 2020 and its main objective is to strengthen existing micro, small and medium sized enterprises in Tourism, which is a strategic intervention sector of EPAnEK, in order to modernise them, upgrade their quality and enhance their offering in terms of products and services, enabling them to improve their position on the domestic and international tourism market.
Eligible EnterprisesExisting micro, small and medium enterprises, as set out in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/ΕC, operating exclusively in Tourism, a strategic priority sector of EPAnEk and employing on average in the last three years at least one (1) AWU of salaried work can submit a proposal for this Programme. Existing enterprises are those that had been established by 31/12/2013.
The eligible categories for business activities (Activity Code Numbers - KAD), which will be subsidised in the context of the Action are included in the Call for Proposals of the Programme.
Participation ConditionsThe main conditions for participation of enterprises submitting an investment proposal are the following:
Public enterprises, public entities or public organisations and/or their subsidiaries, as well as similar enterprises are not entitled to submit a proposal.
Project's Budget - Geographical DistributionThe Programme is financed with the total amount of €70,000,000 (Public Expenditure) and is allocated in the regions of the country as follows:
The Public Expenditure of the programme is co-financed by the Greek State and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with use of the flexibility clause for financing interventions that fall under the scope of aid from the ESF.
Aid SchemesIn the context of the programme –in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1407/2013 (De Minimis)– projects with a total investment budget (subsidised budget) from €15,000 up to €150,000 will be subsidized.
The rate of aid is set at a maximum of 40% of the eligible expenses of the investment plan. In the event of new personnel being hired, the rate of aid is increased by 10 points only after the achievement of this target is certified.
Up to 40% of the of the corresponding Public Expenditure can be paid in advance by providing a letter of guarantee for the same amount by a bank or other financial institution established in one of the EU member states.
Project DurationThe completion duration of the approved projects is set at twenty four (24) months from the issuance date of the decision for the inclusion of the investment plan.
Eligible ExpenditureThe eligible expenditure categories which will be subsidised in the context of the present Pre-Announcement will be set out in detail in the Call for Proposals of the Programme. Indicative categories of eligible expenditure for the two year aid period are the following:
It should be noted that the payroll cost of existing or new personnel to be employed in the specific project is eligible, with the use of the flexibility clause in the ERDF for ESF funding interventions.
The beginning of expenditure eligibility is set as the financing application submission date.
Submission – Evaluation – Inclusion – ImplementationFinancing from the present Programme requires the submission for evaluation of a business plan based on the procedure set out in the Programme’s Call for Proposals.
The conditions for participation, the documents required, the manner of proposal submission, the eligible expenditure categories, which will be subsidised, the procedure for examining and evaluating proposals, their inclusion for financing, the obligations of beneficiaries in the event of approval of the aid application and the other terms of the Programme are described in detail in the Call for Proposals of the Programme (as well as in all the documents that accompany it). It should be noted that during the control and evaluation of the proposals, data will be cross-checked thoroughly so as to verify the accuracy of data contained in the investment proposals and prevent fraud against the EU budget.
The evaluation of the applications for financing will be comparative, based on criteria set out in the Call of the Programme.
Information - PublicityThe Call for Proposals (in greek) as well as all the documents of the Programme that accompany it, can be found here and also in the Special Managing Service EPAnEK website www.antagonistikotita.gr.
Contact e-mail: infoepan@mou.gr
Contact telephone number: 801 11 36300
OP Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Announcement
Last modification date: 24/3/2016