ESF IMPLEMENTATION IN MALTA 2004-2006 © May 2004

OUTLINE ESF INTERMEDIATE BODY MANAGING AUTHORITY OVERALL ASSESSMENT IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS MANAGING AUTHORITY PROJECT PIPELINE & IMPLEMENTATION FINANCIAL ISSUES © May 2004

OVERALL ASSESSMENT © May 2004

OVERALL ASSESSMENT MAIN CHALLENGES First experience Implementation phase National training requirements for: Administration Final Beneficiaries Social Partners © May 2004

OVERALL ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY INSTRUMENTS COMMISSION GUIDANCE Twinning Project with Spain Twinning Light Project with Italy EQUAL Twinning Light Project with Spain COMMISSION GUIDANCE Committees, Seminars and other Events Facilitation of sharing Best Practices to develop Common Models © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS MONITORING COMMITTEE Established and met on several occasions Approval of Programme Complement Regional Project Committee for Gozo Human Resources Sub-Committee Enhanced response time from Commission required © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS ESF POLICY PRIORITIES National employment challenges established through: NDP JAP JIM NAP Useful expertise from existing Member States © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS PROGRAMME COMPLEMENT Challenges: Quantifying the Indicators Transforming Human Capital Investment strategies into eligible ESF actions Apportioning funding allocations © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS SOCIAL PARTNERS Participation through NDP sectoral working groups Consultation through National workshops Consultation through MCESD Consultation through MC Technical Assistance to further strengthen their capacity © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS GENDER MAINSTREAMING Establishment of a National Commission Enactment of new Equal Opportunities legislation Development of a National Gender Equality Action Plan Ex-Ante evaluation process © May 2004

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS INFORMATION & PUBLICITY Programme Complement lays out the SF Communications Strategy and Action Plan Technical Assistance tender for ESF Communications Strategy and Action Plan requirements Information & Publicity Campaign already underway © May 2004

PROJECT PIPELINE & IMPLEMENTATION © May 2004

PROJECT PIPELINE & IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECT PIPELINE Call for Project Proposals closed on the 18th March 2004 ELIGIBILITY RULES & PROCEDURES Simplified eligibility rules © May 2004

FINANCIAL ISSUES © May 2004

FINANCIAL ISSUES DEVELOPMENT OF PAYMENT, MONITORING, AUDIT & CONTROL SYSTEMS Established systems have now been streamlined to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of Project Implementation Development of a new Structural Funds Database © May 2004

FINANCIAL ISSUES COVENANTS MANUALS MONITORING Drawn up between MA, PA and IB MANUALS Development of a Manual of Procedures Training for selected FBs MONITORING On-the-spot checks © May 2004

FINANCIAL ISSUES LEGAL & BUDGETARY FRAMEWORK Results from Malta-EU Acquis Chapter 21 Financial Administration & Audit Act and its amendments, including Public Procurement Regulations Equal Opportunities legislation Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) Act © May 2004

FINANCIAL ISSUES SECURING EFFECTIVE CASH-FLOW Approved public-sector Projects will be pre-funded by the Government Approved private-sector Projects will be refunded on a Reimbursement basis PAYMENT REQUESTS TO COMMISSION A Covenant between the MA & the PA has been established to ensure sufficient co-ordination, control and checks © May 2004

THANK YOU Edward Grima Baldacchino ESF Intermediate Body EU Affairs Directorate Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity www.esf.gov.mt Alison Scerri Managing Authority Planning & Priorities Co-ordination Directorate Office of the Prime Minister www.ppcd.gov.mt © May 2004