IPA structures in Serbia

Article 10 of the IPA Implementing Regulation envisages that decentralised management of EU funds by the beneficiary country will apply to the implementation of IPA assistance. In fact, the IPA Implementing Regulation allows centralised management for Components I and II only, for potential candidate countries. As a candidate country, Serbia must achieve ‘conferral of management’ based on accreditation of the Decentralised Implementation System (DIS) as a pre-requisite for the signature of the Financing Agreements for IPA III, IV and V. For the purposes of assistance under the IPA Regulation, decentralised management shall cover at least tendering, contracting and payments.

The main structures and authorities involved in the management and implementation of the IPA Funds under the DIS are:

- National IPA Coordinator (NIPAC);

- Strategic Coordinator for Components III and IV (SCO);

- Competent Accrediting Officer (CAO);

- National Authorising Officer (NAO);

- National Fund (NF);

- Operating Structure (OS);

- Audit Authority (AA).

The table below describes these structures and authorities with reference to the state of affairs in Serbia.

Body/Authority	Description	Situation in Serbia
National IPA Coordinator	High-ranking official in the government or the state administration of the beneficiary country, who shall ensure the overall co-ordination of assistance under the IPA Regulation.	Government of Serbia, in the Conclusion no. 119-3192/2008 dated 21August 2008, reconfirmed the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration, Mr. Božidar Djelić, to be the National IPA Coordinator (NIPAC) and reconfirmed the role of Sector for Programming and Management of EU Funds and Development Assistance within the Ministry of Finance as NIPAC’s Technical Secretariat.
Strategic Coordinator	Shall be an entity within the state administration of the beneficiary country, placed under the responsibility of the NIPAC, and with no direct involvement in the implementation of Components concerned.	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration was appointed Strategic Coordinator by the Conclusion of the Government 119-214/2009-5 of 13 February 2009 and Mr. Ognjen Mirić, as the responsible person for the functions of the SCO.
Competent Accrediting Officer	Shall be a high-ranking official in the government or the state administration of the beneficiary country.	The Government of Serbia, in Conclusion no. 119-3192/2008 dated 21August 2008, appointed the Minister of Finance, Ms. Diana Dragutinović, to be the Competent Accrediting Officer (CAO).
National Authorising Officer	Shall be a high-ranking official in the government or the state administration of the beneficiary country	The Government of Serbia, in the Conclusion no. 119-416/2009 dated 29^th January 2009, appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Vuk Djoković, to be the National Authorising Officer (NAO).
National Fund	Shall be a body located in a state level Ministry of the beneficiary country with central budgetary competence	The new systematisation of the Ministry of Finance took effect from 5 February 2009. It incorporates a National Fund (both as a Treasury function and as the NAO Services) which is established directly under the NAO as a new Department in Ministry of Finance. Ms Jelena Gerzina has been appointed the Assistant Minister in charge of the National Fund .
Operating Structures	Shall be a body or a collection of bodies within the administration of the Operational Programmes	A new systematisation of the Ministry of Finance, took effect from 5 February 2009, incorporates new structures to take the roles of the Implementing Agency for IPA Components I and II, and role of the National Fund. The Implementing Agency for IPA Components I and II (CFCU) is established as a new Department in the Ministry of Finance under the overall supervision of the NAO. The Assistant Minister, Ms Arleta Manojlović, in charge of the Implementing Agency for IPA Components I and II, was appointed Programme Authorising Officer by the Conclusion of the Government No 119-1166/2009 from 26 February 2009. New systematisations were adopted for 9 out of 12 relevant Line Ministries in Serbia, and provide for the structures of Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) in Line Ministries
Audit Authority	Functionally independent body from all actors in the management and control system, designated by the beneficiary country	New amendments to the systematisation of the Ministry of Finance which are under preparation will also include the formal appointment of the Audit Authority. Consultations are ongoing on the positions, staffing and training to comply with the requirements of the IPA Implementing Regulation.

Considerable progress has been made with the establishment of the required authorities. This has anchored the project directly within the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European Integration, and should allow effective working with the Line Ministries to establish IPA Operating Structures.

In addition to the main bodies, the IPA Implementing Regulation stipulates two levels of Monitoring Committee, in order to provide coherence and coordination in the implementation of IPA and engage all relevant actors:

- IPA Monitoring Committee (IPA MC);
- Sectoral Monitoring Committees (SMCs) for each OP.

The table below sets out the broad responsibilities of each level of Monitoring Committee. While the IPA MC applies to all IPA Components in Serbia, the SMCs are focused on the individual OPs, and in the case of IPA III and IV, will only be constituted formally once Serbia attains Candidate Country status.

Table: Monitoring Committees under IPA Implementing Regulation

Committee	Description
IPA Monitoring Committee	The IPA MC shall satisfy itself as to the overall effectiveness, quality and coherence of the implementation of all programmes and operations towards meeting the objectives set out in the financing agreements as well as in the MIPD. For this purpose, it shall base itself on the elements given by the Sectoral Monitoring Committees. The IPA MC members shall include representatives of the Commission and the NIPAC, as co-chairs, plus the NAO, representatives of the Operating Structures, and the SCO. The IPA monitoring committee shall meet at least once a year.
Sectoral Monitoring Committees	The IPA MC shall be assisted by Sectoral Monitoring Committees set up under the IPA components, attached to programmes or components. They may include representatives of civil society, where appropriate. Each SMC shall satisfy itself as to the effectiveness and quality of the implementation of the programmes and operations concerned, and for the related financing agreements. It may make proposals to the Commission and the NIPAC, with a copy to the NAO, for decisions on any corrective measures to ensure the achievements of programme objectives and enhance the efficiency of the assistance provided. The SMCs shall report to the IPA MC; their work is guided by the Operating Structure.