1. Who can apply for the Action "Support to Tourism SMEs for their modernisation and quality improvement of services"?
Answer:
The action supports existing and new medium, small and micro enterprises, active in the tourism sector, with an eligible ID for the action.
More specifically:
• Existing firms are those that have two (2) or more complete financial years. In enterprises with three or more uses, the enterprise is required to employ on average during the three years 2013-2015 at least half (0.5) FTE of wage labour. For enterprises with two years of operation, the enterprise is required to employ, on average over the two-year period 2014-2015, at least half (0,5) full-time equivalent employees on a pro rata basis.
- New enterprises are those that have been established until 31/12/2015, employ at least half (0.5) FTE of salaried labour and do not fall into the above category of existingenterprises.
(see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") CONDITIONS
PARTICIPATION" of the Call for Proposals)
2. What is the amount of the budget that can be submitted to the Action, Support to Tourism SMEs for their modernization and quality upgrading of the services provided?
Answer:
The subsidised budget of each investment project of a potential aid beneficiary may not exceed the total turnover of the year 2015 or the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand euros (150.000€), if the turnover is higher than 150.000€ and may not be lower than fifteen thousand euros (15.000€).
- In case the investment project will have a budget of less than 15.000€,
then it will be deemed ineligible from the outset and cannot be submitted.
- Where the investment project will have a budget of more than
150.000€, the amount over and above the Public Financing to cover the total amount of the
budget will be considered as private participation for the implementation of the project. In this case, although the excess costs are not eligible, the whole investment project and the whole of the excess costs are subject to evaluation and monitoring-control.
(see Chapter I.1.6.2 'PROJECT BUDGET - DURATION
IMPLEMENTATION" of the Call)
3. What is the subsidy rate?
Answer:
The rate of the public subsidy is 40%. In case of hiring new staff for at least one (1) additional FTE of salaried work (the achievement of the target is checked during the final certification) the rate of the Public Subsidy is increased to 50%.
(see Chapter I.1.7 'FINANCIAL SCHEME' of the Call)
4. What is the timeframe for the implementation of the project?
Answer:
The time limit for completion of the financed investments may not exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date of the adoption of the decision of inclusion.
Please note that expenditure equal to at least 30% of the approved subsidised budget of the investment must have been incurred and subject to a verification request in the first year of implementation, provided that the date of completion of the financed investment exceeds twelve (12) months.
In Section "I.1.11.2 MONITORING OF ACTIONS - CONTROLS - CERTIFICATIONS"
of the Detailed Call for Proposals, the detailed rules for the implementation of this requirement shall be laid down.
5. When are the supporting documents submitted?
Answer:
The supporting documents will be submitted after the evaluation and the adoption of the Decision establishing the provisional list of potential beneficiaries. The same decision will specify the place and deadline for the submission of supporting documents by potential beneficiaries.
6. Which regions are covered by the Action and what is its budget?
Answer:
The Action concerns the whole of Greece. It is financed with the total amount of
70.000.000 € (Public Expenditure) and distributed to the regions of the country as follows:
TOTAL70.000.000
REGIONS |
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE (in €) |
Eastern Macedonia & Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece |
28.756.000 |
Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Peloponnese, North Aegean, Crete |
23.044.000 |
Attica |
9.800.000 |
Central Greece |
2.800.000 |
Southern Aegean Sea |
5.600.000 |
7. Can an interested investor submit two proposals to the Action?
Answer:
Each enterprise may submit one investment project per PPA.
(see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS" of the
Invitation)
8. Can the investment involve more than one Region?
Answer:
The investment should take place in only one Region.
(see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS" of the
Invitation)
9. What is the application procedure?
Answer:
Applications for funding are submitted ONLY electronically through the State Aid Information System (www.ependyseis.gr/mis)
The submission form will be available on the PSCE from the date of the start of the online submission of funding applications.
It is noted that before the electronic submission is completed, the Beneficiary (the legal representative) attaches an electronic form (.pdf) with a stamp and signature, in which he/she declares that he/she assumes responsibility for the submission of this Grant Application. Without the attachment of the document duly signed and stamped the submission cannot be completed.
Please note that no physical documentation (supporting documents) is submitted during the submission phase. The supporting documents will be submitted after the evaluation and the provisional ranking and only for potentially eligible investment projects.
(see Chapter I.1.8 'I.1.8 - PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING A GRANT APPLICATION' of the Call for Proposals)
10. What is the starting date for the eligibility of expenditure?
Answer:
The date of eligibility of expenditure is defined as the date of publication of the Call (i.e. 11.02.2016) except for the provision of monitoring and management services for the investment project which are eligible from the submission of the funding application.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
11. Which types of enterprises are financed by the Action, Support to Tourism SMEs for their modernisation and quality upgrading of the services provided?
Answer:
The action is open to businesses operating exclusively in one of the following forms: corporate/commercial: Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Company, General Partnership or Limited Partnership, Private Limited Company, Sole Proprietorship and Social Cooperative Enterprises of Law 4019/2011, Cooperatives (see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS"). PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS" of the
Invitation)
12. Can an interested party not have the investment ID?
Answer:
You may not have the investment ID at the time of application, but you must have it before the first disbursement.
Note that the investment ID should be complementary to the enterprise ID. For other tourism enterprises, CN codes 55.1, 55.2, 55.3 are not considered to be complementary.
It is clarified that the business must in any case be established as a tourism business, with an eligible ID for the action until 31/12/2015.
(see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS' of the Call)
13. Can public enterprises or franchises be subsidised?
Answer:
Δεν έχουν δικαίωμα υποβολής αίτησης χρηματοδότησης:
- public undertakings, public bodies or public institutions and/or their subsidiaries and undertakings assimilated to them.
- enterprises which are part of an already organised uniform distribution network for goods or services and which, under relevant contracts, exploit licences for the exploitation of intellectual property rights, usually relating to trademarks or distinctive titles and know-how for the use and distribution of goods or services (e.g. franchising, shop-in-shop, agency network, etc.).
All eligible activities are detailed in Annex II of the Call.
14. Is VAT eligible?
Answer:
Recoverable VAT is not eligible expenditure.
- Value Added Tax (VAT) is eligible expenditure, as long as the beneficiary is not entitled to deduct VAT under the provisions of the VAT Code as in force. In particular, it is eligible expenditure insofar as it relates to costs incurred in carrying out the beneficiary's exempt or excluded activities.
- Where VAT is charged on expenditure which is used both for the exercise of activities for which the right of deduction is not granted and for the exercise of activities for which the right is granted, the VAT is eligible expenditure to the extent that it cannot be recovered. It should be noted that where VAT is eligible expenditure, it is included in the subsidised budget and in no case does it add to it.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
15. Can the equipment purchased through the programme be second-hand?
Answer:
The equipment procured should be new, unmanageable and the property of the business.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
16. Can a company in the process of renewing its operating licence submit to the Action?
Answer:
At the date of submission of the application for funding, the company must have the valid operating licence or a certificate from the competent authority on the subscription of legal operating conditions or the application for its issue/renewal submitted to the competent body, for the eligible tourism activities. Otherwise, you will be excluded from the action from the outset. (see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS' of the Call)
17. Are there mandatory costs and what are they?
Answer:
There is a requirement that the sum of the budget of the eligible expenditure in the categories with the following numbers (1) Buildings, other installations and surrounding area, (2) Machinery
- Equipment and (3) Equipment and facilities for environmental protection and energy and water saving must be greater than or equal to 50% of the total subsidised budget of the investment project.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
18. Is the supply of self-propelled boats (e.g. water boats, pedal boats) an eligible expenditure? Which category of expenditure does it fall under?
Answer:
In investment projects where one of the eligible investment codes is code 49, code 50, code 77 or a combination thereof, the supply of self-propelled means of transport, unmanned watercraft and bicycles of any kind intended for hire is considered equipment. (see Chapter I.1.1.6.1
"ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE" of the Call for Proposals)
19. Is the cost of issuing licences an eligible cost?
Answer:
Compulsory and associated costs, whether related to the issuing of permits or supervision, are not eligible.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
20. Are renovation, decoration and other design costs eligible?
Answer:
Not eligible under Category 1 (Buildings, other facilities and surroundings) are costs of renovation, decoration and other similar design costs, unless it is established during implementation and up to completion of the investment that they have been implemented.
Also not eligible are fire protection studies, environmental impact studies, the acquisition of a business licence or a legal exemption from it, occupational risk studies and similar studies that are necessary for the legal operation of the business.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE, Section A. CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
21. Are software customisation costs eligible?
Answer:
Expenditure relating to the purchase of software is eligible as long as the software purchased is new and the company is the legal owner of the licence to use it.
The cost of software/application configuration and training in its use is eligible as an expense up to 20% of the purchase cost of the software/application.
Expenditure relating to the in-house development of software by the company approved for funding is not eligible.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE, Section A. CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
22. For how long should both new and existing jobs be maintained?
Answer:
In the case of a grant for the salary costs of employees (existing and/or new staff), you must:
- The company's 2015 wage and salary data should be maintained throughout the implementation of the project, as well as during the last year of implementation of the investment project. The twelve (12) months preceding the date of completion of the project shall be considered as the last year of implementation.
- The additional subsidised FTEs to be maintained in the last year of implementation of the investment project.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
23. Can a beneficiary have received funding from other programmes in the past?
Answer:
The following are among the basic conditions for a company's participation:
- submit in its investment plan expenditure that has not been financed and has not been included in another action financed from national or Community funds.
- a commitment that the investment project has not been submitted for inclusion and will not be submitted to any other action financed by national or Community funds.
- the total amount of de minimis aid received in the past by the single enterprise, including aid under this Action, does not exceed EUR 200 000 (or EUR 100 000 for the transport sector) in any three-year period (current calendar year and the two (2) previous calendar years) preceding the year in which the aid is granted.
(see Chapter I.1.4 "BENEFICIARIES - TERMS & CONDITIONS") CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION'.
of the Call)
24. What is the level of expenditure on salary costs for new job(s)?
Answer:
The maximum eligible percentage/amount in the subsidised project budget for this expenditure is 40% and up to 24.000€ as follows: 12.000€ per PPA (existing or new) and up to two PPAs.
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
25. Can I hire my spouse? Or another relative?
Answer:
Spouses and first and second degree relatives are not eligible:
- Grade A:
- Grade B:
- (descendants - ascendants) parents, children
- (by marriage) father-in-law, mother-in-law
- (descendants - ascendants) grandparents, grandparents, grandchildren
- (by marriage) son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law (sisters-in-law)
- (lateral) brothers and sisters
(see Chapter I.1.6.1 'ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE' of the Call)
26. Is it possible to receive an advance payment from the Action?
Answer :
After the signing of the integration decision, an advance payment of up to 40.0% of the public funding may be granted, provided that the beneficiary submits a letter of guarantee for the advance payment. The Beneficiary may also make use of special bank accounts in the form of "Open Escrow Accounts" or other financial instruments, provided that there is a statutory framework for their operation.
(see Chapter I.1.11.3 'PAYMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDING' of the Call)