EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 20.2.2018 C(2018) 996 final COMMISSION DECISION of 20.2.2018 on the adoption of the work programme for 2018 on financial support for training in conference interpreting EN EN
COMMISSION DECISION of 20.2.2018 on the adoption of the work programme for 2018 on financial support for training in conference interpreting THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 1, and in particular Article 54(2)(e) and Articles 84(2), 124(1) and 128(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) In order to ensure support for training in conference interpreting, it is necessary to adopt the work programme for 2018. Article 188(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 2 establishes detailed rules on work programmes for grants. This decision is in accordance with the Commission Communication of 9 April 2002 on the implementation of the strategy for preparing for the 2004 enlargement and, in particular, the section on financial support 3, the Commission Communication of 22 November 2005 on A new framework strategy for multilingualism and, in particular, section IV.3 thereof 4 and the Commission Communication of 19 September 2008 on 'Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment' 5. Where considered appropriate, e.g. to increase the leverage effect of the grant programme and the supported actions, financing could be extended marginally to other types of interpreting training. (2) It is necessary to allow for the payment of interest due for late payment on the basis of Article 92(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and Article 111(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012. (3) As stated in the legal basis, the Commission may authorise, by a way of a decision, the use of lump sums in the form of a bursary awarded to students. (4) In order to allow for flexibility in the implementaiton of the work programme, it is appropriate to define the term substantial change within the meaning of Article 188(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012. 1 2 3 4 5 OJ L 298 26.10.2012, p. 1. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1). SEC(2002)349/2 of 9 April 2002. COM(2005)596 of 22 November 2005. SEC (2008) 2443of 18 September 2008. EN 1 EN
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The work programme The work programme for 2018 on financial support for training in conference interpreting, as set out in the Annex, is adopted. The use of lump sums for the bursaries to students, unit costs and flat-rate financing as set out in the work programme is authorised. Article 2 Union contribution The maximum Commission contribution for the work programme for 2018 is set at EUR 620.000 and shall be financed from the appropriations entered in the budget line 31.010702 of the general 2018 budget of the Union and from assigned revenue collected as a charge back for the provision of interpretation services to the other Union institutions and bodies of the Union. The appropriations provided for in the first paragraph may also cover interest due for late payment. Article 3 Flexibility clause Cumulated changes to the allocations to specific actions not exceeding 15% of the maximum contribution set in Article 2 of this Decision shall not be considered to be substantial within the meaning of Article 188(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1268/2012, where those changes do not significantly affect the nature of the actions and the objective of the work programme. The authorising officer may apply the changes referred to in the first paragraph. Those changes shall be applied in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and proportionality. Done at Brussels, 20.2.2018 For the Commission Günther OETTINGER Member of the Commission EN 2 EN
EN 3 EN
EN ANNEX DG Interpretation 2018 work programme on financial support for training in conference interpreting 1. BUDGET LINE BGUE-B2018-31.010702.00- SCIC Grants and Bursaries 2. BASIC ACT The support activities covered by this work programme derive from the operational needs of the Commission, in the context of its administrative autonomy, as provided for in Article 54(2)(e) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of 25 October 2012. 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURES FINANCED UNDER THE BUDGET LINE To comply with their legal obligations with regard to multilingualism, as set out in Article 342 TFEU and Council Regulation No 1 6 and ensure their proper functioning, the institutions of the Union provide interpretation for the conferences and meetings which they organise. The Directorate-General for Interpretation (DG SCIC) is responsible for interpretation at the Commission, the European Council, the Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European External Action Service, the European Investment Bank and numerous other Union bodies. Whilst ensuring multilingual communication by providing interpretation from all 24 official Union languages, DG Interpretation is also called on to provide interpretation in many other languages, especially those of the major strategic and trading partners of the Union. To ensure the availability of a sufficient number of qualified conference interpreters, the interpretation services of the Commission and of the Parliament have always supported and strengthened training programmes by providing professional assistance and financial support. The Commission Decision COM (80)PV563 7 setting up the Joint Interpreting and Conference Service (PERS (80) 86) already included the award of grants among the activities of the Service. The aim of these activities is to help produce a sufficient number of qualified interpreters who may, subsequently, be recruited by the Union institutions as officials or accredited conference interpreter agents (free-lancers). This assistance may be granted for official languages and, on a much smaller scale, for languages that are not official Union languages where this is justified by the needs of the Commission and is compatible with other Union policies. The financial part of the Commission s action in the framework of the grant and bursary schemes includes (among other activities): a programme of grants for universities and similar bodies, 6 7 Council Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community (OJ 17, 6.10.1958, p. 385). COM (80)PV563 final, of 25 June 1980. EN 4 EN
a programme of bursaries contributing to the study costs of students enrolled in post-graduate interpretation courses or advanced training actions in the field of interpretation. The overall maximum amount available for these actions is EUR 620.000. The budgetary cover for this financing is provided by the appropriations in the budget line mentioned under point 1. In its Communication on Conference Interpreting and Enlargement A Strategy for the Joint Interpreting and Conference Service in the lead-up to 2004 8, the Commission confirmed the importance of these programmes in order to strengthen the capacity and quality of training in the new languages and to continue preparing the candidate countries for future membership. In its Communication A new framework strategy for multilingualism 9, the Commission stated that it will continue to offer universities grants and teaching assistance in the field of conference interpreting ( ) and fund student bursaries and training visits and that it will support the European Master s in Conference Interpreting ( ) thereby enhancing cooperation, pooling expertise and disseminating best practices ( ). This approach was confirmed once more in the 2008 Communication 'Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment' 10, where the Commission underlines the impact of its assistance programmes in conference interpreting training. Again in 2018, the DG Interpretation Management Plan stresses the need to address succession planning in order to maintain the present level of language coverage, through continuous training of current staff and support to the training of future interpreters. The available appropriations will be used to provide financial support in the forms mentioned above. A more detailed description is provided under point 5. 4. MOBILISATION OF AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS The Commission intends to maintain its co-financing actions to improve the professional quality of training and trainers and to contribute to the costs incurred by university students who wish to pursue professional training in interpreting. The total budget for 2018 is up to EUR 620.000, estimated at approximately EUR 490.000 for grants to universities and other bodies as well as for other targeted activities and EUR 130.000 for bursaries. These appropriations may also finance the payment of default interest in accordance with Article 92(1) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012. 5. TYPES OF ACTION Given the nature of the activities and the relatively small amount of financing involved, activities will continue to be managed centrally. 5.1. Programme of grants to universities and similar bodies to finance an action 5.1.1. Calls for proposals An annual call for proposals is published on the Europa website on the Grants of the European Union pages and on the pages of DG Interpretation. The schedule for the call for proposals is as follows: 8 9 10 SEC (2002) 349/2 of 9 April 2002. COM(2005)596 of 22 November 2005. SEC (2008) 2443 of 18 September 2008. EN 5 EN
March April: launch of the call for proposals; May June: closing date for the submission of applications; June-July: meeting(s) of the evaluation committee; July-October: final award decision and conclusion of grant agreements. 5.1.2. Objectives of the programme As a provider of an inter-institutional service, DG Interpretation s mission requires it to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified conference interpreters are available to enable the European Union's institutions to function properly. The programme contributes to this mission by supporting the following actions in the field of interpretation: the promotion of quality and linguistic diversity in the teaching of interpreting in the official languages of the EU and of the candidate countries; the establishment and support of postgraduate centres of excellence; cooperation among postgraduate courses from different Member States and from candidate countries; a limited number of postgraduate courses from third countries offering languages of particular interest for the EU may also be included (as set out in paragraph 2 of point 5.1.7); and the development of innovative pilot projects including those which create synergies with other types of interpreting training and which foster the interpreting profession as a whole. 5.1.3. Eligible applicants Universities, university institutes, consortia and associations of universities or institutes, legally established in a Member State or in a candidate country, and which offer or coordinate postgraduate courses specialising in conference interpreting; Associations, consortia and bodies, legally established in a Member State or in a candidate country, whose main mission is to develop and/or support cooperation and disseminate best practices in the field of conference interpreter training. Where necessary, consortia may include private sector actors who have the specific expertise needed to implement the proposed actions. Teaching establishments must be approved by their national authorities as public or private bodies entrusted with a public task of teaching and organising courses at master or postgraduate level in the field of conference interpreting. If the applicant is not a teaching establishment, its mission must nevertheless be related to the objectives of this programme and be recognised by the national authorities where it is established. With a view to aligning with the Commission's priotities i.e. regarding jobs, growth and migration and in order to increase the number and the employability of future interpreters, the programme may also support projects aimed at creating synergies with other types of interpreting training and at fostering the interpreting profession as a whole, whilst keeping the main focus on conference interpreting. In addition, proposals must be submitted within the deadlines and in accordance with the requirements specified in the call for proposals, such as the confirmation of the support and EN 6 EN
commitment of the university authorities or associates and members to complete the proposed action. Where needed, and in accordance with Article 96(2) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, the Evaluation Committee or authorising officer responsible shall ask to provide missing information or to clarify supporting documents. 5.1.4. Grant selection criteria Financial capacity Applicants must have stable and adequate financial resources to maintain their activities during the period of implementation of the action. Financial capacity of associations and consortia must be commensurate with the scale, duration and the planned execution of expenditure under the proposed action. Operational capacity Applicants must have the professional skills and qualifications required to provide specialised training at the required professional level. They must have: appropriate human resources, including qualified professional trainers and proven project management capacities; and the logistical infrastructure necessary to complete the project. In addition, associations or consortia must demonstrate that they have the appropriate organisational capacity or relevant experience to manage projects involving several partners. 5.1.5. Grant award criteria If the application meets the eligibility and selection criteria, it will be evaluated in accordance with following award criteria: a. Actions related to the organisation of specialised master or post-graduate courses: (a) (b) (c) (d) relevance to priority needs for languages of the Union Interpretation Services, both official Union languages and languages of the Union candidate countries; efficiency and consistency of the training methodology, including use of new technologies, and of the organisation proposed for the implementation of specialised masters or postgraduate Conference Interpreter training. This will be measured against recognised best practises which will be annexed to the call for proposals; co-operation with other universities; cost-effectiveness of the project, including by having created synergies with other types of interpreting training and having fostered the interpreting profession as a whole b. Special projects aimed at contributing to interpreter training or at applying the results of scientific research to interpreter training: (a) (b) relevance of the proposed project to the general objectives of the Grant Programme; multiplier effect and/or dissemination of best practices of the project for the benefit of the training of future interpreters in order to increase their employability and multidisciplinary skills; EN 7 EN
(c) (d) (e) medium and long term impact of the project outcome; co-operation between universities and other stakeholders; cost effectiveness and/or synergies of the project including by having created synergies with other types of interpreting training and having fostered the interpreting profession as a whole. 5.1.6. Evaluation of proposals Proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of at least three officials from different units/departments. Observers from other Institutions may also be invited. The recommendations of the committee, properly documented, will be submitted to the designated authorising officer for award decision. 5.1.7. Maximum level of support and payment schedule EU cofinancing of these activities may not exceed 75% of the total accepted eligible costs. However, by way of exception, for specific individual eligible costs relating to training in languages that are most needed by the EU interpreting services or for the purchase of essential technical equipment, cofinancing of it may exceed the 75% ceiling, provided that the total grant remains within the 75% ceiling. The call for proposals may accept the use of unit costs for accommodation and subsistence costs of teacher and student mobility under the supported action. Given their simple and recurrent character, the use of unit cost is appropriate in terms of reducing costs of control (proof of travel). In that case, the unit cost will be fixed at EUR 145 per day for teacher mobility and 75 euro per day for student mobility, being respectively approximately 75% and 40% of the amount fixed by the Commission for the reimbursement of subsistence and other expenses for outside experts. Based on data from previous years, this unit cost complies with the principles of non-profit and co-financing. Given that university consortia may include non-union members, the total support to such non-eu based universities shall not exceed 10% of the overall annual funding of the grants programme. The action may start before the agreement is signed (e.g. aptitude tests, preparation and promotion of the course), but costs incurred prior to the date of the submission of the grant application are not considered eligible. Subject to his risk assessment and according to the specificities of the supported action, the authorising officer will determine the most appropriate payment schedule. 5.2. Programme of bursaries to students 5.2.1. Calls for proposals An annual call for proposals is published on the Europa website on the Grants of the European Union pages and on the pages of DG Interpretation. The schedule for the call for proposals is as follows: April May: publication of the call for applications; mid-september: deadline for submitting application files including the proof of admission to a course; October-November: completion of the evaluation of applications and award decision EN 8 EN
November-December: bursary offers are sent to short-listed applicants for confirmation of their acceptance. 5.2.2. Objectives of the programme As a provider of an inter-institutional service, DG Interpretation's mission is to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified conference interpreters is available to enable the Union Institutions to function properly. The aim of the bursaries is to support the most promising interpreting students enrolled in high-level courses whose profiles correspond to the needs and priorities of the service. In this way, young people or people in professional mobility can better acquire the specific skills and competences to become high-level conference interpreters, thereby improving the interpreting resources available to the Union Institutions. 5.2.3. Eligible applicants In order to be eligible, applicants should be enrolled in a specialised postgraduate training in conference interpreting organised by universities or university institutes in the Member States, in candidate countries or, when justified, in third countries. 5.2.4. Eligibility requirements To be eligible for bursaries, applicants must: be nationals of a Member State or of a candidate country; and submit their application in accordance with the requirements and within the deadlines specified in the call for proposals, including proof of admission to a postgraduate course in conference interpreting approved by the competent national authorities. Where needed, and in accordance with Article 96(2) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, the Evaluation Committee or authorising officer responsible shall ask to provide missing information or to clarify supporting documents. 5.2.5. Criteria for selecting bursary recipients Applicants must have a recognised potential for specialising in conference interpreting. They must: have a university diploma in any discipline, and present proof of admission to a course at postgraduate or equivalent level in Conference Interpreting (European Masters in Conference Interpreting type or similar) and offer languages or language combinations which meet the needs published on the DG Interpretation website for the academic year in question. 5.2.6. Bursary award criteria Preference will be given to applicants who offer a language combination that most closely meets the present and foreseeable needs of the Commission, in particular the official Union languages and languages of the Union candidate countries. In addition the evaluation will take into account an assessment of the applicant s potential on the basis of CV, motivation letter, exam results, as well as other qualifications or skills. Recipients of DG Interpretation bursaries can only benefit once from this scheme and may not at the same time receive other bursaries, grants or allowances for the same project from the Union. EN 9 EN
5.2.7. Evaluation of proposals Proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of at least three officials from different units/departments. The recommendations of the committee, properly documented, will be submitted to the designated authorising officer for award decision. 5.2.8. Level of support The bursary is intended as a partial contribution to the overall study costs (including subsistence costs) and shall be covered by a low value grant taking the form of a lump sum authorised by the responsible authorising officer. Students abandoning the course voluntarily may be liable to repay all or part of the bursary; in this case, the authorising officer will decide on the level and terms of such reimbursement. 6. EXPECTED RESULTS 6.1. Grants to universities The support programme aims to promote the development of training resources and continuing support for centres of excellence providing training that meets the demanding professional standards for conference interpreting in the Union institutions and their current and foreseeable language needs. The programme will contribute to the training of the number and language diversity of conference interpreters required to ensure the proper functioning of the Institutions. This programme is implemented in close inter-institutional cooperation with DG INTE of the European Parliament which faces very similar needs and manages an almost identical programme. The impact assessment will be measured in terms of the rate/number of graduates from the supported programmes who take part in the accreditation tests or recruitment competitions and their success rates, as well as the contribution of the supported action to meeting the needs of the Commission. Over the period 2013-2017, about 60% of newly accredited interpreters were trained at universities who received grants from this scheme. The present programme envisages a similar result. In 2014, DG Interpretation carried out a survey which showed the high importance of this programme for the eligible universities. 6.2. Bursaries for interpreting students After strict university admission tests, interpreter training must take place on a small scale and must be taught by professional interpreters. As a consequence, training in this field is a- typical and costly. The bursaries programme aims to support the most promising interpreting students corresponding to the needs and priorities of the service. Results will be measured in terms of the rate/number of beneficiaries who successfully complete the training course with the predicted language combination, and take part in the accreditation tests or recruitment competitions and their success rates in these tests and competitions. In 2017, former bursary beneficiaries represented about 48% of all successful candidates. After a thorough review of the scheme in 2013, a rigorous assessment of the candidates potential is applied and this is expected to subsequently further increase the programme s impact. A survey conducted in 2013 amongst the former beneficiaries demonstrated its positive impact on students, as a financial support and psychological boost. This was confirmed in 2014, when DG Interpretation carried out a survey of universities with bursary recipients. EN 10 EN