JASPERS

Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions

Featured
Publication
26 February 2025
JASPERS Team

EIB Advisory JASPERS | 2024 in Focus: Quick Facts

In 2024, JASPERS, the EIB's largest advisory initiative, continued to provide essential support for the preparation and implementation of EU-funded projects under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and Just Transition Fund (JTF). Throughout the year, our efforts were dedicated to building capacity, enhancing project quality, and offering support across a wide range of sectors. This demonstrates our alignment with EU and EIB priorities and our adaptive approach to addressing evolving challenges.

Event
03 February 2025

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) training session in Italy

The training was delivered over a period of two weeks in four half-day morning sessions, on 3, 7 and 10, 14 of February 2025. The event attracted 61 participants from 27 major cities, several regions and ministries involved in implementation of SUMPs across Italy. The training included three core modules on SUMP methodology and six selected modules that provided an in-depth look at specific SUMP-related topics specifically relevant to the country. The training began with introductions by representative from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, along with a representative from EIB Advisory -JASPERS, followed by a virtual tour de table. Participants then engaged with presentations and interactive exercises covering the training modules selected, with high participation rate demonstrating a major interest in the topic and future challenges in implementing SUMPs.

Event
28 January 2025

Climate Proofing for infrastructure projects in 2021-2027 in Poland

**SEO Description:** on 28 January 2025, JASPERS, in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, organised a webinar focused on climate proofing of infrastructure projects for beneficiaries of EU funding in Poland This webinar was an introductory event on the topic of climate proofing and will be followed by further capacity building activities.

How we work

Who we are

JASPERS, a partnership funded by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, advises on strategies and projects that contribute to a greener, more connected, and more innovative Europe. Our support help beneficiaries align their projects with the highest EU standards, improving their chances of securing EU funding.

Free assistance for local authorities and promoters

We offer free assistance to national, regional and local authorities, as well as other beneficiaries of EU funds, in EU, pre-accession, and Eastern partnership countries. Our team is composed of over 120 staff within the European Investment Bank, and covers a wide range of expertise.

We support the entire project cycle, from planning to execution as well as technical training.

Working from six locations

To better serve our beneficiaries, we work from six locations. In addition to our Luxembourg headquarters, more than 70% of our experts are based in Brussels, Bucharest, Sofia, Vienna, and Warsaw.

To Member States and pre-accession countries

The role of public administrations is changing radically. Local, regional and national governments are expected to act as enablers for the rest of society, utilising their limited budgets to create better economic and living conditions.

We help you rise to this challenge in three ways:

First, we advise on how to set your sector strategies at national, regional and local level, helping you screen projects and decide where you can make a difference.

Next, we work alongside your teams and promoters to prepare top-quality projects that improve people’s lives. The better the project, the higher its chances of being approved for EU funding. 

Last, but not least, we equip your teams and promoters with tailored knowledge and skills. Whether through on-the-job support (on individual projects) or training activities (including online), we improve capacities in areas like integrated strategic planning, compliance with EU environmental, climate change, State aid or procurement regulations, and many more.

To the European Commission

The shortest route to earning citizens’ trust is to boost those projects that will make a tangible difference in their lives, making the best possible use of EU resources.

Our experts cover a wide range of sectors and work at both European and national level, putting us in a unique position to facilitate the absorption of EU funds.

We simultaneously support beneficiaries and Managing Authorities to ensure that available EU grants are utilised in an optimal manner.

Our combination of sector expertise and local knowledge also makes us a natural sounding partner for collaborating with the European Commission on the technical aspects of policy decisions.

To lenders

Right from the start, lenders are faced with a complex task. They can only fund projects that serve their lending policy objectives, meet stringent quality standards and achieve an acceptable risk profile.

Their next challenge — making those projects a reality — is no less daunting, and requires the alignment of multiple stakeholders from various sectors.

From start to finish, we offer lenders seamless, comprehensive support in the appraisal and selection of projects, with one goal in mind: getting them ready for funding.

JASPERS-assisted projects are given solid preparation and made implementation-ready. This improves access to co-financing by international financial institutions like the European Investment Bank, as well as commercial lenders.

We operate based on country work programs prepared through cooperation with the beneficiary country and the European Commission.

These plans list the investment projects that JASPERS may assist through individual assignments.

A Managing Authority acts as the central coordinator for each country and requests assistance from JASPERS. Our experts work in close cooperation with the beneficiary, Managing Authority and relevant intermediate bodies.

Member States or Enlargement Countries remain the owners of the projects.

Our impact

2389

assignments

36

countries

€

362

+bn

investment costs

Delivering results since 2005

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

JASPERS is launched by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on November 2005.

Formalised agreement by Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). JASPERS is based in Luxembourg. Its 16 members of staff assist the ten countries which joined the European Union in 2004 and the two about to join in 2007.

Opening of offices in Warsaw, Vienna and Bucharest.

As part of the economic recovery package, the Commission and the EIB’s contributions to JASPERS are increased by 25%

At the request of EU Member States, JASPERS' mandate is expanded to include support to project implementation.

JASPERS is asked to get involved even earlier in projects (preparation phase) and to step up its capacity building activities.

A Networking Platform is created.

JASPERS starts working in Croatia.

JASPERS evaluation by the EC recognises JASPERS role in helping projects and notices an increasing demand for its services. Its main recommendation is to step up capacity building activities.

JASPERS is requested to play a new role as Independent Quality Reviewer (IQR) of Major Projects.

JASPERS supports for the first time an old Member State (Greece).

JASPERS starts working in selective pre-Accesssion countries, e.g. the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

JASPERS IQR team is located in Brussels and organised as a separate division.

JASPERS assistance becomes available to the majority of EU and Candidate Countries.

Agreement is signed with DG MOVE for JASPERS experts to support Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) projects.

An award is granted by the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) recognising EIB's contributions to capacity building for better management of impact assessment processes and environmental protecion, particularly in its joint work with JASPERS.

JASPERS is made available to all IPA beneficiary countries.

JASPERS is awarded the "Committed to Excellence" certificate by the European Foundation for Quality Management, recognising its strengths in adding value for customers and managing with agility.

Preparatory discussions on post-2020 start.

Draft post-2020 strategy developed and first discussions with key stakeholders.

ECA performance audit highlighted the comprehensive support of JASPERS and the positive impact on quicker project approval and administrative capacity of its counterparts.

JASPERS stepped up its horizontal and strategy support to Member States in order to improve the early identification of projects for 2021-2027.

The European Foundation for Quality Management awards the Recognised for Excellence certification to JASPERS.

JASPERS-supported projects in health, ICT and education proved to be of great value in the COVID-19 context.

JASPERS supports coal regions in transition in preparation of a wider support in the context of Just Transition Mechanism.

In addition to ESIF and CEF projects, JASPERS actively helps deploy the Just Transition Fund in European regions.

Preparation for 2022-2027 JASPERS Agreement continues. JASPERS operates under a continuity agreement for 2021.

The 2022 – 2027 JASPERS Agreement is signed for the ESIF (European Structural and Investment Funds), CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) and JTF (Just Transition Fund) mandates.

JASPERS continues to work in IPA beneficiary countries. Discussions on JASPERS post 2022 mandate for IPA III mandate for Western Balkans.

Preparation of JASPERS Country Work Programs with EU Member States to provide a strategic view of future JASPERS activity.

Our commitment to quality is deeply rooted in our culture and is a fundamental part of who we are. That’s why EIB-JASPERS was recognised in 2023 as an outstanding organisation ( 5-stars) using the EFQM Model. The EFQM is a globally recognised practical framework for driving organisational change and improving performance. 

JASPERS went East. Our support extended to the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Ukraine, which are part of the Eastern Partnership. The EPIC facility was involved in providing assistance for certain assignments.

The European Union and the European Investment Bank have signed the contribution agreements to fund JASPERS' budget for 2025-2027 and to provide advisory support to Ukraine.