TAIEX Mission in Sofia with the Participation of CEUTP Experts

Public procurement, social dialogue, and climate resilience in EU-funded projects. A TAIEX mission featuring representatives from the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CEUTP).

On September 29–30, an expert mission under the TAIEX instrument took place in Sofia, organized by the Managing Authority for the “Transport Connectivity” 2021–2027 programme, operating within Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport and Communications. The meeting aimed to facilitate an exchange of experience and best practices between the Bulgarian side and the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CEUTP).

CEUTP was represented by:

1. Ms. Ewa Paderewska, Head of the Transport Analysis Department,
2. Mr. Przemysław Ostrowski, Expert in the Control and Audit Department.

During the two-day workshop, the CEUTP representatives shared Poland’s experience regarding the management, implementation, and auditing of projects co-financed by the European Union. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the “Transport Connectivity” programme’s Managing Authority and experts from Bulgaria’s National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC).

The mission program included ten presentations covering key issues related to the implementation of transport investments, such as:

• amendments to public procurement contracts and their financial implications;
• financial corrections and the case law of Polish administrative courts regarding public procurement;
• the use of non-price criteria for bid evaluation;
• public participation in the preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects;
• enhancing the climate resilience of transport investments;
• planned changes to European Union public procurement regulations.

The expert mission provided an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experience between representatives from Bulgaria and Poland, as well as for discussions on practical solutions to support the effective management, control, and implementation of transport investments co-financed by the European Union.

Participants engaged actively in discussions with experts from the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CEUTP), sharing their own experiences and raising numerous questions about the practical aspects of implementing EU-co-financed projects. There was particular interest in the use of review clauses and indexation mechanisms in public procurement contracts, as well as methods for involving local communities in the planning and preparation phases of transport projects.

This TAIEX mission represented another stage in the ongoing cooperation between Poland and Bulgaria. Regular contact facilitates not only the exchange of knowledge and experience but also the collaborative search for effective solutions in the implementation of EU-funded projects. This cooperation will continue, among other ways, within the framework of platforms and expert forums supported by the European Commission (DG REGIO):

– DG REGIO Peer2Peer (covering areas such as Public Procurement, the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ (DNSH) principle, and public participation);
– The C4T Community of Pracice,

Participation in these initiatives facilitates the exchange of good practices among institutions responsible for implementing EU funds. It also enables the continuous professional development of staff through access to specialized knowledge, participation in workshops and expert discussions, and the building of international cooperation networks. The knowledge and experience gained are subsequently applied to the ongoing work of CEUTP and shared with other staff members, contributing to the further strengthening of institutional capacity in the field of European funds.

TAIEX Peer-to-Peer is an instrument of the European Commission designed to facilitate the exchange of expertise among institutions that manage Cohesion Policy funds. It allows public administrations in Member States to share practical knowledge and best practices regarding the management and implementation of European programmes.