Set up and organisation
According to Article 139(4) of the IPA Implementing Regulation, the Operating Structures shall
set up a Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) to assist the Operating Structures and the JMC in
carrying out their respective duties. The JTS may have antennas established in each
participating country. In the IPA Cross–border Programme Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina,
the JTS will be established by joint agreement between the two Operating Structures. Details will
be set out in this agreement.
The Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the
Programme.
The Joint Technical Secretariat is jointly managed by both Operating Structures.
Organisation and staffing of the Joint Technical Secretariat
The JTS shall be based in Uzice, Republic of Serbia. An antenna in Bosnia and Herzegovina
will operate in Tuzla.
The JTS shall be lead by the Head of Secretariat. The JTS shall have international staff,
including both Bosnian and Serbian nationals. The JTS is composed of staff appointed by both
Operating Structures. The number and qualification of staff shall correspond to the tasks
defined below. Staff of the JTS shall cover the relevant languages – Bosnian/Serbian and
English.
The operation of the JTS and its antenna, including staffing costs (with the exception of salaries
of public officials), shall be funded from the Technical Assistance Priority Axis. More detailed
rules on the operations of the JTS shall be included in a bilateral agreement between the OSs.
Its activities will be carried out according to a work plan annually approved by the JMC.
Tasks of the JTS
The JTS is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the programme pursuant to the
provisions of the implementing agreement concluded between the Serbian and Bosnian OSs
and according to the provisions of national and EU legislation.
The JTS will assist the Joint Monitoring Committee and the Operating structures in carrying out
their duties and, in particular, it will be responsible, inter alia, for the following tasks:
• Providing inputs to annual and final reports on the Cross–border Programme;
• Organising meetings of the Joint Monitoring Committee and of the Joint Steering
Committee, including drafting and distribution of minutes;
• In close cooperation with the OSs, planning and implementing information campaigns
and other activities related to raising public awareness on the programme;
• Receiving and registering project applications and organising the work of Joint Steering
Committees, including drafting of administrative compliance and eligibility reports;
• Preparing, under the guidance and with the support of the contracting authorities and
OSs, standardized forms for project application, evaluation grids, guidelines for
applicants, implementation, monitoring and grant project reporting (including financial
reporting) based as much as possible on templates and models included in the PRAG;
• Organising programmes of info days and workshops for potential applicants, ensuring a
good coverage of the eligible region;
• Assisting potential applicants in partner search and project development;
• Encouraging project applications and providing guidance to the applicants;
• Advising grant beneficiaries in project implementation, for example by organising
procurement and monitoring workshops;
• Develop and maintain a network of stakeholders;
• Create and update a database of potential applicants and participants in workshops and
other events;
• Prepare, conduct and report on monitoring visits to CBC projects;
• Prepare and publish publicity material on the cross-border programme;
• Design and maintain an up-to-date programme website;
• Attendance at regular OS meetings and training events.
