The Agenda 2000 reforms did not only establish a clearer division of competences and tasks between the European level and the Member States it also inserted stricter provisions on financial management. New instruments such as the performance reserve or the n+2 rule increase the pressure for effective financial management even further.
In that light, the seminar objectives were twofold. Firstly, the new relevant provisions of Council regulation 1260/1999 and Commission regulation 438/2001 with view to e.g. the paying authority, revenue generating investment and combating fraud were presented and explained. Secondly practitioners presented examples of Member States applying the new rules covering e.g. financial management structures, 5% controls as well as new approaches to financial engineering. With around 70 participants coming from 11 Member States and 7 applicant countries, it became clear that the subject of financial management is of great interest and practitioners experience a considerable need for training.
The seminar was opened by a panel discussion on the division of responsibilities for the financial management of Structural funds after enlargement. The panellists, Dr. Heinz Schrumpf from the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Essen (D), and Mr Jan Maarten de Vet, Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam (NL), reviewed the relationship between European, national and subnational level as well as the actual financial management system.
Unlike common belief, the most urgent problem cohesion policy will be facing after enlargement will not be the funding available for the new Member States, but according to Mr. Schrumpf: (1) the regional concept of Structural Funds, (2) the redistribution of funds between the eligible areas.
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