Information by the Managing Authority on evaluation s of EU funds in 2009

1. Information by the Managing Authority on evaluations of EU fundsin 2009 Monitoring Committee meeting25 March 2009

2. Agenda • Amendments to the Evaluation Plan 2007-2013 • Optimisation of the evaluation process • Amendments to the evaluation topic list • Managing Authority's planned evaluations in 2009 • Other institutions` planned research works in 2009 Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

3. Ammendments to the Evaluation Plan 2007-2013 (I) Optimisation of the evaluation process: • It is specified that evaluation process in the context of the EU funds includes both MA organised evaluations and sector specific research works organised by other institutions (involved in the EU funds implementation) in the framework of the OP activities, which are financed from the Technical assistance resources (18.12.2007. Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No.918). • It is envisaged to carry out ad-hoc evaluations that are not included in the evaluation plan. • MA ensures popularisation and presentation of the evaluation results, if needed. • Institutions involved in the EU funds implementation assess the advisability of the recommendations expressed in the evaluations and are responsible for implementation of the worthwile recommendations according to the Recommendation implementation plan. Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

4. Ammendments to the Evaluation Plan 2007-2013 (II) Optimisation of the evaluation process: • The role of the MA in the organisation of the research works of other institutions involved in the EU funds implementation is being specified, i.e.: • MA participates in the procurement committees of the planned research works. • MA evaluates technical specifications prepared by other institutions and, if needed, reconciles them with other institutions involved in the EU funds implementation; • In the running year the MA amends evaluation plan with the information of other institutions about the research works planned in the framework of the OP activities. • The terms, in which institutions submit information about the planned research works, have been determined (according to necessity, but not rarer than once in a half year, until January 15 and July 15 of the next year respectively or upon the request of the MA) Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

5. Ammendments to the Evaluation Plan 2007-2013 (III) Optimisation of the evaluation process: • It is required that institutions submit electronic versions of the research results to MA in 2 weeks time after they receive them from the researchers. • Requirement about 25% deviation from annual objective value, which determined significant departure amount from the goals initially set, has been deleted. Argument: Due to the overall economic crisis it is not possible to determine the particular % that would reflect the significance of the departure. • The requirement on posting the information about frequently planned evaluations has been deleted Argument: Due to the overall economic crisis it is important to carry out evaluations according to the situation, which rapidly changes. Consequently it is not necessary to have long-term evaluation planning, but it is more essentail to adjust to the instant needs. Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

6. Ammendments to the Evaluation Plan 2007-2013 (IV) Optimisation of the evaluation process: • As evaluation of EU funds in 2007-2013 in Latvia includes: • MA carried evaluations; • other institutions` ( involved in the EU funds implementation) sector specific researches in the framework of the OP activities • Than, to optimise information exchange about planned evaluations in the flied of EU funds, the Evaluation plan has been amended by information about the research works planned by other institutions Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

7. Researches of the institutions involved in the EU funds implementation • The State Chancellery: • Awareness of the society about implementation of ESF activities that are in the State Chancellery competence; • The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs • Elaboration of the Methodological Guidebook on the research methods and achieved results with the purpose to successfully evaluate effectiveness of horizontal priority “Information society” (HP IS) implementation • Research of the existing situation in the development of HP IS • Impact of the EU funds contribution on the HP IS in 2007-2013 • Research on the HP IS results, achieved in the framework of the OP activities, and effectiveness of the HP IS implementation • Ministry of Welfare • Awareness of the employees of institutions involved in the EU funds implementation, project assessors and promoters about the keystones of Equal opportunities principles. Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

8. MA evaluations in 2009 (I) • Evaluation “Preliminary study on the possibilities of EU funds management system simplification“ Objective: To create the background for EU funds management system changes in the direction of its simplification and EU funds acquirement acceleration Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

9. MA evaluations in 2009 (II) • Evaluation of the EU funds management and control system effectiveness and the rate of tolerable error Objective: To evaluate and analyse experience of the institutions administrating EU funds co-financed projects, by checking project implementation documentation of 2004-2006, including expenditures justifying documentation, and propose the tolerable risk, error rate in the framework of the EU funds management and control system, as well as suggestions to the EU funds administrating institutions for mutual balancing of different expenditure consistency controls. Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

10. MA planned evaluations in 2009 (I) • Evaluation of the EU Funds monitoring system and its indicators, including analysis of correlation of the horizontal priorities Objective: To ensure a high quality evaluation of the priorities, measures and activities of the programming documents with the aim of establishing the effectiveness of their monitoring and bring conclusions and recommendations for improvement of the EU Funds monitoring system and its indicators in each stage of the EU funds co-financed projects implementation. To define particular priorities or preferable actions in the field of horizontal priorities, whose implementation would ensure targeted achievement of HP objectives both with the help of specific activities and intermediation of other OP activities Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance

11. MA planned evaluations in 2009 (II) • Possibilities for the EU funds management system simplification and improvement Objective: On the basis of the frontal research results to make detailed analysis of the EU funds implementation system changes in the direction of its simplification and EU funds acquirement acceleration • Evaluation of the system for carrying out pre-checks of the project procurement. Objective: to improve the effectiveness of carrying out pre-checks of the project procurement • Evaluation of the criteria for assessing EU Funds project applications as well as the appraisal process Objective: to improve the effectiveness of the criteria for assessing EU Funds project applications as well as the appraisal process Managing Authority of the EU funds– Ministry of Finance