The conference started by opening speeches presented by Ms. Andrea Elscheková-Matisová, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia and Mr. Ken Davey, Member of the LGI Steering Committee, followed by the introduction of the project by Mr. Ctibor Košťál, the project manager from SGI. The main objective of the project Start up of the network on Structural Funds Impacts and Transparency is to stimulate and enhance the research on the implementation and evaluation of Structural Funds and to improve the governance, transparency and impacts of Structural Funds. Project is being implemented by Slovak Governance Institute (Slovakia) in collaboration with Praxis (Estonia), Providus (Latvia), Transparency International (Lithuania), CPS-CEU (Hungary), Europeum (Czech Republic).

First keynote presentation was made by Ms. Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director-General for Regional Policy, EC. Her contribution was focusing on the Necessity of Structural Funds Public Control and Oversight. New period 2007-2013 is the "most generous" financing period in the history of Cohesion policy. Evaluation, reviewing and planning done by European Commission is in issue of transparency leaving space for various organizations, research communities, NGOs and networks to obtain a role of watchdog actors.

Succeeding presentation was conducted by Mr. Ken Davey, Member of the LGI Steering Committee concerning the Issues of Transparency and Efficiency in the Allocation/distribution of Structural Funds.

It was followed by presentations of UK experts Mr. Peter Wells and Mr. Tony Gore. Mr. Wells is Professor of Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation at Sheffield Hallam University and Coordinator of the Social and Economic Regeneration Team in the Centre for Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. He presented British experience with the Structural Funds Evaluation - 1994-2006: reflections on research strategies and methodologies for evaluating impact and assessing programme governance. Programme governance is focusing on extending partnership participation and the inclusion of representatives of the third sector and civil society.

Mr. Gatis Litvins from Providus (Latvia) presented research concerning Planning and Management of Structural and Cohesion Fund in Latvia: experience and lessons learned. There is always knowledge and experience that remains unpublished, rather pragmatic lessons learned in the course of work that may sometimes prove valuable when contemplating the areas for future research and the potential to produce valuable results to support the policy process. Thereby the goal was to accumulate the lessons learned in the course of work and shared out those.

The next part of the conference programme consisted of the session aimed at the Structural Funds Transparency in Slovakia. This panel started by presentations intervening Misusage of Resources from the Structural Funds in Slovakia. Firstly Mr. Vladimír Šárnik, lawyer from the NGO Eurea, introduced the Legal Instruments for Monitoring. Then his colleague Mr. Martin Plesch presented the Analysis of Specific Cases. Depicted cases showed the suspicion that misusage of resources from the (not just) EU Funds is taking place on a surprisingly high level and often can be found behind the organizations with political backing. Inspection is concentrated on administrative and alike small inaccuracies and therefore is not able to reveal the real and large swindles.

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2nd day of the conference

Opening part of the second conference day pertained to Hungarian researchers. First presentation and related research was conducted by Ms. Agnes Batory and Mr. Andrew Cartwright, both performing in CPS-CEU. Their research is directed on Evaluating Structural Funds allocations in Hungary, specifically it is focused on the monitoring committees (MCs) established for each of the operative programmes, complemented by a discussion of the role of external control/oversight agencies. The framework for the MCs' operation is laid down by European legislation. In Hungary, changes in the applicable law meant that the MCs' formal powers decreased in the current programming period and they only have consultative rights regarding the renamed Action Plans.

Ms. Agnes Batory's presentation

Mr. Andrew Cartwright's presentation

Issue of the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013 in Slovakia and Knowledge-based economy was brought in by Mr. Ctibor Košťál from the Slovak Governance Institute. The first part was dedicated to comparison of the two National Strategic Reference Frameworks with regard to the defined standards for Knowledge based economy. Former NSRF conducted by the previous Dzurinda´s government and the current, Fico´s one. Slovakia's strategy in enhancing the knowledge based economy than has been compared with other countries.

Mr. Ctibor Košťál's presentation

Second day session was concluded with a presentation of Education Policy as a Part of Structural Funds Interventions in Slovakia carried by Ms. Renáta Králiková from SGI. Slovakia witnessed robust economic growth in the past years, but there is a need for not only robust economic growth, but for sustainable growth via investment in education and in research and development. The good news is that the Slovak Government has allocated substantial part of the resources from the Structural Funds to enhance the higher education and the research. Yet, in order to make the full use of the Structural Funds it is indispensable that the money will support the most important activities that can stimulate the improvement of the higher education and research and development. The potential of Structural funds may only be fully used if they will be used strategically and in line with wider reforms in higher education and research and development.

The last part of the conference programme consisted of the brainstorming on the Future research and collaboration possibilities where the project partners had chance to express their ideas on the new direction in the cooperation of the network.