Project preparation in the Municipality of Koper Ivana Štrkalj International projects’ manager Pula,

Slovenia and incomes from the European Union Programme period ,2 mio € 229,1 mio €/year Programme period mio € 732,6 mio €/year

Financial perspective of European Union 2006 vs in % Source: European Commission; Inforegio

Developing incentives of EU have increased 3 to 4 times in period Operational programme of environmental and transport infrastructure development Operational programme for development of human resources Operational programme for strengthening regional development potentials Cross border operational programmes: cross border cooperation with Croatia, cross border cooperation with Austria, cross border cooperation with Italy, cross border cooperation with Hungary, cross border cooperation in Adriatic initiative. Trans national operational programmes: Alpine space, South East Europe, Central Europe, Mediterranean Programme of rural development Programme of fishery development 1436 mio € 645 mio € 1556 mio € 86 mio € 6 mio € 803 mio € 18 mio € EU total million € + national co-participation 907 million € = Total sum million €

Indicative division of available resources of the regional development programme for the period

Municipal approach towards the funds Division among direct and indirect European funding/calls = different approach for submission of projects’ proposals DIRECT calls = EU gives funds to ministries = 3 OP + rural development + fishery development National law rules + investment documents + CBA analysis + publicly known scale of evaluation = MORE MONEY easier approach with better turnovers INDIRECT calls = cross border + trans national + European commission (DG) International partnerships + much more coordination + international public procurement rules (PRAG) + very strong political influence at the evaluation process + LESS MONEY for more involvement

Municipal personnel and financial limitation to projects presentation processes Education and involvement of employees in the international events – local national and international networking of politicians and TECHNICIANS Budget (1 year) and plan of development programmes (3 years forecast) = yearly approval process Provide the money for at least 1 year before the financial flow is concluded Project presentation and the approval/rejection of project idea = up or more than 1 year before the final decisions are made (5-10 days for clarifications!!!)

Qualities of good project manager 1.Contract management and planning: SKILLS: planning, measurement of objectives, exploitation and integration, risk management, contract management, managing project meetings, documents archive processing. 2. Quality management: SKILLS: quality planning, quality control and assurance, deliverable control an integration internal review and external review. 3. Financial reporting: SKILLS: introduction to financial reporting, financial statement reporting, effort reporting and control, financial audit. 4. Working and team management: SKILLS: deliverable team management, social team factors, cultural aspects.

Direct calls easies control and execution 5 tenders of regional development programme: Industrial and craft development area at Srmin= ,00 €; Construction of pipelines for water distribution and for waste waters collections in the Zazid village = ,00 €; Secondary waste water network of the village Škofije 1 st phase – 1 st step = ,00 €; Secondary waste water network of the village Dekani 1 st phase – 1 st step = ,00 €;

Development of border areas with Croatia 1.Local community Graščišče – street form Gračišče to Smokvica = ,00 € Development of rural areas; Ministry of agriculture, forestry and food; development and reconstruction of villages 1. Local community Gradin v Brezovici = ,30 € Composition of energy concept of Municipality of Koper; Ministry of environment 1. MOK (public buildings) = 8.000,00 €

Indirect calls??? INDIRECT calls = very late start end 2008 and end of year cross border 5 approved projects+ 22 in stand by 2. trans national 5 projects??? 3. European commission (DG) 1 approved + 4??? Already involved in 6 trans national projects through financing the activities of the Regional development centre. Collaboration and acquaintance with the Port of Koper and transport / logistics / ecological projects = new opportunities How many projects can we propose? Are we going to be able to realize them – personnel and financial aspect? Big uncertainty about the results – many times with significantly important political footprint!!!

Basic conditions for successful project proposal : Faultless project documentation (paper + electronic version); Documents of identification of investment projects Investment programmes CBA analysis Feasibility studies Global environment impact studies

Some problems and possible solutions projects’ execution: Difficulty of internet visibility of tenders (ministries and European Union). Preparation of some basic documentation in stock Local community development plans in a long term period System of ex post financial flow = pre financing in very rare in practice Big debts of all local communities Taxation of added value is sometimes justified or not justified (pay attention!) Different informatics systems for the financial and documentation reviews of each operational programme for example ISAAR; Maintenance of the project results for at least 5 years after its end; more financial means are needed to assure the after project’s life.

Thank you for your kind attention! Contacts for any further information: Ivana Štrkalj tel: +386 /(0)5/