european

European Funding

Various programmes of EU funding can support cultural activity. Structural Funds are the EU's principal mechanism to reduce the level of economic disparity between regions. There are two Structural Funds which benefit Scotland: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). In addition the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) provides grants for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority and the Paying Authority for Structural Funds and the EFF in Scotland. As such it is responsible for drawing down EU funds and paying claims submitted in respect of approved projects. Funds are drawn down from the European Commission (EC) via the UK Departments responsible for co-ordination of all UK claims to the Funds.

Support in Scotland under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and wider EU Rural Development policies is provided by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) respectively. The Scottish Government is the formally accredited EU Paying Agency for spending in Scotland and is responsible for all aspects of the administration of the measures. Funding is drawn down from the EC via the Rural Payments Agency of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the UK Funding Body for the measures involved.

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/eufunding

The European Agenda for Culture
In May 2007, the Commission proposed an agenda for Culture founded on three common sets of objectives: cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; culture as a catalyst for creativity; and culture as a key component in international relations.

http://ec.europa.eu/grants/index_en.htm

Aberdeenshire Council & European Funding (www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/european.asp)

The Aberdeenshire Council European unit is a dedicated point of contact for European funding in Aberdeenshire, and provides support to all Council Structural Funds projects.

For details of funding initiatives which present opportunities in Aberdeenshire see www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/european_funding.asp

Scottish Government & Structure Funds (www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/
eufunding)

Various programmes of EU funding can support cultural activity. Structural Funds are the EU's principal mechanism to reduce the level of economic disparity between regions. There are two Structural Funds which benefit Scotland: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). In addition the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) provides grants for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

EUCLID (www.culturefund.eu)

EUCLID is the UK Cultural Contact Point (CCP) for the EU’s fund for the arts and culture programme (2007-2013). The key strands are 1 and 2, which provide grants for projects up to 5 years.

• Multi-annual co-operation projects over a period of three to five years.

• Co-operation projects over a maximum period of two years literary translation projects

For a full list of European funding strands please also see the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/grants/index_en.htm

MEDIA (www.mediadesk.co.uk)

The UK MEDIA Team helps to promote and administer the European Union's MEDIA Programme in the UK. It consists of the UK MEDIA Desk (in London), the MEDIA Antenna Scotland, the MEDIA Antenna Wales and the MEDIA Service Northern Ireland

MEDIA is a support programme of the European Union to strengthen the competitiveness of the European film, TV and new media industries and to increase the international circulation of European audiovisual product.

MEDIA 2007 commenced on 1 January 2007 and will run to 31 December 2013. With a budget of €755 million (around £500 million) MEDIA 2007 supports professional training (screenwriting, business and new technologies), project development (single/slate), and the distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works.