The objective of this study is to improve the understanding of the state of SCOs and FNLC in IPA countries, explore means to transfer good examples for a better preparation of the EU candidate countries and potential candidate countries and to promote the use of these simplifications in these programmes. This shall, in the longer term, support an efficient negotiation process between the European Commission and candidate and potential candidate countries for the benefit of the latter.
The study intends to:

• promote better and smarter administrative practices in the 2021-2027 programming period in Interreg IPA partner countries and beneficiaries
• facilitate the development and use of SCOs and FNLC schemes in these countries and help establish a transnational network of (Interreg) IPA III SCOs/FNLC practitioners
• provide a better understanding of the state of SCOs and FNLC in these countries as well as explore ways of transfer of good examples to better prepare the candidate countries and potential candidates to design and implement further SCOs and FNLC in Cohesion Policy. 

The study is structured along three activities implementing different analytical perspectives:

• Activity 1: Identification of practices related to SCOs and FNLTC to achieve a consistent set of information and homogeneous presentation of the collection of SCOs and FNLTC in the database to then find the 30 best replicable practices.
• Activity 2: development of feasibility studies and roadmaps for the 30 best replicable practices, to support the matching process across Interreg IPA partner countries showing needs and potentials to further enhance the use of SCOs and FNLTC in Interreg IPA programmes.
• Activity 3: setting up and promotion of an e-library consisting of all the selected SCOs and FNLTC best replicable including different types of information such as manuals, guides, summaries of reports encouraging wide uptake of these practices and the abandonment of unnecessary rules and procedures. 

The study is led by Spatial Foresight GmbH, with t33 acting as partner.

The report of the study is available here.