European multi-financial framework Funds - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 11
About This Presentation
Title:

European multi-financial framework Funds

Description:

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 – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:32
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 12
Provided by: mvr1
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: European multi-financial framework Funds


1
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

2
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

3
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

4
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?

5
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

6
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

7
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!!!

8
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

9
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

10
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

11
Thank you for listening
  • Any questions?
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com