Structural and cohesion funds/ESIF

Financial Management and Control of New EU Structural Funds Programmes 2021-2027

What do the Financial Management, Financial Control and Audit rules look like for the new 2021-2027 period? What are the implications for Management Verifications in practice? There was a range of key live issues at the end of the 2014-2020. We consider how these were handled at the closure of the 2014-2020 programmes, and how these issues are being addressed in the new programming period.

About this course

What do the Financial Management, Financial Control and Audit rules look like for the new 2021-2027 period? What are the implications for Management Verifications in practice? There was a range of key live issues at the end of the 2014-2020. We consider how these have been handled as the 2014-2020 programmes are closed, and how these issues been addressed for the new programming period.

This course will address these questions, examine the programme and financial templates for the new programmes and look at a selection of new programmes. There will be a special focus on simplifying management verifications and extending the use of simplified cost options. We also examine the content of Audit Authority Annual Control Reports and Audit Opinions.

We will be joined by highly experienced, leading practitioners from the Member States: Julia Szenthe, Head of Accounting Function in an Austrian Managing Authority; and Dermot Byrne, formerly Head of the ERDF Audit Authority of Ireland.

Practical issues to be discussed will include:

  • Programme finance, financial tables and the significant flexibility proposed for 2021-2027
  • Key issues for the eligibility of expenditure
  • The extended use of simplified cost options and how to choose between them
  • How to make management verifications simpler and more efficient
  • How control and audit differ and how to complete Annual Control Reports and Audit Opinions
  • How to deal with irregularities and corrections

Course methodology/highlights:

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

r.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.

Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom

Programme Organiser
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, 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.

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.

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Our experts

robin smail new photo 2024
Project leader

Robin Smail

Robin Smail Training & Consultancy
Dermot Byrne

Dermot Byrne

Former Head of ERDF Audit Authority Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the Republic of Ireland

Programme

DAY 1
12.30Opening of Zoom platform, Central European Time (Amsterdam)
13.00Welcome of Participants, Opening of the Online Course, Tour de Table
Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA, Maastricht
13.15The New Regulations, 2021-2027: Policy Context and Highlights for Financial Management

  • The new legal framework of CPR, CRII/CRII+, CARE/FAST CARE, SAFE and STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform)
  • European Recovery Plan, REACT-EU, Cohesion funding and the RRF
  • The new anti-fraud framework, preventing conflict of interests and EPPO role
  • Effective implementation of the DNSH principle

Marco Lopriore

14.00Workshop: Multiple Choice Test on Financial Management and Control
Marco Lopriore
14.30Virtual Coffee Break
14.50Break-out Rooms: Financial Allocations within Programmes
15.10Programmes and Finance, 2021-2027

  • Partnership Agreement, programme structure, simplification
  • Justifying priorities, financial allocations
  • Conditionality, concentration, use of funding instruments
  • From Programme template to programmes, funding flexibilities
  • Programme performance, the project pipeline, project selection and value for money

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

15.55Short Break
16.05Programme Finance and Financial Management: Moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027 (Part I)

  • Financial tables, financial planning and financial transfers
  • Commitments, automatic de-commitment

Robin Smail

16.50Question and Answer Session
17.00End of First Day
DAY 2
08.45Opening of Zoom Platform, Central European Time (Amsterdam)
09.00Review of Issues from Day 1
09.15Audit and Control Consequences in Simplified Cost Options in 2021-2027

  • The need for a common audit and control approach in SCO
  • Scope of verifications when using Art. 94 and 95
  • Correct establishment and correct application of the methods

Marco Lopriore

09.55Break-out Rooms: Verifying Simplified Costs Options

  • Verification for flat rates, unit costs and lumpsums
  • Potential errors and irregularities in SCO

Marco Lopriore

10.25Virtual Coffee Break and Introduction of our Guest Speaker
10.45Financial Management and Control Issues, Management Verifications and the Eligibility of Projects and Expenditures

  • Simplification of the administrative burden, 2014-2020 and 2021-2027
  • Efficient verifications: administrative and on-the-spot verifications
  • Impact of simplified cost options on management verifications
  • Verification of public procurement, state aid rules
  • Eligibility of expenditure issues, in-kind contributions, durability of operations etc.

Julia Szenthe, Head of Accounting Function, OROK, Austrian Managing Authority, Vienna

11.50Short Break
12.00Break-out Rooms: Risk Assessment
Robin Smail
12.25Programme Finance and Financial Management: Moving from 2014-2020 to 2021-2027 (Part 2)

  • Pre-financing, interim payments, technical assistance
  • The accounting year and calculation of the annual balance
  • Financial information, reporting and closure
  • Financial control and audit

Robin Smail

13.10Question and Answer Session
13.20End of Second Day
DAY 3
12.45Opening of Zoom Platform, Central European Time (Amsterdam)
13.00Review of Issues from Days 1 & 2
13.05Eligibility of Expenditure

  • Highlight on direct staff costs, VAT, durability and relocation, location, and visibility
  • Non-eligible costs, non-compliance and infringements
  • Access of large companies and SME
  • Simplification and eligibility

Marco Lopriore

13.50Break-out Rooms: Eligible expenditures
14.30Virtual Coffee Break and Introduction of our Guest Speaker
14.50Control and Audit of Structural Funds, 2014-2020 and 2021-2027

  • Management and Control Systems (MCS), audit of systems, new key requirements
  • Audits of operations, sampling, changes for 2021-2027; Audit of accounts
  • Annual Control Report, Audit Opinion

DISCUSSION: closing the 2014-2020 period, audit issues

  • Closing 2014-2020 period
  • Irregularities and corrections

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

16.10Short Coffee Break
16.20Measuring Value for Money / Evaluation Questions
16.35Programme Finance and Programme Performance

  • Finance and performance: the new Performance Framework
  • Reporting performance: new Reporting templates
  • Evaluation and VfM

Robin Smail

17.05Question and Answer Session
17.15Evaluation Feedback from Participants
17.20End of the course

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Financial Management and Control of New EU Structural Funds Programmes in 2021-2027

11 Dec 2023 - 13 Dec 2023
Online
Register before: 4 Dec 2023

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

 700 per attendee
 630 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, 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

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: 4 Dec 2023
Registration closed