Article 8 Eligible actions

The Programme shall provide, under the conditions set out in the annual work programmes referred to in Article 11, appropriate financial support for all of the following actions:

1. (a)

   provision of specialised technical assistance for the competent authorities of the Member States through one or more of the following:

   1. (i)

      providing specific knowledge, specialised and technically advanced equipment and effective information technology (IT) tools facilitating transnational cooperation and cooperation with the Commission;

   2. (ii)

      ensuring the necessary support and facilitating investigations, in particular the setting up of joint investigation teams and cross-border operations;

   3. (iii)

      supporting Member States’ capacity to store and destroy seized cigarettes, as well as independent analytical services for the analysis of seized cigarettes;

   4. (iv)

      enhancing staff exchanges for specific projects, in particular in the field of the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting;

   5. (v)

      providing technical and operational support for the law enforcement authorities of the Member States in their fight against illegal cross-border activities and fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union, including in particular support for customs authorities;

   6. (vi)

      building information technology capacity throughout participating countries by developing and providing specific databases and IT tools facilitating data access and analysis;

   7. (vii)

      increasing data exchange, developing and providing IT tools for investigations, and monitoring intelligence work;

2. (b)

   organisation of targeted specialised training, and risk analysis training workshops, as well as, where appropriate, conferences, aimed at one or more of the following:

   1. (i)

      further fostering better understanding of Union and national mechanisms;

   2. (ii)

      exchanging experience and best practices between the relevant authorities in the participating countries, including specialised law enforcement services, as well as representatives of international organisations as referred to in Article 7(3);

   3. (iii)

      coordinating the activities of participating countries, and representatives of international organisations, as referred to in Article 7(3);

   4. (iv)

      disseminating knowledge, particularly on better identification of risk for investigative purposes;

   5. (v)

      developing high-profile research activities, including studies;

   6. (vi)

      improving cooperation between practitioners and academics;

   7. (vii)

      further raising the awareness of the judiciary and other branches of the legal profession for the protection of the financial interests of the Union;

3. (c)

   any other action not covered under point (a) or (b) of this Article, provided for in the annual work programmes referred to in Article 11, which is necessary for attaining the general, the specific and the operational objectives provided for in Articles 3, 4 and 5 respectively.