RCBI ‘handover’ meeting Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus ENPI CBC Programme

1. RCBI ‘handover’ meetingLatvia-Lithuania-Belarus ENPI CBC Programme Vilnius, 19 March 2012

2. Meeting outline • Expectations • Review of the involvement of PC and what the programme plans to do to facilitate involvement • Identify what RCBI tools/materials may be needed to help with this including a presentation on some of these, e.g. e-modules + support needed to the end of the project • Situation at the start of the project (2007) and situation at end. How has it changed • Review of support from RCBI - what was useful and what could be improved and what might be needed in the future programming phase • Evaluation and wrap up

3. Basis • Quantitative analysis based on statistics on calls, provided by the programme • Analysis based on questionnaires: • Programme – JTS • Belarus – NCP, CSE • Input from RCBI Experts

4. No. of Belarus applicants calls 1 & 2

5. No. of Belaruspartnersin applications calls 1 & 2

6. No. of Belarus applicants and partners calls 1 & 2

7. Success rate Belarus & MS applicants calls 1 & 2

8. Budget share Belarus –1stcall

9. Involvement of BY organisations in applications - 1 As Applicants • Low level of representation (JTS, NCP, CSE) Reasons • Insufficient human and financial capacities to manage EU-funded projects (JTS) • Lack of administrative capacities and experience in project implementation (e.g. language barriers, co-financing) (JTS, CSE) • Insufficient experience with EU financing instruments, national approval procedures (NCP) • Insufficient linguistic skills of BY organisations (NCP) • Relatively low visibility of ENPI CBC programmes in Belarus (NCP) • Late launch of LLB programme branch JTS offices in Belarus (NCP) • Uncertain actual consequences and benefits (financial, political and institutional) (CSE)

10. Involvement of BY organisations in applications - 2 As Partners • Very well represented (JTS); well represented (JTS); not very well represented (NCP, CSE) Reasons • Requirement to have at least one partner from the PC and active position of the partners from the MS (JTS) • Longstanding cooperation relations with Latvia and Lithuania (JTS) • Lack of political support from central state (CSE) • Late launch of LLB programme branch JTS offices in Belarus (NCP) • Relatively low visibility of CBC programmes in Belarus (NCP) • Uncertain actual consequences and benefits (financial, political and institutional) (CSE) • There are opportunities for “easier money” for NGOs (CSE) • Insufficient experience with EU financing instruments, national approval procedures (NCP) • Low level of English skills (NCP)

11. Involvement of BY organisations in awarded projects - 1 As Applicants • Low level of representation (JTS, NCP, CSE) Reasons • Lack of administrative (also financial) capacities and experience in project implementation (e.g. language barriers, co-financing) (JTS) • Low level of involvement at the application stage (NCP)

12. Involvement of BYorganisations in awarded projects - 2 As Partners • Very well represented (JTS); not very well represented (NCP, CSE) Reasons • Longstanding cooperation relations with Latvia and Lithuania (JTS) • Requirement to have at least one partner from the PC and active position of the partners from the MS (JTS) • Low level of involvement at the application stage (NCP)

13. Main challenges - 1 As Applicants • Acquire more practical experience with EU financing instruments and national project approval procedure (NCP) • Understanding of the project management cycle (JTS) • Lack of experience (JTS) • To find and involve qualified project developer (CSE) • Improve linguistic skills (NCP) • Additional administrative burden on national level (JTS) • Low level of support from relevant national authorities (JTS)

14. Main challenges - 2 As Partners • Understanding of the programme rules (JTS) • Acquire more practical experience with EU financing instruments and national project approval procedure (NCP) • Improve linguistic skills (NCP) • Additional administrative burden on national level (JTS) • Low motivation due to a complicated project approval procedure in Belarus (JTS) • Lack of own funds for co-financing (JTS) • Undeveloped constructive contacts (CSE)

15. Disadvantage issue Disadvantage (3) No disadvantage (1) Reasons: • See challenges above (JTS) • Lack of PC’s “ownership” in programme JMAs (NCP) • Weaker regulatory convergence between PCs and the EU (NCP, CSE)

16. Balanced participation? • A balanced distribution of funds among participating countries is very important (1) • Equal treatment of all applicants is more important than balanced participation (1) • Balanced participation is extremely important for programme success (2) Explanation: • Due to the nature of the programme (CBC) all the projects should involve partners from MS and PC seeking to achieve the same objective while implementing the project • Formal involvement causesdisappointment and frustration Who is responsible for facilitating this? • JMA/JTS (1) • Branch offices (2) • National authorities (2)

17. What are you doing to facilitate involvement? Programme • Active JTS and BO position during information campaign • Active position of the NA in Belarus trying to involve more BY partners • Partnership of a minimum 1 PC organization (BY) and EU country organization (LV or LT) as a pre-condition • Equal opportunities and equal treatment for all applicants and beneficiaries • Extending eligible Programme’s territory in BY by inclusion of adjacent territories

18. What are you doing to facilitate involvement? NCP • Coordinate the activity of BY organisations • Advise on EU financial mechanisms and national project approval procedure • Contribute to CBC programme visibility events in BY • Contribute to fair and equal treatment of BY applicants/partners at the JMC and project-selection committee levels

19. What can/should you do in the future? Programme • To perform active information campaign (e.g. presentation of success stories in media) • To promote programme on national level • To ensure equal access to Programme information for all applicants • To raise administrative capacities of PC organisations (trainings, seminars, partner search forums, consultations) • Involvement of skilled partners in sharing project preparation and implementation experience • Use of competent local experts having experience on ground for training sessions is highly appreciated • To provide assistance through established BO in PC

20. What can/should you do in the future? NCP • Contribute to the drafting of the next generation ENPI CBC programmes • Ensure equal treatment of BY organisations • Encourage more regular participation of JMC members from BY in JMC meetings • Explore ways of making the national project approval procedure more user-friendly • Adequate ENPI financing and simplified application procedure CSE • Participate in programming and programme management, share responsibility and be interested in programme results

21. RCBI support to LLB 2007-2011 • Support for programming - contributions from experts from Belarus and other programming experts • Training on programme management - JMA/JTS/JMC (3) • Events to support calls for proposals – info seminars (2), project preparation workshop (6), partner search forums (2) • Support for PC to participate in programme events (11) • Guide to BY National Requirements for implementing ENPI CBC projects - steps to takewhenawarded a project

22. RCBI materials/tools - 1 • Database of partners and contacts in Belarus • E support for project management and implementation • Identifying and developing ENPI CBC projects: Tips from RCBI practice of supporting potential applicants and partners • RCBI Project Implementation Manual (PIM) • Guide to national requirements for implementing ENPI CBC projects

23. RCBI materials/tools - 2 • The clock is ticking: Steps for preparing ENPI CBC project proposals • ‘Who does What When’ Wheel - Responsibilities and tasks for each programme management structure • Power point presentations from events – Project Preparation workshops, Partner Search forums, Programme Management and Implementation training • Reports on PC involvement • Other support?