Moldovan cabinet approves regulation on implementation of EU-financed programmes on cross-border, transnational cooperation

Chisinau, 20 July /MOLDPRES/ – The Government approved yesterday the Regulation on the implementation of EU-funded cross-border and transnational cooperation programs (PCTT), the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

The Regulation establishes norms for the institutional and normative framework for the efficient implementation of the eligible PCTT for Moldova and ensures:

- making efficient use of funds available for Moldova under PCTT;

- compliance with common requirements and liabilities, with establishment of the institutional competencies for administration, audit, control of PCTT;

- preventing, identifying and combating irregularities, frauds and corruption related to funds allocated under the PCTT;

- recovering funds allocated to PCTT that were used contrary to their destination, obtained fraudulently or embezzled in the event of admission of irregularities, frauds and/or corruption.

Similarly, the Regulation introduces new actions and mechanisms that would later help the competent institutions to fulfill the commitments assumed in bilateral cooperation documents with the EU, such as the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

In order to benefit from the funds allocated under the cross-border cooperation programs, partner states, including Moldova, will comply with a number of requirements regarding the management, audit, control and recovery of funds used contrary to the purpose of those programs.

At the institutional level, Moldova will involve national authorities on the above-mentioned processes as follows:

- National Management Authority – functions of this institution within the PCTT will be exercised by the State Chancellery;

- The National Audit Authority – functions of this institution within the PCTT will be exercised by the Court of Accounts;

- The National Contact Point for Control – functions of this institution within the PCTT will be exercised by the Ministry of Finance;

- National Anticorruption and Antifraud Authority – that function belongs to the National Anticorruption Centre;

The Office for the Coordination of Cross-Border Cooperation Programs will operate under the aegis of the State Chancellery and will provide the necessary support to the designated national authorities of the programs, the beneficiaries/partners during the call for proposals and the programs’ implementation. The office funding will be provided on the basis of EU technical assistance.