European Seminar Simplified Cost Options for ESIF

Giorgio CenturelliStrategic Coordinator of National OP “Governance and Institutional Capacity 2014-2020”, Italian Agency for Territorial Cohesion

Giorgio Centurelli is Senior expert, auditor and member of the European Commission expert group on the advisory platform FI-COMPASS. He has over 16 years of experience in Structural Funds and cohesion policies. He is expert in managing, implementing and in auditing activities of Operational Programmes co-financed by ESF and/or ERDF, also in the field of Financial Instruments for Structural Funds (mainly Microfinance or other instruments co-financed by ESF) and in the field of capacity building of Public Administrations. Since 2015 he has been in charge of the coordination of the National OP “Governance and Institutional Capacity 2014-2020” and also work with the Audit Authority of OP ERDF and OP ESF Emilia-Romagna. Since 2016 Giorgio Centurelli he has been appointed by General Secretary of Presidency of the Council of Ministers as a Member of National Technical Secretariat of Plans for Administrative Reinforcement (PRA).

Juan Ignacio Gonzalez-BasteroHead of Unit Financial Audit, Employment and Social Affairs, European Court of Auditors

Juan Ignacio Gonzalez Bastero is Head of Unit Financial Audit, Employment and Social Affairs, Chamber II, European Court of Auditors. Prior to this position, he was Head of Cabinet of the Member of the European Court of Auditors and Dean of Chamber II - Structural Policies, Transport and Energy (Dr Harald Noack) for several years. In 2010 he was in charge of supervising the DAS audit on Cohesion policy and the performance audit on the effectiveness of ERDF Financial Instruments. He also supervised the DAS audit of the Research, Transport and Energy policy areas in 2008 and 2009. Before joining the European Court of Auditors, Gonzalez Bastero held the position of Director for Finance of the Siemens-Nixdorf Retail and Banking Systems S.L. in Spain and other finance and internal audit management positions at Siemens Group in Spain. He has been regular speaker for audit and financial management issues.

Francesco LoieroExpert on Structural Funds, Italian Agency for Territorial Cohesion

Francesco Loiero is an expert on Structural funds. He is now supporting the Italian National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (Plans for Administrative Reinforcement (PRA)’s Technical Secretariat) to the coordination of 30 National and Regional Administrations owners of Operational Programmes, aimed at devising the new structure of the Plans, implementation, monitoring and interaction with European Commission services -Plans for Administrative Reinforcement (PRA). He supported the control activities of the 2007-2013 NOP Governance and Technical Assistance First-Level Control Unit, owned by the Italian National Agency for Territorial Cohesion. He also supports the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) in the management and implementation of the “Education” 2014-2020 National Operational Programme (use and control of SCOs included); he performs community controls related to public notices financed through the Operational Programme.

Urszula WójcikChief Expert on Technical Assistance in Public Administration, Public Adminstration, Poland

Urszula Wójcik is responsible for programming technical assistance as well as for assessing and selecting projects for co-financing. She has dealt with technical assistance for three consecutive programming periods – starting from financial perspective 2004-2006 – and has been involved in eligibility assessment and evaluation process as well as coordination of technical assistance support for increasing the capacity of public administration, beneficiaries and partners in Poland. Before, she was employed by the ministry dealing with the European Funds. Urszula Wójcik gained her initial experience with working for public administration in the Civil Service Office. She is deeply interested in practical application of Simplified Cost Options.