How to use an EGTC to manage a programme

Pat ColganChief Executive

Special EU Programmes BodyIreland/Northern Ireland

What is the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

• Not an EGTC

• A public body created as a result of a treaty between two Member States - the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement

• A statutory body incorporated by joint legislation by two Member States - The British and Irish Government Act 1999

• A Managing Authority, Joint Technical Secretariat and Paying Authority for EU Programmes in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and parts of the west coast of Scotland

• Has a broad role to support North/South participation in INTERREG IVB and IVC Transnational and Inter-regional programmes

• Population

2.1 million

• Size

25,691 sq km

• All 6 northern counties and the 6 border counties of Ireland

PEACE II and INTERREG IIIA Programmes 2000-2006

INTERREG IVAincludes Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and parts of the west coast of Scotland

PEACE IIIIncludes Northern Ireland and Border Region of Ireland

PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes 2007-2013

A local solution!

Need to address the legacy of the conflict in the region

A local solution!

Reconciliation between divided

communities on both sides of the border

• Overcome Border problems – social, economic and environmental

• Cross border networks

• Economic development

• Infrastructure development

• Civic and community networking

A local solution!

Programme Management

PEACE II 2000-2006

• EURO 962 million

• 56 Implementing Bodies

• 2 jurisdictions

• 8 Paying Authorities

• 15 Government departments

• 50+ membership of Monitoring Committee

• 7,000+ projects funded

INTERREG IIIA 2000-2006

• EURO 182 million

• 22 Implementing Bodies

• 2 jurisdictions

• 1 Paying Authority

• 12 Government departments

• 25 membership of Monitoring Committee

• 300+ projects funded

• Partnership approach at all levels –

– North South Ministerial Council

– Sponsor Departments

– Monitoring Committees / Steering Committees

– Implementing Bodies

– Projects

• Prominent role for Local Authority Cross Border Partnerships

• Prominent role for community and voluntary sector, particularly in Peace Programmes

Programme Management

4%

40%

23%4%

29%

Cross-border Partnerships

Government Departmentand NGO Partnership

Government DepartmentsPartnerships

NGO Partnerships

Health and Social CarePartnership

Cross-border Partnerships

Government Departmentand NGO Partnership

Government DepartmentsPartnerships

NGO Partnerships

Health and Social CarePartnership

Cross-border Partnerships

Government Departmentand NGO Partnership

Government DepartmentsPartnerships

NGO Partnerships

Health and Social CarePartnership

Programme Management

• Independence of single cross-border Managing Authority (SEUPB)

• Staff recruited from both jurisdictions, offices in three locations throughout the region

• Two Department of Finance act as Sponsor Departments

• Single cross-border Joint Technical Secretariat

• Steering Committee to scrutinise and investigate if projects were truly cross-border

• Multi-lateral meetings to develop networking and partnerships

Programme Management

• Focus on IT

• All applications through central website at www.eugrants.org

• Central database

• Central Payment Unit

Programme Management

Major emphasis on governance / accountability and financial management

• Guidance and training

• Interpreting regulations

• Weekly monitoring of spend

Programme Management

• Simplification of process

• Service standards

• Simple application form

• Guides to monitoring and finance

Programme Management

Programme Management

CEO

Joint Technical SecretariatDirectorate

Managing AuthorityDirectorate

Corporate ServicesDirectorate

Audit Committee

Financial Control Unit

Programme Support Unit

Programme Finance Unit

Certifying Authority

Controller - verifying legality and regularity of expenditurePre- contracting checksAdministrative verifications of each claimOn the spot verifications

Project pipelineProject assessment Secretariat to Steering Committee Issuing contractsProject Monitoring

Payments to projects Programme cash flow management (interface with accountable depts)N+2 monitoring

Certify expenditure and submit to commissionReceive monies from commission Maintain computerised accounts recordsMaintain register of recoverables

Verify expenditure (sample) Test control systemsAudit strategyAnnual Audit report Issuing opinionClosure

Audit Authority

Ensure compliance with regulations Maintain databaseProgramme evaluation and monitoringSecretariat to Monitoring CommitteeAnnual and final reportsPublicity Prepare claims for Certifying Authority

Organisational Structure of SEUPB 2007-2013

Challenges:• Legislation• Currency• Staffing policies (salaries, expenses, taxation,

pensions)• Difficulties for ‘frontier workers’• Diversity of administrative cultures• The cost of inclusion

Major added value!

Programme Management

How to use an EGTC to manage a programme

Pat ColganChief Executive

Special EU Programmes BodyIreland/Northern Ireland