Commission calls for ALURE applications
The European Commission has published a call for applications under the ALURE programme in the Official Journal. ALURE is an energy programme between the European Union and Latin America. Its overall goal is to strengthen the European Union's economic presence in a vibrant growth sector and to equip Latin American institutions and utilities to provide more competitive services. ALURE has three specific objectives in pursuance of this goal: - To improve the services of Latin American utilities, preferably in the growth sub-sectors of electricity and natural gas, and to promote business relations with European firms linked to the sector, such as utilities, financial operators and industrial firms, in particular small businesses; - To contribute, where necessary, to the adaptation of legal and institutional frameworks; - To promote sustainable development with relevant schemes. Priority will go to schemes directly linked to future investments: this is reflected in increased participation of utilities and financial operators. Each application should be lodged by a grouping made up of at least two players in the energy field from two Member States and at least one Latin American player, the latter being responsible for having the grouping's proposal approved by the authorities of its country. The main change compared with 1995 to 1997 is in the selection procedure - ALURE is now a pipeline that is open all year around. For further information, please contact: ALURE-support Team E-mail: alure@compuserve.com URL: www.alure.net