Structural and cohesion funds/ESIF

Financial Management of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds: Moving From 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

How do the new Structural Funds Regulations change Financial Management and Audit rules for 2021-2027? What are the key live issues for Financial Management and Audit of Operational Programmes as we conclude the 2014-2020 period and how are these likely to evolve in the new period?

About this course

How do the new Structural Funds Regulations change Financial Management and Audit rules for 2021-2027? What are the key live issues for Financial Management and Audit of Operational Programmes as we conclude the 2014-2020 period and how are these likely to evolve in the new period?

This course will address these questions and take a close look at the programme, 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 on the role of strategic procurement.

What you will learn?

Practical issues to be discussed will include:

  • programme finance, financial tables and the 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
  • changes to the audit of accounts, systems and operations
  • dealing with irregularities, corrections, withdrawals
  • comparing the payment profiles of Cohesion and RRF funding
  • the link between finance and performance, using the Performance Framework

How we work

Alongside the EIPA experts, there will be keynote presentations from Dermot Byrne, a leading Member State audit practitioner, and a senior European Commission expert specialising in the use of strategic public procurement.

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.

Who is the course for?

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 Nancy Vermeulen
Tel: +31 43 32 96 212
n.vermeulen@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.

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.

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.

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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

12.45ZOOM Platform opens
13.00Simplified Cost Options 2021-2027 and latest EC guidance

  • Types of SCO in 2021-2027 Level 1 and Level 2
  • Indicators, calculation methods, adjustments methods

Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA

13.40Break-out rooms: experimenting the application of simplified costs options

  • Flat rates, direct and indirect costs
  • Standard scales of unit costs (SSUC) and lumpsums

Marco Lopriore

14.20Coffee break
14.40Financial Management and Financial Control

  • financial planning, commitments, automatic de-commitment
  • pre-financing, interim payments, technical assistance
  • the accounting year and calculation of the annual balance
  • timetables for payments and programme closure
  • financial control, management verifications

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

15.10Workshop: Financial control and risk
15.30Short Break & meet Guest Speaker
15.45Control and Audit of Structural Funds, 2014-2020 and 2021-2027

  • Management and Control Systems (MCS), audit of systems, new Key Requirements
  • annual Accounts – preparation, audit and acceptance by Commission
  • audits of operations, sampling, changes for 2021-2027
  • typology of errors

DISCUSSION: your most frequent audit issues, and simplifying audit work

  • public procurement
  • financial irregularities, corrections, withdrawals

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

16.45Break-out rooms: assessing SCO methodologies

  • issues/risks in SCO methods and possible solutions
17.15End of second day
08.45Opening of ZOOM platform
09.00Review of Issues from days 1 & 2
09.05Eligibility of Expenditure

  • Highlight on direct staff costs, VAT, durability
  • Seal of Excellence (SoE), location and visibility
  • State Aid, Cumulation rules between EU funds

Marco Lopriore

09.50Break-out rooms: eligible expenditures
10.30Virtual Coffee break & meet Guest speaker
10.55The Strategic Use of Public Procurement

  • PP Action Plan, Avoiding Most Common Errors, Good Practices, Auditors Checklist
  • Strategic PP, market power, affecting company behavior
  • Link to Green Deal; social responsibility
  • Ensuring a level playing field

Justyne Balasinska, Unit E1, Administrative Capacity Building, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission, tbc

11.45Short Coffee Break
11.55Discussion: Measuring Value for Money
12.15Financial Management and Programme Performance

  • Transmission of financial information, reporting
  • monitoring and reporting performance, the new Performance Framework
  • new Reporting templates, the new OP template – finance
  • evaluation and VfM

Robin Smail

13.00Q&A
13.15Evaluation feedback from participants
13.20End of the course

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Financial Management of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds: Moving From 2014-2020 to 2021-2027

Confirmed
16 May 2023 - 19 May 2023
Online
Register before: 10 May 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: 10 May 2023
Registration closed