Study - Mapping cultural projects, initiatives and partnerships in external relations of the EU, Member States, local authorities, institutions and CSOs at the European and national levels

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is planning to launch a procurement procedure for a study on Mapping cultural projects, initiatives and partnerships in external relations of the EU, Member States, local authorities, institutions and civil society organisations (CSOs) at the European and national levels.

WHAT IS THIS PUBLICITY ABOUT?

This announcement is made pursuant to Annex I.14 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, to award a low value contract for a study as a result of a negotiated procurement procedure. It is published ahead of the procurement procedure with basic information on the subject matter of the contract, to give economic operators the possibility to express interest in participating as tenderers in the subsequent procurement procedure.

DESCRIPTION

Making cultural diplomacy a key strategic vehicle of the European Union's foreign policy, as repeatedly called for in many documents and important initiatives over the last 17 years, must now become a real priority. On the basis of the European Commission's 2016 communication, the many decisions and guidelines of the Council and the recommendations of the European Parliament in recent years, the EESC adopted the own-initiative Opinion Cultural diplomacy as a vector of EU external relations. New partnerships and role of CSOs (REX/548) in October 2022.

The opinion underlines the necessity to adopt a fully-fledged multiannual strategic action plan with the objective of creating synergies between policies and structures of the European Commission and the Member States. As a first step, it recommends an in-depth exercise of mapping of the many actors, partnerships and activities in the field of cultural diplomacy. The mapping exercise is the subject of this study and should subsequently serve as a basis for the establishment of a Platform of exchange and co-design of future initiatives.

• The study's main focus is structured mapping of the many initiatives, in the field of cultural diplomacy, promoted/financed by EU institutions, the 27 Member States and their specific institutions, local authorities and different types of cultural institutions (universities, museums, theatres, art schools etc.) and the very large range of EU and national CSOs;

• As a preparatory action towards the future establishment of the Platform of exchange and co-design of future initiatives, the study should develop an adequate methodology and a technical proposal enabling the future creation of a permanent and interactive tool for mapping and networking.

The study should be carried out in cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS), in interactions with UNESCO at the EU level and relevant EU CSOs and networks active in the cultural international relations field.

Languages/geographical area

The study should be carried out in English, and cover EU external policy initiatives with regard to the rest of the world.

Indicative timeline

1. Launch of the invitation to tender: 1st quarter 2023.
2. Contract award: 2nd quarter 2023.
3. The final study report is expected within 7 months following the signature of the contract.
4. Deadline for submission of tenders: approximately 2nd quarter 2023.

WHO MAY EXPRESS INTEREST TO BE INVITED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CALL FOR TENDERS?

Participation is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons established in the European Union (EU) or in a third country which has a special agreement with the EU in the field of public procurement on the conditions laid down in that agreement. This includes:

• All EU Member States;
• Parties to special international agreements with the EU in the field of public procurement:
  • European Economic Area agreement (EEA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein;
  • Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA): North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST?

Entities established in a country that has access to the procurement can express interest in participating in the planned procedure by filling in and submitting the contact form (link at the bottom of this page).

DATA PROTECTION

By submitting your contact details, you consent to the EESC processing this personal data in line with this Privacy Statement. To access, change or delete your data at any moment, please contact the data controller by sending an email to studies-eesc@eesc.europa.eu.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that this announcement does not create any obligation for the EESC to launch a procurement procedure. The EESC will take the submitted information into account only to identify potential candidates. Expressing interest to participate in this type of negotiated procedure does not create any legal right or legitimate expectation on the part of any economic operator, and the EESC has the right to cancel the procedure at any time. The documents of the actual call for tenders (invitation letter, tender specifications and draft contract) will only be provided to the identified candidates when the procedure is launched, and any tender received from a legal or natural person not invited to tender will be rejected.