A written Contract was established between Eurostep, acting for the Presidency Fund, and the Implementing NGO to initiate the implementation of the Project. Each successful proposal received aid from the Fund for implementation for one year.

The following were the General Conditions for the Contract:

1. The provision of support from the Presidency Fund for successful proposals were provided on the basis of a legally binding contract.

2. A contract between Eurostep, which bore the legal responsibility for the Presidency Fund, and the Implementing Organisation could only be concluded in writing between lawful representatives of Eurostep and the lawful representatives of the organisation responsible for the implementation of the activities as described in the application.

3. These General Conditions were considered to form part of any contract drawn up between Eurostep and the implementing organisation with the purpose of (co)financing this latter’s activities, unless in such a contract it had been explicitly stipulated that these General Conditions were not applicable.

4. Together the General Conditions, the Main Application (including the Budget Proposal) and the Contract Letter formed an integral part of the contract.

5. The parties undertook to comply with their obligations as stated in the contract.

6. The Contract operated for a period of one year corresponding with the period of Implementation of the Project. Requests for extending the contract period had to be made to Eurostep at least three months prior to the expiry of the contract.

7. Requests for modifications to either the Application, or the Terms of Contract or the Budget had to be submitted in writing to Eurostep. A variant in expenditure against the Budget of up to 10% was accepted on the basis of prior notification and justification of the changes. All variants exceeding 10% required written authorisation.

8. The schedule for payment, while attempting to be flexible so as to respond to the needs of the project, was as follows:

50% on the receipt by the Presidency Fund Secretariat of the signed contract.

45% on acceptance by the Presidency Fund Secretariat of the Mid-Term Progress Report

5% on acceptance of the Final Report.