1. Structural Funds - Project Appraisal and Selection
Vera Jourova
Colm McClements
Dimitra Ioannou

2. Learning Objectives (1)
Identify and describe the common considerations in appraising any public investment, consistent with recognised standards of good governance
Identify and describe the common considerations in appraising public investments to be co-financed by Structural Funds
Identify and describe considerations in appraising Structural Funds that are specifically determined by type, size of project or any other relevant variants, and that therefore, by definition may vary according to circumstances

3. Learning Objectives (2)
Identify and describe typical processes and methods used in project appraisal of Structural Fund co-financed investments
Identify instances of good and not so good practice, and the relative merits of different approaches
Apply common appraisal considerations, processes and methods to real case studies that will be presented to you

4. Learning Objectives (3)
Identify, formulate and justify the most appropriate considerations, processes and methods that could apply to your own OP
In function of your justification, plan out the likely process and methods for an appraisal and selection process relating to their own OP
Simulate, to the extent possible, a project appraisal process in the context of an operation to be co-financed under SF under a priority in your OP

5. The training approach will not:
The training will:
The training approach will not:
Build on participant experience and interests
Explain key principles and concepts of project appraisal, especially under Structural Funds
Provide significant opportunities to learn through practical exercises and team tasks
Focus on Process as well as Method
Give you the chance to think about how Project Appraisal and Selection will work in your OP
Assume the trainer has all the answers
Cover all aspects of project appraisal equally
Be dominated by lectures and extensive reading
Be a specialized course on any particular technique (CBA, feasibility studies etc)

6. Training Approach
The training will consistently give some key messages:
As a future member state and Managing Authority, you have real choices with regard to the methods and processes for appraising projects to be co-financed by Structural Funds - there is NO PRAG, in Structural Funds
You are constrained by general principles of good governance and by specific Structural Funds rules on what can and cannot be co-financed by Structural Funds, as well as by your own programme framework
If you do not know what you want to co-finance (in some detail) then you will never be competent to define or apply relevant selection and evaluation criteria.

7. Training Approach
The training will consistently give some key messages:
As a future member state and Managing Authority, you have real choices with regard to the methods and processes for appraising projects to be co-financed by Structural Funds - there is NO PRAG, in Structural Funds
You are constrained by general principles of good governance and by specific Structural Funds rules on what can and cannot be co-financed by Structural Funds, as well as by your own programme framework
If you do not know what you want to co-finance (in some detail) then you will never be competent to define or apply relevant selection and evaluation criteria.

8. Structural Fund Context
Session 1.2

9. Three Cycles
Policy
Program
Project

10. Structural Funds: Hierarchy of Programming documents
EU Priorities & Pillars
National Strategic Reference Framework
National Development Plan
National development (investment) programmes
Operational Programmes
Regional or national operations – strategic plans or limited programmes, large projects, schemes

11. Three Cycles
Policy
Program
Project

12. Internal Coherence of a Programme