Special News Event 2026
New Integrated Programming Approach: Aligning EU, National and Regional Strategies for Enhanced Fund Performance
Event Details
- Location: Budapest
- ️ Dates: February 5-6, 2026
- Format: Professional workshops, open conference with a panel of high-level speakers
- Certification: ETCP Certificate of Qualification upon completion
After Commission proposal and first reactions about 2028+ generation of funds, this Seminar is a good occasion for officers in charge of Public Funding to think “out of the box” and based on 30 years of operational experience on EU funds how to organise the best way the “integrated” management of EU funds:
What balance between National and Regional dimensions?
What integration of funds for a Common and Smart Strategy?
What indicators and tracking of Performance?
What instruments, financial and simplified to use without risks?
DAY 1: Integration and Strategic Planning
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:20 | Opening Session
- Workshop objectives and expected outcomes
- Introduction to the new EU Budget Performance Framework (2028-2034)
- Overview of COM(2025) 545 and integration philosophy
LESSON 1: INTEGRATED PLANNING – Multi-level Governance & Territorial Instruments
09:20 – 10:45 | SESSION 1.1: The New Integrated Planning Architecture
Breaking down silos across levels and authorities
Presentation (40 min):
- The shift to integrated planning: from fragmentation to coherence
- Multi-level governance framework:
- EU priorities → National strategies → Regional development → Local/territorial
- Roles and responsibilities Discussion:
- Commission, national authorities, regional bodies, intermediate bodies, implementing partners
- Coordination mechanisms and governance structures
Panel (25 min): Multi-level coordination in practice
- Practical coordination challenges and solutions
10:45 – 11:15 | Coffee Break
11:15 – 12:45 | SESSION 1.2: Territorial Instruments and Place-Based Approaches
Presentation (30 min):
- Territorial dimension in the new framework (Annex II codes)
- Urban, rural, coastal, border regions, functional areas
- Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) and Community-Led Local Development (CLLD)
- Macro-regional strategies and cross-border cooperation
Interactive Workshop (60 min): Designing integrated territorial strategies
- Exercise: Map stakeholders and design governance model for a territorial instrument
- Brief presentations (2-3 examples)
12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch Break
LESSON 2: FUND INTEGRATION & SMART SPECIALISATION
13:45 – 15:15 | SESSION 2.1: Multi-Fund Integration
Creating synergies across funding sources
Presentation (35 min):
- Rationale for fund integration in 2028-2034
- National and Regional Partnership Plans as integration platforms
- Combining EU funds: ERDF + ESF+, Cohesion + CAP, Horizon + Regional, InvestEU + FIs
- National/regional co-financing and private sector leveraging
Case Studies (25 min):
- 2 successful multi-fund integration examples
- Lessons learned and common pitfalls of S3
Group Discussion (20 min):
- Table groups identify potential fund combinations for their territories
- Sharing key insights
Q&A (10 min)
15:15 – 15:45 | Coffee Break
15:45 – 17:00 | SESSION 2.2: Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) – New Generation
Presentation (30 min):
- S3 evolution in 2028-2034 and linkage to performance framework
- S3 priorities → intervention fields → indicators
- Entrepreneurial discovery process, inter-regional innovation (I3)
- Industrial transition, digitalization, green transition through S3
Workshop Activity (45 min): S3-based integrated programming
- 4 scenario groups:
- Manufacturing transition + skills + innovation
- Agri-food innovation + rural development
- Clean energy + industrial clusters
- Digital transition + SME support
- Quick presentations (2 minutes each)
17:00 – 17:15 | Day 1 Wrap-up & Key Takeaways
19.00 Diner
DAY 2: Performance and Financial Innovation
09:00 – 09:15 | Day 2 Opening
- Recap of Day 1
- Day 2 objectives: measuring success and financing mechanisms
LESSON 3: PERFORMANCE TRACKING & NEW INDICATORS
09:15 – 10:40 | SESSION 3.1: The New Performance Framework
Presentation (40 min):
- Expenditure tracking and performance system:
- Single list of intervention fields (Annex I)
- Output indicators (what is produced) + Result indicators (effects achieved)
- EU coefficients (climate, biodiversity, social, gender)
- Performance monitoring logic: activities → intervention fields → indicators → results
- Key innovations:
- 5,000 to ~1,000 indicators
- Standardization, RACER criteria, gender disaggregation
- Climate 35% target and policy contribution tracking
Demonstration (20 min):
- Walkthrough of Annex I structure
- Navigation and indicator definitions
Q&A (15 min)
10:40 – 11:10 | Coffee Break
11:10 – 12:45 | SESSION 3.2: Practical Application – Performance System Setup
Presentation (35 min): Monitoring and reporting requirements
- Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR)
- Member State responsibilities and timeline
Mini-Exercise (30 min): Setting targets and baselines
- Quick exercise on target-setting methodology
- Common mistakes and solutions
Q&A (5 min)
12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch Break
LESSON 4: FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, SCO & FINANCING NOT LINKED TO COSTS
13:45 – 15:00 | SESSION 4.1: Financial Instruments in the Integrated Framework
Presentation (35 min):
- Evolution of financial instruments (FIs) 2028-2034
- Types: loans, guarantees, equity, quasi-equity, hybrid
- InvestEU and regional/national FIs complementarity
- FIs under the new performance framework:
- Intervention field assignment to FI operations
- Performance tracking through financial intermediaries to final recipients
- Monitoring leverage and mobilized investment
Case Studies (20 min):
- Example 1: SME growth and innovation fund (multi-regional)
- Example 2: Energy efficiency fund (ERDF + InvestEU)
- Key success factors
Table Discussion (15 min): FI opportunities in your territory
- Quick sharing of ideas
Q&A (5 min)
15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:50 | SESSION 4.2: Simplified Cost Options (SCO) & Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC)
Presentation (40 min):
Part A: Simplified Cost Options (15 min)
- Types: lump sums, unit costs, flat rates
- Benefits and SCO in new framework
- Setting up, indicator linkage, verification
Part B: Financing Not Linked to Costs (25 min)
- FNLC paradigm: from costs to results
- FNLC in Article 125 Financial Regulation
- Using output indicators from Annex I as milestones/targets for payment
- Payment upon achievement
- Setting up FNLC: selecting indicators, defining targets, verification, risk management
Workshop Exercise (40 min): Designing a FNLC operation
- Groups select a policy area
- Design FNLC-based measure: objective, output indicators, targets, payment conditions, verification
- 2-minute presentations (4 groups)
16:50 – 17:00 | CLOSING SESSION
Synthesis & Action Planning (10 min):
- Individual reflection: Top 3 priority actions for 2028-2034 preparation
- Closing remarks, resources available, certificate distribution
Methodological Approach
- 40% Presentations – Framework explanation
- 35% Interactive Workshops – Hands-on exercises
- 25% Discussion & Peer Learning – Cases and sharing
Learning Outcomes
Day 1:
- Design integrated plans across governance levels
- Implement territorial instruments and coordinate stakeholders
- Combine multiple funds in coherent strategies
- Apply Smart Specialisation to programming
Day 2:
- Navigate performance framework and assign intervention fields
- Select indicators and set targets
- Design and implement financial instruments
- Apply SCO and FNLC mechanisms
Workshop Duration: 2 days (09:00-17:00 each day)
Target Audience: Managing authorities, intermediate bodies, regional development agencies, national coordination bodies, implementing partners
- Standard Rate: €1,735
- Early Bird (15% off): €1,474.75 (Save €260.25!)
- Group Rate (10% off): €1,561.50 (2+ participants)
- Limited to 40 participants for optimal interaction including special tour and dinner