The following can participate in FP6:

• any legal entities registered on the grounds of national, international or European laws and regulations, whether universities, institutes, small businesses or corporations, or potential beneficiaries of project outcomes
• any physical persons, in case of scholarships or trainings.

The minimum number of partners is 3 (1 from EU + 2 from candidate countries or vice versa) - Croatia can participate as the 4th project partner.

For a Call regarding the West Balkans - a minimum of 3 partners (1 from EU + 2 from different countries) - Croatia can participate as the 3rd project partner.

The level of participation eligibility depends on which group of countries a potential partner country comes from. FP6 distinguishes 5 groups of countries plus an additional category of international organisations (FAO, WHO, CERN and similar):

INTEGRATING, STRUCTURING & REINFORCING
ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES	Candidate countries As Member States Other (e.g. EEE, Switzerland, Israel) if threshold = or > to 3 + 2 Member States / Associated Candidate Countries /International European Interest Organisations if threshold = 1 as Member States
THIRD COUNTRIES	INTEGRATING STRUCTURING & REINFORCING INCO countries (2) with or without S&T Agreement INCO activities Priorities and other acivities if targeted by the specific INCO activity + minimum number of Member States / Associated States OR if not targeted by the specific INCO activity + minimum number of Member States / Associated States / INCO countries targeted by the specific INCO activity + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States Third countries with S&T Agreement If foreseen by the S&T Agreement AND + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States Other countries with or without S&T Agreement + minimum number of Member States/Associated States / INCO countries targeted by the specific INCO activity Third countries without S&T Agreement If necessary (ad-hoc-basis) OR if foreseen by the Work Programme or call for proposals AND + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS	European interest (e.g. CERN, ESA, ESO, ...) As Member States Other (e.g. WHO, FAO, ...) + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States and INCO target countries + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States Other (e.g. WHO, FAO, ...) If necessary (ad-hoc basis) OR if foreseen by the Work Programme or call for proposals + minimum number of Member States / Asociated States

(1) Where no threshold is required the addition to a minimum number of Member States / Associated States condition is not applicable

(2) List of target countries (NIS, Balkans, MED & DEV) detailed in the related workprogramme

	As Member States
	+ supplementary eligibility criteria
	+ upon approval by the Commission (workprogramme, calls for proposals or ad-hoc basis)

(Source: http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/inco-participation.htm)

• EU members
• EU membership candidates
• Associated countries (whether or not they have signed the Science and Technology Agreement)
• Third countries (*Croatia)
• Others

EU members and candidate countries enjoy an unlimited participation; however, limitations are set to other groups, primarily where co-financing is concerned. Still, there are virtually no limitations to participation when it is not co-financed.

Participation of Croatian partners

Croatia is a third country which has not signed the Science and Technology Agreement; as such, its co-financed cooperation is limited to INCO (International co-operation) sub-line within "Specific activities covering a wider field of research" framework, specific activities in other parts of the same framework, and participation in activities of seven thematic priorities, not exceeding the budget reserved for third-country cooperation within thematic priorities framework. Additionally, Croatia can participate as a third country in the mobility programme (Marie Curie scholarships) within the "Structuring the ERA" framework. The total budget for cooperation with third countries for the two above-mentioned frameworks amounts to 600 M EUR. It is important to point out that Croatia cannot be an FP6 project coordinator; it can merely participate as 3rd or 4th member. Other lines are open for cooperation, yet the possibility of co-financing depends on whether participation of Croatian partners is necessary for the success of a project (ad-hoc decision), which is to be decided by EC, or whether such a possibility is specifically stipulated by the regulations of the bid or by its operations programme.

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