Commission Regulation (EC) No 718/2007Dangos y teitl llawn

CHAPTER II U.K. Programming

Article 154 U.K. Strategic coherence framework

1. Beneficiary countries shall establish, based on the multi-annual indicative planning document, a strategic coherence framework to be discussed with the Commission. The strategic coherence framework shall constitute a reference document for the programming of the regional development component and the human resources development component.

2. The strategic coherence framework shall include:

(a) a brief analysis, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the eligible sectors and thematic priorities, under the regional development and human resources development components, where the beneficiary country intends to concentrate its assistance;

(b) a description of the objectives pursued under the regional development and human resources development components, in accordance with the relevant national and Community priorities, as set up in the first multi-annual indicative planning document;

(c) a list of programmes, with a brief description of the main priority axes under each programme;

(d) an indicative breakdown of the financial allocations between the underlying programmes, covering a three years period, in accordance with the multi-annual indicative financial framework and the multi-annual indicative planning document, and the indicative budgetary balance between the underlying programmes for the following years, within each component.

3. In addition, the strategic coherence framework shall contain, where relevant, provisions about :

(a) coordination with other national programmes supported by international financial institutions, or other relevant external assistance;

(b) coordination with other IPA components, in particular the rural development component.

4. The strategic coherence framework shall be a prerequisite for the approval of the programmes under the regional development and human resources development components. It shall be submitted to the Commission prior to, or, at the latest, together with the submission for approval of the first programme under those components.

5. The strategic coherence framework shall be drafted by the strategic coordinator, under the overall responsibility of the national IPA coordinator.

Article 155 U.K. Operational programmes

1. Assistance shall be implemented through multi-annual operational programmes. These operational programmes shall be drafted by the operating structures. They shall be established in close consultation with the Commission and the relevant stakeholders, and approved through a Commission Decision, in accordance with Article 8(1).

2. Operational programmes shall contain:

(a) an assessment of medium term needs and objectives, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the relevant sectors, themes and regions;

(b) an overview of the consultation of the relevant socio-economic partners and, where relevant, civil society representatives;

(c) a description of the chosen strategic priorities, having regard to the strategic coherence framework and the sectoral, thematic and/or geographical mechanisms of concentration of assistance, as well as the results from the ex ante evaluation referred to in Article 57(4) and 166;

(d) information on the priority axis, the related measures and their specific targets. Such targets shall be quantified, when appropriate, using a limited number of result indicators. These indicators shall make it possible to determine the progress for implementing the selected measures, including the effectiveness of the targets attached to the priority axis and measures;

(e) when some measures are intended to be implemented through aid schemes for enterprises, related modalities shall be described;

(f) a description of the technical assistance operations, which shall be undertaken under a specific priority axis. Community support for this priority axis can be up to a ceiling of 6 % of the Community contribution allocated to the operational programme. In exceptional cases and when duly justified with regard to the scope of the programme, this ceiling may reach 10 %;

(g) an identification, for each measure, of the intended final beneficiaries, the expected selection modalities and possible related specific selection criteria;

(h) a financial table specifying, for each year covered by the applicable multi-annual indicative financial frameworks, for each priority axis and, in an indicative way, for each related measure:

(i)

the total amount of the Community contribution;

(ii)

the national contribution, where applicable identifying other external contributions. Where the Community contribution, under the human resources development component, is calculated with reference to the total expenditure, the table shall give the indicative breakdown of the national contribution between its public and private components;

(iii)

the resulting rate of Community contribution;

(i) the proposed evaluation and monitoring indicators and modalities, including indicative evaluation activities and timing;

(j) for the regional development component, an indicative list of major projects, accompanied with their technical and financial features, including the expected financing sources, as well as indicative timetables for their implementation;

(k) a description of the relevant structures and authorities for the management and control of the operational programme, in accordance with Articles 21 to 26, 28, 29 and 31.

Article 156 U.K. Revision of operational programmes

1. At the initiative of the beneficiary country or the Commission, operational programmes may be re-examined and, where appropriate, the remainder of the programme revised. This review may in particular take place in the following cases:

(a) following significant socio-economic changes;

(b) in order to take greater or different account of major changes in Community or national priorities;

(c) following the annual revision of the multi-annual indicative planning document;

(d) in the light of the evaluations referred to in Article 166(2);

(e) following implementation difficulties.

2. The Commission Decision on a request for the revision of any operational programme shall be adopted as soon as possible after its formal submission by the strategic coordinator in coordination with the national IPA coordinator.

3. Where the revision of an operational programme, as referred to in paragraph 1, extends the eligible scope under this programme, any additional expenditure related thereto shall be eligible from the date of the adoption of the Commission Decision.

Article 157 U.K. Major projects under the regional development component

1. As part of an operational programme, assistance under the regional development component may finance major projects.

2. A major project comprises a series of works, activities or services and is intended, in itself, to accomplish a definite and indivisible task of a precise economic or technical nature, which has clearly identified goals and whose total cost exceeds € 10 million.

3. Major projects shall be submitted to the Commission for approval by the relevant operating structure. The Decision approving the project shall define the physical object and the eligible expenditure to which the co-financing rate for the priority axis applies. It shall be followed by a bilateral agreement with the beneficiary country, laying down those elements.

4. When submitting a major project to the Commission, the operating structure shall provide the following information:

(a) information on the body to be responsible for implementation;

(b) information on the nature of the investment and a description of its financial volume and location;

(c) results of feasibility studies;

(d) a timetable for the implementation of the project before the closure of the related operational programme;

(e) an assessment of the overall socio-economic balance of the operation, based on a cost-benefit analysis and including a risk assessment, and an assessment of the expected impact on the sector concerned, on the socio-economic situation of the beneficiary country and, where the operation involves the transfer of activities from a region in a Member State, the socio-economic impact on that region;

(f) an analysis of the environmental impact;

(g) the financing plan, showing the total financial contributions expected and the planned contribution under the IPA Regulation, as well as other Community and other external funding. The financing plan shall substantiate the required IPA grant contribution through a financial viability analysis.