EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RULE N° 11 OF REGULATION (EC) N° 448/2004 Cristina Asturias, EMPL/F/3

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 2 GENERAL RULE Costs incurred by Member States in technical assistance of the Structural Funds are not eligible for co-financing. This covers: -management, -implementation, -monitoring and control

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 3 EVOLUTION OF THE RULE Nevertheless, the Commission recognizes as eligible a whole series of administrative costs connected with technical assistance (AT): - I. eligible expenditure under a ceiling as regards the overheads and - II. eligible expenditure without a ceiling as regards specific actions.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 4 UNDER A CEILING Members states : - receive an overall amount to distribute to the various types of possible authorities (management, payment and control authority) - are free to determine the distribution of the funds within the limits of the ceiling

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 5 UNDER A CEILING Categories of eligible expenditure: 1.Administrative general expenditure 2.Assistance for meetings 3.Audits and Controls 4.Salaries.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 6 WITHOUT A CEILING Specific actions are financed without a maximum: -studies -seminars -information actions -evaluations -acquisition and the installation of the computerized systems of management, of monitoring and of evaluation These actions are generally subcontracted externally. Officials' salaries carrying out these actions are not eligible.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 7 UNDER A CEILING UNDER A CEILING Where is the limit?

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 8 UNDER A CEILING Maximum levels are set : at ≥ 5% of the total contribution of the Structural Funds. for: -Community initiatives -Special programme PEACE II -Innovative actions

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 9 UNDER A CEILING For all the other interventions, the limit shall be the sum of the following amounts: 2.5% of ESF funds ≤ 100 M € +2% of ESF funds > 100 ≤ 500 M € +1% of ESF funds > 500 ≤ 1 bn M € +0.5% of ESF funds ≥ 1 bnM €

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 10 UNDER A CEILING Example: ESF part =1.2 bn Euro 2.5% of ESF funds ≤ 100 M € 2,5%*100 M € +2% of ESF funds > 100 ≤ 500 M € +2%*400 M € +1% of ESF funds > 500 ≤ 1 Bn M € +1%*500 M € +0.5% of ESF funds ≥ 1 Bn M € +0.5%*200M €

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 11 UNDER A CEILING What is eligible under technical assistance? Frequently asked questions: Are salaries eligible? Are salaries eligible? Are computers eligible? Are computers eligible? Are travel costs eligible? Are travel costs eligible?

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 12 UNDER A CEILING (1) Administrative general expenditure Administrative general expenditure linked to: - the preparation - the selection - the appraisal - the monitoring of the intervention/operations. Exception: - Acquisition and installation of computerized systems for management, monitoring and evaluation.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 13 UNDER A CEILING (2) Assistance for meetings 2. Expenditure related to the implementation of assistance for: -the meetings of the monitoring committees -follow-up sub-committees. Examples: room hire, interpretation, documentation, travel expenses, consultants.,

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 14 UNDER A CEILING (3) Audits and controls 3. The expenditure relating to: -audits -on the spot controls Example: public auditors, per diem, travel costs, etc.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 15 UNDER A CEILING (4) Salaries 4. Salaries are eligible in the following cases: -for contracted personnel assigned to the former activities -for civil servants or other public officials seconded, under the two following conditions: First condition: Temporary assignment with formal decision. Second condition: Period of assignment ≤ the final date for the eligibility of the expenditure.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 16 To conclude: Technical assistance/experimental projects expenditure. No clear limit. Under a ceiling: Member states have the choice of expenditure Implementation of this rule shall be agreed between Commission and Member states.

Cristina Asturias EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG EMPL F/3 17