In line with the principle of partnership, Implementation Operational Programme Plus (IOP Plus) provides funding to support the additional coordination tasks of civil umbrella organisations that delegate members to monitoring committees.
This support is provided through a European Union co-financed pilot call with a total budget of HUF 160 million. The purpose of the call is to assist civil organisations acting as umbrella organisations in the monitoring committees of individual operational programmes by covering the additional coordination workload arising from their role.
As the projects funded under this call approach physical completion, the IOP Plus Managing Authority will begin visiting beneficiaries on site from December 2025 onwards. During these visits, the Managing Authority will help ensure that implementation-related documentation is properly prepared and will explain the requirements and criteria for submitting the final financial report. Through this service-oriented and beneficiary-focused approach, the IOP Plus Managing Authority—operating within the National Development Centre—supports a smooth and efficient project closure process.
| IOP Plus is a technical assistance programme that, during the 2021–2027 programming period, supports the institutional system responsible for coordinating the efficient and effective use of cohesion policy funds available to Hungary. In accordance with the partnership principle, the programme also ensures the participation of civil representatives in monitoring committees and covers the costs of the additional coordination tasks carried out by civil umbrella organisations. |
Experience gained from the implementation of the call shows that, alongside successful project delivery, greater emphasis should be placed on proper project documentation—even in the case of more experienced beneficiaries. Implementing organisations welcomed the “on-site” support and found it particularly helpful.
IOP Plus also finances a project of the Széchenyi Programme Office (SZPO), which provides free, local assistance related to cohesion policy calls. This support is available to potential applicants, applicants for European Union funding, and beneficiaries alike, and covers both project planning and implementation. SZPI staff are ready to assist with any questions related to operational programmes under cohesion policy.
