The Official Journal of the European Union has published a new Call for Proposals under the Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, with the objective to carry out business and consumer surveys in Ireland. This co-operation will take the form of a framework partnership agreement between the Commission and the specialised bodies over a period of two years.

The Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys is designed to gather information on the state of the economies in the EU Member States and in the candidate countries so as to be able to compare their business cycles for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) management purposes. This Programme has become an indispensable tool in the EMU economic surveillance process, as well as for general economic policy purposes.

The joint harmonised EU programme involves specialised bodies/institutes carrying out opinion surveys on a joint financing basis. The Commission is looking to conclude agreements with bodies and institutes suitably qualified to carry out one or more of the following surveys for the next two years:

• Investment survey.
• Construction survey.
• Retail trade survey.
• Services survey.
• Industry survey.
• Consumer survey.

Moreover, ad hoc surveys on topical economic issues are carried out in addition to the monthly surveys, using the same established samples as the monthly surveys, to obtain information on specific economic policy issues. These ad hoc surveys are by definition more occasional.

The surveys carried out under Call for Proposals ECFIN/2008/A3-042 will target managers in the industry, investment, construction, retail trade and services sectors as well as consumers, and will run from May, 1st until April 30th, 2009. The duration of the action may not exceed 12 months.

Budget and Sources of EC Funding

The total annual budget available for the period May 2009-April 2010 for these surveys is 75.000,00. €, where the Commission's share may not exceed 50% of the eligible costs incurred by the beneficiary on each survey. Amounts for the following year could be increased, subject to budgetary resources available, by about 2 %.

The operations selected will be financed from budget heading 01.02.02 — Coordination and surveillance of economic and monetary union.

Eligible Applicants and Application Deadlines

The call for proposals is open to bodies and institutes (legal entities) with legal status in one of the EU Member States, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or Turkey. Applicants must show that they exist as a legal entity and provide the required documentation by means of the standard legal entity form.

Proposals must contain the completed and signed standard grant application form and all supporting documents referred to in the form. Applicants can submit proposals for one or several surveys.

Applications may be submitted either by registered post or private delivery service postmarked no later than February, 20th 2009.

European Commission
Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
For the attention of Mr Johan VERHAEVEN
Call for proposals ref. ECFIN/2008/A3-042
Unit R2, Office BU24-4/11
Avenue du Bourget, 1-3
B-1140 Brussels (Evere)

Details on the methodology, questionnaires and international guidelines on the conduct of business and consumer surveys can be found in the user's guide on the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys site.