25th IQ-Net Conference on financial management, control and audit of Structural Funds

http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/iqnet/Pictures/Pictures_attica2/images/2V3C1026_jpg.jpg <img src="http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/news/attica.jpg" width="184" height="103" border="0" align="left The 25th meeting of the http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/iqnet/default.cfm <strong>IQ-Net network</strong> was held on 19-21 November 2008 in Kifissia, Greece, hosted by the http://www.athensattica.gr/index.cfm?lang_id=2 <strong>Region of Attikí</strong> and the Greek http://www.mou.gr/index.asp?a_id=85 <strong> Management & Organisation Unit (MOU)</strong> . Attended by representatives of national and regional managing authorities from 14 Member States, the main theme of the meeting was financial management, control and audit of Structural Funds programmes. The meeting came at an important time, given the criticisms of the Cohesion policy accounts by the European Court of Auditors, and the increasing problems being faced by programme managers with financial management at audit. </p> <p>The conference was based on extensive EPRC research on the experiences of financial management, control and audit across the EU and a background paper produced by Dr Sara Davies, Frederike Gross and Laura Polverari of EPRC which was presented at the meeting. The debate was introduced by a presentation by Nicholas Martyn, Director of the Audit Directorate of DG Regio, who also participated in an extensive question-and-answer session with conference delegates. An afternoon of workshop discussions considered how the current problems might be addressed in the present (2007-13) programme period and more substantial changes that might be introduced after 2014. </p> <p>The IQ-Net conference also provided an opportunity to review recent developments with the implementation of the 2007-13 programmes and the closure of the 2000-06 programmes, based again on EPRC research and a background paper by Heidi Vironen and Stefan Kah of EPRC. The discussions at the conference were complemented by a study visit to projects funded by Structural Funds in the Attikí Region, notably the Foundation of the Hellenic World and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens.