Update to the contribution to the progress report on the process of accession of the republic of macedonia to the european union

3.22REGIONAL POLICY AND COORDINATION OF STRUCTURAL INSTRUMENTS

3.22.2 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Centres for regional development have been established and registered in five of the planning regions (in the East, South - eastern, North - eastern, South - west and Polog planning region). Staff recruitment in the registered Centres is under way. The Ministry of Local Self-Government is in continuous communication with the rest of the planning regions providing them support in the process of completion of the required documentation in order to be registered in the Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia.

In the Department of regional development within the Ministry of Local Self – government. additional 3 civil servants were employed In January 2008. In the budget of the Ministry of Local Self government for 2008, for the first time was planed the programme Balanced regional development, and the implementation of the programme is underway.
DECENTRALISED SYSTEM OF IMPLEMENTATION OF EU FUNDS (DIS)

According to the Roadmap for DIS, the Ministry of Finance is in advanced point of preparation for the National accreditation and submission of the application package for accreditation to the EC. The stages of establishing the management and control system and the Gap Plugging are finished. The Compliance Assessment phase of the accreditation process has started on 4^th of August and external evaluators carried out an audit of the complete system, in order to verify that the accreditation criteria for conferral of management of IPA funds are met. The first Compliance assessment mission has been carried out as planned. Interviews have been held with representatives from the EC Delegation, the NAO office and the NF, the CFCD, the NIPAC Office and the Line Ministries. An aide-memoire was delivered, following which the outstanding issues are being addressed.

       

The Internal Manual of Procedures and Programme Operational Guidelines for the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Local -Government, Ministry of Education and Science and Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, have been prepared as separate Procedures for III and IV Component. Workshops on the content of these Manuals of Procedures and Guidelines for the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Fund for National and Regional Roads and for the Ministry of Education and Science and Ministry of Labour and Social Policy were organised by the long-term and short-term consultants of TA CARDS 2006 Project. The workshops were an opportunity for the respective institution to get better understanding of the content of the Manuals and Guidelines and to clarify the procedure of the implementation of the Project to be funded under IPA Component III and IV.

The National Authorising Officer has approved the NF and CFCD Internal Manual of Procedures on 10^thJuly, 2008. Copies of the approved Manual were provided to the Audit Authority, Internal Audit and all relevant DIS structures.
The Internal Manual of Procedures for the Competent Accrediting Officer was prepared and approved by the Minister of Finance (CAO) on 16^thJuly, 2008.
The Implementation Agreement between the National Fund and the Central Financing and Contracting Department for the Implementation of IPA Projects under Decentralised Implementation System (DIS) has been signed between NAO and HOS/ PAO on 31^th July, 2008.
IPA Regional Development Component specific issues

The Agreement for sub-delegation of tasks for Regional Development Component – Priority axis 1- Corridor X motorway completion was signed among the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Fund for National and Regional Roads and the Head of Operating Structure on 18^th July, 2008.

According the Article 169 of IPA Implementing Regulation, the Annual Implementation Report, with a brief summary on the preparatory activities undertaken by DIS structures related to the implementation of the Operational Programme for Regional Development Component for the period 2007-2009 was officially submitted to the European Commission by the Head of Operating Structure.
CFCD staff together with the Ministry of Transport and Communication and Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, have prepared the Work Plan (2008-2012) for implementation of the Operational Programme for Regional Development Component. (2007-2009).
The draft IPA application for the Project – Construction of motorway along Corridor X, section Demir Kapija-Smokvica is prepared underwent all the necessary stages of consultation and included the DG REGIO unofficial comments, as well. Тhe IPA Application is approved by the Government and is ready to be sent to EC.
In addition, HiPERB application for Corridor X was prepared and officially submitted to the Republic of Greece for formal consideration by the HiPERB Monitoring Committee. On 11^th July, 2008, HiPERB Monitoring Committee has considered the application, upon which official letter for approval of the application was received on the 1st of September 2008 by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Relevant studies related to the preparation of the Corridor X Project are prepared (Feasibility Study, Cost-Benefit Analysis, and Environment Impact Assessment Study).

In the Fund for National and Regional Roads, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for Completion of Corridor X Project was established and staffed.
The draft IPA application for the Project – Waste Water Treatment Plant is likewise finalised and it will be officially submitted to EC in the forthcoming period.
Procurement Notice for Technical Assistance for preparation of investment project for Waste Water collection and treatment plant in Prilep was published on the EuropeAid on July 30, 2008.
IPA Human Resource Development Component specific issues

According the Article 169 of IPA IR, the Annual Implementation Report for the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development Component for the period 2007-2013 was prepared by the CFCD together with the Ministry of Labour and Social policy and the Ministry of Education and Science. The Annual Implementation Report was officially submitted to the European Commission by the Head of Operating Structure.

CFCD staff together with the Ministry of Labour and Social policy and the Ministry of Education and Science, have prepared the draft Work Plan for implementation of the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development Component (2007-2013).

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3. 
   ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY
   

The Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Education and Science completed the Work Load Analysis of their human capacities engaged in the implementation of the Component III and IV activities foreseen with the Operational Agreements signed with the Head of the Operating Structure. On the bases of the prepared Workload Analysis, Information regarding the administrative capacities and the needs in the Line Ministries was prepared and submitted to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The Government of Republic of Macedonia has adopted the Conclusion for strengthening of administrative capacities with additional employments in the Line Ministries.
In the period of 6-7 August SEA provided 30 employees with training for preparation of log-frame and budget, in order to facilitate the ongoing process of IPA 2009 programming.
During July, several extensive trainings regarding better preparation for the forthcoming Compliance assessment mission were organised by the TA Project “Capacity Building in Support to the Decentralisation of Management of Assistance in the Republic of Macedonia.
Also, representatives from Secretariat for European Affairs, CFCD, NF and line ministries which have become trainers, continued to deliver trainings throughout the months of July and August.
3.22.5 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The second provisional Sectoral Monitoring Committee for component III was held on 25^th June 2008, assessing the major achievements and obstacles for implementation of the Operational Programme for Regional Development. The first IPA Monitoring Committee is foreseen to be held on the 22nd of November, 2008.