Implementing documents

This section is addressed to beneficiaries who are implementing their projects. Lead and Project partners can find here documents for reporting of expenditures, visibility, using eMS and other related helpful instructions. The most important document that follows each stage of the project implementation cycle is the Project Implementation Manual. The Manual is drafted in order to provide understanding of Programme rules and guide beneficiaries in implementing their projects. Relevant annexes and additional tools can be downloaded on the links below as well. Project Implementation Manual for 2nd Call for Proposal beneficiaries: Guide on filling in Project Progress Report for 2nd CfP was updated by inserting instruction on pg. 14 of document for projects containing investments (works): Project Implementation Manual for 1st Call for Proposal beneficiaries:

Expenditures & Reporting

Programme rules on eligibility of expenditures – version 2.0: this is the most important document covering eligibility of expenditures on Programme level. This document is prepared for partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

NEW Control Guidelines for Interreg IPA CBC Programmes (v4.0) lays down the basis for work of Control bodies of the Interreg IPA CBC Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, covering all participating countries. It also includes NEW Annexes to Control Guidelines for Interreg IPA CBC Programmes (v4.0).

Guidelines for eligibility of expenditure for Croatian Project Partners 3.0 guides Croatian beneficiaries through reporting, provides details on submitting costs and lists documentation needed for specific costs of all budget categories. It also includes Annexes to Guidelines for eligibility of expenditure for Croatian Project Partners 3.0. In order to simplify reporting for beneficiaries, these annexes contain templates for calculating staff costs and defining the VAT status.

NEW Control guidelines for beneficiaries from Bosnia and Herzegovina (version 3) are developed for Lead Beneficiaries and Project Partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina involved in the implementation of projects.
Additional instructions for archiving of documentation in eMS for Lead Beneficiaries and Project Partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina are also provided: Instructions for proper storage of project documentation in eMS.

NEW Guidelines for eligibility of expenditure for Montenegrin Project Partners are developed for Lead Beneficiaries and Project Partners from Montenegro with instructions for archiving documentation in eMS.

VAT rules for Croatia: please note that on the current procedures applied in the Republic of Croatia, VAT is eligible if it cannot be refunded in line with the national legislation. VAT Statement issued by the relevant institution should be presented. Value Added Tax Act (OG, No. 73 / 13, 148 / 13, 143 / 14, 115 / 16, 106/18, 121/19). Ordinance on the Value Added Tax (OG, No 79 / 13, 85 / 13, 160 / 13, 35 / 14, 157 / 14, 130 / 15, 1 / 17, 41 / 17, 128 / 17, 1 / 19, 1 / 20 ).

VAT rules for Bosnia and Herzegovina: please note that beneficiaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina are obliged to follow relevant national procedure for VAT exemption: Instruction on claiming customs duties and taxation payment exemption in accordance with the Framework Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commission of the European Communities on the rules for cooperation to implement EC financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II)” (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No 91/15). Additional information on VAT exemption certificate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is provided on: https://www.dei.gov.ba/uploads/documents/informacija-za-bh-korisnike-grantova-o-oslobadanju-od-placanja-pdv-a_1612342421.pdf.

VAT rules for Montenegro: please note that beneficiaries in Montenegro are obliged to follow relevant national procedure for VAT exemption: Rulebook on value added tax exemptions for investors and supply of certain products and services (Official Gazette of Montenegro, 17/15 of 17 April 2015, 68/15 of 8 December 2015), -Instructions on how to implement the procedure for exercising the right to exemption from value added tax for projects financed by the European Union (EU), from 17 June 2019. Additional information on VAT exemption certificate in Montenegro is provided on: http://www.cfcu.gov.me/vijesti/156867/Nove-instrukcije-za-oslobadanje-od-placanja-PDV-a-decentralizovano-indirektno-upravljanje.html

Public Procurement

For the award of service, supply and work contracts by the beneficiaries, the procurement procedures shall follow the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title II and Annex I of Regulation No 2018/1046 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union which apply on the territory of in the whole Programme area, on the territory of Croatia as Member State, and on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as IPA II countries. 

Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 2018/1046
Please note that the regulation in Croatian language can be downloaded here.

Please note that Commission Decision of 14.5.2019 (laying down the guidelines for determining financial corrections to be made to expenditure financed by the Union for non – compliance with the applicable rules on public procurement) is applicable.
Commission Decision of 14.05.2019 can be found here, and related Annex can be found here.

Communication & Visibility

The 2014-2020 programming period suggested a new, unified approach in achieving visibility of EU funding. A common brand was developed for Interreg programmes across Europe in a harmonization effort that ensures greater visibility on all levels of cooperation. When developing our Programme’s Visibility Guidelines, we have taken this into account and provided practical examples for communicating your project activities and making them visible to the widest audiences.

One of the most important changes in planning communication and visibility in the 2014-2020 period regarding our Programme refers to using the Programme logo in all project communication and visibility issues. Individual or separate project logos or graphic elements are not allowed in the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020. However, taking into account the need to promote specific projects of the Programme and at the same time follow the joint harmonisation of the Interreg brand, the Programme provides beneficiaries several options of customizing the Programme logo. All of these options are described in the Visibility guidelines. The document contains information regarding the use of the Programme logo and different options of customizing the Programme logo with project-specific elements, such as acronyms and graphic elements. The Guidelines are prepared for all project partners

Visibility Guidelines also include the logotip set: vector versions of the Programme logotips and alternative visualizations of customized Programme logo options.

Anti fraud

All of those involved in implementing a Programme or projects are responsible for spotting potentially fraudulent activity and then acting upon it. This necessitates the cultivation of an appropriate mind-set. A healthy level of scepticism should be encouraged, together with an up-to-date awareness of what could constitute potential fraud warning signs.

For this purpose, the Commission has provided the following information:

  1. COCOF 09/0003/00 of 18.2.2009 – Information Note on Fraud Indicators for ERDF, ESF and CF
  2. OLAF Compendium of Anonymised Cases – Structural Actions
  3. OLAF practical guide on conflict of interest
  4. OLAF practical guide on forged documents
  5. Guidance on the avoidance and management of conflicts of interest under the Financial Regulation

eMS Tools

The eMS (electronic Monitoring System) is a monitoring system for the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020. The eMS is a system used by Programme bodies, applicants and beneficiaries, and it is constantly improving. A secure online communication portal is integrated in the eMS and allows beneficiaries to submit project proposals, create reports and communicate with the Programme bodies electronically. As every new tool requires learning and practice, this section of our website provides documents and guidelines on using the eMS efficiently in different stages of the project cycle.

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