National Information SeminarThe management of IPA funds and the role of the

Thessaloniki Liaison Office

Zagreb, 21st February 2012

Kirill Dimanopoulos – Thessaloniki Liaison Officer - JTS MED

Programme Bodies

• To facilitate the participation of the IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro) to the MED programme.

• To facilitate the capitalization and coordination between the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area and the MED programme

Audit Authority

Managing Authority

Certifying Authority

Joint Technical Secretariat

Liaison Office IPA Thessaloniki

Liaison Office ENPI Valencia

Monitoring Committee (Selection committee)

Mission of the Thessaloniki Liaison Office

Objectives:

To facilitate the participation of the IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, To facilitate the participation of the IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro) to the MED programme.Montenegro) to the MED programme.

To facilitate the capitalization and coordination between the other transnational To facilitate the capitalization and coordination between the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area and the MED programmecooperation programmes of the area and the MED programme

Tasks:Tasks:Providing information about the offered opportunities of the MED Programme to potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countriesProviding information about the offered opportunities of the MED Programme to potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countries

Providing information about the modalities of participation in the MED Programme for potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countriesProviding information about the modalities of participation in the MED Programme for potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countries

Serving as a “liaison” between the ERDF Lead partners and the IPA partnersServing as a “liaison” between the ERDF Lead partners and the IPA partners

Managing the matchmaking process of IPA partners to MED projectsManaging the matchmaking process of IPA partners to MED projects

Providing up to date information about the integrated way of managing the IPA fundsProviding up to date information about the integrated way of managing the IPA funds

Coordinating between the MED authorities and the participating IPA countries and the respective EU DelegationsCoordinating between the MED authorities and the participating IPA countries and the respective EU Delegations Promoting the capitalization activities between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the areaPromoting the capitalization activities between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area Promoting the exchange of experience and best practices between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the Promoting the exchange of experience and best practices between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the

areaarea Providing coordination between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the areaProviding coordination between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area Providing guidance to potential Lead Partners to which cooperation programme of the area is the most appropriate to implement their ideaProviding guidance to potential Lead Partners to which cooperation programme of the area is the most appropriate to implement their idea

Target area of the Thessaloniki LO

Main motivation for involving IPA Partners

• Better dissemination of results

• Obtaining the special expertise of the IPA Partner

• Thematic reasons

• Better geographical coverage

What are the main activities of the IPA partners

• They are usually involved since the beginning (participation in the preparation meetings)

• They are carrying out visibility actions

• They are contributing to the thematic work:– By analyzing the status quo in their territory– By designing local action plans– By carrying out studies– By organizing thematic workshops

IPA participation within the transitional management

Projects 1st call Croatia MontenegroPROTECT Istria County (64.260 EUR)COASTANCE DUNEA Development Agency (48.940 EUR)FORETE MODELE Istria County (45.900 EUR)SOSTENUTO EXPEDITIO (112.000 EUR)DEVELOPMED Port of Bar (68.000 EUR)MEDOSSIC Directorate for development of SMEs (10.901,25 EUR)Total number of partners/IPA budget 3 (159.100 EUR) 3 (190.901,25 EUR)

Projects 2nd call Bosnia and Herzegovina CroatiaIRH-MED Energy Institute Hrvoje Pozar (54.730 EUR)Ecomovel Northwest Croatian Wood Industry Cluster (66.515,90 EUR)Enermed Energy Institute Hrvoje Pozar (22.935,79 EUR)Meid Bussiness Service Centre of the Government of Zenica Doboj Canton (59.500 EUR)Total number of partners/IPA budget 1 (59.500 EUR) 3 (144.181,70 EUR)

Projects 1st call for strategic projects MontenegroMARIE Municipality of Bar (123.454 EUR)Total number of partners/IPA budget 1 (123.454 EUR)

Management of IPA funds 2010-2013 in MED programme

• Joint IPA envelope for the 4 countries (2010-2013): 5,4M€

• IPA partners can participate to strategic projects (2nd call) and to all future calls for proposals with this financing

• They cannot be Lead Partners• As partners, they participate to the application with the

LP and sign the Partnership Agreement as any other partner of the project

• IPA partners sign a separate Subsidy (Grant) contract with the MA but otherwise, work with the LP as any other partner in the cooperation project

IPA participation within the integrated management

Project acronym IPA Partner CountryIPA budget

(EUR)

MEDESS-4MS Maritime Safety Department Montenegro 95.200

MEDNET

Intermodal Transport Cluster

Croatia

146.200

Port of Rijeka 325.762,50

Port Authority of Zadar 209.737,50

Albanian Institute of Transport Albania 327.250

HOMER Mediterranean University Montenegro 85.000

Total IPA budget committed 1.189.150

Technical hints

IPA allocation• The whole IPA contribution for the period 2010 to

2013 is 5.4 M€• IPA financing rate 85%• Neither IPA subsidy contract can be signed nor

advanced payment can be carried out until the Financing Agreement (between the Commission, Managing Authority, IPA countries) is not signed

• The commitment letter of each partner must specify the precise amount of the national co-financing corresponding to the total IPA amount requested within the application form

Technical hints

Selection of projects

JTS-External Experts

Selection Committee

Contracting

The MA concludes a separate IPA subsidy contract with the IPA

partner(s)

Reporting

Through the LP

Receiving direct payment from the CA

Advanced Payment

According to the result of the Monitoring According to the result of the Monitoring Committee’s written procedure Advance Committee’s written procedure Advance

payment for IPA partners is possiblepayment for IPA partners is possible

Application processThe advanced payment is not automatic

The application should be done through the LP

Technical detailsMaximum 10% can be the size of the advanced payment at the

beginning of the projectIPA partners receiving the advanced payment directly from the

Certifying AuthorityIn each following reporting period 25% of the advanced payment will be

reduced from the reimbursement

IPA First Level Control systems

Each IPA country has set up a centralised First Level Control system

Control free of charge for IPA partners Eligibility and FLC guidelines will be prepared

by each IPA country Deadlines, rules and procedures may not be

identical for the 4 IPA countries

Each IPA partner must refer to the control system of the IPA country where it is located

Public procurement

Practical Guide to Contract procedures for EU external actions (PraG) explains the contracting procedures applying to all EU external aid contracts

National rules on public procurement may be used if they are stricter than PraG

Procurement procedures have to be applied for all services, supplies and works planned in the project budget (including the services allocated in the preparation costs)

What’s upcoming? Transnational IPA Seminar in Podgorica, Montenegro, 2nd of March 2012

Applicants Seminar on 6th of March 2012 in Marseille, France

Further information and assistance?

Contact the Liaison Office: kdimanopoulos@mou.gr

and find further information on

www.programmemed.eu (e.g. LO section )

Thank you for your attention!