EU funds in the CZ > National Coordination Authority

National Coordination Authority

The National Coordination Authority (NCA) is a central methodological nad coordination entity for the implementation of programmes co-funded from the European Union funds in the programming periods 2007–2013 and 2014–2020.

The National Coordination Authority is responsible for the management and coordination of the implementation and fulfilment of the set objectives of the National Strategic Reference Framework  for the programming period 2007–2013 and the Partnership Agreement  for the programming period 2014–2020 in the Czech Republic.
The role of the National Coordination Authority is carried out by the Ministry of Regional Development of the CR based on Government Resolutions No. 198 of 22 February 2006 and No. 448 of 12 June 2013.
 

NCA's role

The central methodological and coordinating role of the NCA is based on the following basic principles of efficient management:

  • existence of one central methodological authority in the area of implementation environment,
  • existence of a central coordinating authority to monitor the implementation of all programmes co-funded from the EU Funds,
  • existence of a single official partner for the European Commission (EC) in the area of implementation of the cohesion policy,
  • existence of a single administrator of the monitoring system,
  • existence of a central authority for the area of publicity and building absorption capacity.

Central management and coordination in the programming period 2014–2020 is being strengthened based on experience from the programming period 2007–2013 and performed evaluations in the area of efficiency of the management system and implementation of EU funds in the CR and with respect to the EU regulation for the area of cohesion policy but also rural development and common fisheries policy in the programming period 2014–2020, which include elements requiring far stronger management and coordination at the central level in order to achieve the objectives and priorities of the Partnership Agreement. The aim of the set-up of the system and activities of the NCA is mainly to ensure the ability of the CR to efficiently exhaust the entire allocation assigned from the EU Funds.
 

NCA's activities

(1) Methodological role for a functional implementation environment

  • The methodological role consists in setting single minimum standards and rules for the implementation of all programmes co-funded from the EU Funds mainly in the area of monitoring, evaluations, selection and assessment of projects, eligible expenditure, risk management, etc.

(2) Coordination for achieving results

  • Another key activity of the NCA is monitoring and evaluation of programme implementation. Based on identification and assessment of risks in individual programmes, the NCA submits proposals for measures to improve the results and coordinates related processes to fulfil the objectives and priorities laid down by the National Strategic Reference Framework and the Partnership Agreement.

(3) European Commission's partner for efficient communication

  • The NCA fulfils the role of the main partner of the EC in the area of implementation of EU Funds in the Czech Republic. It provides the EC with summary information about the implementation of programmes co-funded from the EU Funds and discusses any problems and risks with it.

(4) Monitoring system administrator to ensure high-quality data

  • The NCA also ensures a single information system for the purposes of management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and their operations at all levels of administrative and financial management.

(5) Publicity activities to ensure awareness and absorption capacity

  • The NCA ensures a consistent and comprehensive information campaign about drawing funds from the EU Funds in the Czech Republic and coordinates activities of managing authorities in this area. The aim of the publicity activities is to ensure provision of transparent information about all programmes and funding opportunities with the contribution of EU Funds. This is also related to the creation of absorption capacity.

(6) Other activities

  • coordinating fulfilment of ex ante conditionalities laid down by the European Commission for the programming period 2014–2020,
  • supporting the development of institutional and administrative capacities, knowledge and skills of employees involved in programme implementation,
  • supervision of respecting the rules laid down by the relevant EU and national regulations in the area of EU Funds implementation,
  • coordinating the preparation of annual reports submitted to the European Commission and other reports, including a part of the National Reform Programme dealing with support for the Europe 2020 strategy through EU Funds,
  • cooperation with other partner authorities, mainly the Ministry of Finance (Audit Authority, Paying and Certifying Authority), and other implementation structure entities.