Multiple Funds, Tasks & Risks: Challenges and Solutions for 2024 (Summer Edition)

Delivering a greener, digital and more resilient and inclusive EU is proving to be challenging, perhaps even more than expected. Extraordinary budgets have been made available to MS in different forms and Funds over the past two years. Apart from the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-27 providing funds for Cohesion Policy, rural development and migration and border management, MS are also implementing their NRRPs under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

- But how much can be achieved in the wake of political unrest, inflationary and supply-chain pressures?

- What does multi-fund implementation mean for Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies, Audit Authorities and all the other related units responsible for the management, control and audit?

- What are the risks of the new rulebooks and the concurrent implementation of multiple projects which are financed from different funds?

- What are the new, added pressures on the current workforce making up our restrictive pool of administrative capacities?

- Are we equipped to handle so many funds at a go?

- What tools do we have to provide quick, feasible solutions?

These and other questions will be addressed in this five-day seminar aimed at making sense out of the current situation. We start off by addressing the latest developments in the area of simplification of programmes, the management of the project pipeline and the implementation of projects (including simplified cost options and financing not linked to costs).

Mrs Agnese Kadiģe, Senior Expert at the EU Funds Audit Department of Latvia, will then lead discussions on the sensitive topics of fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and double-funding, before addressing audit aspects for 21-27.

On the final two days, Mr Karsten Cilia Zarb (Head of Risk Management at a Beneficiary and former Manager at the Malta MA for ERDF and CF) will facilitate several workshops on public procurment irregularities and financial corrections, and risk-based management verifications.