How to calculate the project start date? Is the preparation phase included?
The ‘start date’ of a project indicates when the activities begin and the relating expenses are eligible. The ‘start date’ can usually go from the date of the approval of the project by the JMC hence without including the preparation phase. However the partnerships may decide at their own risk to start project before the project is finally selected for grant provided that this day is the official start of the project. In this case the ‘start date’ can go back at the earliest to the day of publication of the Calls. It is highlighted that if in an approved project there is one or more Beneficiaries falling into the de minimis regime the expenses of those partners are eligible from the date of approval of the project or at the earliest from the closing date of the Calls even if the partnership decided to indicate as ‘start date’ the day of the publication of the Calls. In conclusion ‘start date’ is strictly linked to the eligibility of the expenses.
