EU Funds Transition to the next programming period March 11 th 13 th 2013, Berlin, Germany. 8 th European Annual Symposium

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1 8 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 0 ERDF ESF CF EAFRD EFF Transition to the next programming period Symposium Brochure March th th 0, Berlin, Germany In cooperation with the European Commission Patronage: Mr Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy

2 Welcome to the European Knowledge Network! The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law is delighted to announce the 8 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 0 Under the patronage of Mr Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy This annual forum brings together around 500 EU Funds experts from all over Europe and promotes an exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice between EU Institutions and Member States with regard to the correct management and control of EU Funds. With its unique character this European Symposium provides an insight in red-hot EU Funds issues from a strategic as well as from a programme and project management perspective. The European Knowledge Award 0 Under the patronage of Ms Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education The European Knowledge Award, granted annually by the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law, carries a value of Euro in EU trainings. Its aim is to encourage the efforts made by the participating organisations in specific EU training of their employees in order to achieve a high level of European proficiency among staff members. The European Knowledge Award is under the kind patronage of Ms Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, European Commission, and it will be given for the third time at a festive ceremony. Ms. Anita Wesołowska, Deputy Director of the Managing Department for Competitiveness and Innovation Programmes, who received the European Knowledge Award 0 on behalf of the Ministry of Regional Development, Republic of Poland: It is my great pleasure and I feel deeply honored that this Award has been given to us and that the Academy acknowledged our efforts in doing our job in the best possible way.

3 Challenges in EU Funds 0: Transition to the next programming period A new generation of Cohesion Policy Programmes will start in 04. One year before, in 0, is the right time to get familiar with a number of important changes in the way the new Cohesion Policy is designed and EU Funds will be implemented. In 0, Member States must accelerate the preparation of Operational Programmes if they aim to launch the new programmes well in time. The European Commission announces the management of the new Cohesion Policy as a major simplification in comparison to the present policy. There are still many open questions related to the new programming period: How to implement the main elements of the new Cohesion Policy in practice? How can the planned simplification be achieved? What advantages does the harmonisation of rules for all EU Funds bring? What changes are needed in the management and control systems in EU Member States? How to make most use of the results-based management and create measures that ensure fulfilment of the envisaged results? How to introduce a more integrated approach in order to secure that various funds serve coherent goals and strengthen each other s impact? How to ensure more legal certainty, efficient delivery, lighter reporting and less administrative burden for beneficiaries? How can each Member State and region simplify the management in the programming period 04-00? A practical approach for better facing EU Funds practice. Florian Schramm, Auditor, Bavarian Ministry for Environment and Health, Germany Great event with hundreds of colleagues from all across Europe and all institutions involved. Auditor, Financial Audit Service, Ministry of Finance, the Netherlands

4 What do you learn at the 8th EuropeanAnnual Symposium EU Funds 0? The 8th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 0 provides you with answers, discussions and perspectives to a multitude of new issues surrounding EU Funds. It features essential expertise from relevant European Commission Directorates, the European Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions, Managing, Certifying and Audit Authorities as well as Intermediate Bodies. Strategic discussions mingle with issues concerning the implementing level in the EU Member States and thus provide a unique European forum for an exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice. After the opening panel on the Challenges of the new Programming Period the event breaks up into individual sessions, followed by practical workshops on day. In the individual session you can choose from a number of parallel lectures dealing with the most demanding issues related to the implementation of EU Funds now and beyond 0 and in doing so you can design your individual timetable. Your Benefits Get ready for the next programming period discuss your challenges of the EU Funds Become familiar with the proposed changes in the programming, management and control of the EU Funds and how other stakeholders are coping with them Learn how to make best use of harmonised rules for all funds and more integrated approach of all EU financial resources for achieving your regional and rural goals Benefit from the practical workshop where you have the possibility to choose from three proposed topics Strengthen your skills in managing EU Funds in the present and new programming period Acquire confidence in your audit and financial control performance improve your methods and tools Learn how to improve the delivery and how to wind up the Operational Programmes Develop networks and contacts with experts, members of European Institutions and partners of European importance at this all-encompassing EU Funds event Use the forum to influence strategic debates with the European Commission on red-hot EU Funds issues Very good opportunity to exchange experience on difficult actions in EU Structural Funds management. Anita Krumina, Director, Central Finance and Contracting Agency, Latvia High level of knowledge about the latest developments in Structural Funds. Ministry of Economy, France 4

5 Target Group The 8 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 0 is a must-attend event for public officials such as Directors, Heads of Units, Managers, Auditors and other experts dealing with the management, certification and control of all EU Funds, especially from: Managing Authorities Intermediate Bodies Certifying Authorities and Bodies Audit Authorities National and Regional Courts of Auditors Paying Agencies Coordinating Bodies Regional Development Agencies National and Investment Banks, Private Banks Regional and Local Governments, Municipalities Consulting Companies, Advisory and Audit Services and other institutions and stakeholders dealing with management and control of EU Funds. You are welcome to contribute to this very unique EU Funds Symposium Please do not hesitate to send us questions or specific topics you would like the speakers to talk about. You are welcome to contact the Head of Conference Management: anna.zurek@euroacad.eu Had the opportunity to discuss and share practical experience with colleagues from other institutions. Manuela Milosheva, State Expert, National Fund Directorate, Ministry of Finance, Bulgaria Interesting and a lot of learning on a wide and complex material. National Coordinator, Swedish ESF Council 5

6 6 Programme Day March th 0 Registration and Hand out of Symposium Material (Please arrange final check-in preferably on Sunday, March 0 th 0) Sunday, March 0 th 0 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. & Monday, March th 0 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m Welcome Note from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law and and from the Chair Peter Wostner, Secretary, Ministry for Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia European Experts Panel: EU Funds How to Cope with the Challenges of the New Programming Period 04-00? New Financial Regulation Harmonisation of rules and strengthened coordination between the Funds Integrated approach Conditionalities, goals and indicators Planning and implementation Does the new programming period reduce the administrative burden for authorities and beneficiaries? Dirk Ahner, Special Advisor to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and former Director-General for Regional Development, European Commission, Rudolf Moegele, Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission, Marie Donnelly, Director Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency, DG Energy, European Commission, Mark Schelfhout, Head of Unit Shared Management, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission, Konstantinos Simitsis, Member of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion, Committee of the Regions, Dr Carol Sweetenham, Head of Policy, Strategy and Coordination, Department for Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom, Louis Vervloet, General Director, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium Refreshment Break and Questions, Answers & Discussion are included in this session Lunch Very well organised with many pleasant and skilled experts. Tomas Palecek, Financial Manager of EU Funds, Ministry of Transport, Czech Republic

7 Session I A Challenges of the Next Programming Period: Managing Operational Programmes the London Perspective Improvements in Potential problems Designation of authorities New management and control system London interests in Integrated Territorial Investment and Joint Action Plans Alex Conway, European Programmes Director, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom A Increased Proportionality in the Financial Control of Reducing the Administrative Burden Increased coordination between Member States and European Commission Proportionality of reporting, evaluation, management and control to level of allocated support Reducing the administrative burden for executionary bodies Less burden for beneficiaries Changes in management procedure Peter van der Woude, Manager, Certifying Authority, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands Questions, Answers & Discussion Refreshment Break A Preparation for Closure of Operational Programmes Planning the closure of Operational Programmes Submission deadline Special rules for eligibility of expenditure Content of closure documents Treatment of errors and irregularities Rules and obligations after closure Barry North, Closure Compliance Lead, Department of Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom Session II B New Tasks and Responsibilities for Managing, Auditing and Certifying Authorities New tasks and responsibilities for Managing, Certifying and Audit Authorities in Main changes in comparison to the programming period Implications for the management of EU Funds Recommendations for avoiding failures Louis Vervloet, General Director, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium B Auditing the Cohesion Policy Implementation System Learning from Present for the Future Role of the implementation systems for sound financial management Assessing the performance of the implementation system How can findings of the current system contribute to designing the future system Value added by including all stakeholders in the design process Dr Tina Eržen, Supreme State Auditor, The Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia Questions, Answers & Discussion B Preparation of a Winding-Up Declaration Legal requirements Work to be done by the Audit Authority Content of winding-up declaration Submission deadline Natasa Prah, Director of Budget Supervision Office, Ministry of Finance, Slovenia

8 Session III Communication of Structural Funds E-Cohesion to Reduce the C C C Lessons Learnt and Steps Ahead Administrative Burden in Legal requirements Communication strategy Preparation of lists of operations Responsibilities of Managing Authorities Lessons learnt What does e-cohesion mean in practice? Experiences with electronic systems in cooperation programmes What is needed, what is nice to have? Who does need access, who does not? Can the programmes realistically become paperless? Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation Smart specialization as ex-ante conditionality Key regional policies to develop Smart Specialisation Strategies Relevance of research and innovation Clustering and diversification for Research & Development Cooperation frameworks for regional policy, economy and universities Anna Kanakaki, Certified Project Manager and Senior Programming and Evaluation Expert, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Unit, ESF Managing Authority, Hellenic Ministry of Health and Welfare, Greece Carsten Westerholt, Expert, Administration of Transnational Programmes, Denmark Questions, Answers & Discussion End of Conference Day Adrian Zelaia, Executive President, EKAI Center for Innovating Public Policy, Spain Festive Evening Reception Ceremony of the rd European Knowledge Award under the patronage of Ms Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, European Commission

9 9 Programme Day March th Session IV D Results-Based Management of Operational Programmes Introduction to Results-Based Management (RBM) principles and terms Explanation of results chains as a key aspect of Results-Based Management (RBM) Differences in management and application of RBM in EU Structural Funds programmes and projects RBM requirements in the new regulations Bénédict Wauters, Deputy Director, Strategy and Organisational Development, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium D Complementarity of the Audits of the European Commission Commission s Audit Strategy Analysis of Annual Control Reports Main audit results in 0 Interruptions and suspensions Towards reliance on Member States audit work Mark Schelfhout, Head of Unit Shared Management, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Questions, Answers & Discussion D JESSICA from 04 A New Perspective Offering New Opportunities State of play and State aid breakthrough Strategic objectives for An integrated approach allowing for Urban Impact Funds Suggestions to cover the synergies Improving the sustainability of urban investment Dr Goetz von Thadden, Head of Holding Funds and Advisory, Europe, JESSICA and Investment Funds, European Investment Bank Refreshment Break and Questions, Answers & Discussion are included in this Session Session V E New Tools in 04-00: Integrated Territorial Investment, Joint Action Plans and Integrated Operations Territorial dimension of the integrated tools Preparation of a cross sectoral development strategy and actions Financing from different priority axes and funds Shared management Obligations for managing authorities and beneficiaries Frank Gaskell, Policy Advisor and Senator, Euromontana, United Kingdom E European Court of Auditors Findings from Auditing Cohesion Expenditures of 0 The Statement of Assurance (DAS) and DAS audit methodology Risks in cohesion policy Auditing cohesion expenditures: findings from the latest DAS Audit work planned for the next DAS Looking forward to programming period Martin Weber, Head of Audit Unit ERDF, Transport and Energy, European Court of Auditors Questions, Answers & Discussion E How to Implement Financial Engineering Instruments with EU Funds The JEREMIE Initiative Best Practices and Lessons Learned - Structuring & governance - Portfolio of Financial Engineering Instruments Leveraging ERDF resources - Involvement of private investors - Benefits and challenges Case studies Funding period Piotr Stołowski, Head of Region, Regional Business Development, European Investment Fund

10 Session VI F New Tools in 04-00: Community Led Local Development Local development strategies Bottom-up approach Leader approach Development agreement Community projects Heikki Aurasmaa, Director General, Regional Department, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland F Annual Reports and Error Rates in Programming Period Where the UK started: not a happy situation What we did about it Where we are now What we do next Considerations for the next programming period Dr Carol Sweetenham, Head of Policy, Strategy and Coordination, Department for Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom F Widening the Scope of Financial Instruments in 04-00: Are They Effective and Efficient so Far? Rationale for using financial instruments (FI) for delivering programme objectives Regulatory framework Assessing the need for financial instruments Some things to consider to set efficient and effective FI Leveraging private money Results from past and current FI Proposed regulatory framework for FI (04-00) Kenroy Quellennec-Reid, Senior Financial Engineering Manager, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom Questions, Answers & Discussion Lunch Session VII G Monitoring and Evaluation Regimes for the Upcoming Period: Ex-ante, On-going and Ex-post Evaluation requirements in the new regulations Comparison of the different regimes Corner stones of Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Benefits from the evaluation regimes of ERDF and ESF Methodological issues Implications for different stakeholders Bernd Schuh, Member of Board of Directors, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Austria G Avoiding Irregularities in Public Procurement Procedures EU Public Procurement Law Differences between irregularities and corruption/fraud in public procurement contracts Most common irregularities case studies Preventive measures Stewart Roche, Management Accountant, Higher Education Authority, Ireland Questions, Answers & Discussion Refreshment Break G Dealing with Revenue Generating Projects in Recap provisions of Art. 55 Application Difficult issues in the implementation Art. 55 issues leading up to programme closure Practical examples Andrew Luff, Structural Fund Expert Adviser, United Kingdom

11 Session VIII H Harmonised Rules of Eligibility of Expenditure and Durability Legal provisions for eligibility of expenditures in the new programming period Main changes from programming period Preparing national rules for eligibility of expenditures Lessons learnt from Sonja Maurus, Programme Executive, Southern Eastern Regional Assembly, Ireland H Investigating Irregularities and Fraud in EU Funded Projects Fraud risks as a part of business process Workflow of control activities Competence of personnel Structure of risk analysis Automatically conducted cross-checks Kristi Sell, Head of Ex-post Control Department, Estonian Registers and Information Board Questions, Answers & Discussion H Simplified Procedure for Revenue Generating Projects in Legal requirements Simplification of the management Proportionate approach Lessons learnt from the programming period Jim Millard, Head of Highlands & Islands and Territorial Cooperation Programmes, European Structural Funds Division, Scottish Government, United Kingdom Session IX I Wider Scope of Simplified Costs in Key requirements and differences between the types of cost options Considerations for programme management and beneficiaries Experiences with the implementation in the present programming period The simplified costs in regulation Louis Vervloet, General Director, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium I Risk-based Methods for Sampling for Management Control and Audit Choosing the sampling method Links to risk analysis Practical examples of risk-based sampling methods Interpretation of the results of control an audit checks Nata Lasmane, Director, EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance, Latvia Questions, Answers & Discussion I Meeting the Challenges of European Territorial Cooperation in Limited number of thematic objectives Investment priorities Key actions and indicators Designation of authorities Participation of third countries Dr Hubert Hämmerle, Deputy Head of Department for European Affairs and External Relations, Regional Government of Vorarlberg, Austria 7.0 End of Conference Day & Hand Out of Certificates Effective exchange of information and knowledge. Małgorzata Bojańczyk, Chief Specialist, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Poland

12 Day Workshop March th Workshop Sessions to Respond to the New W How Requirements of the Operational Programmes W New requirements for the Operational Programmes Responsibilities of different stakeholders Organisational matters Avoiding pitfalls Legal requirements and deadlines Content of winding-up declaration - Summarisation of checks - Validity of final certificate of expenditures Content of winding-up declaration Alex Conway, European Programmes Director, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom Dr Balázs Dencső, Director General, Directorate General for Audit of European Funds, Hungary Kenroy Quellennec-Reid, Senior Financial Engineering Manager, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom How to Prepare a Winding-Up Declaration W How to Set-Up Financial Engineering Instruments Legal requirements Key steps in setting-up FI Eligible expenditure Using different funds Management control and verification Marianna Miklós-Molnár, Director of Strategy and Methodology, Directorate General for Audit of European Funds, Hungary Refreshment Break and Questions, Answers & Discussion are included in this Workshop Session Lunch 4.0 End of Workshop Day & Hand Out of Certificates The best possibility to exchange experience, ideas & doubts. Barbara Ślusarska, Head of Unit, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Poland

13 Speakers Dirk Ahner Special Advisor to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and former Director-General for Regional Development, European Commission Rudolf Moegele Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission Marie Donnelly Director Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency, DG Energy, European Commission Konstantinos Simitsis Member of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion, Committee of the Regions Mark Schelfhout Head of Unit Shared Management, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Martin Weber Head of Audit Unit ERDF, Transport and Energy, European Court of Auditors Piotr Stołowski Head of Region, Regional Business Development, European Investment Fund Alex Conway European Programmes Director, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom Peter van der Woude Manager, Certifying Authority, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands Barry North Closure Compliance Lead, Department of Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom Louis Vervloet General Director, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium Bernd Schuh Member of Board of Directors, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Austria Anna Kanakaki Certified Project Manager and Senior Programming and Evaluation Expert, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Unit, ESF Managing Authority, Hellenic Ministry of Health & Welfare, Greece

14 4 Speakers Natasa Prah Director of Budget Supervision Office, Ministry of Finance, Slovenia Bénédict Wauters Deputy Director, Strategy and Organisational Development, ESF Agency Flanders, Belgium Peter Wostner Secretary, Ministry for Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia Dr Tina Eržen Supreme State Auditor, The Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia Sonja Maurus Programme Executive, Southern Eastern Regional Assembly, Ireland Heikki Aurasmaa Director General, Regional Department, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland Adrian Zelaia Executive President, EKAI Center for Innovating Public Policy, Spain Andrew Luff Structural Fund Expert Adviser, United Kingdom Kristi Sell Head of Ex-post Control Department, Estonian Registers and Information Board Jim Millard Head of Highlands & Islands and Territorial Cooperation Programmes, European Structural Funds Division, Scottish Government, United Kingdom Kenroy Quellennec-Reid Senior Financial Engineering Manager, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom Frank Gaskell Policy Advisor and Senator, Euromontana, United Kingdom

15 5 Speakers Dr Carol Sweetenham Head of Policy, Strategy and Coordination, Department for Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom Carsten Westerholt Expert, Administration of Transnational Programmes, Denmark Nata Lasmane Director, EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance, Latvia Stewart Roche Management Accountant, Higher Education Authority, Ireland Dr Hubert Hämmerle Deputy Head of Department for European Affairs and External Relations, Regional Government of Vorarlberg, Austria Dr Goetz von Thadden Head of Holding Funds & Advisory, Europe, JESSICA and Investment Funds, European Investment Bank Dr Balázs Dencső Director General, Directorate General for Audit of European Funds, Hungary Marianna Miklós-Molnár Director of Strategy and Methodology, Directorate General for Audit of European Funds, Hungary

16 7 Organisational Matters Date of Event March th - th 0 Booking Number K-06 Event Language The event language will be English. BOOKING Fax: +49 (0) booking@euroacad.eu Phone: +49 (0) For online booking please visit our website: Event Prices Symposium (March th - th 0) 89,- Euro Symposium and Workshop (March th - th 0) 489,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (9%) For group bookings from the same organisation, the second and every further delegate will be granted a reduction of 5% of the event price (net). The event price covers: Extensive printed training material documents which will be handed out before the symposium Digital version of the trainig material which will be send to you after the symposium Seminar certificate, if seminar fully attended Soft drinks and coffee/tea Lunch on all days of the symposium Festive evening reception at the end of day one Programme is subject to alterations. Event Location Maritim Hotel Berlin Stauffenbergstraße Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 (0) Fax: +49 (0) info.ber@maritim.de Internet: Please contact the hotel directly and refer to the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law in order to benefit from a limited room contingent at a special price. Please book as soon as possible. Of course you can always look for an alternative hotel accommodation.

17 BOOKING EVENT NUMBER K-06 (PR) DATE: MARCH th - st 0 Herewith we register the following persons to the 8 th European Annual Symposium: EU Funds 0 NOTE Please note, you can register as many delegates as you wish (except, the symposium is fully booked). Just copy this form for as many persons as you need. Delegate Ms. Mr. First name Last name Please mark the days, the sessions and the workshop in which you want to participate in order to be registered. Note that you can only visit one presentation per session. European Academy for Taxes, Department Job position Your organisation Day to day (symposium & workshop) Day to day (symposium only) Economics & Law Hausvogteiplatz 07 Berlin / Germany Phone Fax Your organisation s address: Street A B C D E F G H I W Phone: +49 (0) Fax: +49 (0) info@euroacad.eu Postcode / City Country I would like to join the festive evening reception at the end of day one You can find the session numbers in the upper left corner of each presentation in the agenda. (see example). Please choose one presentation per session and tick it. When attending workshop day, please mark the presentation in session WS as well. Invoice organisation Street Postcode / City Country To the attention of Phone Fax In case of registration of more than one delegate - do you prefer: single invoice? collective invoice? With my signature I confirm my registration and accept the General Terms and Conditions as legally binding. I herewith agree to receive further information from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law NOTE Valid only with signature and stamp! Place, Date Authorised Signature and Stamp

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