Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April From ISPA to Cohesion and Structural Funds DG Regio - Ispa Closing Remarks by Director Lluis Riera Regional Policy DG, Directorate F ISPA and Pre-Accession Measures Brussels, 9-10 April 2003

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming (1) DG Regio - Ispa Do not forget ISPA Contracting Tendering Significant increase for Bulgaria and Romania ( ) Building-up Cohesion Fund project pipeline now Strategic approach Synergy between programmes

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming (2) DG Regio - Ispa Focus on reduced numbers of priorities clearly defined answering most urgent needs with tested implementing capacities Preparing projects in the field N+2 rule State aids Co-financing requirements

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Monitoring Chapter 21 DG Regio - Ispa 30 April 2003: Deadline for replies to the questionnaire July 2003: Commission to adopt Monitoring Report on the progress made by the acceding countries as regards Chapter 21 October 2003: Commissioner Barnier meets the acceding countries Ministers responsible for Cohesion policy interventions: Conclusions to be drawn from the Report

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Monitoring Chapter 21 DG Regio - Ispa Special Focus on implementation arrangements: Management arrangements, based on the responsibilities of the Managing and Paying Authorities: description of tasks performed at each level of the implementation structure administrative of contractual arrangements with intermediate bodies arrangements for ensuring compliance with Community policies Current and planned levels of qualified staffing, training and recruitment plans in all bodies concerned

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Monitoring Chapter 21 DG Regio - Ispa Special Focus on (continued): EDIS as an indicator of readiness to implement SF and CF Financial management: Efficiency of financial flows and procedures envisaged for EU and national co-financing Financial control and internal audit arrangements

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming timetable DG Regio - Ispa Early 2003: Official submission of Plans, draft OPs and draft SPDs, and Cohesion Fund Reference Framework Within 15 working days from d (d = date of submission): Lead DG signals whether the document is admissible Within 3 months from d - Commission sends its comments on the Plan/draft SPD (key messages and detailed negotiation mandate)

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming timetable DG Regio - Ispa Detailed comments on the draft OPs to be communicated by the Lead DG after the finalisation of the negotiation mandate on the Plan. At least two negotiation rounds with acceding country, preparation of the draft CSF and revision or further elaboration of SPDs and OPs Within months from d (depending on progress made during negotiations): Conclusion of negotiations on draft CSF

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming timetable DG Regio - Ispa Until 31/12/2003: (depending on progress made during negotiations) Conclusion of negotiations on SPDs and OPs - Finalisation of the Cohesion Fund Reference Framework 01/01 to 30/04 April 2004: Acceding countries can start pre-financing projects under the Structural and Cohesion Funds, subject to fulfilling all the applicable Community rules and the eligibility criteria related to the relevant SPD or OP and Fund.

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming timetable DG Regio - Ispa 1st May 2004: Accession By 31 May 2004: Consultation of the four Committees referred to under Title VI of Council Regulation 1260/1999 on the CSF and SPDs Commission decision on first CF projects (depending on project submissions). June 2004: Commission Decision on the CSF/SPD and OPs June/July 2004: First payment on account (10 %) to the Paying Authority for SF assistance

Annual Meeting of ISPA Partners , Centre Borschette (CCAB), Brussels, 9-10 April Programming timetable DG Regio - Ispa All conference presentations and papers will be available as of this afternoon on: sources/docconf/conf_en.htm and eventually also on the Ispa web pages: funds/ispa/ispa_en.htm