Managing Structural Funds: A Step-by-Step Practical Handbook

This handbook describes and explains the series of programming and management tasks involved in implementing Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund programmes and projects for the programming period 2007-2013.

Many of the tasks described relate specifically to the new regulations which govern the use of the Structural Funds. These regulations are designed to reflect the most recent reform of EU cohesion policy, which aims to simplify the policy, further decentralise administration, increase financial accountability and enhance the effectiveness of the Funds.

However, the tasks, tools and procedures described in this handbook go beyond the new regulations. They cover, for example, project development activities, programme and project evaluation techniques and the fundamentals of monitoring procedures.

The handbook provides a step-by-step guide to the tasks to be performed, as far as possible in a chronological order. The descriptions provided here should be complementary to the information found in official documentation.

The handbook is split into three parts. Part I deals with the reformed cohesion policy and the new programming context, and explains how National Strategic Reference Frameworks have been put together. Part II covers the vast array of programme preparation and management tasks. It includes descriptions of how operations get started, what the financial management and control tasks are, and how to monitor, evaluate and close programmes. Part III looks at project development, project management and all stages of project monitoring and evaluation