Lessons learned and experiences gained in the financial implemenatation of the „BirdPROTECT” project

The aim of this paper is to present the lessons learned, i.e. knowledge, skills andexperience gained during the financial implementation of project activities ofthe Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad" (NIV-NS) during the project"BirdProtect" within the IPA Cross-border Cooperation Program HungarySerbia. The data presented in the paper are primarily intended for participatns ofIPA cross-border cooperation projects and all those who intend to apply for IPAcross-border cooperation programs with countries that are members of theEuropean Union (EU). Scientific Veterinary Institute „Novi Sad“, as a leadbeneficiary was granted the project „Protect Wild Birds“ = Protect Habitats =Protect Humans“, acronym „BirdProtect“. The partners in this project were twocompanies- State forestry „Gemenc“ from Baja, Hungary (Gemenc) and Publicenterprise „Vojvodinašume“ from Petrovaradin, Serbia (Vojvodinašume).The total value of the project was 358,228.89 euros, out of which 304,494.57 euroswas funded by the EU, which is 85% of the total project value. The remaining 15%or 53,734.32 euros were financed by the project participants, in proportion withtheir project activities. Therefore, out of the total project value, according to theactivities, the projects participants were granted the following amounts: NIV-NS -157,686.00, Vojvodina forests - 102,428.25 and Gemenc - 98,114.64 euros. However, after the deduction of 15% of self-financing of the project participants,the EU contribution to NIV-NS was 134,033.00, to Vojvodina forests - 87,064.01and to Gemenc - 83,397.44, which is a total of 304,495.55 euros. Self-financingamounts by partners were the following: NIV-NS - 23,652.90, Vojvodina forests -15,364.24 and Gemenc - 4,905.74 euros with the state support of the Republic ofHungary of 9,811.46, which was a total of 14,717.20 euros for Gemenc.The requirements of the IPA project programs of cross-border cooperation withEU member states imply that the EU finances in advance only 15% of the valueof project activities of all partners, which follows immediately after the projectcontract signing. According to that, all project partners received the followingamounts of the advance payment: NIV-NS - 20,104.96, Vojodina Forests -13,059.6 and Gemenc - 12,509.61 euros. Therefore, the total amount of theadvance payment by the EU for the entire project was 45,674.17 euros. Eachpartner had to use its own funds for the realization of the project activities, andthen to present and justify the costs through narrative and financial reports.After the report approval, the reimbursement of costs in the amount of 85%follows by the Ministry of Finance in the Republic of Serbia, the JointTechnical Secretariat of the project in Budapest and the EU Commission. Also,it should be noted that all the costs of banking transactions were covered byNIV-NS, as the lead partner, because the EU funds for all partners were paid toa special account of the lead partner. To date, the costs of banking transactionswere 121.00 euros, reduced by the amount of payment belonging to NIV-NS.