Unit Β1 – Primary and Secondary Education

 Β1.Ι Programme Period 2007 – 2013

For the 2007-2013 programme period, Unit B1 implements projects in the framework of the ESPA Operational Programme 2007-2013, with a focus on projects to bolster Human Resources, which are funded by the European Social Fund. It also implements projects included in the Public Investment Programme, as well as European Programmes.

More specifically, the following competencies are regulated:

  1. It examines and certifies the availability of the necessary funding for the maturation and implementation of the Actions.
  2. It coordinates the operational and technical planning of proposed Actions, oversees the drafting of Technical Bulletins, following the issuance of related Invitations in cooperation with Units C and D and the competent directorates or supervised institutions of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, and submitting them to the competent Administrative Authority.
  3. It creates, appoints and coordinates Groups and Committees for the planning, implementation and monitoring of Actions and their sub-projects, as well as the receiving of sub-projects executed with their own means.
  4. It coordinates, in cooperation with Unit C, the drafting of Programme Contracts, agreements of collaboration and or cooperation, when that is provided for the Invitation of the Special Administration Service (EYD) of the operational programme, with institutions supervised by the Education, Research and Religious Affairs Ministry, for the implementation of the projects.
  5. It drafts Technical Bulletins of the sub-projects and actions.
  6. It carries out the approved Actions, reviews their progress and monitors the implementation’s timetable of the physical and economic object, utilising the information systems of the Service and offering Unit C the appropriate data on the information systems that it keeps.
  7. It is concerned with the compliance with existing national and EU rules in the implementation of approved Actions.
  8. It keeps a file of Actions/Projects that it plans and implements.
  9. It evaluates the course of implementation of approved Actions/Projects, manages problems that arise and amends the Technical Bulletins when needed.
  10. It registers data on the projects it implements on comprehensive information systems OPS and reports these to the Special Administration Services (EYD).
  11. It recommends to the competent Services of the Education, Research and Religious Affairs the issuing of necessary circulars for the implementation of Actions/Projects.
  12. It drafts analytical technical specifications and everything related to the natural object of the projects in tender proclamations, within the framework of approved Actions that it implements, and transmits these to Unit C.
  13. It monitors the execution of contracts of those who have won the tender or individuals, within the framework of Actions/Projects that it is implementing, as well as the implementation of actions of the Sub-Projects of Direct Labour Operations (aftepistasia).
  14. It drafts guidelines for carrying out and implementing the natural object and managing of the economic object of Actions, in cooperation with Unit D.
  15. It informs and cooperates with administrative authorities or other competent directorates on issues pertaining to the approved actions it implements.
  16. It takes measures to ensure the unimpeded funding of approved Actions and relays related requests to the appropriate Directorates.
  17. It collects the receipts and documentation provided in the institutional framework, regarding the expenditures on the Actions it implements.
  18. It reviews the selectability, legality and propriety of expenditures for the actions it carries out, and orders the amount to be placed in the Special Account.
  19. It organises and carries out on site visits and inspections in the context of implementation of Acts/Works within its competency.
  20. It collaborates with Unit D to provide economic data and drafts Statements of Completion of Acts.

Β1.ΙΙ Programmes for the period  2014 – 2020

Unit B1 undertakes to support the induction and implementation of Actions, with an emphasis on works in Primary and Secondary School education of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, in the framework of the Operational Programme P.A. 2014-2020, which are funded by the European Social Fund. It also carries out work included in the Public Investment Programme, as well as European Programmes. It may undertake projects as: a.) Direct Beneficiary; b.) Substitute for weak beneficiaries of the education division of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs; c. Support for Services/Institutions in the education division of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs.

More specifically, it is incumbent upon the following:

  1. It coordinates and ensures implementation of all actions required for the maturation of potentially selectable Actions/Projects in the Education Division, within the framework of a related Invitation, for which the ESPA Executive Unit-Education Sector has undertaken or will undertake the capacity of beneficiary.
  2. It coordinates and supports the Services of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, within the framework of the related Invitation. In that framework, the P.A. Operational Structure, Education Division, coordinates and oversees implementation of all actions required for the maturation of an Act/Project, in cooperation with the Service or the supervised institution of the ministry which will assume the role of beneficiary.
  3. It provides to all competent Administrative Authorities all necessary information, and takes care to submit printed material and documents required for the evaluation and inclusion of Actions/Projects in an P.A. 2014-2020 Operational Plan, for which the ESPA Executive Unit – Education Sector is or will be beneficiary.
  4. It can assist the services and supervised institutions of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, for which the carrying out of Actions/Projects in the Education Sector through the P.A. 2014-2020 Operational Programme will be advanced. To be more specific, assistance involves the preparation of data, printed material and documents that must be submitted to competent Administrative Authorities, for the inclusion of Actions/Projects in the PA 2014-2020 Operational Programme. The ESPA Executive Unit Education Sector undertakes this support, following an application with the related reasoning of the Service/institution, and the approval of the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. The ESPA Executive Unit Education Sector monitors the course of induction of these Actions/Activities and provides related information to the competent Service or the supervised institutions.
  5. Actions within the scope of the education sector of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, can be carried out by the Unit the latter being the beneficiary. In such cases, it meets the obligations provided for in Law 4314/2014 and by the System of Management and Review (SDE).
  6. In cases of Beneficiaries of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs who are unable to undertake Actions/Projects in the education sector in the context of the PA 2014-2020, the ESPA Executive Unit Education Sector may substitute them for their role. In such cases, Unit B1, following a reasoned request from the Service/Institution and approval of the General Secretary of the Education, Research and Religious Affairs Ministry, may be assigned the role of implementing the obligations of the Beneficiary.
  7. It supports the Services and supervised institutions of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs in monitoring the execution of Actions/Activities in the Education Sector, which they are carrying out as Beneficiaries within the framework of the PA 2014-2020 Operational Programme. Within that framework, the unit has the right to provide services of “project management”.  The ESPA Executive Unit undertakes to provide that support, upon the reasoned request of the Service/institution and the approval of the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs.
  8. It organises and carries out on-site visits and inspections in the framework of implementation of Actions/Projects that are in its area of competency, in cooperation with the other Units of the ESPA Executive Unit Education Sector.
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