INTERRUPTION AND SUSPENSION
Partners should be aware of the distinction between:
- Temporary interruption or reduction of activities, as foreseen in Annex 5 of the Grant Agreement, and
- Suspension of the Grant Agreement, as provided for in Article 31 of the Grant Agreement.
In the case of a suspension, costs incurred during the period of suspension are not eligible. By contrast, during a temporary interruption or reduction of activities, costs incurred by Partners may be considered eligible, provided that they comply with the eligibility conditions and are agreed by DG ECHO.
General procedural notes (applicable to interruption and suspension scenarios):
- Before launching any request for a full or partial interruption or suspension in the System, Partners should first inform the Desk Officer by email as soon as circumstances in the field change and discuss the next steps. This first message is important to set the possible start date of the interruption or suspension.
- The duration of a full interruption or a full suspension should not, in principle, exceed one-third of the duration of the Action. For longer periods, it may be more appropriate to consider – together the Desk Officer – a termination of the Agreement.
- If, following the end of a full interruption or a full suspension, adjustments to the Action are necessary, the Partner must submit a Modification Request (MR) to adapt the Action to the new context for DG ECHO’s approval.
TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION OF ACTIVITIES
The temporary interruption of activities is a possibility foreseen in Annex 5 of the MGA. It allows Partners to request a full or partial interruption of the activities when exceptional circumstances (e.g. force majeure) make the implementation impossible or excessively difficult.
Full Interruption
Requesting a full interruption: Partners must follow the automated workflow in APPEL. The step-by-step guidance is available in the reference documents.
When initiating this procedure, the Partner must have the following information available:
- Reasons for requesting the full interruption, including:
- Exceptional circumstances impeding the implementation of the action;
- Details of any measures taken to minimise the negative impact on the action;
- Estimated ongoing costs (i.e. running/operating costs) during the interruption;
- Any other relevant details on changed/changing operational circumstances
- Proposed start date of the full interruption
- Estimated duration of the full interruption.
- An annex may be uploaded to accompany the request (e.g. force majeure reporting form)
The full interruption is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Lifting a full interruption: Once the circumstances allow the end of the interruption, the Partner must submit an ad-hoc request via the automated workflow in APPEL. At this stage, the Partner must provide:
- Information supporting the request to end the full interruption
- Proposed end date of the full interruption
- An annex may be uploaded, if needed, to complement the request.
The lifting of the full interruption is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Partial Interruption
Requesting a partial interruption: Partners must use the Modification Request (MR) functionality in APPEL and provide the following information in field 1.6 [MR] ‘List of the modifications and their justifications’ of the e-Single Form:
- Activities to be interrupted;
- Reasons for the partial interruption;
- Date on which the partial interruption takes effect;
- Conditions and the foreseen date for resumption of the activities, and
- Running costs linked to the interrupted activities.
The partial interruption is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Lifting a partial interruption: As soon as circumstance allow for the resumption of activities, the Partner must inform DG ECHO via a Modification Request (MR) and provide the following information in the field 1.6 [MR] ‘List of the modifications and their justifications’ of the e-Single Form:
- End date of the partial interruption and resumption date, and
- Any changes required to adapt the Action to the new operational circumstances.
The lifting of the partial interruption is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
SUSPENSION OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT
The suspension of the agreement is a possibility foreseen in Article 31 of the MGA. It allows the Partners to request a full or partial suspension, if exceptional circumstances – in particular force majeure – make the implementation impossible or excessively difficult.
A suspension of the grant agreement or any part of it, may also be imposed by DG ECHO, when the Partner(s) (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person essential for the award or implementation of the Action) has committed systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or serious breach of obligations in the Action.
Please note that costs incurred during the period of suspension are not eligible.
Full suspension
Request a full suspension: Partners must follow the automated workflow in APPEL. The step-by-step guidance is available in the Reference Documents.
When initiating this procedure, the partner must have the following information available:
- Reasons for requesting the full interruption, including:
- Exceptional circumstances impeding the implementation of the activities;
- Details on any measures taken to minimise the negative impact on the action;
- Any other relevant details on the changed/changing operational circumstances;
- Proposed start date of the full suspension;
- Estimated duration of the full suspension;
- An annex may be uploaded to accompany the request (e.g. force majeure reporting form).
The full suspension is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Lifting a full suspension: Once circumstances allow the suspension to end, the Partner must submit an ad-hoc request via the automated workflow in APPEL. At this stage, the Partner must provide:
- Information supporting the request to end the full suspension;
- Proposed end date of the full suspension;
- An annex may be uploaded, if needed, to complement the request.
The lifting of the full suspension is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Partial suspension
Requesting a partial suspension: Partners must use the Modification Request (MR) functionality in APPEL and provide the following information in field 1.6 [MR] ‘List of the modifications and their justifications’ of the e-Single Form:
- Activities to be suspended;
- Reasons for the partial suspension;
- Date on which the partial suspension takes effect;
- Conditions and the date foreseen for resumption of the activities.
The partial suspension is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
Lifting a partial suspension: As soon as the circumstance allow for resumption of the activities, the Partner must inform DG ECHO via a Modification Request (MR) and provide the following information in the field 1.6 [MR] ‘List of the modifications and their justifications’ of the e-Single Form:
- End date of the partial suspension and resumption date, and
- Any changes required to adapt the Action to the new operational circumstances.
The lifting of the partial suspension is confirmed once approved by DG ECHO.
REFERENCE & DOCUMENT
New APPEL Release Documentation
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