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Programme Structures

Programme preparation consists of strategic programming and development of programme structures and procedures. Here you can find out more about development of programme structures and procedures.

Each programme consists of a number of programme bodies with different functions and responsibilities:

Monitoring (and/or Steering) Committee (MC/SC) - comprises representatives from national, regional and/or local bodies; takes decisions at the programme level and must be kept informed of progress towards programme objectives, the status of programme finances and any problems in programme implementation.
Managing Authority (MA) - is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the agreed programme strategy to pre-determined quality standards as well as ensuring the sound financial management of all programme funds.
Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) - assists MA, MC and AA.
Certifying Authority (CA) - has a payment function and provides assurance on the correctness of all expenditure reported to the Commission.
Control and audit bodies - are represented by nationally designated first level controllers (FLC) and an Audit Authority (AA).
Intermediate Bodies (IB) – are not obligatory and act on behalf of MA or CA.

The framework description of key programme management bodies, contained in the regulations, is the main tool for building programme management structures.

The biggest change for the 2007-2013 period has been the introduction of truly single programme management bodies (MA, CA, AA and the Joint Technical Secretariat): structures in one country that manage the programme on behalf of all participating countries.

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Programme structures can involve extra bodies including national or regional contact points for each country participating in the programme or a sub-JTS in large programme areas.

There are also other initiatives that might be considered when deciding on programme structure:

Regulation 1082/2006 introduced the EGTC instrument. It provides public actors at different levels (Member States, regional and local authorities mainly) with a simple, yet solid, legal tool for developing and implementing a territorial cohesion policy, at cross-border, transnational or interregional level, for programme or project management.
Article 37.6 b of Council Regulation 1083/2006 allows regions to perform interregional activities through projects funded by ERDF outside of the ETC framework; therefore without being bound to deadlines, templates and management bodies, but rather by assuming the full responsibility for the effectiveness, the transparency and the smooth organisation of the overall task, thus requiring strong skills on programme management. Projects implemented through this article are extremely varied because they can deal with any priority set in the Regional Operational Programmes of the partners and they can be developed by setting up dedicated offices, an EGTC, or a temporary managing team according to the level of cooperation and the preference of the partners.