New PowerTools: Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence Techniques, Data & Image Analysis, and Robotics represent real innovation in the management, control, and audits of ESI, IPA, and ERDF funds, including combatting fraud and corruption within these funds and Mid term review of cohesion policy programs 2021-2027.

The course is officially confirmed and will take place as scheduled. Secure your spot now!
  • 7-11 April 2025
  • Athens, Greece

Overview

New PowerTools: Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence Techniques, Data & Image Analysis, and Robotics represent real innovation in the management, control, and audits of ESI, IPA, and ERDF funds, including combatting fraud and corruption within these funds.

A real AI and Open Source Challenge!

To enhance our Management and Control Systems for EU Funds, we will particularly concentrate on improving risk management, selection processes, management verifications, and audits.

During the seminar we make use of real cases, topics / subsidized projects related to Climate Neutrality, Circular Economy, Tourism, Sports et cetera.
A 3 day workshop, featuring engaging and real world cases and examples, all presented in a relaxed atmosphere that embodies Jo’s motto: “A day without laughter is a day wasted!”

So get excited about the latest tools and techniques, and don’t forget:

Success is not for those who wait, but for those who gain knowledge and take action by participating in this new, engaging and highly innovative workshop. Fill your toolbox with the latest, superior technics and tools!

  • AI, HI and ITTechniques for selection of operations;
  • AI, HI, ITTechniques, Risk & Data & Image Analysis, Construction Technical Analysis and Robotics as real innovation in management verifications, audits and special investigations;
  • The same kind of intelligence and analysis tools and techniques as new effective and proportionate anti-fraud and anti-corruption measures and procedures;
  • Bring your laptop for these unique, highly interactive training sessions;
  • You don’t need to be a specialist or have experience in AI, IT, or Data Analysis to participate; by the end of the course, you will have gained the knowledge and become on;
  • and as during all of Jo’s workshops the so important motto : “A day without laughter, is a day wasted”
  • Introduction and training in the latest AI Tools and Intelligence Techniques, Risk, Data, and Image Analyses, Robotics, and many more surprises in the fields of AI, HI, and ITT as Essentials for our / your EU Funds Toolbox!
  • Introduction and use of AI Tools and Intelligence and other Technics to further enhance the effectiveness and proportionality of our Anti-Fraud Cycle for a (more) successful fight against fraud and corruption in EU Funds.

 

 

Who is this course for?

Public staff and other experts dealing with the implementation, management, certification, audit and control of all EU Funds , IPA , 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
  • IPA beneficiaries: Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Kosovo *, Montenegro , North Macedonia , Serbia , and Turkey .

 

Athens Seminar: Mid term review of cohesion policy programs 2021-2027

Overview

Curious about the key provisions in the Common Provisions Regulation for the mid-term review and how they stack up against the 2019 Performance Review? Wondering how the flexibility amount is allocated and the procedures for submitting MTR assessments and programme amendments? Dive into the role of the European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations in shaping the MTR process. Discover the progress in implementing the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and the European Pillar of Social Rights. What are the main results of relevant evaluations and the Just Transition Fund assessment? How are milestones in the performance framework achieved, and what factors influence potential target revisions? What are the territorial needs, major developments, and demographic challenges faced by member states, and how does the Harnessing Talents Platform address these critical issues? Join us for an engaging and insightful seminar!

What will you learn?

• Regulatory Framework:
o Comparison with the 2019 Performance Review.
o Key provisions in the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) for the mid-term review, including Article 86 on flexibility amounts and timing.
• Approach for the Mid-Term Review:
o General approach and the contribution of the 2024 European Semester.
o Importance of upstream consultation and the role of the CPR Expert Group.
• Mid-Term Review Process:
o Detailed steps for the mid-term review process, including informal consultations, submission in SFC2021, and assessment by the Commission.
• European Semester and MTR:
o Integration of the 2024 European Semester into the mid-term review.
o Key messages and the role of Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs).
• Flexibility Amount Allocation:
o Explanation of Article 86 and the allocation of the flexibility amount based on the MTR outcome.
o Restrictions on the use of the flexibility amount before the MTR.
• Assessment Criteria:
o Criteria for assessing progress in implementing the integrated national energy and climate plan (NECP), European Pillar of Social Rights, and socioeconomic situation.
• Demographic Challenges:
o Addressing demographic challenges in the mid-term review, including commitments and the role of the 2024 European Semester.
• Evaluation Results and Milestones:
o Consideration of relevant evaluations and progress in achieving milestones.
o Factors influencing milestone achievement and potential target revisions.
• Submission and Adoption:
o Procedures for submitting MTR assessments and programme amendments.
o Steps for the adoption of MTR decisions and the release of the flexibility amount.

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

 

The conference will take place at THE ATHENIAN CALLIRHOE EXCLUSIVE HOTEL 32, Kallirois Ave. & Petmeza, GR-117 43 Athens, Greece

New PowerTools: Artificial Intelligence, Intelligence Techniques, Data & Image Analysis, and Robotics represent real innovation in the management, control, and audits of ESI, IPA, and ERDF funds, including combatting fraud and corruption within these funds.

Day 1

Chair of the Seminar

Jo Kremers
Former Senior Audit Manager, Audit Authority EU Funds, Ministry of Finance, The Hague
International Lecturer in Risk Management, Control and Audit, Combatting Fraud and Corruption;
Developer and Owner of the EU-Award winning Anti-Fraud and -Corruption Games (no.1 – 7)

09:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:30
Introduction Round and Explanation of the 3-day Programme

  • Introduction Round
  • Introduction of the AI/HI/OSR Team- and Individual- Game
  • Play this NEW 2025 Game: forming the teams, rules of the games, when and how to make use of your laptops within the teams esp. focused on the use of AI Tools,
  • Jo’s Mottos for these 3 days
  • Award Ceremony, explanation

11:00
Coffee break

11:30-12:30
Introduction of New Power Tools for MCS and AFC EU Funds:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs Human Intelligence (HI)
  • Other Intelligence Tools & Techniques for Open Source Research (OSR)
  • Data & Image Analysis
  • Technical (Construction) Analysis and Robotics as real innovation in the management & control (MCS), and audits of EU and IPA Funds, including combatting fraud and corruption (AFC) within these funds.

12:30-13:30
Lunch

13:30-14:30

  • Start of the AI/HI/OSR Team Game
  • An introduction of Artificial Intelligence (especially for those who have no experience or no idea about its possibilities).
  • How to use it? DO’s and DON’Ts; practical examples and cases while using your laptop.
  • EU Funds related cases to be solved by HI and AI by using your laptop.

14:30-15:00
Coffee break

15:00-16:30
The use of AI Tools like ChatGPT for Risk Management, in MCS, as part of the AFC and for Audits of EU Funds; as practical tools for selections, verifications, audits, special investigations, Anti-Fraud tools and technics

  • Case 1: Agriculture / Horticulture and EU funded Innovation
    • Risk analysis using AI vs HI
    • Define your Verification and Audit activities, using AI vs HI
    • Forming an (audit) opinion, using AI vs HI

17:30
A guided city tour

19:30
Delicious dinner for all participants in a 4-star restaurant

 

Day 2

09:00
Case 2: Sports and EU funds

  • “On-site” observations using AI vs HI
  • Risk analysis using AI vs HI
  • Technical Construction Analysis using AI vs HI
  • Define your Verification and Audit activities, using AI vs HI
  • Forming an (audit) opinion, using AI vs HI

11:00
Coffee break

11:30-12:30
Case 3: Sustainability and EU funds – part 1

  • Risk & Fraud Risk analysis using AI vs HI
  • Use of Robotics
  • Define your Verification and Audit activities, using AI vs HI
  • Forming an (audit) opinion, using AI vs HI

12:30-13:30
Lunch

13:30-14:30
Case 3: Sustainability and EU funds – part 2

  • Data analysis of financial statements by use of AI vs HI
  • Identify trends, patterns, anomalies, and exceptions within data, by using special software and AI

14:30-15:00
Coffee break

15:00-16:30
Case 4: Climate Neutrality and EU funds

  • Risks & Challenges analysis using AI vs HI
  • Costs and Benefits Analysis using AI vs HI
  • Define your need for further information and Verification and Audit activities, using AI vs HI
  • Forming an (audit) opinion, using AI vs HI

 

 

Day 3

09:00-11:00
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Other Intelligence Tools & Techniques for Open Source Research (OSR) – part 1

  • A highly interactive workshop; using your laptop
  • Practical cases
  • Create your own AI/OSR frame of reference

11:00
Coffee break

11:30-12:30
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Other Intelligence Tools & Techniques for Open Source Research (OSR) – part 2
Case 4: Health Care / pandemics and National / EU funds

  • Detection of fraud and corruption by the use of AI Tools; don’t forget your laptop

12:30-13:30
Lunch

13:30-14:30
Start of The AI/HI/OSR Individual Game – part 1

14:30-15:00
Coffee break

15:00-16:00
The AI/HI/OSR Individual Game – part 2

16:00-16:30
Awards Ceremony, and the Winner is…?

Evaluation

End of the training

 

 

Athens Seminar: Mid term review of cohesion policy programs 2021-2027
1 day – 10th April  2025
8:30-9:00 Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:00-9:15 Introduction and getting to know each other
9:15-10:30 Mid Term Review Regulatory Framework and Flexibility Amount

·         Key provisions in the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) for the mid-term review, including Article 86 on flexibility amounts

·         Comparison with the 2019 Performance Review

·         Explanation of Article 86 and the allocation of the flexibility amount based on the MTR outcome

  • Submission and Adoption:
    • Procedures for submitting MTR assessments and programme amendments.
    • Steps for the adoption of MTR decisions and the release of the flexibility amount
  • Discussion round
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break & Networking
10:45-12:30 European Semester and MTR

  • Introduction in European Semester
  • Key messages and the role of Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) and Country Reports
12:30-13:30 Lunch time
13:30-14:30 Progress in implemention of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and European Pillar of Social Rights

·         NECP and it’s role on EU level

·         EPSR and it’s role on EU level

·         Considering progress in implementation  of NECP and EPSR in MTR process
14:30-14:45 Coffee Break & Networking
14:45-15:45 Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)

  • Framework for STEP and what is STEP all about
  • STEP related MTR exclusion
15:45-16:00 Q&A session and the main first day’s conclusions
 2 Day – 11th April  2025
8:30-9:00 Warmup Coffee
9:00-9:15 From yesterday’s conclusions to today’s introduction
9:15-10:30 Main results of relevant evaluations; EC JTF related programme assessment

·         Taking into consideration relevant evaluations

·         Just Transition Fund

·         for programmes supported by the JTF, the assessment carried out by the Commission
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break Inspirations
10:45-12:30 Progress in achieving the milestones in performance framework

  • Performance framework
  • Output and Result indicators
  • Factors influencing milestone achievement and potential target revisions
  • Workshop on developing indicators and their revision
12:30-13:30 Lunch Time
13:30-14:15 Socioeconomic situation of the MS or region concerned, taking into account

·         territorial needs

  • major negative financial, economic or social development
  • demographic challenegs
  • Harnessing Talents Platform
14:15-14:30 Coffee Break Reflections
14:30-15:30 Workshop on MTR process and related programme amendments

 

Experts

Jo Kremers, CPA IT Auditor | Fraud Investigator | International Lecturer Jo Kremers is a leading expert in risk management, auditing, and combating fraud and corruption. A former Senior Audit Manager at the Audit Authority of the Netherlands, he contributed to the creation of the EU/EC Anti-Fraud Knowledge Centre (launched in 2021). He is the developer of the EU award-winning Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Games and lectures at prestigious institutions, including the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna. With extensive expertise and innovative approaches, Jo Kremers is a sought-after lecturer and speaker worldwide.

Jo Kremers

Former Senior Audit Manager Audit Authority The Netherlands

Mr. Lovro Novoselac is currently head of Sector for programming, coordination and strategic monitoring of the ESI Funds. As such, he coordinates programming and implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds in Croatia in Shared Management Funds in periods 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 (ERDF, CF, ESF+, JTF, EMFAF etc.). He has an over 10 years of thorough expertise in EU funds starting with day to day communication with project beneficiaries, project cost verification, publishing calls for proposals, participation in project selection committees and lately more in programming of EU funds, coordination of complementarities and synergies between EU funds, organisation of Monitoring Committees, planning of national strategic documents relevant to EU funds etc.

Lovoro Novoselac

Head of Sector for programming, coordination and strategic monitoring of the ESI Funds at Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funding of Croatia

Do you have more questions?

Contact us

Your contact person

Contact form

Athens, Greece

The conference will take place in the enchanting city of Athens, a cradle of ancient civilization and a hub of contemporary culture, offering an inspiring backdrop for immersive and productive learning sessions.

THE ATHENIAN CALLIRHOE EXCLUSIVE HOTEL 32, Kallirois Ave. & Petmeza, GR-117 43 Athens, Greece

In addition to the training materials, the training fee includes:
a) Catering during the training (refreshing coffee breaks and lunches);
b) A guided tour of the historic city;
c) A delightful dinner for all participants in a renowned 4-star restaurant.

ENROLL

Enrollment for this course is now closed, but you can explore our available courses.

Our Courses

🎅 St. Nicholas Day Offer: Book 3, Pay for 2!

This holiday season, secure 3 spots for any 2025 seminar and get one completely FREE – our gift to you!

📅 Offer ends December 6, 2024.

Don’t miss this chance to save and grow with us!

Book the workshopS