4.2 Team Europe Initiative participants
A TEI participant is any actor following a Team Europe approach that contributes to a particular TEI. Like- minded development partners, if relevant, agreed by EU Heads of Mission and HQ and in accordance with general instructions can also be TEI participants.
Inclusiveness is a core principle of TEIs. This means that all actors following a Team Europe approach should have an equal opportunity to join a TEI. Country TEIs, for example, should be able to join a TEI regardless of whether or not they have an embassy or office in the partner country or are accredited in that country.
The size and type of the financial contribution does not determine the level of involvement of a TEI participant in the management and/or political steer of the TEI. If an actor is not able to make a financial commitment at the outset, they should be able to do so later. Actors following a Team Europe approach therefore need to ensure that at least some of their future programmes fit in with and support the TEI’s Joint Intervention Logic (JIL – see Annex 4 for more detail) or request a revision of the JIL to embrace this new component if it is clear that it will help to deliver the TEI’s intended impact. If some actors are not able to make any meaningful financial contribution, they can still work together closely on coordinating and communicating under the Team Europe approach on that topic more widely. All these non-financial contributions should be included in the TEI financial contribution table/mapping as contributions in kind (the estimated financial value should be indicated)79.
79 If a financial estimate cannot truly be determined (e.g. providing free advice and expertise during a TEI discussion/event), then there has to be a reference or footnote in the indicative financial table and/or the joint intervention logic that highlights this.