A project is a series of activities aimed at bringing about clearly specified objectives within a defined timeframe and with a specific budget.
When a partner country signs a financing agreement with the EU, this country agrees to take ownership of the development programmes funded through this agreement. A financing agreement allows a direct involvement of the partner country.
The Commission may delegate the implementation of EU-funded projects to Partner Organisations (so-called ‘indirect management’). In this set-up, Partner Organisations are fully in charge of the implementation of the project on the ground.
This toolkit aims to help recipients of EU funds for external actions to comply with the conditions for financial management set out in contracts for EU-financed external actions.
Programme estimates allow projects and programmes to be fulfilled through indirect management with the partner country or regional organisation or through partially decentralised financial management.
We take very seriously every indication of financial wrongdoing impacting the EU budget. Anyone with relevant information or a suspicion regarding possible wrongdoing involving EU funds is strongly encouraged to report the matter to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).