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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
This highly practical 2,5-day course will give you a complete overview and detailed understanding of all practical aspects of the different types of audits of EU Funds in the programming period 2021-2027, including Next Generation EU and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
What is this course about?
This highly practical three-day course will give you a complete overview and detailed understanding of all practical aspects of control (external and internal) and audit of EU Funds in the programming period 2021–2027 and the closure of the period 2014–2020. It covers:
- relevant legislation;
- methods of increasing efficiency of control and audits;
- combating fraud and preventing irregularities;
- practical know-how through workshops on audit of public procurement, audit of State aid and performance audit.
The unique feature of this course is that it covers the experience of internal and external audit experts from EU Commission, European Court of Auditors (ECA), OLAF and the Audit Authorities of Member States.
What will you learn
You will improve your knowledge about errors, irregularities and fraud in ESIF and NextGeneration EU co-financed projects with a special focus on public procurement and State aid. You will also learn how financial, compliance and performance audits should be performed in the programming period 2021–2027.
We have made this course very practical and interactive. All presentations conducted by audit experts include concrete examples and real-life case studies. Each one is followed by a practical workshop in small working groups with direct involvement of ECA’s expert; you will learn about errors and irregularities, and how audits are performed.
- beneficiaries eligible under ESI Funds, NextGeneration EU and IPA III, Managing Authorities, audit authorities, intermediate bodies;
- independent auditors and junior auditors dealing with or interested in EU-funded projects and programmes;
- consulting companies specialised in the auditing of EU Funds or programmes and projects.
Course venue
Hotel Havana, Barcelona
Spain
Programme Organiser
Ms Isabela Puscasu
Tel: +31 43 3296240
i.puscasu@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 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, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
Early bird discount
The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
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 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.).
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Programme
| 08.30 | Registration and handing out seminar material |
| 09.00 | Opening of the seminar: introduction to the programme, objectives and methodology Iwona Karwot, Senior Lecturer and Project Leader, EIPA |
| 09.15 | Tour de table: presentation of participants to encourage networking |
| Part I: EU Commission. How will the audit and control (internal and external) of ESI Funds and NEXTGEN EU function in the programming period 2021–2027? | |
| 09.45 | Audit and control in the programming period 2021-2027: rules, mechanisms, challenges. Introduced changes in comparison of 2014–2020. Miriam Fernández Jutz, Deputy Head of Unit DAC 7 – Joint Audit Directorate for Cohesion, DG Employment Social Affairs and Inclusion, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission |
| 11.15 | Questions and answers |
| 11.30 | Coffee break |
| Part II: OLAF – Anti-fraud and its role in the management and implementation process of ESI Funds and NEXTGEN EU in the programming period 2021–2027 | |
| 12.00 | Organisation, mission and procedures of the European Anti-Fraud office. Practical examples of fraud Piotr Baczmanski, Policy Analyst at Unit D.2 Fraud Prevention, Reporting and Analysis, (OLAF) – European Anti-Fraud Office, European Commission |
| 13.30 | Questions and answers |
| 13.45 | Joint lunch in the hotel restaurant |
| Part III: European Court of Auditors – how will audits of ESI Funds and NEXTGEN EU be performed by the ECA in the programming period 2021–2027? | |
| 15.15 | European Court of Auditors: mission, long term strategy, organisation, types of audits and audit reports Luc T’Joen, Former Senior Administrator, European Court of Auditors, Luxemburg |
| 16.00 | Questions and answers |
| Part IV: European Court of Auditors – performance audit | |
| 16.15 | European Court of Auditors performance auditing: how are topics selected for a performance audit; the basic theory on why we do this; what is it and how is it done. All main elements of the performance audit, procedure, including planning, implementation and reporting Luc T’Joen, Former Senior Administrator, European Court of Auditors, Luxemburg |
| 17:30 | Questions and answers |
| 17:45 | End of the first day and sightseeing tour of Barcelona |
| 20.15 | Welcome seminar dinner |
| 09.00 | Performance auditing – real-life case studies Findings and reporting principles, practical showcases:
Luc T’Joen, Former Senior Administrator, European Court of Auditors, Luxemburg |
| 10.30 | Questions and answers |
| 10.45 | Coffee break |
| Part V: European Court of Auditors – financial management and audit | |
| 11.15 | Financial audit by the ECA in the 2021–2027 programming period: ECA’s Luc T’Joen, Former Senior Administrator, European Court of Auditors, Luxemburg |
| 12.45 | Questions and answers |
| 13.00 | Joint lunch in the restaurant |
| Part VI: European Court of Auditors – audit of public procurement | |
| 14.30 | Audit of public procurement in the area of cohesion – practical examples and lessons learnt Julia Pilarczyk, Auditor, European Court of Auditors |
| 16.00 | Questions and answers |
| 16.15 | Case study: audit of public procurement in the area of cohesion – practical examples in working groups Julia Pilarczyk |
| 17.15 | Plenary session: group presentations – evaluation of workshop results, including debates on problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| 18.00 | End of the second day |
| Part VII: European Court of Auditors – audit of State aid | |
| 09.00 | Audit of State aid in the area of cohesion policy: practical examples and lessons learnt Bernard Witkos, Attaché cabinet of the Member, European Court of Auditors |
| 10.30 | Questions and answers |
| 10.45 | Coffee break |
| 11.15 | Case studies: audit of State aid in the area of cohesion policy: practical examples in working groups Bernard Witkos |
| 12.15 | Group presentations: evaluation of workshop results, including debates on problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| 13.00 | Joint lunch in the restaurant |
| Part VIII: Organisation of internal control and external audit in different models applied by beneficiaries of ESI Funds and NEXTGEN EU. Success factors of an efficient internal control system for higher absorption of EU Funds. | |
| 14.30 | Best and worst practices and irregularities found in EU-funded projects and programmes – what to do, what to avoid and what possible solution to apply in case of system problems faced. Preparation of AA for the 2021–2027 in Bulgaria (MA, AA) – from the Member State perspective |
| 16.00 | Questions and answers |
| 16.15 | Practical workshop: preparation for Recovery and Resilience Facility audits |
| 17.00 | Group presentations: evaluation of workshop results, including debates on problems faced by the participants during the exercises and possible solutions |
| 17.45 | Closure of seminar and issuing of EIPA certificates to participants Iwona Karwot |