TAIEX-REGIO Workshop on Applying the Partnership Principle in the European Structural and Investment Funds Bratislava, 20/05/2016 Involvement of Partners Applied in the Monitoring of the Operational Programme

Contents Legal framework of the partnership principle; Formation of the Monitoring Committee (the issues and their solutions); Work of the Monitoring Committee (formal requirements and good practice); Conclusions and Implications; Challenges for the Future.

Legal framework for Partnership Obligatory provisions for the Application of the Partnership Principle Responsibility and functions Implementation process MonitoringEvaluationCommunicati on Rules on the Distribution of Responsibility and Functions among Institutions in the Implementation of the Operational Programme for the EU Structural Funds’ Investments in 2014–2020 1) Rules on Administration of the Operational Programme; 2) Rules on Project Administration and Funding; 3) Plan of Implementation of Implementing Measures of Technical Assistance Priorities under the Operational Programme Governme nt of the Republic of Lithuania Resolution On Setting-Up of the Monitoring Committee Evaluation Plan of the Use of the EU Structural Funds Assistance Communicati on Strategy for the EU Funds’ Investments in

Steps of Partnership Principle Implementation Selection Involvement and empowerment Feedback and Evaluation

Issues of the Monitoring Committee Formation The main issues of the Monitoring Committee formation:  How to determine an optimal composition of the MC members;  How to select the „right“ partners; Actions, which were taken:  Analysis of the partners‘ involvement in the Monitoring Committee work during (what partners and how actively participated, how efficient involvement was ensured, etc.);  Analysis of the partners involved in the activities of the Commission for the EU Structural Assistance in ;  Proposals for partners to participate in different working groups;  Discussions and meetings with potential partners;  The Standard of Partnership;  Guidelines for the ministries on partnership, particularly on selection procedures.

Partnership Principles The partners are involved into all stages of the OP implementation: planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Involvement The partners representing national, regional, sectoral or certain public group interests may participate in the implementation of the OP. Openness The partners are provided with all the information required for efficient participation in the OP implementation. Transparency The partners are involved in the OP implementation within their competence, timely, in the forms appropriate for them and regarding essential issues. Efficiency Partnership is based on mutual confidence and obligation to strive for efficient use of the EU Structural assistance, contribution of all partners is recognised and highly valued. Mutual Responsibility

Guidelines for the Application of the Partnership Principle Involvement of partners into institutionalised forms of partnership is carried out in two ways:  By an invitation of authorities;  Upon request of potential partners; Step by step: how to ensure efficient partnership:  How are partners selected;  How to become a partner; When and how to involve the partners in each OP stage (planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation):  The scope of partnership;  The scale of partnership;  Forms of partnership.

Key Criteria for Selection of Partners Partners should be clearly associated either with the problem, which is to be solved, or with its solution. Relevant partners may differ depending on the stage of the EU Structural Funds management and the issue concerned. Relevance Representation of all relevant partners (territorial, social, economic, NGO) should be ensured. Proportionality Partners representing wider and not narrower individual interests should be involved. Scope of representation

Composition of the Monitoring Committee (1) Monitoring Committee 55 members Member State authorities Intermediate bodies Partners (29 members) Representatives from the European Commission Representatives from the National Audit Office of Lithuania Representatives from the EIB

Composition of the Monitoring Committee (2)

Main Rights and Obligations of Partners in the MC The main obligations of partners : To participate in meetings (consideration and submittion of proposals on the MC meeting agenda); To represent the interests of the majority of umbrella organisations; To express their opinion and make reasoned proposals to the authorities administering the EU Structural Funds on more efficient EU Structural Funds management; To be impartial and responsible; To meet the obligations of confidentiality; To take other necessary actions required for ensuring efficient partnership. The main rights of partners: The right of access to information from the authorities administering the EU Structural Funds, which is necessary for effective participation in the EU Structural Funds management; Decision-making right, (in case of participation in the activities of the Monitoring Committee – voting right); Advisory capacity, which is granted in all stages of the Operational Programme management; Right of initiative, i.e. the right to propose issues of the Operational Programme management relevant to partners for consideration by the authorities responsible for the Operational Programme implementation.

The Work of the Monitoring Committee The formal procedures set in the Work Regulation of the Monitoring Committee:  Functions of the MC;  Organisation of MC meetings;  Time period for sending documents to members of the MC;  Decisions of the MC, approval of Minutes, etc.... And how it work in practice

The Role of Evaluation in Strengthening of Partnership The Evaluation Plan and its amendments are approved by the MC; The progress made in implementation of the Evaluation plan is discussed in the MC systematically; The partners receive all evaluation reports and information on the implementation of recommendations; The partners are involved into the implementation of evaluation actions, in particular, stages of evaluation planning, data collection and consideration of results.

Conclusions and Implications Legal basis is the main precondition for the enhancement of the partnership principle implementation; Umbrella organisations play a crucial role in the partnership development; Proper selection of partners is one of the key factors of the efficient partnership; Methodological documents support the application of the partnership principle in practice; In order to increase the role of the partnership, the fulfilment of formal requirements is not enough.

Future Challenges A number of challenges remain. There is a need for wide discussion on the following issues: Capacities of partners (what type of learning is effective; how to present an information in more simple manner, how to organise more efficient communication, etc.); A negative point of view from administration institutions (partnership as additional administrative burden, lack of knowledge on partnership, etc.); A Partner versus Project Promoter (EU Structural funds as main resources for the financing of the NGO‘s activities).

THANK YOU! Danutė Burakienė, Head of Evaluation Division European Union Structural Assistance Management Department Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania Mutual trust is fundamental to a successful partnership, whether in business or in marriage