Chair of the Seminar
Chiara Pancotti
Partner and Senior Researcher, CSIL, Milan
08:45
Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:00
Opening & Strategic Context
- Welcome words and round of introductions
- Setting the scene: FNLCs within the evolving landscape of EU Cohesion Policy
Chiara Pancotti
,
Partner and Senior Researcher, CSIL, Milan
09:30
FNLC, Simplified Cost Options (SCO) and Real Costs: Overview and Comparison of Different Forms of Payment under the EU Financial Regulation
This opening session will provide an integrated overview of the main forms of payment used in EU budget implementation, their rationale, scope and key differences. It will:
- Outline typical financial flows in EU programmes, with examples from Cohesion Policy.
- Present the rationale and scope of Simplified Cost Options (SCO).
- Introduce FNLC instruments, highlighting their use and application with a focus on Article 95 of the Common Provisions Regulation.
- Facilitate a discussion on the implications of using these different forms of payment, including opportunities and challenges for programme authorities.
Lorenzo Palego
,
Partner at t33 Sound Policy, Italy
11:00
11:30
Oversight and Accountability: National Audit Perspectives on FNLCs and Cohesion Policy
- Key lessons from national audits on EU recovery and cohesion instruments
- Enhancing transparency and performance orientation at Member State level
- Implications for next-generation financial instruments in Cohesion Policy
- Forward-looking considerations for post-2027 financial programming
Inese Levana
,
Senior Auditor of EU Funds Audit Department, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, AFCOS Member, Riga
13:00
14:00
Designing Performance-Oriented FNLC Models: Interactive Group Work
Participants will work in groups to co-design a funding logic for different types of operations, with the aim of making FNLC schemes performance-oriented. The exercise will guide them to:
- Identify the intervention logic and its expected results.
- Select appropriate milestones and targets.
- Identify and define suitable indicators for monitoring and verification.
Lorenzo Palego
,
Partner at t33 Sound Policy, Italy
Alessandro Valenza
,
Partner and Founder of t33 Sound Policy, Italy
15:30
16:00
Future-Proofing Cohesion Policy: Strategic Priorities for the Post-2027 Period
This concluding session will draw lessons from the current programming period and stimulate forward-looking debate. Working in groups, participants will formulate strategic recommendations on:
- Key lessons learned from the 2021–2027 programming period.
- The challenges of ensuring alignment between different levels of payment and stakeholder interests.
- Capacity-building needs: competences and skills required to prepare for future implementation.
Alessandro Valenza
,
Partner and Founder of t33 Sound Policy, Italy
17:00
Concluding Remarks
- Summary of key outcomes and reflections on the day
Chiara Pancotti
,
Partner and Senior Researcher, CSIL, Milan
17:30
End of the Advanced Workshop
