3. Discharge Annual Accounts 2016 and 2017
(
DG RTD.R.3) reported that the 2016 discharge exercise has been
successfully concluded and that there were no significant issues. He congratulated the
staff of the JUs for the work undertaken to achieve this.
The 2017 discharge exercise is currently ongoing and, again, no significant issues are
expected.
,
S2R JU, raised concerns regarding ECA's in-depth
enquiries on supporting documents for at least 50% of S2R 2017 interim payments
(provided that, following standard ex-ante H2020 'trust approach', the JU office does not
systematically check against supporting documents).
(DG RTD.R.3) took note
of this peculiarity and promised to check it with the ECA in due course.
(
DG RTD.R.4) announced that the ECA will not carry
out a performance audit on JUs, as initially foreseen. Instead, the ECA intends to monitor
the implementation of the Actions Plans drafted in response to the recommendations
made by the Independent Experts during the JUs interim evaluations and endorsed by the
respective Governing Boards.
ACTION: Units RTD.R.4 and R.3 to keep JUs and thematic units informed of any
update.
4. Audit matters
Regarding the Internal Audit Service (IAS) and given that different directorates are
currently in charge of R&I family matters (DG RTD, Executive Agencies, JUs), DG
RTD met IAS and insisted on a harmonised approach. JUs should contact RTD R.3 if
they have concerns about IAS recommendations that may hinder harmonisation efforts.
ACTION: Unit RTD.R.3 to try and ensure that a harmonised IAS approach is
established throughout the R&I family.
5. Joint Undertakings Benchmarking 2018
(DG RTD.R.4) referred to the annual JU benchmarking exercise that is
intended to provide an overview of the JUs’ performance.
DG RTD R.4 has received most of the JUs’ benchmarking tables duly completed. Once
all tables are received, they will be compiled in a single overview table, which will be
published on the NMMs wiki (under 'comparative tables'). S2R and SESAR will verify
with DG MOVE the status of their benchmarking exercise.
ACTION: Unit RTD.R.4 to compile the necessary data and publish the 2018
benchmarking table on the NMMs wiki.
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6. Partnerships in FP9
reported on the work of the ERAC ad-hoc working group on
Partnerships. Information about the work of this working group can be found at:
https://www.era-learn.eu/news/erac-ad-hoc-working-group-on-partnerships. The JUs´
representatives made themselves available to support the ERAC work, as needed.
According to the official roadmap, the proposal on the Multiannual Financial Framework
2021 – 2027 will be adopted on 2 May 2018 and the Commission's intention is to adopt
the proposal for FP9 on 7 June 2018. At the same time, the FP9 impact assessment will
be published. The JUs representatives made reference to the Interim Evaluations where
the experts recommended the participation of the JUs in the design of the FP9/JUs related
aspects.
If the calendar is respected, the strategic planning & programming process will start in
summer 2018. At this stage, the intention is to invite stakeholders to share their views.
The Commission aims for an open and inclusive strategic programming process.
ACTION: Unit RTD.R.4 to keep all JUs and relevant Commission services informed
on developments regarding Partnerships in FP9.
7. Financing Decisions 2019
informed the RTD JUs (FCH2 JU, CS2 JU, BBI JU and IMI2 JU) that 6
September is the final deadline for submitting all documents required by RTD.R.4 in
order to launch the procedure for the adoption of the Commission Decisions on the
Union financial contributions to the JUs for 2019.
A revised template will be shared by unit R.4, once the Legal Service has provided their
final comments.
(CS2 JU) doubted that CS2 JU will meet the deadline as the JU is in the
process of defining the duration - annual or bi-annual - of the next annual work plan and
the related grant agreements.
ACTION: Unit RTD.R.4 to share the revised Financing Decision template and the
timetable for its adoption.
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8. AOB
informed that all actions agreed in past meetings were carried
out except one:
JUs communication departments to draft a joint document on the lessons learnt and follow up actions following the event “
JUs4Innovation",
organised by all JUs in Strasbourg on 24-25 October 2017.
briefly presented the new DG RTD organisational chart with
Jean-Eric Paquet as the new Director General. She underlined that the Deputy-
Directors General representing DG RTD at the JUs Governing Boards will be the
following:
o Wolfgang Burtscher for BBI JU and IMI2 JU,
o Patrick Child for FCH2 JU,
o Signe Ratso for S2R JU and CS2 JU.
9. Closing Remarks
closed the meeting by announcing that the next Coordination
meeting will take place mid-October 2018.
Annex: presence list
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