Initiative to change the way in which payment claims are submitted for operations co-financed by the ENPI The DFID has set up a unique system for submitting advance claims, where beneficiaries have to wait until the payment of the previous PDCIs before submitting advance claims. The actual submission of the claim in the EMA system even requires the prior written agreement of the contract administrator in order for the beneficiaries to be able to submit the advance claim in the EMA system at all. Again, the DHSS guidance is very vague on this point, stating "The PO will reconcile the advance payment ZzIA with the beneficiary and confirm it no later than 5 days after receipt of a complete advance payment ZzIA and establish a receivable from the beneficiary in the amount of the advance payment made". The funds shown on the reconciled advance payment request will be paid by the PO to the beneficiary within 15 days of receipt of the advance payment ZzIA." Based on this, it is not clear whether the time limit for disbursement is 5+15 days OR 15 days from the submission of the ZZIA consent application (i.e. the 5 days for "reconciliation" are counted towards the 15 day time limit for disbursement). Reading this statement, it could also mean that the 5 day time limit for reconciliation starts from the submission of the ZZIA in the EMA system (up to the point at which the claim is approved by the administrator in the EMI). In short, the reference is simply too open-ended and imprecise. This practice means that the period for beneficiaries to receive funds is significantly extended. I certainly understand that a rejection of an IOI would consequently mean a rejection of an IOI, but I would nevertheless suggest that consideration be given to allowing beneficiaries to submit IOIs before the payment of the previous IOI, even though this might at some point result in the MDDSZ having to reject IOIs as well. The abolition of prior approval for the submission of an advance claim in the EMA system would already be welcome. Regards.