1. 2012 Annual Call Steps of the evaluation of proposals, role of the experts
TEN-T Experts Briefing, March 2013

2. Outline DG MOVE & TEN-T EA: who does what? 2012 annual call
Evaluation principles
The individual assessments process
External experts: their role, code of conduct, key principles

3. Prepares the work programmes (with input from the Agency)
Work programmes, calls for proposals, management of the projects: who does what?
DG MOVE
Sets the policy
Prepares the work programmes (with input from the Agency)
Decides on the final recommendation of proposals for funding
Adopts the final individual funding decisions
TEN-T EA
Organises the Calls (preparing work programmes & call texts with DG MOVE; publicity, providing advice to applicants)
Manages the external evaluation by independent experts of the proposals submitted under the calls
Negotiates with the beneficiaries & prepares the individual funding decisions
Manages the project: monitors the implementation (via reports, site visits, meetings), makes the payments, makes amendements if needed

4. 2012 Annual Call (1) Overall budget: €250 million
Includes indicative allocations per priority and sub-priority
One call addressing the four priorities

5. Annual Call 2012 (2)
Priority 1: Accelerate/facilitate the implementation of TEN-T projects – max. €150 million Priority 2: Promote innovation and new technologies contributing to decarbonisation or the reduction of external costs in general – max. €40 million Priority 3: Support for PPPs and innovative financial instruments – max. €25 million Priority 4: TEN-T Corridors – max. €35 million 5 5

6. Step 1: Evaluation by the TEN-T EA…
TEN-T EA is responsible for:
checking the eligibility of the proposals:
- arrived on time, are complete, signed by the applicant, approved by the Member State…
- in compliance with EU legislation (environment…), applicants have the financial and technical capacity to carry out the project…
conducting the external evaluation:
- all proposals are reviewed independently by at least three external experts
- the external experts meet in a 'consensus meeting' to reach a consensus recommendation and score for each proposal
- DG MOVE participates in the consensus meetings as Observer

7. Step 2: … selection by DG MOVE
DG MOVE is responsible for the:
final selection of proposals (with the assistance of the TEN-T EA), based on the:
- recommendations of the external evaluation
- available budget, strategic objectives of the calls and the policy relevance of the proposals
consultation of other EU services (DG Environment, DG REGIO…)
consultation of:
- Financial Assistance Committee (Member States)
- European Parliament (right of scrutiny)

8. External evaluation - Objectives
Provide sound technical advice on the proposals submitted
Check that proposals address the objectives and priorities defined in the work programmes and calls for proposals

9. The role of experts
Check that proposals address the objectives and priorities defined in the work programmes and calls for proposals
Independently assess their proposals and provide comments and scores for each of the 4 blocks of award criteria: relevance, maturity, impact, quality
Award, for each criterion, a score on a six-point scale from 0 to 5
Make a confidential, fair and equitable evaluation

10. Moderators: their role in external evaluation
High professional standards
Fairness and impartiality
Equal treatment
Transparency
Efficiency and speed
Confidentiality

11. What forms a complete proposal?
Application Form Part A: administrative information about the proposal and applicants
Application Form Part B1: administrative information related to the financial and operational capacity of private applicants, and compliance with Union policy and law (e.g. environmental law)
Application Form Part B2: technical and financial information about the proposal/ information related to the award criteria
Annexes (environmental certificates, cost benefit analysis….)

12. Steps of the External Evaluation: Overview
Individual assessment of each proposal by at least three external experts
Consensus meeting for each proposal to reach agreement on comments and scores

13. Guiding rules experts must follow:
Objectivity: each proposal shall be evaluated as it is written
Accuracy: make your judgement against the official award criteria, and nothing else
Consistency: apply the same standard of judgement to each proposal

14. Step 1: Individual assessment of proposals (1)
Each proposal is assessed independently by at least three experts
Each expert completes the Individual Assessment Form (IAF form D2) in TENtec, providing comments and scores for each block of award criteria

15. Step 1: Individual assessment of proposals (2)
Before the consensus meeting, validate your individual evaluation form in TENtec, then print, date, sign it
Once completed and signed, an individual evaluation form cannot be changed – but…
it is normal for an expert to change his/her opinion during the consensus meeting in light of new information and assessments provided by the other experts

16. 'Code of conduct for independent experts'
Experts must:
Declare any (potential) conflict of interest
Provide independent, impartial, objective advice to the Agency
Represent neither their employer, nor their country
Respect confidentiality:
- no external contacts during or after the evaluation
- no discussions about any proposal except in consensus meetings
- the Agency does not reveal your individual opinion (however the list of experts’ names involved in the evaluation may be published)

17. Inform the moderator immediately if you suspect a potential conflict of interest, e.g. if you are:
Involved in a proposal
Stand to benefit directly
Close family relationship
Director/trustee/partner
Employee/Member of Advisory Group
Any other situation that could compromise impartiality

18. Thank you for your attention!