What is this course about?
Only 3% of the total Structural and Cohesion Fund budgets for the 2014-2020 Operational Programmes has been spent by early 2017. Planned expenditure for projects which have been approved is just one-quarter of the total budget available. So what are the major issues and problems holding back programme implementation? What are the risks of automatic de-commitment of Funds and how to address this? Are Management Verifications efficient? Can we simplify the financial management and control of programmes and projects?
 
These issues and many others will be examined at the forthcoming EIPA seminar. The seminar will cover all the essentials of Financial Management, Financial Control and Audit for Operational Programmes in the 2014-2020 period.

The first part of the seminar is dedicated to programme planning and finance, as well as the new accounting year. It also considers the process of interim payments and automatic de-commitment in detail. We look at what goes into the annual accounts, the calculation of the annual balance, and the link to n+3. This is followed by an in-depth examination of the current challenges facing Managing Authorities – particularly management verifications and the new eligibility of expenditure rules - seen from a Member State point of view. Day 1 is concluded with an examination of key issues within Financial Control and Audit, presented by a leading Member State practitioner. 

Day 2 starts by looking in detail at the audit of accounts, systems and operations, again from a Member State perspective, plus an examination of irregularities, corrections, and calculation of the error rate. The seminar then looks in a highly practical way at the special link between finance and performance, using the Performance Framework. The rest of the seminar is then dedicated to simplifying programmes: how to use all types of Simplified Costs Options and what is in the pipeline with the new proposed OMNIBUS regulation.

How will it help you?
Participants will work with live issues and practical solutions for challenges in the fields of financial management, financial control and audit. They will enjoy quality speakers from Member States’ authorities, as well as regional experts and consultants. The seminar will include numerous workshops and exercise sessions where examples and case studies will be presented. Participants will be encouraged to exchange practical examples, experiences and good practice in managing EU Structural Funds. 

Who will benefit most?
This seminar is intended for practitioners from national, regional and local authorities and from other public bodies of EU Member States (and associated countries) working with ESI Funds. The seminar is also open to economic and social partners working with the Structural and Investment Funds, such as universities, NGOs, employers’ associations, consultants.