6. Application by local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities

6.1 What has to be considered when applying as a local public entity?

Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities are also able to apply for EUCF support. When applying as a local public entity aggregating municipalities/local authorities, the following points have to be considered:

  • Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities need to declare in the application form that i) they are officially recognised as a tier of local government (different from the regional and provincial levels) by the national law with the obligation for municipalities/local authorities to join the supra-municipal organisation; (ii) they are composed only by municipalities/local authorities; (iii) they have a specific political and administrative structure.
  • Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities must present an own SECAP or local other climate and/or energy plan with mitigation targets that covers their geographical area.
  • Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities are not able to apply to the EUCF as groupings.
  • Local public entities applying for EUCF support cannot be beneficiaries of previous EUCF calls for applications.  

 

6.2 Who qualifies as a local public entity aggregating municipalities/local authorities?

Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities may vary from country to country. Applicants included in this category must confirm their eligibility in the application form. Eligible entities must fulfil all of the following criteria:

  • Eligible public entities must be officially recognised as a tier of local government (different from the regional and provincial levels) by national law with the obligation for municipalities/local authorities to join the supra-municipal organisation;
  • Eligible public entities must be composed only by municipalities/local authorities; and
  • Eligible public entities must have a specific political and administrative structure.

Applicants are encouraged to check their potential eligibility before preparing the application by contacting the EUCF Country Experts and EUCF Helpdesk

6.3 Are there examples for potential eligible local public entities?

Yes, the list below provides a set of examples (non-exhaustive list, in national languages) of potential eligible applicants included in this category.

Country

Examples of public entities

Croatia

 

Urbane aglomeracije: urbana aglomeracija Zagreb, sa sjedištem u Zagrebu; urbana aglomeracija Split, sa sjedištem u Splitu; urbana aglomeracija Rijeka, sa sjedištem u Rijeci; urbana aglomeracija Osijek, sa sjedištem u Osijeku

Finland

Seutukunta

France 

Communautés des communes. The list of Communautés des communes can be found here

Communautés d'agglomération. The list of communautés d'agglomération can be found here

Communautés urbaines. The list of communautés urbaines can be found here

Métropoles. The list of Métropoles can be found here

Germany

Landkreise. The list of Landkreise can be found here

Hungary

Budapest Főváros, Kistérség

Italy

Unioni dei Comuni, Comunità Montane, Unioni Montane, Comunità isolane o di arcipelago. The list of Unioni dei Comuni can be found here

Città metropolitane, as defined by art. 1, comma 5, L. n. 56/201 or any further modification in force prior to the closing date of the EUCF Call, and any other città metropolitana officially defined in any of the “Regioni a statuto speciale” prior to the closing date of the EUCF Call

Portugal

Área Metropolitana and Comunidade Intermunicipal, as defined Lei n.º 75/2013, de 12 de setembro, and any further modification in force prior to the closing date of the EUCF Call. The list can be found here

Spain

Mancomunidad, áreas metropolitanas

6.4 Can public agencies or public companies apply as local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities?

No, Public agencies and public companies (such as in the field of energy/waste management, economic development, touristic promotion, etc.) and/or other legal entities and/or non-profit organisations (e.g. collectives, institutions, associations, agencies etc.) which are fully or partially owned by the municipality/local authority and/or any eligible applicant, and/or which are fully or partially managed/supervised by the municipality/local authority and/or any eligible applicant, are not considered as local governments and therefore cannot be recognised as eligible public entities.

6.5 Do local public entities require an own SECAP or other local climate and/or energy plan with mitigation targets?

Yes, local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities need to have an SECAP or other local climate and/or energy plan with mitigation targets, covering their geographical area.

6.6 Which documents can be required by the EUCF team in case of successful evaluation to check compliance with the eligibility criteria for local public entities?

In case of successful evaluation during the Grant Agreement preparation phase, local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities might be asked to submit a set of documents as evidence in support of their confirmation of the eligibility criteria in the application form These documents must clearly confirm the conditions included in the application form: 

  1. The public entity is officially recognised as a tier of local government (different from the regional and provincial levels) by the national law of its State with the obligation for municipalities/local authorities to join the supra-municipal organisation; 
  2. The public entity is composed only by municipalities/local authorities; and 
  3. The public entity has a specific political and administrative structure.

The required documents may include:

  • Extract of the national and/or regional law where the local public entity is officially defined.
  • The statute of the local public entity; and/or
  • Any other document issued by the competent authority in the country of the business residence of the respective public entity, by which the compliance with the aforesaid preconditions listed under points A, B and C, may be proven.

If in the country of the business residence of the respective public entity such documents are not issued and/or if they do not prove the compliance with the conditions set in the application and listed under points A, B and C above, they may be replaced with the statement given under oath. If such statement does not exist under the legislation of a country of the business residence of the public entity, a statement of the legal representative of the respective public entity verified in front of the  competent court or administrative entity, Notary Public or professional or commercial entity in the country of the business residence of the said public entity can be submitted, by which statement the compliance with all aforesaid conditions specified under points A, B and C, will be confirmed under civil, material and criminal responsibility.

6.7 Can a municipality/local authority or a grouping from the geographical area covered by a local public entity apply in a EUCF call if the local public entity is also applying?

Yes. Local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities are different organisations with different status from municipalities/local authorities and their groupings. These organisations normally have different competences. Therefore, municipalities/local authorities and their groupings can apply for EUCF support in the same call as the local public entity covering its geographical area.