02-09-2020 17:05
The 6th Cooperation Committee Meeting of the Home Affairs Programme was held online on 1 September 2020. All member organisations participated in the meeting, namely National Police Directorate of Norway, Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, and the Council of Europe. Observers were represented by Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest, Financial Mechanism Office, National Focal Point, and Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria. Representatives of General Directorate “Border Police” were invited to present a possible project idea.
Participants reviewed the progress achieved in the Home Affairs Programme in 2020. Special focus was placed on the development of the programme in the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Detailed information was presented for all projects. The activities are in their initial stage of implementation, with project teams established and public procurement under preparation for most projects. Delays in project plans were registered in view of the Covid-19, especially as regards opening conferences and bilateral activities. Most programme and project related events were carried out online through videoconferencing tools. The Programme Operator presented also results of audits carried out by the Audit Authority whose general conclusion is that no major findings exist and the management and control systems function effectively.
The Cooperation Committee discussed the request for modification of the Programme Agreement stemming from the cancellation of two pre-defined projects. The Programme Operator presented the measures taken in this regard. A proposal for a new pre-defined project entitled “Development of the cooperation in the Schengen area” was presented by the representatives of the General Directorate Border Police and discussed by the Committee members.