The Draft New Regulations for Programme and Financial Management of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds - Challenges in Programming, Financial Control and Audit, 2014-2020 and 2021-2027

Kalender (Bron: swedeandsour / iStock.com)
swedeandsour / iStock.com
date September 23, 2019
organisation European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) i

This seminar will examine live issues of Programme and Financial Management, Financial Control and Audit for Operational Programmes in the 2014-2020 period and look forward at how the proposed Regulations will change and have an impact on these areas for 2021-2027.

Your browser must support JavaScript in order to make a booking.

Persons:

Date: Choose...

Month / Day / Year

Check Availability

SKU: 1930202 Categories: EU Policies: Rules and Practice, EU Structural Funds Tags: Cohesion fund, ESI, ESI Funds, EU Structural and Cohesion Fund, financial audits, financial control, OMNIBUS, OMNIBUS regulation, Simplified Costs Options, Structural and Cohesion Funds

About this course

This seminar will examine live issues of Programme and Financial Management, Financial Control and Audit for Operational Programmes in the 2014-2020 period and look forward at how the proposed Regulations will change and have an impact on these areas for 2021-2027. There will be a special focus on financial planning for programmes, extending the use of simplified cost options, and the most frequent audit issues - in particular - eligibility of expenditure and public procurement.

How we work

Participants will work with live issues and practical solutions for challenges in the fields of financial management, financial control and audit. They will enjoy quality speakers from Member States and the European Commission, as well as highly experienced EIPA experts and consultants.

The seminar will include numerous workshops and exercise sessions where examples and case studies will be presented. Participants will be encouraged to exchange practical examples, experiences and good practice in managing EU Structural Funds.

Participants are invited to send us their problems, issues and questions before the seminar, if they wish. We will do our best to address the problems / answer the questions during the seminar!

Who will benefit most?

This seminar is intended for:

  • practitioners from national, regional and local authorities and from other public bodies of EU Member States (and associated countries) working with ESI Funds
  • economic and social partners working with the Structural and Investment Funds, such as universities, NGOs, employers’ associations, consultants.

What you will learn in this course

Practical issues to be discussed will include:

  • new programme structures and priorities
  • programme finance, financial tables and flexibility proposed for 2021-2027
  • co-finance ceilings, the risks of automatic de-commitment
  • changes to the annual accounting process and the calculation of the annual balance
  • key issues for the eligibility of expenditure
  • the new OMNIBUS regulation, simplification and the extended use of simplified cost options
  • changes to the audit of accounts, systems and operations
  • risk assessment, protecting the audit trail
  • irregularities, corrections, withdrawals
  • public procurement rules and good practice
  • the link between finance and performance, using the Performance Framework

Marco Lopriore (IT)

EU Funds

Robin Smail

EU Structural Funds - External Expert

Dermot Byrne

EU Audit and Public Management - External Expert

Rafael López Sánchez (External Expert)

Deputy Head of Unit C.1

Practical information

Course venue

European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)

O.L. Vrouweplein 22

6211 HE, Maastricht

the Netherlands

Programme Organiser

Ms Winny Curfs

Tel: + 31 43 32 96 320

w.curfs@eipa.eu

Fee

The fee includes documentation and refreshments. Lunches, a reception or dinner are included if mentioned in the programme. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts

EIPA offers a 10% discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?

Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Meals

Lunches, the reception or dinner will be served at a restaurant in town. Special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic) can be indicated once you receive the confirmation of the seminar.

Hotel reservations

EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. All hotels are within 10 minutes walking distance from EIPA. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the links below. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out. At the time of booking, please mention in the requested field the EIPA project number for your course.

Confirmation

Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment

Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy

For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

The programme

 

08.30

Registration of participants

09.00

Welcome of participants and opening of the conference

Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA Maastricht

 

Introduction to the draft New Regulations

Legislative developments

09.15

The new draft Regulations, 2021-2027: policy context and highlights

  • The new unified legal framework of CPR
  • Link to the European Semester and National Reform Programmes
  • Simpler and more flexible rules, synergies between policy instruments; a territorial dimension
  • OMNIBUS changes to eligibility of expenditure

Marco Lopriore

 

Financial Management & Financial Control

Programme Finance, Financial Flows, Accounts, Simplification

09.45

Programme Structure and Finance, Financial Management and Control: moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

  • programme structure and financial tables; introducing greater flexibility
  • co-finance rates; funding instruments
  • commitments, automatic de-commitment, pre-financing
  • payment applications, technical assistance
  • the accounting year and calculation of the annual balance

Robin Smail, Visiting Expert EIPA, Consultant, UK (and former Detached National Expert, EC)

10.45

Coffee break

11.15

Programme Structure and Finance, Financial Management and Control: moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027 (contd).

  • Transmission of financial information
  • Programme closure

Robin Smail

11.45

Exercises: financial planning; the accounting year

  • making financial allocations
  • calculation of the annual balance

Robin Smail

12.15

Simplification and Simplified Cost Options

  • legal provisions and the OMNIBUS regulation
  • Improving the result-orientation of programmes
  • methodologies and audit requirements

Marco Lopriore

13.00

Lunch break

14.30

Workshop: simplified cost options; treating irregularities in SCO

Marco Lopriore

15.30

Programme Finance, Financial Management and Control (contd.)

  • financial control - management verifications and risk
  • simplification in audit

Robin Smail

16.00

Coffee break

 

Financial Control & Audit

Systems, biggest challenges and issues, simplification

16.30

Control and Audit of Structural Funds, 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

  • Management and Control Systems (MCS), assurance models
  • risk assessment and risk mitigation, management verifications and audit
  • current audit issues
  • proportionality, simplifying audit work
  • future challenges for the authorities

Dermot Byrne, ERDF Audit Authority, Department of Public Expenditure Reform, Dublin

18.00

Question and answer session

18.15

End of first day

18.30

Reception, Hotel Derlon

 

09.15

Audit of accounts, systems and operations

  • annual Accounts - preparation, audit and acceptance by Commission
  • audits of systems and the key requirements
  • audits of operations, sampling
  • calculating error rates for programmes, implications for the accounts process
  • irregularities and corrections

Dermot Byrne

10.45

Coffee break

11.15

Public Procurement rules and application to Cohesion Policy - new guidelines on corrections

  • the public procurement Directives
  • contracts covered and not covered by the Directives
  • typical problems for Structural and Cohesion Funds; preventive actions
  • the new guidelines on corrections
  • implications for audit in 2021-2027

Rafael Lopez Sanchez, Audit Directorate, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission, Brussels

12.30

Question and answer session

13.00

Lunch break

14.15

Eligibility of Expenditure

  • legal provisions, the Funds, timing and location
  • VAT, in-kind contributions, durability of operations, technical assistance, Seal of Excellence concept
  • exercises

Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA Maastricht

15.35

Monitoring and Reporting proposed changes for 2021-2027

  • key features of 2014-2020
  • real-time reporting and the new reporting templates
  • the evolving Performance Framework
  • Final Performance Report

Robin Smail

16.35

Evaluation of seminar

16.40

Close of seminar

 

MONDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2019

 

08.30

Registration of participants

   

09.00

Welcome of participants and opening of the conference

Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA Maastricht

   

Introduction to the draft New Regulations

Legislative developments

   

09.15

The new draft Regulations, 2021-2027: policy context and highlights

  • The new unified legal framework of CPR
  • Link to the European Semester and National Reform Programmes
  • Simpler and more flexible rules, synergies between policy instruments; a territorial dimension
  • OMNIBUS changes to eligibility of expenditure

Marco Lopriore

   

Financial Management & Financial Control

Programme Finance, Financial Flows, Accounts, Simplification

 

09.45

Programme Structure and Finance, Financial Management and Control: moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

  • programme structure and financial tables; introducing greater flexibility
  • co-finance rates; funding instruments
  • commitments, automatic de-commitment, pre-financing
  • payment applications, technical assistance
  • the accounting year and calculation of the annual balance

Robin Smail, Visiting Expert EIPA, Consultant, UK (and former Detached National Expert, EC)

   

10.45

Coffee break

   

11.15

Programme Structure and Finance, Financial Management and Control: moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027 (contd).

  • Transmission of financial information
  • Programme closure

Robin Smail

   

11.45

Exercises: financial planning; the accounting year

  • making financial allocations
  • calculation of the annual balance

Robin Smail

   

12.15

Simplification and Simplified Cost Options

  • legal provisions and the OMNIBUS regulation
  • Improving the result-orientation of programmes
  • methodologies and audit requirements

Marco Lopriore

   

13.00

Lunch break

   

14.30

Workshop: simplified cost options; treating irregularities in SCO

Marco Lopriore

   

15.30

Programme Finance, Financial Management and Control (contd.)

  • financial control - management verifications and risk
  • simplification in audit

Robin Smail

   

16.00

Coffee break

   

Financial Control & Audit

Systems, biggest challenges and issues, simplification

   

16.30

Control and Audit of Structural Funds, 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

  • Management and Control Systems (MCS), assurance models
  • risk assessment and risk mitigation, management verifications and audit
  • current audit issues
  • proportionality, simplifying audit work
  • future challenges for the authorities

Dermot Byrne, ERDF Audit Authority, Department of Public Expenditure Reform, Dublin

   

18.00

Question and answer session

   

18.15

End of first day

   

18.30

Reception, Hotel Derlon

   
   

TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2019

   

09.15

Audit of accounts, systems and operations

  • annual Accounts - preparation, audit and acceptance by Commission
  • audits of systems and the key requirements
  • audits of operations, sampling
  • calculating error rates for programmes, implications for the accounts process
  • irregularities and corrections

Dermot Byrne

   

10.45

Coffee break

   

11.15

Public Procurement rules and application to Cohesion Policy - new guidelines on corrections

  • the public procurement Directives
  • contracts covered and not covered by the Directives
  • typical problems for Structural and Cohesion Funds; preventive actions
  • the new guidelines on corrections
  • implications for audit in 2021-2027

Rafael Lopez Sanchez, Audit Directorate, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission, Brussels

   

12.30

Question and answer session

   

13.00

Lunch break

   

14.15

Eligibility of Expenditurelegal provisions, the Funds, timing and location

  • VAT, in-kind contributions, durability of operations, technical assistance, Seal of Excellence concept
  • exercises

Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA Maastricht

   

15.35

Monitoring and Reporting proposed changes for 2021-2027

  • key features of 2014-2020
  • real-time reporting and the new reporting templates
  • the evolving Performance Framework
  • Final Performance Report

Robin Smail

   

16.35

Evaluation of seminar

   

16.40

Close of seminar

Course venue

European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)

O.L. Vrouweplein 22

6211 HE, Maastricht

the Netherlands

Programme Organiser

Ms Winny Curfs

Tel: + 31 43 3296320

w.curfs@eipa.eu

Fee

The fee includes documentation and refreshments. Lunches, a reception or dinner are included if mentioned in the programme. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts

EIPA offers a 10% discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?

Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Meals

Lunches, the reception or dinner will be served at a restaurant in town. Special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic) can be indicated once you receive the confirmation of the seminar.

Hotel reservations

EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. All hotels are within 10 minutes walking distance from EIPA. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the links below. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out. At the time of booking, please mention in the requested field the EIPA project number for your course.

Confirmation

Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment

Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy

For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).


1.

European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)

Het Europees instituut voor bestuurskunde (beter bekend als The European Institute of Public Administration - ofwel EIPA) streeft ernaar om de kennis van ambtenaren die zich met de EU bezighouden te vergroten door het ontwikkelen en organiseren van trainingen. Het instituut wil wetenschappelijke kennis en praktische 'know–how' met elkaar verbinden. EIPA bestaat al meer dan 35 jaar.

Het hoofdkantoor van EIPA is gevestigd in Maastricht en heeft dependances in Luxemburg en Barcelona. Gemiddeld nemen 14.000 nationale en Europese ambtenaren per jaar deel aan de trainingen. Daarnaast biedt EIPA ook consultancy, onderzoek en op maat gemaakte programma’s/trainingen aan. Bij EIPA werken circa 120 hoogopgeleide medewerkers.

2.

More about...