The European Commission announces...

The European Commission DG III announces Extended Opportunities for Central and Eastern European Countries to participate in the I.T. Programme ­p; Financial Support for the participation of entities from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) in the European Community's specific programme for RTD in the field of Information Technologies (ESPRIT)

Under the fourth framework programme, the Esprit programme is open to legal entities established in third countries on a project-by-project basis without financial support from the programme. Another programme under the fourth framework programme, ie, the specific programme for RTD in the field of co-operation with third countries and international organisations (known as Inco), may provide a financial contribution for participants from the CEEC (see list of countries).

In order to stimulate the participation of entities from central and eastern Europe in Esprit actions, it is assured that sufficient budget is available from the IT share of the programme, so that entities from these countries can receive a financial contribution in order to participate in the programme for Esprit calls up to end 1997. For this to occur, the CEEC entities must be partners in an Esprit proposal which is chosen for funding, they must give full budget information, and they must state that support is being requested from the Inco programme.

List of Countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. The assurance is currently limited to the I.T.programme.

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For next year's (1997) COPERNICUS call it will be possible for participants of Central and Eastern European Countries to undertake the role of project coordinators.