Translation glossary

Standard Scale of Unit Costs is one of the simplified cost options. A standard scale of unit costs comprises of pre-established standard prices that apply to pre-defined quantities related to an activity. The eligible expenditure is calculated by multiplying the standard cost by the units achieved (quantified activities, input, etc.). In general, standard scales of unit costs are process-based, aiming at covering through the best approximation the real costs of delivering a project. They can also be outcome-based or defined on both process and outcome. Standard scales of unit costs are established based on fair, equitable and verifiable calculation methods.

State Aid means action by a (national, regional or local) public authority, using public resources, to favour certain undertakings or the production of certain goods. A business that benefits from such aid thus enjoys an advantage over its competitors. Control of State Aid thus reflects the need to maintain free and fair competition within the European Union. Aid which is granted selectively by Member States or through state resources and which may affect trade between Member States or distort competition is therefore prohibited (Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - TFEU). State Aid may nonetheless be permitted if justified by objectives of general economic interest, if it falls within the General Block Exemption (e.g. Article 19 - Cooperation costs of SMEs in ETC), if it falls within de minims, or if it has been notified to and approved by DG Competition.

The Steering Committee for projects is a board made up of representatives of the project partners or external stakeholders who provide guidance and take decisions on the implementation of the project.

A group of people appointed to perform strategic coordination, evaluation and decision-making in the project. It generally includes management representatives from project partner organisations involved in the project and any other key stakeholder groups that have special interest in the outcome of the project.

Subcontracting is a process whereby an agreement is entered into to provide goods or services relating to tasks required for the project which cannot be carried out by the beneficiary itself, concluded between a beneficiary and one or more subcontractors for the specific needs of a project. Subcontracting comes from the principle that the beneficiaries must have the operational capacity to implement the project, and is limited to those parts of the work which cannot be carried out by the beneficiary itself. It must not concern "core" parts of the project work, and only a limited part of the project can be concluded by a subcontractor where this is necessary for the project implementation. Project management must always be considered to be a core element of the project and must not be the subject of a subcontract.