Financial Management and Audit of EU Structural Funds: Programme Finance, Simplification, Key Audit Issues and Public Procurement

How have Programme Finance, Financial Management and Audit rules changed for the new 2021-2027 period? What are the key live issues for finance, control and audit at present and how are these likely to evolve in the new programming period? What do new Programmes look like and have they taken advantage of the new, extraordinary financial flexibilities?

This course over 3 half-days will address these questions and take a close look at a sample of programmes, as well as financial and reporting templates for the new programmes. There will be a special focus on extending the use of simplified cost options, the most frequent audit issues (eg. Eligibility of expenditure, public procurement) and how public procurement rules are being followed on the ground.

What will you learn:

Practical issues to be discussed will include:

• financial tables and the flexibilities in 2021-2027
• key issues for the eligibility of expenditure
• the extended use of simplified cost options and how to choose between them
• changes to the audit of accounts, systems and operations
• dealing with irregularities, corrections, withdrawals
• coordinating Cohesion and RRF funding
• the link between finance and performance, using the Performance Framework

There will be keynote presentations from:

• Dermot Byrne, a leading Member State audit practitioner
• a senior official from the European Court of Auditors, specialising in public procurement.

Course methodology

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 participants get to grips with practical tools and methodologies. Participants 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: 2530207

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
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.