Towards 2027+: Effectively and Successfully Manage Milestone EU-Funds Projects and Programmes to Achieve the Best Results Extended Module (5 Days) with Hands-On Practice, Deeper Insights & Peer Exchange

DAY 1 — 09:00–16:30

FUTURE THINKING IN ADVANCED EU FUNDS MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

09:00–10:30 — A. Future Thinking, Forecasting & Foresight

• Introduction to foresight, forecasting, and future‑thinking culture
• Why future thinking matters in governance
• Best practices from EU Member States
• Case studies across ERDF, ESF, migration funds, agricultural funds, etc.

10:30–11:00 — Coffee Break

11:00–12:30 — B. Designing Interventions for Sustainable Change – Part I

Foundations for Intervention Logic & the Logical Framework Approach (LFA)

• Deep dive into Intervention Logic
• Aligning project objectives with EU policy goals
• Inputs, results, impacts across ESIF, RRF, ISF, BMVI, AMIF
• Mapping causal pathways
• Building efficient monitoring & control systems
• Review of existing methodological guidance

12:30–13:00 — C. Designing Interventions for Sustainable Change – Part II

• Identifying key elements of sustainable interventions
• Integrating environmental, social, and economic sustainability
• Real‑world examples of strong intervention logic
• Case study analysis
• Workshop: identifying sustainable objectives & outcomes

13:00–14:00 — Lunch Break

14:00–15:15 — D. Practicing Results‑Based Management (RBM)

• RBM principles and linking funding to measurable outcomes
• Results‑based frameworks
• Workshop: designing RBM in practice
• Implementation strategies & case studies

15:15–15:45 — Coffee Break

15:45–16:30 — E. Simplified Cost Options (SCOs)

• Flat rates, lump sums, unit costs
• Practical application in EU Funds
• Interactive case studies
• Calculating SCOs
• Compliance challenges & discussion

DAY 2 — 09:00–16:30

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI INTEGRATION IN EU FUNDS GOVERNANCE

09:00–10:30 — A. AI Applications in Fund Management

• New developments in AI for governance
• Reducing workload & minimizing errors
• Predictive analytics, fraud detection & compliance
• Demonstrations of emerging AI tools
• Hands‑on dashboards for real‑time data analysis
• Case studies from EU fund management

10:30–11:00 — Coffee Break

11:00–13:00 — B. Tackling Corruption with Technology

• AI & blockchain for transparency
• Using technology to mitigate errors & corruption risks
• Public procurement & contract management focus
• Workshop: applying edge technologies in corruption risk assessment
• Role‑playing scenarios
• Examples & pilot cases

13:00–14:00 — Lunch Break

14:00–15:15 — C. Future Trends in AI & Digital Tools

• Blockchain & generative AI
• Ethical and regulatory considerations
• Implications of the EU AI Act
• Simulation exercises & brainstorming

15:15–15:45 — Coffee Break

15:45–16:30 — Closing Session & Synthesis

• Reflection on digital transformation
• Opportunities & challenges
• Q&A and peer exchange
• Summary of key takeaways

DAY 3 — 09:00–16:30

NEW APPROACH TO RISK MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED AUDIT PRACTICES

09:00–09:15 — Welcome & Introduction

09:15–10:45 — Session 1: New Audit Methodologies for EU Funds

• Proportionality principles
• Single audit approach
• Risk‑based auditing frameworks Training Items: • Methodology workshops • Audit planning simulations • Case study analysis

10:45–11:00 — Coffee Break

11:00–13:00 — Session 2: Sampling Techniques in Auditing — What Works

• Statistical sampling for accurate and efficient auditing Training Items: • Practical sampling exercises • Group discussions • Case studies

13:00–14:00 — Lunch Break

14:00–15:30 — Session 3: Organisational Agility & Change Management

• Building agile teams
• Adapting to evolving EU policies & digital tools Training Items: • Scenario planning • Role‑playing on team restructuring

15:30–15:45 — Coffee Break

15:45–16:30 — Wrap‑Up & Q&A

DAY 4 — 09:00–16:30

LATEST APPROACHES & AI‑DRIVEN AUDITS IN STATE AID & PROCUREMENT

09:00–10:45 — A. Cutting‑Edge Insights into State Aid Auditing

1. State Aid Rules: Latest Frameworks

• GBER, de minimis, recent amendments
• Compliance to avoid financial corrections Training Items: regulatory updates, interpretation exercises

2. Modern Compliance Challenges

• Digital transformation & transparency Training Items: case‑based discussions

10:45–11:00 — Coffee Break

11:00–13:00 — Public Procurement: Audits as a Governance Tool

• Ensuring alignment with EU objectives
• Accountability through procurement audits AI‑Powered Auditing Practices: • AI for data analysis, fraud detection, compliance monitoring • Identifying anomalies • Optimising audit processes

13:00–14:00 — Lunch Break

14:00–15:30 — B. Future‑Ready Auditing & AI Trends

• Emerging AI trends
• Balancing innovation with compliance & ethics Actionable Strategies: • Integrating AI into audit frameworks • Building institutional capacity • Drafting an organisational action plan (milestones, strategy, skills, rules, guidance)

15:30–16:30 — Discussion & Reflection

DAY 5 — 09:00–16:30

INTERACTIVE KNOWLEDGE CONSOLIDATION, RECAP & WRAP‑UP

09:00–10:00 — Session I: Themed Quiz Show — “Future of EU Funds Mastermind”

• Team‑based quiz
• Topics: intervention logic, RBM, AI, SCOs, audits, risk management

10:00–10:30 — Coffee Break

10:30–13:00 — Session II: Team Lab — “EU Fund Designers: Building Logical Frameworks”

• Hands‑on development of logical frameworks
• Results chains & measurable indicators
• Identifying institutional “hidden resources”
• Team plans merged into a shared model
• Collaboration & problem‑solving focus

13:00–14:00 — Lunch Break

14:00–15:30 — Closing Session — “Knowledge Café”

• Recap of concepts, principles & recommendations
• Discussion of future action pathways
• Interactive reflection format

15:30–16:30 — Closing Ceremony — “EU Fun Awards”

• Humorous awards voted by participants: • Best Risk Mitigator • AI Enthusiast • Master of Simplified Costs
• Certificates or digital badges (AI‑designed)