Newsletternewslettersbackprint

Since this first milestone of the Programme the primary effort was put into the building up of the implementing structures of the Programme, being faced with the challenge of developing a 'new generation'cross-border co-operation programme with a shared management system.

In practice it meant the completely different set up of structures compared to the previous experiences of the joint co-operation in the Hungary-Croatia Pilot Small Projects Fund and later trilateral co-operation (Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia) in the Neighbourhood Programme. The change has been quite evident, especially related to the established single Managing, Certifying and Audit Authority, as well as establishing new Joint Technical Secretariat.

All the mentioned Programme management structures have been set up as the joint ones, for one Programme, but for both Participating Countries. The focus of the IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme between the Member State and Non-member state is on the country that is claiming to be a member of the EU. So, in this particular case, Republic of Hungary, as the Member State of the EU supports the Republic of Croatia, as the candidate country for the EU membership in setting up the structures for the Programme implementation, sharing its Member State experiences as well. In the previous period both countries had separate Contracting Authorities.

The National Development Agency of Hungary was designated as the Managing Authority of the Programme first with Mr. Flórián Szalóki than presently Ms. Brigitta Zicherman-Mikulás acting as the Head of the Managing Authority, having accompanied by Ms. Mónika Rózsa acting as programme manager for this Programme, which role is now being fulfilled by Ms. Nóra Bartha. The Programme's main management body's task is to ensure the operational management of the Programme and its smooth implementation.

Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management, as the National Authority, supports Managing Authority in the co-ordination of programme relevant activities in Croatia, first with Mr. Milivoj Mikulić, Head of the Operating Structure for the IPA Component II and Mr. Darko Stilinović, Head of the Department for the Cross-border Co-operation in the Ministry. National Authority has recently been represented by Mr. Karlo Gjurašić, Head and Mr. Ivo Žinić, Deputy Head of the Operating Structure for the IPA Component II, being accompanied by Ms. Daniela Tomašević acting as a task manager in the Ministry for this Programme. Previously the task manager was Ms. Mihaela Tomašević.

The European Commission is represented in the Programme by Ms. Geneviève Leveaux, desk officer for the Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme.

In the implementation of the Programme additional structures have been involved: Certifying Authority (Ministry of Finance, Hungary) and Audit Authority (Government Audit Office, Hungary) as the joint structures and, as separate national level structures - Control Bodies (set up within Vati Nonprofit. Kft. in Hungary and within the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Croatia in Croatia).