Programming and Managing EU Funds in the 2028–2034 Period – Strategic Choices • Performance • Governance • Delivery

The proposed 2028–2034 EU funding framework introduces a substantially more integrated, strategic and performance‑oriented architecture than the current system. The Commission proposals point towards National and Regional Partnership Plans, broader common rules, closer links between reforms and investments, stronger expenditure and performance tracking, and a renewed emphasis on flexibility, preparedness and EU added value. At the same time, many provisions remain under negotiation and must not yet be treated as final legal obligations.

This three‑day high‑level seminar in Rome is designed to help political and technical decision‑makers understand the emerging system, assess its implications for national and regional governance, and prepare the strategic and institutional choices required for programming, negotiation and implementation. The programme focuses on the decisions that must be taken before the regulations are finalised: how to prioritise investments and reforms, organise an integrated planning process, establish credible milestones and targets, coordinate institutions, protect the EU budget and create a realistic implementation pipeline.

The seminar combines concise regulatory briefings, comparative analysis, facilitated policy discussions, practical case studies, negotiation simulations and hands‑on planning tools. It is not intended as an article‑by‑article legal course. Its purpose is to enable decision‑makers to translate the emerging EU framework into an actionable national readiness agenda.

MAIN TOPICS COVERED

Day 1 – Understanding the New Architecture & Strategic Programming Choices

• The proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and the new funding architecture
• National and Regional Partnership Plans and their relationship with sectoral and territorial priorities
• Differences between the 2021–2027 system, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the proposed post‑2027 model
• Evidence‑based needs assessment, political prioritisation and EU added value
• Linking reforms, investments, milestones, targets and implementation capacity
• Complementarity between national allocations and centrally managed EU instruments
• Workshop: Designing a strategic priority under the proposed new framework

Day 2 – Governance, Performance, Implementation & Political Accountability

• Governance of integrated programming and implementation
• Performance‑based financing, expenditure tracking, milestones and payment decisions
• Monitoring, indicators, data systems and strategic reporting
• Financial management, risk‑based controls and protection of the EU budget
• Flexibility, reprogramming and crisis response
• Simulation: Negotiating a National and Regional Partnership Plan
• Workshop: Preparing a national institutional readiness roadmap

Day 3 – Institutional Readiness, Strategic Delivery & Negotiation Preparedness

• Advanced intervention logic and performance design
• Strengthening evidence, baselines and verification systems
• Strategic reporting and communication of national priorities
• Political accountability and coordination mechanisms
• Crisis‑response planning and long‑term prioritisation
• Deep‑Dive Workshop: Institutional readiness roadmap
• High‑Level Panel: Strategic choices for the 2028–2034 period

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Participants will leave the seminar with:

• A clear understanding of the proposed 2028–2034 EU funding architecture and the status of legislative negotiations
• The ability to distinguish current legal requirements, Commission proposals, negotiation issues and recommended preparatory actions
• A structured approach for translating national and regional needs into prioritised reforms and investments
• Practical tools for developing intervention logic, milestones, targets, governance arrangements and implementation roadmaps
• A stronger understanding of complementarity between nationally allocated and centrally managed EU instruments
• Greater capacity to assess performance, compliance and implementation risks at decision‑making level
• A first institutional readiness roadmap for programming and negotiating the 2028–2034 framework

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This programme is designed for:

• Political decision‑makers and political advisers responsible for EU funds or sectoral investment policies
• Senior civil servants from central coordinating bodies, finance ministries and line ministries
• Leadership of managing authorities, intermediate bodies, regional authorities and implementing institutions
• Officials responsible for programming, public investment, reforms, monitoring, financial management, control and audit
• Senior representatives involved in negotiations with the European Commission and in national partnership processes

Attendance is particularly encouraged for institutions seeking to establish a common national position, clarify responsibilities early, strengthen political–technical coordination and prepare a credible project and reform pipeline before adoption of the final regulations.

REGULATORY SCOPE & DELIVERY PRINCIPLE

The seminar will be updated against the latest available versions of the 2028–2034 legislative package. All training content will clearly identify each provision as one of the following:

• Current rule applicable under the 2021–2027 framework
• Commission proposal for 2028–2034
• Issue still under negotiation
• Recommended national preparation measure

The core regulatory package includes the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework, the proposed framework for National and Regional Partnership Plans, the proposed common budget expenditure tracking and performance framework, the proposed European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe framework, the proposed Global Europe instrument, relevant sectoral programmes, the current Common Provisions Regulation and the cross‑cutting requirements arising from the Financial Regulation, public procurement, State aid, fundamental rights and protection of the EU budget.