The EC acts as a facilitator and guardian of fair, transparent and consistent application of the EC rules and procedures throughout all stages of the twinning cycle. The roles of Headquarters and the EC Delegation are the following:

Headquarters: Backstopping and quality control:

• Setting the legal, financial, and procedural framework for Twinning projects;
• Interface with the NCPs on the above matters;
• Backstopping of Twinning activities;
• Quality control of twinning fiches and contracts with line DGs.

Delegation: Programme Management and Contracting:

• Central point of communication between the Beneficiary country and EC Headquarters;
• With assistance of the PAO, organisation and management of selection meetings;
• Is a voting member of the evaluation committee;
• Communicates the outcome of the selection to MS;
• Signs the Twinning contract, (which has been prepared by the selected MS administration and the BA, assisted by the PAO);
• Provides, if necessary, the BC with guidance about the procedures governing the exchange of civil servants and the Twinning arrangements in matters not covered by the standard procurement procedures;
• Monitors the implementation of the Twinning project, in close collaboration with the PAO and the BA;
• Is responsible for the good financial management of the Twinning project and compliance with EC rules;
• Is the Payment Agency (responsible for managing the funds of the Twinning project and making the payments), in particular, approves the final invoice and payment.