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Audit, Structural and cohesion funds/ESIF
Internal, External and Performance Audit of ESIF and NEXTGENEU Funded Programmes and Projects: 2021-2027 and Preparations for 2028-2034
This highly practical 2,5-day course will give you a complete overview and detailed understanding of all practical aspects of control and different types of audits of EU Funds in the programming period 2021-2027. This includes Next Generation EU and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), and the preparation for control and audits in 2028-2034.
This highly practical 2,5-day course will give you a complete overview and detailed understanding of all practical aspects of control and different types of audits of EU Funds in the programming period 2021-2027. This includes Next Generation EU and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), and the preparation for control and audits in 2028-2034.
It covers:
- A focused reminder of the relevant legislation and standards;
- European Commission (EC) proposals for 2028-2034 and the European Court of Auditors (ECA)’s opinions;
- Methods of increasing efficiency of controls and audits;
- Risk-based management verifications by the managing authorities (MAs) and their evaluation: methodologies, challenges, and best practices;
- Practical know-how through workshops on audit of public procurement, audit of state aid, and performance audit;
- Organisation of the management, control systems, and audits of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility RRF) in different models applied in Member States, with success factors and best practices;
- Preparation for audits in 2028-2034; lessons learned and what to expect after 2027.
The unique feature of this course is that it covers the experience of audit experts from the EC, the ECA, and audit authorities of Member States.
Course methodology
We have made this course very practical and interactive. All presentations conducted by audit experts include specific examples and real-life case studies. Each of them is followed by a practical workshop in small working groups with direct involvement of ECA auditors, where you will learn about errors and irregularities, and how audits are performed.
You will improve your knowledge about errors, irregularities, and anti-fraud measures in ESIFs and RRF co-financed programmes and projects applied in Member States, how the ECA’s auditors are doing financial, compliance, and performance audits, and how they check public procurement and state aid.
You will learn what the expectations are of the EC auditors on the risk-based management verification methodologies and their application, and what are the challenges and best practices in this field. You will also improve your knowledge about audits of IPA III.
Who will benefit most?
- Managing authorities, audit authorities, intermediate bodies, public bodies dealing with Next Generation EU Funds and IPA, beneficiaries eligible under ESI Funds, NextGeneration EU and IPA III, joint secretariats, and controllers under cross-border programmes, including auditors and experts from the IPA countries;
- Internal auditors, independent auditors, and private audit companies dealing with or interested in EU-funded projects and programmes;
- Consulting companies specialised in the management of projects, financed by EU Funds or programmes;
- Managers and potential beneficiaries interested in EU-funded projects and programmes.
Project number: 2620606
Course venue
Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública (INAP)
Calle Atocha 106
28012 Madrid
Spain
Senior Project Officer
Ms Rafaella Giussani
Tel: +31 43 32 96 372
r.giussani@eipa.eu
Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, lunches, a dinner, and a walking tour of Madrid. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a 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, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.
Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.
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.).
A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.
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Our experts
Programme
| 08.30 | Registration of participants and distribution of course materials |
| 09.00 | Opening of the course: Introduction to the programme, objectives, and methodology Iwona Karwot, Senior Expert and Project Leader, EIPA |
| 09.15 | Tour de table: Presentation of participants to encourage networking |
| Part I. EU Commission: How is the audit and control (internal and external) of ESI Funds functioning in the programming period 2021-2027? What type of audit should we expect in 2028-2034? | |
| 09.30 | Audit and control in the programming period 2021–2027: Rules, mechanisms, challenges, and best practices; ESIFs’ risk-based management verifications by the MAs and how to evaluate them. What type of audit should we expect in the future from the EC’s perspective and its consequences? Rafael López Sánchez, Head of Unit DAC.4, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Joint Audit Directorate for Cohesion Policy, European Commission |
| 11.00 | Q&A |
| 11.15 | Coffee break |
| Part II. European Court of Auditors: How are the audits of ESI Funds and RRF performed by the ECA in the programming period 2021-2027? What can be expected in 2028-2034? | |
| 11.45 | The ECA: Its mission, long-term strategy, organisation, types of audits (financial, compliance, and performance), audit reports; an outlook on the new period with the EC proposals for 2028–2034 and the ECA’s opinions Luc T’Joen, Active Senior, Former Senior Administrator, European Court of Auditors, Luxembourg, and Iwona Karwot, EIPA |
| 13.15 | Q&A |
| 13.30 | Joint lunch |
| Part III. European Court of Auditors: Performance audits | |
| 14.45 | The ECA’s assessments of results, milestones and targets for RRF and ESIFs:
Luc T’Joen |
| 16.15 | Q&A |
| 16.30 | Case study: How to plan a performance audit and what to audit exactly – practical cases in small working groups We will work on the topics of urban pollution, urban transport investments, and sustainable urban mobility. Luc T’Joen and Iwona Karwot |
| 17.15 | Plenary session: Group presentations – evaluation of workshop results, including discussion of problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| 17.45 | End of the first day |
| 18.00 | Walking tour of Madrid |
| 20.00 | Group Dinner |
| 09.00 | Presentation of real-life findings from important ECA performance audits assessing results, milestones, and targets of ESIF and RRF-funded programmes and projects:
Luc T’Joen |
| Part IV. European Court of Auditors: Financial and compliance audits | |
| 10.00 | Financial and compliance audit by the ECA in the 2021-2027 programming period and beyond. Part I: An overview of the audit framework This presentation provides an overview of how financial and compliance audits are performed by the ECA, the main principles and actors and the key aspects to look at and shares the experience of what is expected from an auditee. Luc T’Joen |
| 10.45 | Q&A |
| 11.00 | Coffee break |
| 11.30 | Financial and compliance audit by the ECA in the 2021-2027 programming period and beyond. Part II: Most common errors and the upcoming period This presentation will explain the most common errors and the key factors contributing to these errors in cohesion spending and explain the upcoming audit work on legality and regularity of RRF expenditure. Luc T’Joen |
| 12.15 | Q&A |
| Part V. European Court of Auditors: Audit of public procurement | |
| 12.30 | Audit of public procurement in the area of cohesion policy: Approach, practical examples, lessons learned, and first reflections on the 2028-2034 programming period. Part I Annekatrin Langer, Auditor, European Court of Auditors, Luxembourg |
| 13.30 | Joint Lunch |
| 14.45 | Audit of public procurement in the area of cohesion policy: approach, practical examples, lessons learned, and first reflections on the 2028-2034 programming period. Part II Annekatrin Langer |
| 15.15 | Q&A |
| 15.30 | Case study: Audit of public procurement in the area of cohesion – practical cases in working groups Annekatrin Langer |
| 16.30 | Plenary session: Group presentations – Evaluation of workshop results, including discussion of problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| Part VI. European Court of Auditors: Audit of state aid | |
| 17.00 | Auditing state aid in cohesion policy: Practical examples, lessons learned, and first reflections on the 2028-2034 programming period. Part I Kevin Deceuninck, Senior Auditor, Chamber 2 Directorate – Investment for cohesion, growth, and inclusion, European Court of Auditors, Luxembourg |
| 17.45 | End of the second day |
| 09.00 | Auditing state aid in cohesion policy: Practical examples, lessons learned, and first reflections on the 2028-2034 programming period. Part II Kevin Deceuninck |
| 09.45 | Q&A |
| 10.00 | Case studies: Audit of state aid in the area of cohesion policy – practical cases in working groups Kevin Deceuninck |
| 10.45 | Coffee Break |
| 11.15 | Group presentations: Evaluation of workshop results, including discussion of problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| Part VII. Member States: Organisation of management, control systems, and audits of ESIFs and RRF; success factors of an efficient control systems to decrease the irregularities and to achieve higher absorption of EU Funds. Lessons learned from the 2021-2027 programming period and what to expect in 2028-2034 | |
| 11.45 | Best practices in auditing and detection of omissions and irregularities in ESIFs, IPA, and RRF projects in the 2021-2027 programming period – what to do, what to avoid, and what possible solution to apply in case of system problems faced. Lessons learned from 2021-2027 programming period and how to be prepared for audits in 2028-2034. Radoslav Nedyalkov, State Auditor, Audit of European Union Funds Executive Agency, Bulgaria |
| 13.15 | Q&A |
| 13.30 | Practical workshop: ESIFs, IPA, and RRF case studies Radoslav Nedyalkov |
| 14.15 | End of the course and distribution of EIPA certificates to participants |