European multi-financial framework Funds

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European multi-financial framework Funds AMIF
and ISF
UK experience and perspective

• Stephen Blackmore
• UK Responsible Authority
• Head of UK Strategy, Policy and Funding
  Allocation
• 28 July 2015
• Sofia

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Hello and thank you for inviting me

• Who am I
• Support to Bulgaria by EASO and the UK
• My experience both in the UK and working with
  Bulgaria
• What will I be covering today

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Current situation in the UK

• First two calls launched March/May 2015
• 11 Home Office projects selected
• 2 have been terminated
• 24m (33.6m) of AMIF costs declared by projects
• Payments will be made this week
• Full Designation to be signed off by end of
  August
• All operating and guidance manuals completed,
  removing any uncertainty on what is expected of
  grant recipients

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Responsibility A two way process

• As the title suggests both the Responsible
  Authority and the project have key and distinct
  responsibilities to ensure effective absorption
  of EU Funds
• What are the key elements for the Responsible
  Authority?
• What are the key elements for the project?

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The Responsible Authority

• They are the guardians of EU money
• They have the responsibility to ensure projects
  conform to the EU and National legislation
• They are the Bulgarian liaison with the EC and EU
  bodies
• They must ensure funding is correctly allocated,
  spent, recorded and expenditure is eligible
• Ensure funding is allocated to projects that meet
  the National Programme strategy and policy
  requirements
• They are there to support and provide training

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Project's Responsibilities

• Delivery the project as defined in the
  application for funding
• Adhere to all EU and Bulgarian legislation
• Report back to the Bulgarian Responsible
  Authority on time with all the correct
  information
• Immediately report any concerns or difficulties
  back to the Responsible Authority

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Why is all of this important

• The rather simple answer is, if the projects fail
  to deliver the project or are unable/unwilling to
  abide by the EU funding regulations the
  Responsible Authority will not be able to claim
  the expenditure from the EU. This will result in
  the Bulgarian government having to find the funds
  to finance the project!!!

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UK view

• From experience with previous funding streams we
  must take a firmer line with projects.
• Under SOLID 10m (14m) of funding lost due to
  projects not keeping correct documentation or
  being able to demonstrate expenditure was
  eligible
• Onus is on projects, Directors and above sign
  Grant Agreements. The project has to fully
  justify to their senior managers and Government
  Ministers why the Responsible Authority had no
  option but to reject funding claims and thereby
  the state budget has to unexpectedly find the
  finances to cover the project

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Does all this sound negative?

• No it should not be read like that
• The key is to ensure genuine cooperation and
  engagement between the project and Responsible
  Authority
• From personal experience and observation the
  Bulgarian Responsible Authority has all the
  skills and knowledge to fully support you but
  they can only do this if the you fully engage
  with them

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General advice

• Communication, communication, communication
• It is not a competition between the project and
  the Responsible Authority regular meetings and
  updates are vital to demonstrating cooperation
  and partnership
• No one wants to reject costs but as mention
  earlier the ultimate role of the Responsible
  Authority is to safeguard EU money and to save
  domestic Bulgarian funds from having to cover
  costs that EU funding streams could and should
  have covered

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Thank you for listening

• Any questions?