JASPERS activities to promote intermodal projects

18-19 March 2010Bratislava

György BESSENYEITransport Sector Specialist

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What is JASPERS?

Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions A technical assistance partnership to prepare major

projects between DG REGIO, EIB, EBRD and KfW JASPERS is an additional technical assistance resource

for the Member States value added: drawing on the experience and expertise of

the EIB, the EBRD and KfW in a more structured and coordinated way

For administrative purposes, JASPERS is a Unit within the EIB, and though « separate » from the lending activities of EIB, will coordinate closely and draw on Sectoral Expertise/Country Experience of PJ, Ops and Other EIB Services.

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Why was JASPERS set up?

As a feedback to the “lessons learnt” from previous funding period, i.a.: applications submitted by MS have been

inadequate causing delays in their approval and implementation;

some issues not properly identified causing problems during implementation,

as a result the absorption of EU funds in previous funding periods has been unsatisfactory.

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Activities of JASPERS

JASPERS: advice coordination develop and review project structure removing bottlenecks filling gaps identification of problems not addressed (e.g. state aid, EIA) provide DG REGIO with information on project maturity

Much of the detailed technical work will remain the responsibility of the beneficiary/Member State

JASPERS has its own TA framework contract Advice on implementation (Project Management and

Resources) early stage of procurement

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JASPERS activities

Focus on 12 ‘new’ Member States

Objective: increase the capacity of beneficiary countries, make best use of EU funding

Programming period 2007-13

Cohesion instruments: €308bn EU grants

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JASPERS: free and voluntary

JASPERS assistance will be provided free of charge to the beneficiary

There will be no obligation on the Member States to use JASPERS

There will be no obligation on a Member State which benefits from JASPERS to borrow from the EIB or the EBRD

There will no obligation on the EIB or the EBRD to lend to projects prepared using JASPERS

There will be no exclusion of EIB or EBRD lending to projects benefiting from JASPERS

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JASPERS structure

JASPERS is managed by a Steering Committee with representatives from DG REGIO, EIB, EBRD and KfW

LUXEMBURG provides overall coordination

and JASPERS services to Malta and Cyprus

WARSAW office since November 2006: provides JASPERS services to Poland and the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

VIENNA office since March 2007: provides JASPERS services to Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia

BUCHAREST office since April 2007: provides JASPERS services to Bulgaria and RomaniaSofia facility opened in March 2009 (not manned)

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JASPERS Resources

Three way partnership to fund JASPERS:

DG REGIO technical assistance EIB: 16 man years of professional staff input EBRD: 8 man years of professional staff input KfW: 1 person full time and consultants up to the

equivalent of 3 full time experts, upon demand of the sectors

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JASPERS’ key operational roles and functional levels

The key operational roles and functional levels in JASPERS structure are the following:

Experts: Are the source of the technical assistance to the

beneficiaries and therefore the key element of the structure

Sector Managers: Responsible for the optimal use of experts and the

quality of the advice provided Harmonise methodology across experts and countries

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JASPERS’ key operational roles and functional levels

Heads of Regional Offices Responsible for the formal liaison between JASPERS

and the managing authorities Monitor the activity of local staff Have a primary role as country managers Prepare and monitor the annual action plans Provide administrative and logistical support in regional

offices Report to the Operations Manager

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JASPERS’ key operational roles and functional levels

Operations Manager Provides support to the Head of JASPERS for high

level relations with the Managing Authorities, DG REGIO and Steering Committee

Prepares reports to the Steering Committee Reports to the Head of JASPERS

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JASPERS Project Cycle

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Managing Authorities (MA) identify relevant projects potentially eligible for EU

grant. At the beginning of the year,

the Project Fiches are sent to JASPERS.

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JASPERS proposes the Action Plan for the approval of the Steering Committee. Once approved by the Steering

Committee, the Action Plan is submitted to the

signature of the Managing Authority.

Member States continue to “own” the projects; they

submit the applications for grants as required by the

EU Regulations.

JASPERS reviews the Project Fiches and discusses the projects internally with DG-

REGIO and with the interested Managing Authority.

JASPERS experts work actively on the projects with

the Beneficiary, the Managing Authority and the relevant

Intermediate Bodies.

The European Commission takes a decision on the Project

Application.5

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Current Portfolio: Summary

Some 450 assignments in the Action Plans 2009 It is expected that JASPERS will complete about 100

Assignments in 2009 Action Plan is a rolling plan – first priority: uncompleted

assignments from previous year; JASPERS is flexible to take on new assignments during the year

Major projects account for some 84% of total active interventions, small projects for 7% and horizontal projects for 9%.

Support also requested for wide range of relevant Horizontal Issues (such as combining EU Grants with PPPs, CBA guidelines, training workshops, cost forecasting studies)

Demand for JASPERS expertise in non-conventional or complex projects e.g. Cultural projects in Poland

JASPERS ‘completed’ until now 119 assignments, concerning major projects, but only 84 are submitted to DG REGIO and 33 are approved

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JASPERS involvements in intermodal projects

Sofia (BG) Russe (BG) Vilnius (LT) Žilina (SK) Košice (SK)

Horizontal (PL, RO): justification of state aid in intermodal transport

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Definition of state aid

Transfer of property Exact definition of public contribution (both

EU, national and local) Selection of the operator Access conditions to the terminal‘s facilities

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State aid issues

According to Article 87 (1) of the EC Treaty,

a financial support which: is granted by the State or through State

resources, favours certain undertakings or the

production of certain goods, distorts or threatens to distort competition,

and, affects trade between Member States.

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Project justification

Investment alternatives Estimation of induced and diverted traffic Length of evaluation period Transport demand and cash-flow forecast Pricing of operation fees Collection and evaluation of economic

costs and benefits In order to be eligible for EU co-financing,

economic indicators should be positive.

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Contact details

JASPERS

100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer

L-2950 Luxembourg

Email: jaspers@eib.org

Tel: + 352 4379-1

www.jaspers-europa-info.org