EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EDUCATION, YOUTH, SPORT AND CULTURE
Culture and Creativity
Creative Europe
Brussels,
EAC.D.2/BG Ares(2020)128044
Tarvi Sits
KULTUURIMINISTEERIUM
Suur-Karja Street 23
15076, Tallinn
[email protected]
Subject: Creative Europe Desks 2021-2027
Dear Mr Sits,
We would like to inform you that we are planning to launch in the first months of the year,
the request to the Member States to designate the Creative Europe Desks for the upcoming
funding period 2021-2027. In the framework of the designation process, the structures/
consortia proposed by the Member States will be re-examined based on the criteria that
will be set for the new programme. More detailed information on the requirements will be
communicated in due time.
As you are aware, Creative Europe Desks are an integral part of the Creative Europe
programme and each participating country can therefore receive EU co-financing in order
to run one or more Creative Europe Desk(s) in their country. They are key information
points for interested applicants, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
(EACEA) and the European Commission.
While the negotiations for Creative Europe 2021-2027 are still ongoing, we would like to
inform you already about some practical matters that will affect indirect costs of the Desks,
in particular the rental costs. This was briefly explained to all Creative Europe Desks
during our meeting on 24 and 25 October 2019 in Brussels.
The Commission aims to ensure continuity of the overall funding for Desks. However, in
order to prepare for 2021 and building on the experience of the current period and taking
account the introduction of the eGrants system for all EU programmes, the structure of our
grants will be adjusted. Budgets will be slightly simplified and structured into five
categories: personnel, equipment, subcontracting, travel costs and indirect costs. For all
action grants (incl. the Creative Europe Desks), indirect costs cannot exceed 7% and rental
costs should be included therein.
So far, rental costs were accepted under “office rental and equipment costs”. The new rules
will ensure equal treatment, but for some Desks the rental costs may exceed 7%, which
entails that part of their rent will not be eligible for EU co-financing. You may or may not
be affected – but for the sake of transparency we wanted to inform all host organisations at
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
Office: J-70 02/019 - Tel. direct line +32 229-56738 - Fax +32 229-21954
[email protected]
the same time and well in advance. Please note that, even in cases where EU co-financing
for rental costs will be lower as of 2021, this can be balanced by higher EU support for
direct costs, meaning that the net impact will be marginal.
In 2020 we will invite all Member States to designate Desks for the successor Creative
Europe programme. On this basis, a restricted Call for proposals will be conducted.
The Call will be published on the Funding & Tendering Opportunities Portal (FTOP). We
kindly remind you that each organisation forming the Creative Europe Desk (coordinator
and partner(s) needs to know who is the Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR).
You are obliged to take record of LEAR appointments and the linked credentials and to
keep data updated in case of changes.
Wishing you a Happy New Year and looking forward to continuing our excellent
collaboration in 2020. We are available for any questions you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara GESSLER
Head of Unit
Creative Europe, DG EAC
c.c.: Lucia RECALDE (DG CNECT), Walter ZAMPIERI (EACEA),
Harald Trettenbrein (EACEA)
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