International Scientific and Practical Conference
“Challenges for the Financial Management and Control of EU Funds”
Sofia University, Faculty of Law, Auditorium 272
11th of November 2016

PROGRAMME
08:00-09:00 Registration
09.00 - 09:15    Opening Session
Prof. Dr Habil Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
Prof. Sasho Penov, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
Iskra Mihaylova, MEP, Chair of the Committee on Regional Development, European Parliament

09:15 - 10:00    Introductory Panel: Application of EU Funds Financial Management and Control Systems: Challenges, Lessons Learned and Prospects
Jivomira Gaydova, Senior Manager, Public Sector Advisory, KPMG Bulgaria OOD
Presentation: ‘Results of the Ex-post Evaluation of the Cohesion Policy Programmes (2007 - 2013): Delivery System’
Joanna Lupinska and Radosław Pituch, Project Management Team, The Mazovian Unit for EU Programmes Implementation
Presentation: ‘The Financial Management and Control of EU Funds - 10 Years of Experience in Implementing EU Programmes in Mazovia Region, Poland’
Peter Heil, PhD, Director/Head of Consultancy Services, ALTUS ZRt.
Presentation: ‘Challenges in EU Funds Management for the Pre-accession Countries of the Western Balkans”
John Munnery, Chairman of the British Bulgarian Business Association (BBBA)
Presentation: ‘A British Business Perspective of Brexit’
Alexander Cvetkovic, Governor of Nišava District, Republic of Serbia
Greeting address
Moderator: Chief Assistant Professor Savina Mihaylova-Goleminova, PhD

10.00 - 11.00    Panel 1: Legal basis and sources of public relations, emerging, progressing and being paid off in the management and monitoring system of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Common Agricultural Policy and the corresponding national co-financing. EU Budget and policies, including Common Agricultural Policy and direct payments.
Assoc. Prof. Evelina Dimitrova Stoeva, PhD, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Sofia University
Presentation: ‘EU Financial System (System of Public Finances)’
Chief Assistant Professor Deyana Marcheva, PhD, Lecturer at the New Bulgarian University
Presentation: ‘Legal Framework of EU Budget Implementation’
Chief Assistant Professor Denitsa Topchiyska, PhD, Lecturer in General Theory of Law at the Department of Law, the New Bulgarian University
Presentation: ‘Legal Regulation of EU Grants’
Manuela Milosheva, Director of National Fund Directorate, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria
Presentation: ‘Budgeting and Payment Arrangements for the 2014-2020 Operational Programs financed by ERDF, ESF and CF’
Todor Yankulov, Chairperson of GLOBAL ADVISORS AD Board of Directors, certified internal auditor, member of the Institute of Inland Auditors (The IIA)
Presentation: ‘Civil Society Monitoring of Programme Budgeting”
Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Yuriy Kuchev, PhD

11.00 - 11.30    Coffee Break 

11.30 - 12.15    Panel 2: The key strategic and programming documents of the Republic of Bulgaria and the EU in the field of Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy. General Characteristics of the legal financial relations emerging, progressing and being paid off in the system.
Dessislava Kovatcheva, WYG Bulgaria
Presentation: ‘The Partnership Agreement of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Enshrined Ex-ante Conditionalities’
Krassimir Kiriakov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science
Presentation: ‘Challenges Faced by 2014-2020 Science and Education for Smart Growth OP’
Vasil Grudev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food
Presentation: ’Legal Financial Relations in EAFRD and EAGF Public Funds Management and Control – Public Procurements, Financial Corrections and Irregularities”
Moderator: Prof. Sasho Penov, PhD

12.15 - 13.30    Panel 3: Subjects of the legal financial relations in the system of the public funds invested by ESIF and the corresponding national co-financing: the Managing Authority, the Certifying Authority, the Audit Authority, the National Audit Office, the European Court of Auditors, the Council of Ministers, the National Financial Inspection Agency, the Ministry of Interior (AFCOS Directorate), the Paying Agency (State Fund Agriculture), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food; beneficiaries; others.
Karina Karaivanova, Chairperson of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC)
Presentation: ‘Operational Programmes financed by the ESIF and the National Budget. National Control and Audit Authorities - Functions, Responsibilities and Powers’
Mladen Lambev, PhD - Coordinator of the Parliamentary Dimension of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018 at the European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Georgi Tenev, Legal Adviser to the Commission for Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Bulgaria
Presentation: ‘Functions of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds within the EU Funds Management and Control System in Bulgaria’
Dimitar Elkov, CIA, CRISC, Head of Department at the Bulgarian National Audit Office
Presentation: ‘Role of the Performance Audit to Improve Management of EU Funds’
Marko Dimitrijević, LL.D
Presentation: ‘Role of the Audit Authority in the Financial Management and Control of EU Funds in Serbia’
Desislava Trifonova, Senior Expert at the Agriculture State Fund
Presentation: ‘Subjects of Legal Financial Relations in the EAFRD and EAGF Public Funds System: Managing Authority, Certifying Authority, Paying Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Beneficiaries’
Ginka Simeonova, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Department of Law, New Bulgarian University and Assioc. Prof. Atanas Simeonov, PhD, Faculty of Law, Sofia University
Presentation: ’The Principle of Legal Certainty and the Principle of Legitimate Expectations - An Assurance to Beneficiaries for Spending EU Funds’
Presenter: Ginka Simeonova
Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Presentation: ‘2007-2013 Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy OP – Evaluation from Business Perspective. Main Conclusions and Expectations for 2014-2020 Programming Period’   
Moderator: Assioc. Prof. Atanas Simeonov, PhD

13.30 - 14.30    Coffee Break (Lunch)

14.30 - 16.15    Panel 4: Legal financial relations in management and monitoring of ESI Funds during the project’s cycle, state aids, public procurements, irregularities, financial corrections.
Anton Tashukov/Boiko Aleksandrov, Protection of the European Union Financial Interests (AFCOS) Directorate, Ministry of Interior the 
Presentation: ‘Irregularities in the Context of Protection of the European Union Financial Interests’
Milena Angelova, PhD, Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA)
Presentation: ‘Key Challenges for Bulgarian Beneficiaries in relation to ESIF Investments - State Aid, Subcontractor Selection, Irregularities, Financial Corrections’
Dora Burova, Director of Legal Services for Audit Activity Directorate at the Audit of EU Funds Executive Agency
Presentation: ‘Public Procurement Irregularities - Challenges for the Audit Authority’
Irena Georgieva, PhD student at the Faculty of Law, Sofia University
Presentation: ‘Control over Spending Public and EU Funds in Public Procurement’
Boris Yakimov (February 2011-May 2016), Expert with the Provision of Grants Department, European Funds, International Programmes and Projects GD, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Presentation: ‘Conformity Assessment with State Aid Legislation and Application of State Aid Regime. Responsible Authorities’
Dobromir Georgiev, WYG Global Consultancy
Presentation: ‘Main Advantages of the Service of General Economic Interest (SGIE) Rules to Achieve Compliance with EU State Aid Regime for ESIF Financed Projects”
Petya Ivanova, Attorney at Law
Presentation: ‘Legal Regime for Detecting Financial Irregularities and Recovery of Irregular Expenditure under European Programmes”
Iskra Alexandrova, Judge at the Supreme Administrative Court
Presentation: ‘Some Issues Related to the Implementation of Schemes and Measures under the Common Agricultural Policy Resolved in the Case Law’
Prof. Tsvetan Sivkov, PhD, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Sofia University
Presentation: ‘Administrative Contract Arrangements in the Administrative Procedure Code’
Gospodin Tonev, Law Student in the Faculty of Law at Sofia University
Presentation: ‘Some Issues Regarding the Administrative Contract as Defined in the Act for Managing the Funds from the European Structural and Investment Funds”
Rozalina Kozleva, PhD, Infraproekt Consult
Presentation: ‘Cost-Benefit Analysis as a Tool in Public Funds Management’
Moderators: Kalin Slavov and Irena Georgieva, PhD student, Faculty of Law, Sofia University

16.15 - 17.45    Panel 5: Role of the financial and credit institutions in the management of EU funds and the corresponding national co-financing – financial instruments, Fund of Funds; Fund for Strategic Investments.
Assist. Prof. Irena Mladenova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University
Presentation: ‘The Financial Instruments as a Public Resource Multiplier - Experience and Challenges’
Nadya Dankinova, Executive Director of FOND FLAG EAD
Presentation: ‘FOND FLAG EAD – Challenges and Prospects’
Valeri Belchev, Chairman and Executive Director of Fund Manager of the Financial Instruments in Bulgaria
Presentation: ‘Fund Manager of the Financial Instruments in Bulgaria – Challenges and Prospects’
Kamen Kolchev, CEO of ELANA Financial Holding
Presentation: ‘The experience of ELANA: Lessons Learned from Structuring and Management of Financial Instruments
Kiril Velichkov, PhD, Head of European Projects and Financial Institutions Division, CIBANK
Presentation: ‘Financial Instruments in Support of Business Development”
Stamen Yanev, Executive Director of Invest Bulgaria Agency (IBA)
Presentation: ‘Financial Incentives for Investments’
Mariyana Hamanova – Rondini, Executive Director, Cleantech Bulgaria
Presentation: ’Financial Instruments Faciliating Innovative Solutions Launch in the Market’
Moderator: Chief Assistant Professor Savina Mihaylova - Goleminova, PhD

17.30 - 18.00    Closing Session

18.00 - 21.00    Cocktail

 *The organisers retain the right to change the programme.