Brussels, 28/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has just issued a call for projects (http: //europa.eu.int/comm/sport/index_en.html) under the European Year of Education through Sport 2004, the principle objectives of which are to strengthen the partnership between the worlds of education and of sport, making greater use of sporting values in education and integration, and increasing voluntary work in sport. This "year" has been allocated a budget of 11.5 million EUR, 6.5 million of which will be spent on co-financing actions formulated in the Member States and implemented at local, regional, cross-border (co-financing can cover up to 50% of the total project amount) or Community (co-financing up to 80%) level. Three rounds have been planned. The first, with a budget of 500,000 EUR, will co-finance projects starting before 1 January 2004 (deadline for applications: 4 July 2003). The second will co-finance projects starting between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2004, to a total of 4,000,000 EUR (deadline for applications: 1 October 2003). The third is reserved for projects starting as of 1 July 2004. The date limit for applications is 1 March 2004 and the total sum available is 2,000,000 EUR. The ten new Member States will be eligible to apply for the second and third rounds.