JASPERS

Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions

Featured
Event
18 October 2024

Upcoming | Webinar on Good Practices and key lessons learned in project assessment and selection

Publication
30 September 2024
JASPERS Team

JASPERS guide to decarbonisation of district heating systems

Half of the energy in the EU is used for heating and cooling buildings, with the majority still derived from fossil fuels. District heating systems account for about 10% of the EU’s heat demand.

There are approximately 10,000 district heating systems in the EU, serving 70 million people. Upgrading these systems to be more efficient and renewable-based is essential for meeting EU energy policy objectives. Significant investments are required, and the EU has allocated substantial funds for these upgrades in its 2021-2027 financial framework.

This guide aims to simplify the preparation of district heating decarbonisation projects to benefit from EU funding. It provides systematic practical advice based on JASPERS’ experience, covering areas such as analysis of the existing situation, objective setting, options analysis, definition of measures, and determination of an optimized set of measures. The document targets regions, municipalities, and district heating companies planning projects under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, reflecting best practices and EU regulations as of June 2024.
Story
12 August 2024

A new dawn for Croatian logistics

After decades of not carrying out similar types of rail projects, Albania is setting ambitious reconstruction plans. The Albanian Railway Company (HSH), in charge of these complex projects decided to fully live up to the challenge and requested JASPERS support to structure an Action plan. 

 

How we work

Who we are

JASPERS, a partnership funded by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, advices 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.

Learn more about how JASPERS can help you.

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.

JASPERS helps 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.

JASPERS 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.

Our experts 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 JASPERS 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 “good to go, good to fund”. Left to our experts, 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.

JASPERS operates 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

2367

assignments

36

countries

€

355

+bn

investment costs

Delivering results since 2005

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.