Prior to the planning of actions to be implemented
in conjunction with the Community, the member states present
a Plan for each Objective. In the related documents the
member state analyses the present situation and defines
the needs, strategies and objectives regarding structural
funds for the programme period involved.
Community
Support Framework
On the basis of the Plans, the Commission,
in accordance with the member state, establishes a Community
Support Framework (CSF)
for each Objective, in which the programming is established
with priorities and outlines of the measures that will receive
funds.
Operational
Programmes
To implement the CSF, the Commission, in
accordance with the member state, approves the Operational
Programmes, which specify the different measures implemented
over the course of a year in a specific territory (Regional
Operational Programme) or at a national level (Multiregional
Operational Programme).
Single
Programming Documents (SPD)
In some cases, the Commission approves,
in accordance with the member state, the SPD, which contain
in one sole document the characteristics of the CSF and
the Operational Programme.
Programme
Complement
The content of and the financial resources
for the measures of the Operational Programme or of the
SPD are specified in a document called Programme Complement,
which is presented to the Commission by the Programme Monitoring
Committee.
Implementation
of the Actions:
Monitoring
The member state designates a Managing
Authority for each Programme, which is responsible for
managing and implementing the assitance received in
an effective and proper fashion. For that purpose, it
establishes an appropriate monitoring system, including
a system to control the financial aspects of the interventions.
This makes it possible to ensure that actions co-financed
by the Structural Funds are appropriate in relation
to the objectives set and comply with Community regulations.
The main decisions regarding the implementation
of the programme are made by the Monitoring Committee.
Payments
As the measures contained in the Programme
are implemented, in accordance with the budgetary commitments
adopted, the Commission pays the share of Funds corresponding
to the member state. In order to receive these payments
and to reimburse the partners who have implemented the
actions involved, the state designates a Paying authority
for each Programme.
This paying authority ensures that the
actions have been properly implemented.
In order to begin implementation of
programmed actions, the paying authority receives an
advance payment. As work progresses, it requests reimbursements
from the Commission. Once the Programme has been fully
implemented, it will request payment of the balance.
Spanish agents who undertake the implementation are
obliged to collaborate in financing the Programmes (at
least 25% in Objective 1 and 50% in the other Objectives).
Evaluation
For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness
of structural interventions, three steps are taken :
An
ex-ante evaluation, to asses the intended impact of
the programmes.
A
two-phase mid-term evaluation, to analyse fulfilment
of the intended objectives during the implementation
of the interventions
A
final ex-post evaluation, to analyse its impact in
relation to the objectives set at the beginning of
the aid approval process.
PROCESS
OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS
Plan
An
ex-ante evaluation, to asses the intended impact of
the programmes.
