For the category “(e) Equipment Costs,” it is stated on page 62 that the cost of purchase, rental, or financial leasing is eligible provided that it is necessary for the implementation of the project and is foreseen in the Application Form. Is it the acquisition cost of the equipment or the depreciation cost, depending on the period of use from the date of acquisition during the implementation until the end of the project?
For research institutions, I understand that according to paragraph 3 of Article 256 of Law 4957/2022 (Government Gazette A’ 141/21-07-2022), “…Scientific and other equipment, as well as scientific instruments… are fully depreciated, regardless of their acquisition value, on the date of completion of the project/program under which they were acquired,” this includes the full cost of the equipment that will be purchased and used in the project.
I understand that this applies to categories of beneficiaries that fall into the following categories:
a) national, regional or local public bodies
b) bodies governed by public law (as defined in Article 2(4) of Directive 2014/24/EU) meaning bodies that have all of the following characteristics:
1. they are established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character;
2. they have legal personality; and
3. they are financed, for the most part, by the State, regional or local authorities, or by other bodies governed by public law; or are subject to management supervision by those authorities or bodies; or have 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;
However, what applies for the entities (c) to (e),?
Is the acquisition cost eligible, or the depreciation costs, according to the methodology they use and depending on the duration of their use in the project?
I am referring to the following entities:
bodies governed by private law, non-profit organizations founded according to private law can be eligible under the following conditions as a whole:
a. they are not established with the goal to obtain profit,
b. they do not distribute profits to the shareholders,
c. they should have at least completed one accounting year of operation before the launch of the specific call for proposals. This rule is also applicable for the local-regional subsidiary/branch offices.
It should be noted that private companies, not falling under the conditions listed at point (c) are not eligible.
d) international organisations registered under the national law of the Member States of the Programme can be considered as eligible if they fulfil the criteria foreseen for the non-profit bodies governed by private law. However, international organisations operating under international law are not eligible
e) European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). Eligible EGTC must be governed by the law of one of the participating countries where the EGTC has its registered office. EGTCs located outside the Programme area and not registered in one of the Member states participating in the cross-border Programme are not eligible for funding An EGTC cannot be a sole beneficiary of a project proposal.