EU Funds in a New Era: N+3, Closure Guidance, NRPP and Simplified Programming for the 2028–2034 Framework

OVERVIEW

The first day of the seminar is expected to focus on the effective implementation of EU Funds for 2021-2027. Participants will explore differences and synergies between Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF), considering how these elements set the stage for the post-2027 period. The agenda also covers critical updates to EU regulations (CPR, ERDF/CF, ESF+), programming and implementation of the Just Transition Fund (JTF), and enabling conditions for innovation, sustainability, and performance monitoring.

Further, the day will address the transfer of good practices from the 2014-2020 period, lessons on Simplified Cost Options (SCOs), Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC), and the use of AI. The session will also delve into Cohesion Policy programming, aligning EU goals with local needs, partnership approaches, the Do No Significant Harm principle, annual expenditure rules (N+3/N+2) and  give guidance on closure, introduce new territorial strategies, the New European Bauhaus initiative, STEP framework, and Talent Booster Mechanism.

Second and third day will focus on future. The post-2027 EU budget introduces a fundamentally different delivery architecture for EU Funds, centred on National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), a more agile Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and a strong shift towards performance-based implementation, including Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC) and expanded use of Simplified Cost Options (SCOs).

This advanced, practice-oriented seminar provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the new programming logic, regulatory requirements, and practical implementation implications for Member States, managing authorities, and other key stakeholders preparing for the 2028–2034 period.

The seminar builds on concrete regulatory proposals, European Court of Auditors findings, real-life examples from the 2021–2027 period, and lessons learned from the RRF, translating them into actionable guidance for NRPP preparation, costing, indicators, and management systems.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

How to effectively implement EU Funds for 2021–2027, including understanding key differences between Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Fund, and updates to core EU regulations.

What are the best practices from previous funding periods, explore lessons on Simplified Cost Options, Financing Not Linked to Costs, AI integration, and receive guidance on programming, partnership approaches, compliance principles, expenditure rules, closure procedures, and new initiatives like the New European Bauhaus.

How the post2027 EU budget will fundamentally change EU Funds programming and implementation, including the shift to National and Regional Partnership Plans and a more agile Multiannual Financial Framework

How to design and implement performancebased measures, using Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC), milestones, targets and output indicators

How to correctly apply Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) under both EC–Member State and Managing Authority–Beneficiary relationships, including audit and control implications

How to prepare robust exante costing and payout value logic, aligned with the Performance Regulation, indicators and N+1 requirements

How management, control and audit systems will evolve post2027, and what this means in practice for managing authorities, beneficiaries and auditors

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

Public staff and other experts dealing with the implementation, management, certification and control of all EU Funds, especially from:

• Managing Authorities
• Intermediate Bodies
• Certifying Authorities
• Audit Authorities
• Beneficiaries of EU Funds
• National and Investment Banks
• Regional Governments and Development Agencies
• International, national and local associations and networks
• Other stakeholders dealing with implementation, management and control of EU Funds