The national authorities are counterparts of the JMA in the programme preparation period, in the framework of which they are responsible for the coordination of the programming process in their respective countries, the financial management of the funds, in particular regarding the recovery of any unduly spent amounts on their territory, participation in JMC meetings, and proposing candidates for membership of the SC to the JMC for approval.
The JMA and the NA from Bulgaria and Greece concluded a memorandum of understanding for the recovery of unduly spent funds.
In Non-Member States, the NA signed a Financing Agreement (FA) with the EC regulating the division of responsibilities between the partner country and the EC.
Turkish Authorities
According to IPA rules, the Turkish Authorities shall establish an Operating Structure playing the role of the NA, which will be responsible for the management of IPA funds allocated for the participation of Turkey in the ENPI Black Sea Basin programme. The Operating Structure shall include an Implementing Agency responsible for the tendering, contracting, payments accounting and financial reporting aspects of the procurement and grants financed with IPA funds. The Turkish CFCU will perform this function.
The Operating Structure shall carry out a number of functions that include, inter alia:
- Participation in the JMC;
- Monitoring the implementation of operations financed by IPA and carried out by Turkish partners participating in joint projects;
- Setting up, maintaining and updating a separate reporting and information system, compatible with the MIS used by the JMA;
- Carrying out verification to ensure that IPA expenditure declared has actually been incurred in accordance with applicable rules that products or services have been delivered in accordance with the approval decision and that the payment requests by the final beneficiary are correct. These verifications shall cover administrative, financial, technical and physical aspects of operations as appropriate;
- Cooperating closely with the JMA, JTS and JMC in monitoring and reporting, in particular for the activities financed by IPA funds in Turkey