The basic legal document that lays down the principles for cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Commission, in the field of IPA implementation is the Framework Agreement. The Framework Agreement is the basis for establishing the necessary structures and authorities in the Republic of Macedonia for managing IPA assistance under DIS. The Framework Agreement determines the conditions for sound financial management of the EU assistance, as well as describes the respective obligations regarding the proper implementation of IPA funded projects. It also determines the common conditions for conferral of management powers for EU assistance to the Republic of Macedonia.
The Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Commission of the European Communities on the Rules for Co-Operation Concerning EC -Financial Assistance to the Republic of Macedonia in the Framework of the Implementation of the Assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) was signed on 30 October 2007 and ratified by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia and published in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No 18/2008.
On the basis of the signed Framework Agreement, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has adopted a Decree on Determining Mutual Relations between the Bodies and the Structures of Decentralised Management of the First Four Components under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and it was published in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No 132/2008.
This Decree describes the system for decentralised management of the IPA funds, as well as the mutual relations between the bodies and the structures for decentralised management of the first four IPA components.
In addition to this, according to the legal requirements, working arangements have been signed between the bodies and structures under DIS, as the following one:
Implementing Agreement signed between National Authorising Officer NAO and Programme Authorising Officer (PAO) /Head of Operating Structure (HOS) for the Implementation of IPA Projects under DIS, that regulates the relations and responsibilities between the NAO and PAO/HOS.
Operational Agreements signed between the Programme Authorising Officer (PAO) and the Senior Programme Officers (SPO) in the Line Ministries and Beneficiary Institutions implementing projects under IPA Component I -TAIB, in which the functions and tasks of both PAO and SPO are determined.
Head of Operating Structure (HOS) for IPA Component III and IPA Component IV signs Operational Agreements with IPA Coordinators in the Line Ministries implementing projects under IPA Component III and IV, in which the functions and tasks of both HOS and IPA Coordinators are determined.