Regional Operational Programme ROP

1
Regional Operational Programme (ROP) Third
Consultation Forum Bucharest, 1-11-2005 Preparati
on of Romanian stakeholders for the
implementation of the ROP Dr. Dimitra G.
Ioannou Team Leader

2
Key principles of cohesion policy

• Partnership
• Programming
• Co-financing
• Evaluation

3
The Commission encourages

• A more strategic approach to programming (based
  on a strategic reference framework)
• Further decentralization of responsibilities to
  partnerships on the ground in the Member States,
  regions and local authorities
• Reinforcement of the performance and quality of
  SF co-financed programmes through a more
  transparent partnership and clear and more
  rigorous monitoring mechanisms
• Simplification of the management system by
  introducing more transparency, differentiation
  and proportionality while ensuring sound
  financial management.

4
Partnership

• Between the Commission and the Member States
• Assistance from the Funds shall be decided by
  the Commission within the framework of close
  cooperation, hereinafter "partnership", between
  the Commission and a Member State. Art. 10 of
  the SF general regulation.
• Within the Member States
• - the competent regional, local, urban and other
  public authorities
• - the economic and social partners
• - any other appropriate body representing civil
  society, environmental partners, non-governmental
  organisations, and bodies responsible for
  promoting equality between men and women.

5
Programming Role and responsibilities are
attributed to each of the parts of the
partnership, among which

• The Commission
• - determines eligible regions and indicative
  financial allocations
• - establishes programme guidance
• - adopts (modifies) programmes at the level of
  strategic priorities
• - examines the indicators necessary for
  monitoring and evaluating the operational
  programmes
• - approves large-scale projects (gtEURO 50
  million)
• The Member State, through the programme
  Management Authorities
•        - prepares plans (NSRF)
• - prepares and adopts the operational programmes
• - prepares project pipelines
• - carries out an ex-ante evaluation
• - sub-delegates responsibilities as necessary
• - selects projects

6
Programming timeframe

• Beginning 2006 Presentation of NRSF to the
  Commission
• Beginning 2006 Presentation of draft ROP to the
  Commission
• Mid 2006 Informal agreement on the content of
  the ROP
• As soon as practicable after accession Formal
  submission and approval by the Commission
• As soon as after formal approval Start of the
  implementation

7
Next Steps

• Continued consultations at the regional/local
  level
• Partnership agreement on ROP operations
• Preparation of project pipeline
• Definition of specific targets
• Examination of the expected impact of the actions
• Agreement on the ROP implementing provisions

8
ROP Monitoring

• Managing Authority
• The Managing Authority (MA) is built up from the
  Directorate General for Regional Development.
• The Intermediate Bodies for the implementation
  of projects under the Regional Operational
  Programme are designated within the eight
  Regional Development Agencies according to the
  acquis communautaire on Chapter 21 Regional
  policy and co-ordination of structural
  instruments, in force on 31 December 2003
• Monitoring Committee
• It will be chaired by a representative of the
  Ministry of European Integration. Its composition
  shall be decided in agreement with the Managing
  Authority.
• At its own initiative or at the request of the
  Monitoring Committee, a representative of the
  Commission shall participate in the work of the
  Monitoring Committee in an advisory capacity.

9
Tasks of the Managing Authority

• ensuring compliance of the operations with the
  ROP criteria, Community and national rules
• verifying the delivery of the co-financed
  products and services
• ensuring ROP monitoring and the operation of the
  MIS at the level of the ROP
• ensuring ROP evaluations
• guiding the work of the Monitoring Committee
• drawing up and, after approval by the Monitoring
  Committee, submitting to the Commission the
  annual and final reports on implementation
• ensuring ROP information and publicity.

10
Tasks of the Monitoring Committee

• approving the criteria for selecting the
  operations
• checking progress made towards achieving the
  specific targets
• approving the annual and final reports on
  implementation
• proposing to the Managing Authority any revision
  or examination of the ROP
• approving any proposal to amend the content of
  the Commission decision on ERDF contribution.
• taking decisions relating to implementation,
  policy and visibility of the programme