1. Planning and use of funding instruments
Objective 1
1 CSF, with 1 OP per region (or SPD if < 1 billion EURO)
funded by the ERDF, ESF, EAGGF-Guidance, FIFG
Objective 2
1 SPD per region (NUTS II level)
funded by the ERDF, ESF (EAGGF-Guarantee)
Objective 3
1 SPD per country
funded by the ESF
Community Initiatives: one Fund per Initiative
Agenda 2000

2. Partnership arrangements A more decentralised cohesion policy
Within the Member States:
a wider definition of the partnerships:
* regional and local authorities and other competent authorities
* economic and social partners
* other competent bodies including NGOs, environmental sector etc.
active involvement of partners in all stages of programming
Agenda 2000

3. Partnership arrangements A more decentralised cohesion policy
Between the Commission and the Member States
a clear definition of responsibilities with 3 key players
* the Commission
* the programme Management Authority
* the Monitoring Committee
Agenda 2000

4. Programming: 4 main steps
1. Programme guidance issued by the Commission
2. Development plans submitted by Member States after consultation with partners
3. Adoption of strategy by the Commission:
quantified strategic targets
priorities
funding allocations
4. Detailed programming of measures by Management Authority and Monitoring Committees
Agenda 2000

5. Planning and programming timetable
Plans and programmes to cover 7 years (except transition areas)
Plans submitted by Member States within 4 months of list of eligible regions concluded
Commission decision within 5 months of receiving plans: CSF or SPD
Commission decision within 5 months of receiving proposed OPs
Member States to submit Programme Complement within 3 months of approval of SPD or OP
Agenda 2000

6. Requirements of plans and programmes
Regional Developments Plans:
reinforced ex- ante evaluation
Community Support Framework, SPDs:
strategic priorities, financial allocations and methods of implementation…..
SPDs and OPs will no longer contain measures, as they did before
Programme Complement: measures, finance by measure, beneficiaries, publicity actions
Agenda 2000

7. Programming: who does what? (1)
Commission:
determines eligible regions and indicative financial allocations
establishes programme guidance
adopts (modifies) programmes only at the level of strategic priorities
monitoring at strategic level
approves large-scale projects (>EURO 50 million)
Agenda 2000

8. Programming: who does what? (2)
Member State - Management Authority:
prepares plans
prepares and adopts the programming complement
sub-delegates responsibilities as necessary - global grants
selects projects
prepares annual report
implements the mid-term evaluation
ensures that information and publicity rules are adhered to
Agenda 2000

9. Programming: who does what? (3)
Member State - Monitoring Committee
agrees on programming complement
lays down project selection criteria
monitors programme implementation:
proposes programme changes to Management Authority
agrees on proposals to change programming complement
approves mid-term evaluation
agrees annual report
Agenda 2000

10. Additionality
“The Funds may not replace public or other equivalent structural expenditure by the Member State”
3 verifications: ex-ante, mid-term, ex-post
measured against structural expenditures in all Obj. 1 regions (for Obj. 1)...
...or expenditures on active labour market policies outside Obj. 1 regions (for Objs. 2 and 3)
Agenda 2000

11. Ceilings on co-financing rates Maximising the leverage
calculated at measure level
general conditions unchanged
new ceilings where substantial revenue generated from infrastructure:
Obj. 1: 40% + 10% for Cohesion Fund states
Obj. 2: 25%
can be 10% higher if not direct grants
and where investment in firms:
Obj. 1: 35%
Obj. 2: 15%
can be 10% higher for SMEs if not direct grants
Agenda 2000

12. Monitoring arrangements A more transparent implementation
Key annual encounters:
Commission and Management Authority for management questions
Commission and control authorities for control questions
Monitoring of targets for quantified indicators
Mid-term review of implementation
Improved information and publicity system
Agenda 2000

13. Evaluation: a tool for better programming
ex-ante evaluation submitted by Member State with plans; new emphasis on
employment situation
environmental impact
equality between men and women
mid-term evaluation implemented by Managing authority using an independent expert: consequences for reprogramming
ex-post evaluation implemented by European Commission by 2009
Agenda 2000

14. Financial Management Combining simplification and efficiency
automatic annual commitments
automatic de-commitment of unused resources
payment on account of 7% on the adoption of the programme
new system of reimbursements against expenditure incurred
final payment of 5% at closure of programme
flat-rate indexation of 2% built into budget with review for
Agenda 2000

15. Financial Control A clearer division of responsibilities
Member States responsible for:
efficient systems for financial control
prevention of irregularities
correction of irregularities
ensuring compliance with Community law
Commission responsible for:
checks on efficiency of financial control systems
consequences: possible suspension or cancellation of payments
organisation of annual meetings
Agenda 2000

16. The performance reserve A new tool to encourage improved performance
4% of national resources allocated before
assessment of programme performance based on:
realisation of aims decided ex-ante
the quality of the programme management
the absorption of EU resources and their leverage effect
choice of indicators by Member State, based on proposals by Commission
Member State proposes successful programmes
allocation of Funds by the Commission
Agenda 2000

17. Closing ongoing programmes
Programmes before 1994
requests for payments until
automatic decommitments until
Programmes from period :
requests for payments until
automatic decommitments until
Agenda 2000

18. Commission implementing decisions
Eligibility of expenditure (article 30)
Use of the EURO (article 33)
Financial control (article 38)
Financial corrections (article 39)
Information and Publicity (article 46)
….others if necessary
Agenda 2000