MED and SEE Joint Annual Event The integration of IPA funds within the Programme MED

1. MED and SEE Joint Annual Event • The integration of IPA funds within the Programme MED • Thessaloniki, 22nd ofSeptember, 2010 Sonia Levavasseur – « Information & Publicity – Lead partner seminar 26th of May 2010

2. What is the Liaison Office? • Easier to answer what is not: • Not a National Contact Point • Not part of the host country’s National Coordination • Not just a simple geographical outpost of the JTS

3. …so the Liaison Office is: • Part of the JTS • Acting under the supervision of the MA and the JTS • Established to implement a strategic mission

4. Objectives • To facilitate the participation of the IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro) to the MED programme. • To facilitate the capitalization and coordination between the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area and the MED programme

5. Main tasks • Providing information about the offered opportunities of the MED Programme to potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countries • Providing information about the modalities of participation in the MED Programme for potential beneficiaries coming from IPA countries • Coordinating between the MED authorities and the participating IPA countries and the respective EU Delegations • Promoting the capitalization activities between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area • Promoting the exchange of experience and best practices between the MED programme and the other transnational cooperation programmes of the area • Providing coordination between the MED programmeand the othertransnational cooperation programmes of the area • Providing guidance to potential Lead Partners to which cooperation programme of the area is the most appropriate to implement their idea

6. IPA participation in Programme MED

7. The motivation • Several and different contracting authorities for IPA funds • Per country allocation of the very limited available funds • Annual allocation Only one Managing Authority and Contracting Authority for ERDF and IPA Multi country allocation Multi Annual allocation

8. Legal basis • The ‘green light’ for the integration of IPA funds in ERDF transnational programmes is given by the stipulation of the IPA Implementing rules (Article 86.4): • "The cross-border cooperation component may also support, where appropriate, the participation of eligible regions of the beneficiary countries in transnational and interregional programmes under the European territorial co-operation objective of the Structural Funds and in multilateral sea basin programmes under Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The rules governing the participation of beneficiary countries in the above programmes shall be established in the relevant programming documents and/or in the relevant financing agreements, as appropriate."

9. Concerned aspects of the pogramme management • Application, assessment and project selection • Project Management • Contracting • Monitoring • Control • Recovery • Technical Assistance

10. Kirill DimanopoulosLiaison Officer MED/Chargé de Liaison MEDLiaison Office MED-IPA/Bureau de Liaison MED-IAP65 Georgikis Scholis Ave.,GR-57001 Pylaia, ThessalonikiTel.+30 2310 469 676Fax: +30 2310 469 602kdimanopoulos@mou.gr

11. Thank you for your attention!