Selection of bodies implementing financial instruments under ESIF, Brussels, 27 September 2016

A wide range of criteria for the selection of bodies implementing financial instruments under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) was discussed at a fi-compass event on 27 September 2016 in Brussels, Belgium. The seminar presented the newly published guidance from the European Commission on the Selection of bodies implementing financial instruments under ESIF.

This was the first in a new fi-compass series of events and it focused on the process of selecting financial intermediaries. Approximately 120 delegates attended the seminar, including representatives from managing authorities, regional and national authorities, intermediate bodies, financial intermediaries, certifying authorities and consultants.

Stefan Appel, Head of the Financial Instruments and International Financial Institutions Relations Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), welcomed participants, stressing how financial instruments can help achieve all the thematic objectives of European Union's Cohesion Policy. He emphasised the crucial role of selecting financial intermediaries.

Participants interested in guidance on rules for selecting implementing bodies under ESIF received useful advice. This included how to efficiently apply legal provisions in practice, particularly in the context of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the EU Public Procurement Directive (2014/24/EU).

The new EU guidance has been translated into 22 languages and contains several practical examples, including dos and don’ts when applying public procurement rules and dealing with thresholds. Rather than setting new legislation, the guidance explains existing rules.

François Arbault, Head of the Public Procurement Strategy Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), stressed the fact that public procurement should apply to the selection of financial intermediaries. He observed that a competitive selection would serve the interest of citizens. Carole Mancel-Blanchard, Deputy Head of DG REGIO's Legal Affairs Unit, underlined the obligation to select implementation bodies according to rules and principles. Sandro Cavrak from DG GROW and Anna-Lena Zademach-Schwierz from DG REGIO concluded with a focus on tendering procedures.

Lively Q and A sessions involving delegates and EU experts confirmed the interest and importance of the topic. In addition to being a unique learning experience, the seminar offered great networking opportunities.