The Interreg NEXT MED Programme is managed and supported by a series of different bodies that are responsible for ensuring the efficient and smooth implementation of the Programme and the projects.
All countries have an equal say in the Programme decisions and in the selection of projects, in line with the principle of co-ownership.
The main bodies involved in the management and implementation of the Programme, together with their functions, are described below.
- Monitoring Committee
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The Monitoring Committee (MC) is the decision-making body of the Programme. It is composed by the national and regional representatives of the 15 countries involved in the Programme and the European Commission (with observer status). It is chaired by the Managing Authority.
It ensures the efficient and timely implementation of the Programme: it takes all decisions, related to the Programme life cycle, including the launching of the calls for proposals, approval of projects, and monitors the quality and effectiveness of the Programme's implementation.
Other bodies participate in the meetings of the MC like the hosting institutions of the two Programme Branch Offices (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan and the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain) and TESIM (Technical Support to the Implementation and Management of Interreg NEXT programmes, an EU-funded technical assistance project).The MC meets on a regular basis, at least once a year.
List of MC members (updated on 19.06.2023)
Rules of Procedure of the Monitoring Committee (EN - FR)
Summary of main decisions of MC meetings - Managing Authority
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The Managing Authority (MA) is the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Italy which was appointed by decision of the 15 participating countries: it is responsible for the day-to-day operational and financial management of the Programme.
In particular, the MA launches the call for proposals, signs the grant contracts with beneficiaries, supports the implementation and monitoring of funded projects, manages technical assistance funds and payments to projects, and ensures visibility to the Programme. Furthermore, the MA assists the work of the Monitoring Committee and informs relevant stakeholders about the progress made toward the achievement of Programme objectives. Finally, the MA supervises the work of the Technical Secretariat and of the two Branch Offices.
The staff of the MA consists of internal permanent staff from the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
- Audit Authority
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The Audit Authority is responsible for system audits and sample audits of projects. For Interreg NEXT MED, the audit functions are assigned to the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, within a department ('Presidenza - Ufficio dell'Autorità di Audit dei Programmi Operativi FESR ed FSE') which is functionally independent from the Managing Authority.
The Audit Authority is assisted by a Group of Auditors comprising representatives of each participating coountry.
- Joint Secretariat
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The Joint Secretariat (JS) assists the Managing Authority in the day-to-day management of funded projects. The JS supports beneficiaries and partners in the implementation phase and processes technical and financial reports submitted by projects.
The JS is based in Cagliari within the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
- Branch Offices
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Given the large extension of the cooperation area, two Branch Offices (BOs) have been established to ensure more proximity with local beneficiaries. BOs supports the MA and JS in the diffusion of the Programme opportunities, organization of events and trainings, as well as monitoring of funded operations.
BOs are located in Valencia (within the 'Generalitat Valenciana') and in Aqaba (within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, ASEZA). The Valencia BO covers western Mediterranean countries (Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia) while the Aqaba BO is responsible for eastern Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Türkiye).
- Bodies at national level
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The National Authority (NA) is the national institutional counterpart of the Managing Authority (MA) in each participating country. Its main functions are related to the establishment and effective functioning of management and control systems overall, as well as the coordination of the institutions involved at the national level. The NA represents the country within the Monitoring Committee.
Finally, National Contact Points (NCPs) supports the MA in the information to potential beneficiaries, promotion of the Programme and monitoring of funded projects.