Effectively and Successfully Manage Milestone EU Funds Projects and Programme to achieve best results. Extended Module with Hands-On Practice, Deeper Insights & Peer Exchange

DAY 1: 

FUTURE THINKING IN ADVANCED EU FUNDS MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

09:00 Registration

09:15-10: 30 Future thinking, forecasting and foresight

Introduction to the terms, their significance and practical implementation in governance. Best

practices from the world.

Training items: quick introduction for the deeper understanding of the essential principles,

clarifying differences and underlying the need for future thinking culture. Examples and case

studies from member-states.

10:30-10:45 Coffee Time

10:45-12:00 Designing Interventions for Sustainable Change -part I “Foundations for

Intervention Logic and the logical framework approach”

Foundations of Intervention Logic- introduction for deeper understanding of the concepts of the

Intervention Logic , exploring the principles, focusing on aligning project objectives with EU

policy goals and ensuring sustainable impact.

Training Items: Introduction to the logical framework approach (LFA),the concepts of inputs,

results and impact in the ESIF and RRF investments, modeling successful projects,

Interactive session on mapping causal pathways from inputs to impacts and building efficient

monitoring and control systems. Existing methodological guidance.

12:00-13:00 Lunch Time

13:00-14:30 Designing Interventions for Sustainable Change -part II “Identifying key

elements of sustainable Interventions”

Analysis of critical elements in good practices. Learn how to integrate long term sustainability

into intervention design, focusing on environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

Demonstrate real-world examples of intervention logic applied in EU-funded programs.

Training Items: Workshop on identifying sustainable objectives and outcomes. Learning from

successful stories – Case study analysis of successful interventions. Two show-cases from EU-

funded projects

14:30-14.45 Coffee Time

14:45- 16:00 Practicing Results-Based Management (RBM) and Simplify Cost Options

Understanding RBM principles and linking funding to measurable outcomes.

Training Items: Introduction to principles, results-based frameworks , Workshops on designing

RBM in practice, discussion on implementation strategies, case studies.

Introduction and dive into SCOs logic, including flat rates, lump sums, and unit costs, with a

focus on their practical application.

Training Items: Interactive case studies, workshops on calculating SCOs, discussions on

compliance challenges, case studies and discussion.

The End

DAY 2: 

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND AI INTEGRATION IN EU FUNDS GOVERNANCE AND

PRACTICE

09:00 Registration

09:15-10:30 AI Applications in Fund Management

New developments in AI apps for governance operations. Leveraging AI for predictive analytics,

fraud detection, and compliance in EU funds management. The objective of this session is to

explore how AI enhances fund management through predictive analytics, fraud detection, and

compliance.

Training Items: Demonstrations of emerging AI tools, hands-on sessions with dashboards,

discussions on challenges and ethical implications. AI Apps for every day management and

audit. Case studies showcasing AI tools used in EU fund management, such as predictive

analytics platforms and compliance monitoring systems. Hands-on sessions with dashboards

illustrating real-time data analysis and decision-making support

10.30-10.45 Coffee Time

10:45-12:00 Tackling Corruption with Technology

AI and blockchain for enhancing transparency and addressing corruption in EU-funded

programs. Objective of this session is to understand how AI and related technologies can

mitigate errors and combat corruption in EU-funded programs. Training Items: Workshop on applying edge technologies in corruption risk assessment, focusing on public procurement and contract management, role-playing scenarios. Examples and pilot cases.

12:00-13:00 Lunch Time

13:00-16:30 Future Trends in AI and Digital Tools

Exploring the transformative potential of blockchain and generative AI in EU funds management.

Considerations and challenges. Ethical and Regulatory Considerations. Delve into the

implications of the EU AI Act on fund management practices.

Training Items: Brainstorming sessions, simulation of applications of emerging technologies.

DAY 3: 09.00-16:30

NEW APPROACH TO RISK MANAGEMENT AND ADVANCED AUDIT PRACTICES

9.15-10.30 New Audit Methodologies for EU Funds

Explore EU-recommended methodologies like proportionality principles and the single audit approach.

Training Items: Workshops on applying methodologies, audit planning simulations. Risk-Based Auditing Frameworks: optimizing audit resources and enhancing effectiveness. Case study

10.30-10.45 Coffee Time

10.45-13.00 Exercising new tools in auditing 

Lab work in teams and individually exploring newly acquired knowledge. Dummy and real case will be combined to achieve best results.

Lunch Time 13:00-14.00

14.30- 15.30 Sampling Techniques in Auditing- what works

Application of statistical sampling for accurate and efficient auditing processes.

Training Items: Practical exercises on sampling frameworks, group discussions on challenges. Case studies

15.30-16.30 Organizational Agility and Change Management

   Strategies for building agile teams and adapting to evolving EU policies and digital tools.

Training Items: Scenario planning exercises, role-playing on team restructuring.

Day 4: 09.00-16:30

LATEST APPROACHES AND AI-DRIVEN AUDITS IN STATE AID PROJECTS AND PROCUREMENT

09.00-13:00. Cutting-Edge Insights into State Aid Auditing ( including Coffee time)

Key Points:

1. State Aid Rules: The Latest Frameworks

Training items : Overview of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and de minimis aid, with updates on recent amendments and interpretations. Importance of compliance with EU state aid rules to avoid financial corrections and penalties.

2. Modern Compliance Challenges.

Training items : Addressing emerging issues in state aid projects, such as digital transformation and transparency requirements.

Lunch Time 13:00-14.00

14:00-16.00 Public Procurement – Audits as a Tool for Governance.

Leveraging audits to ensure alignment with EU objectives and promote accountability. AI-Powered Auditing Practices. Exploring how AI enhances data analysis, fraud detection, and compliance monitoring in state aid projects. Identifying anomalies and optimizing audit processes.

B. Closing Session: Future-Ready Auditing and AI Trends

Key Points: Emerging AI Trends in Auditing. Balancing Innovation with Compliance:

Addressing ethical challenges and regulatory requirements to ensure AI systems respect fundamental rights. Actionable Strategies for Participants. Practical steps for integrating AI into audit frameworks and building capacity for future challenges. Drafting an organisational Action plan ( milestones and strategy) for developing skills, rules and guidance for adopting AI based technologies in monitoring and control.

DAY 5: 09.00-16:30

INTERACTIVE KNOWLEDGE CONSOLIDATION, RECAP AND WRAP-UP

09.00-10:30 Session I: Themed Quiz Show : Future of EU Funds Mastermind Quiz

Participants team up for a quiz competition styled like a game show. Questions cover key concepts from all four days, including Intervention logic, RBM, AI, SCOs, audits, and risk management.

10.30-10.45 Coffee Time

10.45 -13,00 Session II : Team lab “EU Fund Designers- Building Logical Frameworks “

Hands-on training on developing logical frameworks for EU-funded projects, focusing on results chains and measurable indicators. Participants brainstorm and discuss in teams to uncover hidden “resources” in their institutional ecosystem for boosting future oriented and efficient fund management ( improving project design, implementation of SCOs , strengthening audits and  corruption detection). Each team develops a draft plan to share with others. Then ideas are accumulated in one model plan to take home.

The goal of the session is to encourage problem-solving and collaboration and taking stock of the new knowledge obtained in the seminar.

Lunch time 13.00-14.00

14.00-16.00 Closing Session- “Knowledge Café”

Recap on main concepts and principles, findings and recommendations analysed and practiced in the seminar. Discussion of future action and possible implementation. This playful and interactive day ensures participants consolidate their learning, strengthen relationships, and leave with a sense of accomplishment.

Closing ceremony “EU Fun Awards”, where participants vote for humorous awards, such as:*Best Risk Mitigator*, *AI Enthusiast*, *Master of Simplified Costs*.