JASPERS activities to promote intermodal projects

1. JASPERS activities to promote intermodal projects 18-19 March 2010 Bratislava György BESSENYEI Transport Sector Specialist

2. What is JASPERS? Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions • A technical assistance partnership to prepare major projects between DG REGIO, EIB, EBRD and KfW • JASPERS is an additional technical assistance resource for the Member States • value added: drawing on the experience and expertise of the EIB, the EBRD and KfW in a more structured and coordinated way • For administrative purposes, JASPERS is a Unit within the EIB, and though « separate » from the lending activities of EIB, will coordinate closely and draw on Sectoral Expertise/Country Experience of PJ, Ops and Other EIB Services.

3. Why was JASPERS set up? As a feedback to the “lessons learnt” from previous funding period, i.a.: • applications submitted by MS have been inadequate causing delays in their approval and implementation; • some issues not properly identified causing problems during implementation, • as a result the absorption of EU funds in previous funding periods has been unsatisfactory.

4. Activities of JASPERS • JASPERS: • advice • coordination • develop and review project structure • removing bottlenecks • filling gaps • identification of problems not addressed (e.g. state aid, EIA) • provide DG REGIO with information on project maturity • Much of the detailed technical work will remain the responsibility of the beneficiary/Member State • JASPERS has its own TA framework contract • Advice on implementation (Project Management and Resources) early stage of procurement

5. JASPERS activities • Focus on 12 ‘new’ Member States • Objective: increase the capacity of beneficiary countries, make best use of EU funding • Programming period 2007-13 • Cohesion instruments: €308bn EU grants

6. JASPERS: free and voluntary • JASPERS assistance will be provided free of charge to the beneficiary • There will be no obligation on the Member States to use JASPERS • There will be no obligation on a Member State which benefits from JASPERS to borrow from the EIB or the EBRD • There will no obligation on the EIB or the EBRD to lend to projects prepared using JASPERS • There will be no exclusion of EIB or EBRD lending to projects benefiting from JASPERS

7. JASPERS structure • JASPERS is managed by a Steering Committee with representatives from DG REGIO, EIB, EBRD and KfW

8. JASPERS Resources Three way partnership to fund JASPERS: • DG REGIO technical assistance • EIB: 16 man years of professional staff input • EBRD: 8 man years of professional staff input • KfW: 1 person full time and consultants up to the equivalent of 3 full time experts, upon demand of the sectors

9. JASPERS’ key operational roles and functional levels The key operational roles and functional levels in JASPERS structure are the following: Experts: • Are the source of the technical assistance to the beneficiaries and therefore thekey element of the structure Sector Managers: • Responsible for the optimal use of experts and the quality of the advice provided • Harmonise methodology across experts and countries

10. JASPERS’keyoperational roles and functional levels Heads of Regional Offices • Responsible for the formal liaison between JASPERS and the managing authorities • Monitor the activity of local staff • Have a primary role as country managers • Prepare and monitor the annual action plans • Provide administrative and logistical support in regional offices • Report to the Operations Manager

11. JASPERS’ key operational roles and functional levels Operations Manager • Provides support to the Head of JASPERS for high level relations with the Managing Authorities, DG REGIO and Steering Committee • Prepares reports to the Steering Committee • Reports to the Head of JASPERS

12. JASPERS Project Cycle JASPERS reviews the Project Fiches and discusses the projects internally with DG-REGIO and with the interested Managing Authority. Managing Authorities (MA) identify relevant projects potentially eligible for EU grant. At the beginning of the year, the Project Fiches are sent to JASPERS. 1 2 JASPERS proposes the Action Plan for the approval of the Steering Committee. Once approved by the Steering Committee, the Action Plan is submitted to the signature of the Managing Authority. JASPERS experts work actively on the projects with the Beneficiary, the Managing Authority and the relevant Intermediate Bodies. 3 4 Member States continue to “own” the projects; they submit the applications for grants as required by the EU Regulations. 5 6 The European Commission takes a decision on the Project Application.

13. Current Portfolio: Summary • Some 450 assignments in the Action Plans 2009 • It is expected that JASPERS will complete about 100 Assignments in 2009 • Action Plan is a rolling plan – first priority: uncompleted assignments from previous year; JASPERS is flexible to take on new assignments during the year • Major projects account for some 84% of total active interventions, small projects for 7% and horizontal projects for 9%. • Support also requested for wide range of relevant Horizontal Issues (such as combining EU Grants with PPPs, CBA guidelines, training workshops, cost forecasting studies) • Demand for JASPERS expertise in non-conventional or complex projects e.g. Cultural projects in Poland • JASPERS ‘completed’ until now 119 assignments, concerning major projects, but only 84 are submitted to DG REGIO and 33 are approved

14. JASPERS involvements in intermodal projects • Sofia (BG) • Russe (BG) • Vilnius (LT) • Žilina (SK) • Košice (SK) • Horizontal (PL, RO): justification of state aid in intermodal transport

15. Definition of state aid • Transfer of property • Exact definition of public contribution (both EU, national and local) • Selection of the operator • Access conditions to the terminal‘s facilities

16. State aid issues According to Article 87 (1) of the EC Treaty, a financial support which: • is granted by the State or through State resources, • favours certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, • distorts or threatens to distort competition, and, • affects trade between Member States.

17. Project justification • Investment alternatives • Estimation of induced and diverted traffic • Length of evaluation period • Transport demand and cash-flow forecast • Pricing of operation fees • Collection and evaluation of economic costs and benefits • In order to be eligible for EU co-financing, economic indicators should be positive.

18. Contact details JASPERS 100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer L-2950 Luxembourg Email: jaspers@eib.org Tel: + 352 4379-1 www.jaspers-europa-info.org