European Structural and Investment Funds

Intensive Hybrid Course |

08.06.2026 - 10.06.2026 |

Barcelona |

Language: English

Advanced SCOs Lab – Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises

How can Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) be effectively designed, assessed, and implemented in EU-funded programmes? With their ability to reduce administrative costs and streamline the reimbursement of grants and repayable assistance, SCOs are an innovative tool that has become increasingly important under the 2021-2027 Common Provisions Regulation. To help answer this question, our course brings participants together in Barcelona and online. The course provides a combination of theoretical guidance and practical examples, equipping attendees with advanced knowledge and tools needed to apply SCOs efficiently.

Participants receive a certificate upon participation.

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

+++ Register before 13 April 2026 to avail of our 10% early bird discount! +++

Download Programme Share

Details

Prices

Participation fees for participation in Barcelona:
Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics: € 1.900,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee: € 2.100,- (excl. VAT)

Participation fees for online participation:
Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics: € 1.490,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee: € 1.690,- (excl. VAT)

+++ Register before 13 April 2026 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 three or more participants will automatically receive a 10% discount. We offer group discounts upon request.

Please contact Sidra Shah at [email protected] or call us at +49 (030)81 45 06 20 for additional details. We will be happy to assist you with your group registration.

Workshop Material – No need to miss anything!

If you are unable to attend the course you may want to order all the presentations shown during the event. The price is 249€ (excl. of VAT). If interested, please contact Sidra Shah.

Who should participate?

Representatives from public authorities in charge of financial management, control and audit, especially from
- Managing Authorities
- Responsible Authorities
- Intermediate Bodies
- Delegated Authorities
- Certifying Authorities
- Audit Authorities
- Regional and local authorities
- Court of Auditors
Beneficiaries of EU funded projects, i.e.: Private and public companies, associations, research institutes
Bodies working in European Territorial Cooperation
Public and private banks and other financial intermediaries
International, national and local associations and networks
Consultants and lawyers

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.

Programme

Day 1: Monday, 8. June | The programme is subject to change.

09:00

Registration and Welcome Coffee

09:30

Welcome note and Introduction Round

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

09:45

Regulatory and Methodological Framework for Simplified Cost Options (SCOs)

What are Simplified cost options and why use them?
Two levels of SCOs: Upper level/lower level
Optional and mandatory use of SCOs

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

10:30

Types of Simplified Cost Options used in Cohesion Policy

Exploring different SCO models, with practical examples:

Standard scales of unit costs
Flat rates and their combinations
Lump sums
Financing Not Linked to Costs – FNLC schemes
Risk based management verifications (RBMV) as a simplification measure in 2021-2027

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

11:30

Coffee Break

12:00

Methodologies for Designing and Establishing Simplified Cost Options

A fair, equitable and verifiable calculation method
Draft budget
Use of SCOs from other Union policies, MS funded programmes, previous programming periods
Methods established by or on the basis of CPR
Procedural steps
Adjustment methods

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

13:00

Lunch Break

14:00

Control and Audit of SCOs

Member state perspective on ex-ante assessment of SCO methodologies

Requirement to involve Audit Authorities in SCO methodology assessment ex-ante
EC working document on partnerships between Audit Authorities and Managing Authorities
Practical ex-ante assessment process in Latvia

Ex-post audits of SCOs by Audit Authorities

What auditors are looking for during audits of operations
Main audit findings and how to avoid them
Simplification in action – best practice examples from beneficiaries

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

14:45

Coffee Break

15:15

Control and Audit of SCOs (Continuation)

Audit techniques and methodologies for SCOs
Examples of EC and MS audit findings on SCOs

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

16:00

End of Day 1

Day 2: Tuesday, 9. June

09:30

Successful Management of Simplified Cost Options

Evolution of SCOs
Challenges with defining SCOs and how to overcome them
DOs & DONTs when drafting and implementing SCOs

Urszula Wojcik , Chief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration in Poland

10:30

Coffee Break

11:00

“Off-the-shelves” and future outlook 2028-2035

The “Off-the-Shelf” options in the 2021-2027 programming period
Challenges with Technical Assistance as a flat rate
Future outlook for SCOs, post 2027 discussion

Urszula Wojcik , Chief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration in Poland

12:30

Lunch Break

13:30

From Financing Not Linked to Costs to Performance Framework

Evolution of FNLC concept – what is FNLC and why to use it
How to design FNLC
FNLC models, RRF and performance framework 2028-2035 – how they interact

Urszula Wojcik , Chief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration in Poland

14:30

Coffee Break

15:00

Auditing and Control of Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLCs)

Providing assurance on legality and regularity under FNLC
Auditing FNLC

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

16:00

End of Day 2

Day 3: Wednesday, 10. June

09:30

1^st Practical session – Standard scales of unit costs

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

10:45

Coffee Break

11:15

2^nd practical session – Lump sum methodology development case study

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

12:30

Lunch Break

13:30

3^rd practical session – Successful use of simplified costs & FNLC models

SCOs for supporting partners in Monitoring Committee: example of a project
FNLC scheme in EFS: example of a project
Common pitfalls when applying SCOs – case analysis
Quiz time!

Urszula Wojcik , Chief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration in Poland

15:00

End of Day 3

Speakers

Dario Nicolella

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

More info

Inese Levana

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

More info

Urszula Wojcik

Chief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration in Poland

More info

Venue

Exclusive Venue in the Heart of Barcelona

Centre
Barcelona, Spain

Phone

Online-Registration

Intensive Hybrid Course | 08.06.2026 - 10.06.2026 | Barcelona | Language: English

Further information incl. prices under Details.

Seating limit
The number of participants in Barcelona is limited.

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

Where do you want to participate?

YES, I will take part in

22% VAT (Spain) will be added if applicable. The participation fee covers conference/course materials. If attending face-to-face the participation fee includes drinks and snacks during breaks and warm meals (if indicated).

Teilnehmerdaten | Participant Information

Ticket Type	Price	Spaces
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.710,00
First name of the participants * Surname of the participants * Position of the participants * Department of the participants * E-mail of the participants * Telephone of the participants *
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.890,00
First name of the participants * Surname of the participants * Position of the participants * Department of the participants * E-mail of the participants * Telephone of the participants *
Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.900,00	N/A

Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€2.100,00	N/A

Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.341,00
First name of the participants * Surname of the participants * Position of the participants * Department of the participants * E-mail of the participants * Telephone of the participants *
Early Bird / Frühbucherrabatt \| Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.521,00
First name of the participants * Surname of the participants * Position of the participants * Department of the participants * E-mail of the participants * Telephone of the participants *
Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Reduced fee for public authorities / Reduzierter Preis für Angehörige einer Hochschule/Behörde	€1.490,00	N/A

Advanced SCOs Lab - Country Comparisons and Practical Exercises \| Barcelona Regular fee / Regulärer Preis	€1.690,00	N/A

Zusammenfassung | Summary

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

Coupon Code

April 2026

27.04.2026 - 28.04.2026, Florence

Hybrid Workshop, Language: English

State Aid and Public Procurement in EU Funds: Ensuring Compliance and Reducing Risk

May 2026

04.05.2026 - 06.05.2026, Milan

Intensive Seminar, Language: English

Spring Seminar: Verifying and Managing EU Funds with Accuracy and Control

June 2026

08.06.2026 - 10.06.2026, Barcelona

Intensive Hybrid Course, Language: English