1. (Dr. Peter Heil, ALTUS – Hungary)
Establishing systems and administrative capacity for the effective use of EU funds The importance of capacity building in the pre-accession phase
NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW CHALLENGES IN THE PROCESS OF ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS OF SERBIA WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION
Belgrade, December 9th, 2014
(Dr. Peter Heil, ALTUS – Hungary)

2. Agenda Cohesion policy – an overview New developments for 2014-2020
The challenge of preparations

3. Cohesion Policy – an Overview

4. 3 starting messages
Chapter 22 is not (only) about EU funds – but also about all national development policies
Preparations should start as early as possible - it is not too early now
IPA is only one piece of the puzzle – and does not prepare for everything

5. Mission (Art TEU)
In order to promote its overall harmonious development, the Union shall develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion.
In particular, the Union shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions.
Member States shall conduct their economic policies and shall coordinate them in such a way as, in addition, to attain the objectives set out in Article 174. (…)
The Union shall also support the achievement of these objectives by the action it takes through the Structural Funds (…) the European Investment Bank and the other existing Financial Instruments.

6. The EU’s main investment policy
€ 350 billion from Brussels
€ 450 billion with co-financing

7. Main elements Legal framework Institutional framework
Administrative capacity
Programming
Monitoring and evaluation
Financial management and control

8. Main elements Legal framework Development planning
Partnership and multi-level governance
National budget
Public Procurement
State aid
Horizontal issues
sustainable development
Equal opportunities and non-discrimination (…)

9. Main elements Institutional framework Administrative capacity
Authorities to manage programmes
Intermediate bodies to implement
Financial control institutions
Administrative capacity
Substantial human resources
Skilled, trained and motivated staff

10. Main elements Programming National development plan – cross-sectoral
Sector strategies
(Regional and) local development plans
Policy
Strategy
Plan
Projects

11. Main elements Monitoring evaluation Financial management
Target setting
Follow implementation, intervening if needed
Tracking results, learning from practice
Financial management
Transparency of management
Efficiency of administration

12. New developments

13.
IPA
Cohesion policy
Maintain focus on accession as well as development
More strategic, better targetted support
Leverage other funds
New instruments
Flexibility
Contribute to EU 2020, concentrate funds
Focus on results
Improved co-ordination
Innovative instruments
Streamlined administration
Concentrate all resources promoting a common agenda

14. The Challenge of preparations

15. Challenges Complex policies and processes to master
Significant new capacity needed
Need to introduce far reaching reforms
In policy planning
Policy co-ordination
State administration
Financial management
Need to prepare future beneficiaries

16. How to go about it? Do not wait – push your own agenda
Set up your team
EU accession co-ordinators
IPA management bodies
Ministry of Finance
Development policy units
Financial controllers
Key local governments
Have a strategy
Mapping funds; mapping capacities; institution building; capacity building; programming; running pilot schemes; preparing key projects
Think about the big picture, too
Be ready for change

17. Thank you for your kind attention!
Peter HEIL
HUNGARY
Belgrade, 8th December 2014.