Europäische Struktur- und Investitionsfonds

Hybrid Workshop |

03.11.2025 - 04.11.2025 |

Bologna |

Sprache: Englisch

Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues

This two-day hybrid workshop in Bologna offers a comprehensive overview of the legal, procedural, and ethical aspects of auditing EU funds in the 2021–2027 programming period.

We will explore key topics such as management verifications, irregularities, audit strategies, system and operational audits, and the preparation of the assurance package. Special focus is given to conflict-of-interest prevention, transparency obligations, segregation of duties, and effective risk assessment.

Through expert presentations, real-life case studies, and hands-on exercises, you will strengthen your ability to identify and address irregularities, enhance transparency in audit processes, and ensure compliance with EU regulations.

Participants receive a certificate upon participation.

+++ For further information, e.g. about the prices, please click on Details +++

+++ Register before 08 September 2025 to avail of our 10% early bird discount! +++

Details

Prices

Participation fees for participation in Bologna:

Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics: € 1.240,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee: € 1.640,- (excl. VAT)

Participation fees for participation in both Bologna events (combi ticket):
Advanced Workshop on Strategic Financial Futures for Cohesion Policy and Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues

Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics: € 1.640,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee: € 2.040,- (excl. VAT)

Participation fees for online participation:
Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics: € 890,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee: € 1.090,- (excl. VAT)

+++ Register before 08 September 2025 to avail of our 10% early bird discount! +++

VAT will be added if applicable.

What’s included in the price:

For in-person participation:

High-level trainers;
High-quality learning materials – downloadable after the event;
Experienced conference manager’s support throughout the event;
Coffee and lunch breaks throughout the event;
Walking tour on the first evening;
Lexxion-branded gift bags.

For online participation:

High-level trainers;
High-quality learning materials – downloadable during and after the event;
Technical support by an experienced conference manager throughout the event;
Opportunity for live interactions.

Group Discounts

Group registration of five or more participants will automatically receive a 10% discount. We offer group discounts upon request.

Please contact Camilla Coltorti at [email protected] or call us at +49 (030)81 45 06 17 for additional details. We will be happy to assist you with your group registration.

Course Material – No need to miss anything!

If you were unable to make it to the workshop you may want to order a copy of the printed material including the access data to all presentations shown during the event. The price is 249€ (excl. of VAT). If interested, please contact Camilla Coltorti.

Who Should Participate?

Representatives from public authorities in charge of management, control, monitoring, and evaluation of ESI funds as well as from Migration and Security Funds (AMIF, ISF BMVI), especially from:

Audit Authorities
Intermediate Bodies
Bodies in charge of the accounting function
Regional and local authorities
Experts from EU, national and regional Courts of Auditors
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Migration
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Integration
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Police authorities such as: Border Police, Border Control Agencies, National and Regional Police Forces
Experts from institutions involved in the implementation of AMIF, ISF and BMVI
Consultants and lawyers specialised in ESI funds as well as in AMIF, ISF, and BMVI
Beneficiaries of EU funded projects (private and public companies, associations, research institutes), AMIF, ISF, and BMVI
International, national, local associations, and networks working in European Territorial Cooperation.

Methodology

A workshop by Lexxion Publisher offers a great learning experience with a hands-on approach. Our high-level experts from EU Institutions, and the private sector will support you in applying complex rules to your practical day-to-day work. To achieve the best results, we employ a mixture of learning methods.

To ensure that you get the best possible understanding of the topics at hand, our Workshop sessions combine theoretical presentations, case study analysis and highly interactive discussions on practical issues. You will have ample opportunities to present your issues and exchange information and experiences with speakers and participants from other Member States.

Workshop materials will be available to download after the event.

Programm

Tag 1: Montag, 3. November | Management Verifications, Irregularities & Conflict of Interest (CoI) in Practice

09:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:15

Legal Framework for Management Verifications in 2021–2027

Sound financial management and protection of EU financial interests – concepts of fraud, corruption and CoI
Regulatory framework on CoI with a focus on the Financial Regulation’s new definition
Roles and responsibilities of the managing, accounting, and audit authorities
Verification methodologies and requirements in 2021–2027
Delegation principles and ensuring transparency in roles

Dario Nicolella , Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

10:45

Coffee Break

11:15

Risk-Based Management Verifications & Segregation of Duties

General principles and new elements
Risk assessment process
Administrative vs. on-the-spot verifications
Segregation of duties as a transparency safeguard
Electronic systems and their role in minimizing conflict of interest
Requirements for auditors
Examples of applying CoI checks, assigning risk scores, and setting check intensity for operations

Inese Levana , Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga

12:45

Lunch Break

14:00

Irregularities, Financial Corrections & Transparency Requirements

Definitions and classifications of irregularities
How transparency failures can lead to irregularities
Reporting and corrective mechanisms
Treating irregularities related to CoI
When irregularities trigger financial corrections or recoveries

Dario Nicolella , Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

15:00

Coffee Break

15:30

Practical Session: Identifying Risk, Irregularities & Conflict of Interest

Hands-on walkthrough of a risk matrix
Exercises on detecting potential conflicts of interest in sample management cases
Red flags and audit trail analysis

Inese Levana , Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga

Dario Nicolella , Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

16:30

End of Day 1

17:30

City Centre Walking Tour

Tag 2: Dienstag, 4. November | Auditing Approaches, Conflict of Interest Controls, and Transparency in Systems

09:00

Audit Strategies, System Audits & Ethical Controls

Focus on prevention in shared management
Audit roles and the legal framework (2021–2027)
System audits: walkthrough of the checklist
Serious system deficiencies related to a lack of transparency or conflict of interest
Embedding ethical controls in audit strategy
Examples of CoI and ethical lapses

Inese Levana , Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga

10:30

Coffee Break

11:00

Audit of Operations with Focus on Transparency

Sampling and verification techniques
Audit of operations checklist: EMFAF/EMFF examples
Case studies involving transparency issues and CoI during audits
Guidance on escalating system-level issues

Dario Nicolella , Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

12:30

Lunch Break

13:45

Best Practices for Auditors to Prevent and Manage Conflicts of Interest – Emphasis from the European Commission (EC)

Guidance on the avoidance and management of CoI (2021/C121/01)
Commission working document on CoI (2024)
Importance of control environment in each Member State
Declarations of impartiality & their checks
Procedures and enforcement, including revolving doors principle
Main findings of EC auditors in CoI issues

Inese Levana , Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga

14:45

Final Practical Session: Conflict of Interest Detection in Audit Practice

Simulation: tracing CoI through documents and communications
Checklist for transparency and ethical red flags
Peer discussion and group feedback

Dario Nicolella , Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

15:30

Final Remarks & End of the Hybrid Workshop

Referenten

Dario Nicolella

Internal auditor at FAO and government consultant - former Head of Sector in the European Commission

Mehr Informationen

Inese Levana

Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga

Mehr Informationen

Tagungsort

Exclusive Venue in the Heart of Bologna

n/a
Bologna, Italien

Telefon n/a

Online-Anmeldung

Hybrid Workshop | 03.11.2025 - 04.11.2025 | Bologna | Sprache: Englisch

Further information incl. prices under Details.

Seating limit
The number of participants in Bologna is limited.

Please contact [email protected] if you have technical problems with the booking.

Where do you want to participate?

JA, ich nehme teil

22% USt (Italien) wird zusätzlich berechnet, wenn erforderlich. Die Teilnahmegebühr beinhaltet die Tagungsmaterialien. Im Falle einer Vor-Ort-Teilnahme beinhaltet die Teilnahmegebühr Getränke und Snacks und ggf. Mahlzeiten.

Teilnehmerdaten | Participant Information

Ticket-Typ	Preis	Plätze
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.116,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.476,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.240,00	n. a.

Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.640,00	n. a.

Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Online Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€801,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Online Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€981,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Online Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€890,00	n. a.

Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Online Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.090,00	n. a.

Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Combiticket: Advanced Workshop on Strategic Financial Futures for Cohesion Policy + Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.476,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Combiticket: Advanced Workshop on Strategic Financial Futures for Cohesion Policy + Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.836,00
Vorname des Teilnehmers * Nachname des Teilnehmers * Position des Teilnehmers * Abteilung des Teilnehmers * E-Mail des Teilnehmers * Telefon des Teilnehmers
Combiticket: Advanced Workshop on Strategic Financial Futures for Cohesion Policy + Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.640,00	n. a.

Combiticket: Advanced Workshop on Strategic Financial Futures for Cohesion Policy + Auditing EU Funds: Conflict of Interest and Transparency Issues \| Bologna Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€2.040,00	n. a.

Zusammenfassung | Summary

Please select at least one space to proceed with your booking.

Gutscheincode

September 2025

25.09.2025 - 26.09.2025, Prague

Hybrid Workshop, Sprache: Englisch

Challenges and Expectations for the Post-2027 EU Funding Period

Oktober 2025

09.10.2025 - 10.10.2025, Naples

Hybrid Workshop, Sprache: Englisch

Indicators, Monitoring and Evaluation of EU Funds

29.10.2025 - 31.10.2025, Athens

Master Class with On-the-Spot Approach, Sprache: Englisch

Anti-Fraud Game: History and Modernity

November 2025

03.11.2025 - 04.11.2025, Bologna

Hybrid Workshop, Sprache: Englisch