The 7 Essentials of Management, Control & Audit

A sound, functioning management and control system is what makes our Programmes go round.

This event, inspired by the EC’s Methodological Note for the Assessment of Management and Control Systems in the Member States, emphasizes the seven most critical Key Requirements and their assessment criteria from both MA/IB and AA perspectives. It offers a structured exploration of the key concepts of project selection, management verifications, accounting, audit trail maintenance, audits, and final opinion, grounded in current practices and experiences from the 2021-27 programmes as well as insights from past programmes.

The highlights of the course are:

i. A detailed overview of the 15 Key Requirements of the Note, the assessment criteria and the relevant schema used for the conclusion by KR and programme authority;

ii. Discussion on project selection procedures, and project appraisal aids, including the review of state aid, cost-benefit analysis, Do-No-Significant-Harm (DNSH) principles and climate proofing;

iii. Appreciating the value of clear and simple eligibility rules, for easier implementation and less errors;

iv. Understanding the role of management verifications in the context of the principles and priorities promoted for the 2021-27 financial period;

v. Debating the effects of the new concept of risk-based management verifications;

vi. Reinforcing key elements in the verification of public procurement, financing not linked to costs simplified cost options;

vii. Understanding the need for and the benefits of a structured audit trail;

viii. Discussing essential features of the Methodological Note on the preparation, submission, examination and audit of the Accounts; and

ix. Appreciating the methodologies and value of systems and operations audits, and their contribution to the final opinion on the programmes.

The speakers will be Trevor Fenech and Ray Bartolo, founders of Europeanfunds.info and former senior managers at the MA of Malta, together with Ivan Ramljak, Head of Service for Audit of EU funds for Asylum, Migrations, Integration and Internal Security, at the Audit Authority of Croatia.

Target audience

Entities involved in management, control and audit of ESIF, EMFAF, EAFRD, ISF, AMIF and BMVI Programmes and the national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRP) – Managing Authorities, First Level of Control Bodies, Intermediate Bodies, Certifying Authorities, Audit Authorities, Central Coordination Bodies, Methodology Departments, Central or Regional Ministries/Departments/Entities, EU institutions.