Structural and cohesion funds/ESIF

Good Practice for Implementing Structural Funds Programmes 2021-2027

Around 400 programmes are being implemented for Cohesion Policy in the 2021-2027 period. Do you know what the new programmes look like and how they are changing with the STEP regulation? How they compare to the last programming period and how have finances been planned? In this course we will refer to a selection of new programmes as well as reporting and other templates. We will also see how Cohesion Policy programmes will be coordinated with the RRF and other EU instruments.

About this course

Around 400 programmes are being implemented for Cohesion Policy in the 2021-2027 period. Do you know what the new programmes look like and how they are changing with the STEP regulation? Do you know all you need to know about the Structural Funds Regulations 2021-2027, and how they compare to the last programming period? What priorities and activities do we see in programmes and how have finances been planned? What flexibilities and simplifications do programmes now have? And how are they reporting progress and how will they measure performance and impact?

This course will address these questions and examine the 2021-2027 regulations in detail. We will refer to a selection of new programmes as well as reporting and other templates. We will also see how Cohesion Policy programmes will be coordinated with the RRF and other EU instruments.

What will you learn:

We will help you address the following questions:

  • What are the key choices made by Member States for the 2021-2027 programmes? What does financial planning and management look like for the programmes?
  • How does the STEP Regulation modify your programmes?
  • Where have programmes been simplified most? And how are simplified cost options being developed and used?
  • How does the new Performance framework work and how do we measure progress and success?
  • How is real-time reporting working?
  • How are programmes improving the selection of operations? How do you “ensure that selected operations present the best relationship between the amount of support, the activities undertaken and the achievement of objectives”? (Article 73, CPR)

You will be guided by Marco Lopriore and Robin Smail, two experienced Structural Funds experts who have worked in Brussels and across the EU, gathering numerous case studies and examples of good practices. You will also hear from a senior official from the European Commission – DG REGIO – and have the opportunity to exchange experience and put new ideas into practice. The hybrid course includes workshops and exercises and provides ample time for Question and Answer sessions and discussions.

This course is aimed principally at:

  • Practitioners from Member State national, regional and local authorities working with Structural/Cohesion/Just Transition Funds
  • The full range of economic and social partners working with the Funds – including universities, NGOs, employers’ associations, consultants.

Project number: 2430212

Hybrid course
Experience our course in a way that suits you best! This hybrid course offers the flexibility to join in-person or online through a live stream. In the registration form, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred option.

Face to Face venue
European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)
O.L. Vrouweplein 22
6211 HE, Maastricht
the Netherlands

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

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, lunches, and a reception. 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
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.

Hotel reservations
EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. The hotels are within walking distance from EIPA. If you wish to take advantage of this option, please click on the hotel name to book directly using the link. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out.

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

robin smail new photo 2024
Project leader

Robin Smail

Robin Smail Training & Consultancy

Programme

09.00Opening of the course, learning objectives and agenda; Tour de Table
Marco Lopriore, Senior Expert, EIPA Maastricht
09.15Cohesion Policy 2021-2027: Policy context and highlights

  • The new legal framework of CPR, ERDF/CF, ESF+, JTF
  • Strategic focus, DNSH, strategic procurement and simplification
  • The latest changes in the Regulations: REPowerEU and STEP

Marco Lopriore

10.00Discussion/Tour de Table: Your programmes, challenges, and lessons from previous programmes
10.30Coffee break
11.00New Programmes and Regulations: Programme structure and programme management

  • Partnership Agreements, programme priorities, finance
  • programme structure, Specific Objectives
  • Enabling conditions, concentration, programme instruments, flexibilities
  • from Programme template to new Programmes
  • intervention categories, climate targets
  • programme performance, project selection

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

12.00Workshop – Discussion: How did you determine your Financial Allocations by priority/SO/activity? Robin Smail
12.25RRF and Cohesion programmes

  • Synergies and complementarities between EU funds and programmes
  • Implementing differences between Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Marco Lopriore

13.05Q&A
13.15Buffet lunch in EIPA Restaurant
14.30Programme finance & financial management

  • Programme Finance, financial planning, mid-term review
  • automatic decommitment, co-finance rates, payment applications
  • the accounting year, calculation of the annual balance
  • Transmission of financial information
  • Financial Control; Management Verifications; Audit changes
  • Programme closure

Robin Smail

15.30Workshop: Good practices in project selection criteria
Robin Smail
16.00Coffee break
16.30Using Simplified Cost Options

  • New legal provisions 2021-2027 and EU level SCO
  • guidance to choose between simplified cost options
  • key issues in using SCO and improving the result-orientation of programmes
  • Review of SCO and use of Annex V

Marco Lopriore

17.05Workshop: SCO exercises

  • Your programmes using flat rates
  • Your programmes using standard scales of unit cost and the 1720 rule

Marco Lopriore

17.35Workshop: SCO exercises – feedback

  • Your programmes using flat rates
  • Your programmes using standard scales of unit cost and the 1720 rule

Marco Lopriore

18.00Q&A
18.10End of Day 1
19.00Reception at Derlon Hotel
09.00The Monitoring and Reporting Framework, 2021-2027

  • monitoring – real time reporting – financial progress & indicators
  • the Performance Framework, the reporting template
  • the Mid-term review

Robin Smail

09.45Workshop: common and programme-specific indicators
10.30Coffee Break
11.002021-2027 cohesion policy: programming outcomes and current issues

  • EC priorities
  • the new legislative framework, key elements and simplification
  • state of play of implementation
  • coordination with RRF

Monika Tchavdarova, Team leader in coordination of Programmes Unit, DG REGIO, European Commission, Brussels (TBC)

12.00Eligibility of Expenditure

  • Key changes in 2021-2027 CPR, ESF+, ERDF and CF
  • Highlight on timing, direct staff costs, VAT
  • Durability and relocation, location, and visibility

Marco Lopriore

12.35Exercise: Eligibility of expenditure
13.00Buffet lunch in EIPA Restaurant
14.15Workshop and discussion: determining the best evaluation questions
14.45The Evaluation Framework, 2021-2027

  • the new evaluation requirements in the context of the Evaluation Cycle
  • The Evaluation Plan
  • evaluation questions, evaluation criteria, measuring impact

Robin Smail

15.15Issues of common interest to all CPR funds

  • Partnership and capacity building
  • Horizontal principles
  • Integrity Pacts and anti-fraud measures

Marco Lopriore

16.00Closing Workshop: comparing 2021-2027 to 2014-2020
16.10Course Evaluation Survey
16.15End of the Course

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Good Practice for Implementing Structural Funds Programmes 2021-2027

Confirmed
5 Dec 2024 - 6 Dec 2024
Maastricht (NL) & Online
Register before: 3 Dec 2024

Simultaneous interpretation can be offered. Contact the programme organizer for more information and conditions.

 1.140 per attendee
 970 for EIPA members
Registration closed

Discount policy

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

For a limited number of training courses, EIPA offers an early bird discount.

For more information please contact us.

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Register before: 3 Dec 2024
Registration closed