site.btaGovernment Project Targets Better Coordination of EU Funds Management

109 ECONOMY - EU FUNDS - PROJECT

Government Project
Targets Better Coordination
of EU Funds Management


Sofia, October 9 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Council of Ministers has
published for public consultation a draft decree on improved
coordination of EU funds management, the Government Information
Service said on Thursday.

The decree provides for the establishment of a Coordination
Council with the Cabinet at which experts will discuss current
issues related to EU funds management and an improvement of
communication at all levels. The Council will be chaired by the
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU funds management and will
include representatives of the managing authorities, the audit
authority, the certifying authority, the Public Procurement
Agency, the Public Financial Inspection Agency and the National
Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Representatives of the Bulgarian National Audit Office and of
the branch and employer organizations will participate in an
observer capacity.

Under the same draft decree, a Council on Financial Corrections
is to be set up to mediate in disputes between beneficiaries and
managing authorities. It will seek to narrow down differences
and settle particular cases so as to avoid court action. The
Council will assist the Government in coordinating the process
of determining and imposing financial corrections for
infringements detected in public procurement and contracts on
EU-co-financed projects. The Council on Financial Corrections
will be chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU
funds management and will include representatives of the
managing authorities, the Public Procurement Agency and the
Public Financial Inspection Agency. Where necessary, the
activity of the Council will be assisted by outside experts.

The draft incorporates the proposals for changes in the
regulatory framework considered at two roundtables held in early
September and October with the participation of all
stakeholders. It was produced by working groups set up on the
initiative of Deputy Prime Minister Iliyana Tsanova.

Another draft Council of Ministers decree, published for public
consultation at the end of last week, amends and supplements the
Methodology for Determining Financial Corrections. It defines
the fundamental principles of identifying the cases of
imposition of financial corrections which should not be for the
beneficiaries' account.

"After incorporating the results of the public consultation, we
would like the incumbent Council of Ministers to adopt the two
decrees while it is still in office," Deputy Prime Minister
Tsanova said, quoted in the press release. "The documents live
up to the expectations of all participants in the EU funds
management process of steady and effective coordination and
communication, of more fairness and a lighter administrative
burden." LI/LG