1. 1 Activities of the Coordination Committee of the Funds (COCOF) Mr Bernard LANGE, European Commission, DG REGIO, Unit D1

2. 2 The COCOF created by Article 103 of Council Regulation N°1083/2006. Successor of the Committee for the Development and Conversion of Regions (CDCR), in operation since 1989.

3. 3 First meeting: 27 September 2006 From September 2006, the COCOF met 18 times. About 40 guidance notes were discussed so far.

4. 4 You will find 35 documents in your USB key. They can be classified in 4 categories: - Closure of the previous programming period; - Strategy of the 2007-2013 period; - Programme implementation issues 2007-2013; - European Territorial Cooperation.

5. 5 1. Closure of the previous programming period (2000-2006) 3 documents: - Amendment of decisions on Cohesion Fund projects; - Communication on the Guidelines on the Closure of Cohesion Fund and ex-ISPA projects; - Closure of INTERREG III. + Structural Funds Closure Guidelines adopted in 2006 under the CDCR. 3 documents: - Amendment of decisions on Cohesion Fund projects; - Communication on the Guidelines on the Closure of Cohesion Fund and ex-ISPA projects; - Closure of INTERREG III. + Structural Funds Closure Guidelines adopted in 2006 under the CDCR.

6. 6 2. Strategy of the 2007-2013 period 2 documents: - Guidelines on the calculation of public or equivalent structural spending for the purposes of additionality; - Earmarking. 2 documents: - Guidelines on the calculation of public or equivalent structural spending for the purposes of additionality; - Earmarking.

7. 7 3. Programme Implementation issues 2007-2013 This category can be devided into 4 major items: - Evaluation; - Implementation, monitoring and management verification; - Certification; - Audit. This category can be devided into 4 major items: - Evaluation; - Implementation, monitoring and management verification; - Certification; - Audit.

8. 8 3.1 – Evaluation 3 documents: - Indicative guidelines on evaluation methods: ex- ante and during the programming period (2 notes); - Measuring Structural Funds Employment Effects. 3 documents: - Indicative guidelines on evaluation methods: ex- ante and during the programming period (2 notes); - Measuring Structural Funds Employment Effects.

9. 9 3.2 – Implementation, monitoring and management verification 18 documents and amongst them: - Major Projects (2 notes); - Article 55 of Regulation N°1083/2006; - Financial engineering; - Methodology for carrying out cost-benefit analysis; - Publication of list of beneficiaries; - Guidance note on management verification (*) 18 documents and amongst them: - Major Projects (2 notes); - Article 55 of Regulation N°1083/2006; - Financial engineering; - Methodology for carrying out cost-benefit analysis; - Publication of list of beneficiaries; - Guidance note on management verification (*)

10. 10 3.3 – Certification 1 document: - Guidance to certifying authorities on certification procedure under Article 61 (*) 1 document: - Guidance to certifying authorities on certification procedure under Article 61 (*)

11. 11 3.4 – Audit 6 documents and amongst them: - Audit strategy; - Compliance assessment exercise; - Methodology for the assessment of management and control systems; -Sampling (*) -Financial corrections guidelines for public procurement 6 documents and amongst them: - Audit strategy; - Compliance assessment exercise; - Methodology for the assessment of management and control systems; -Sampling (*) -Financial corrections guidelines for public procurement

12. 12 4. European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) 3 documents: - Financing of interregional cooperation, cooperation networks and exchange of experience; - Eligibility of ETC objective under cohesion policy 2007-2013; - Interpretation of the Lead beneficiary principle under Articles 19 and 20, especially concerning joint bodies such as GETCs. 3 documents: - Financing of interregional cooperation, cooperation networks and exchange of experience; - Eligibility of ETC objective under cohesion policy 2007-2013; - Interpretation of the Lead beneficiary principle under Articles 19 and 20, especially concerning joint bodies such as GETCs.

13. 13 Communication / Access All COCOF documents are available via: - COCOF Members (list in the USB key); - COCOF Secretariat: At regio-cocof@ec.europa.euregio-cocof@ec.europa.eu - SFC 2007 All COCOF documents are available via: - COCOF Members (list in the USB key); - COCOF Secretariat: At regio-cocof@ec.europa.euregio-cocof@ec.europa.eu - SFC 2007

14. 14 Thank you for your attention! Questions & Answers

15. 15 SFC2007 Morten Greve, European Commission, DG Regional Policy

16. 16 SFC2007 What is SFC2007 What is currently covered History and evolution What is next – work programme 2008-2009 Access to additional documents

17. 17 What is SFC2007 SFC2007 Common computerised system –Art. 66.3 and 76.4 of Council Regulation 1083/2006 –Art. 39 - 42 of Commission Regulation 1828/2006 Internet based IT system for shared fund management –Data and document transmission (6 funds) –Database and common document repository Provides a common reference Accessible by all actors –Managing, Certifying and Auditing authorities National and regional level –Commission (4 directorates general) –European Court of Auditors, OLAF, … A big step towards e-Governance and simplification

18. 18 Whats covered by SFC2007 today SFC2007 Documents and data required by the regulation (Art. 40 of 1828/2006) –National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) –Operational Programmes –Major Projects –Commission Decisions –Communication Plan –Annual Payment Forecasts –Interim Payment Requests –Annual Statement on withdrawn and recovered amounts –Description of Management and Control System –Audit Strategy –Annual Implementation Report –… Annual Summary (Financial Regulation art. 53b) Community Strategic Guidelines, Financial Perspectives Programmes for the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance …

19. 19 Who has access to what SFC2007 Commission Man AuthCer AuthAud Auth Man AuthCer AuthAud Auth OP Major Projects Communication Plan … Payment Request Statement on recovered amounts … Audit Strategy Annual Control Report / Opinion … Regional level National level Man AuthCer AuthAud Auth OP Major Projects Communication Plan … Payment Request Statement on recovered amounts … Audit Strategy Annual Control Report / Opinion … Access in managed on a national level by the MS Liaison Update and send roles are restricted Read roles can be combined

20. 20 History and evolution SFC2007 Operational since July 2006 Contains 22500 documents covering 550 programmes

21. 21 Whats next SFC2007 Items listed in Article 40 not yet covered by SFC2007 –Annual Control Report and Annual Opinion – Annex VI and VII (Deadline 31/12/2008) –Partial Closure declaration – Annex IX –Closure Declaration + Final Control Report – Annex VIII Improving and extending the system –Reporting –Consultation of guidance notes –Advanced search functions –User management –Multi-lingual e-learning –Specific requests from Member State users –…

22. 22 Work Programme 2008 - 2009 SFC2007 DescriptionDate Updated e-learning moduleJune 2008 Preparation and transmission of Annual Implementation Reports – Annex XVIII and XXIII June 2008 Split of categories for multi-objective programmesAug 2008 Improved user management: –Subscription to notifications –Delegations –Single profile for multiple roles –Automatic reminders Sep 2008 Advanced search utilityOct 2008 Consultation of interpretation documents and guidance notesOct 2008 Updated e-learning module in 22 languagesOct 2008 Annual Control Report – Annex VI Annual Opinion – Annex VII Nov 2008 Reporting tools and initial reportsNov 2008 Major Projects and Payments for Pre-Accession fundNov 2008 Partial Closure declaration – Annex IX Dec 2008 Annual declaration of amounts of withdrawn from statements of expenditure – Annex XI Feb 2009 Closure Declaration + final control report – Annex VIII Apr 2009 Additional reporting and improvementsJun 2009

23. 23 Consultation of guidance notes SFC2007 Access to documents and notes –COCOF and ESF committee documents –Interpretation of regulations –Guidance notes –Commission position papers –… Search by keywords The goal is to have as much information as possible concerning the 2007-2013 programming period available in SFC2007 Functionality available in last quarter of 2008

24. 24 Key Messages SFC2007 SFC2007 fulfils the regulatory requirements SFC2007 is more than just mandatory electronic data transmission SFC2007 is the reference database for the 2007 – 2013 period SFC2007 contributes to more effective controls by –allowing information exchange between authorities within MS –improving information flow between Commission and all national bodies SFC2007 will continue to evolve

25. 25 Training Androulla Ioannou European Commission DG Regional Policy

26. 26 Guidance and training Training -Improved information flow for improved control -Guidance: a) to interpret the regulations and b) to share understanding of the standards, benchmarks and good practices -Commission and MS identify areas where guidance and training is needed

27. 27 Guidance and Training Training -Responsibility of MS -Disseminate guidance to the appropriate officials in the designated managing authorities, certifying authorities, audit authorities, intermediate bodies and beneficiaries -Provide training based on a national training programme -Responsibility of Commission -Develop guidance and raise awareness through seminars; meetings; CIRCA; and now SFC 2007 -Provide support for MS training actions

28. 28 Training provided in 2007 Training -Guidance notes are initially discussed in technical meetings with the audit bodies/authorities before presentation in COCOF -Technical meeting 27 March -Technical meeting 16 November -Training on the new regulations, 2007-13, provided to audit bodies/authorities of almost all Member States (in most cases in the Member State)

29. 29 Training to managing and certifying authorities Training -Commission participates in seminars organised by the Member States or other organisations (ie EIPA) -Encourage sharing of experiences and training within Member States, but also between Member States – purpose to develop/strengthen training networks

30. 30 Training to managing and certifying authorities Training - Member States to have training coordination teams and a national training strategy Proposal under consideration: -Member States to nominate a training contact point -Annual seminar by the Commission to train the trainers ->update; inform; transfer knowledge -Trainers to incorporate this learning into their national training strategy -Topics that are of interest to YOU

31. 31 Training Send us your ideas/suggestions to: regio-seminar-10-june-2008@ec.europa.eu Thank you!