Technical assistance is a separate part of a programme that does not finance substantive projects, but rather the state's very capacity to manage EU funds. It covers the salaries of staff at managing authorities and intermediate bodies, the operation and development of the ITMS information system, the costs of evaluators, audits, on-site checks, training, evaluations, information campaigns and advice for applicants. Its share of the total allocation is set and monitored, since it represents the administrative costs of drawing funds. An ordinary applicant does not apply for technical assistance – calls for it are generally intended for bodies involved in implementation and take the form of national projects. Nevertheless, its effect is also felt on the recipient's side: technical assistance pays for information seminars, methodological manuals, the ITMS helpdesk and the capacity that assesses applications. Low drawdown of technical assistance is generally reflected in slower evaluation of calls.
See also: Managing Authority (MA), ITMS21, Allocation.
