Emergency Changes to Structural Funds Programmes 2021-2027 and the Radical Re-think of EU Cohesion Policy for 2028-2034

The new Amending regulations for Structural and Cohesion Funds gave Member States more time to complete their 2025 Mid-Term Review process. They also gave Programmes increased flexibilities to help ensure that all Funds will be absorbed. A series of critical new investment categories (under new Specific Objectives) could be added to Programmes. These are designed to reflect the urgent new priorities of the EU. They include defence production and infrastructure, energy networks, affordable housing, security of water supplies, and upskilling and reskilling related to these key areas and other strategic technologies.

Do you know how current Programme structures have been modified? Are you familiar with the changes to Programme Finance and Financial Management rules for the remainder of the 2021-2027 period?

The new draft regulations for 2028-2034 have been published. What does the proposed new financial architecture for Cohesion Policy look like? Will Programmes be replaced by “Chapters”, and will “measures” make a comeback? What can we expect for the key live issues in finance, control and audit in the new budget period?

This course over 3 half-days will address these questions and look at how current programmes are progressing, and how they might look in the future. There will be a special focus on extending the use of simplified cost options, eligibility of expenditure and the most frequent audit issues on the ground.

What you will learn?

Practical issues to be discussed will include:

• Understanding the changes following the Mid-Term Review
• Financial tables and the new flexibilities in 2021-2027
• Using simplified cost options and how to choose between them
• Changes to the audit of accounts, systems and operations
• How future Cohesion Policy will adopt the RRF method linking finance and performance, moving away from expenditure-based payment claims to the European Commission

 There will be keynote presentations from:

• Dermot Byrne, a former leading Member State audit practitioner
• Johanna Bahn, a senior official from the ERDF Managing Authority for the Netherlands.

You will be guided by Marco Lopriore and Robin Smail, experienced Structural Funds experts who have worked in Brussels and across the EU, gathering numerous case studies and examples of good practice.

We aim to make the course as interactive as possible. Workshops and exercises will be used to help you get to grips with practical tools and methodologies. You will also have ample opportunity to exchange views informally on the course topics

This course is intended for:

• Managers and practitioners from managing authorities (Managing, Certifying and Audit authorities) whether they are national, regional or local authorities; and from other public bodies of EU Member States (and associated countries) working with Structural Funds
• Economic and social partners / stakeholders working with the Structural and Investment Funds, such as employers’ associations, consultants, NGOs, education bodies etc.

Project number: 2630201

Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom

Senior Project Officer
Ms Rafaella Giussani
Tel: +31 43 32 96 372
r.giussani@eipa.eu

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.

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 € 50 for cancellations received within 7 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 1 week before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed.

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.