The “devolution” that is taking place as part of the reform of the management of EU external assistance involves the following changes to the division of responsibilities between the delegations and the Brussels headquarters :

• The delegations make a more active contribution to programming, for which the final responsibility will remain at the Brussels headquarters (HQ),
• The delegations have a direct responsibility for identification and formulation work, with methodological support and quality control exercised by the HQ;
• The delegations are responsible for the preparation of financing proposals. Final quality control and financing decisions will continue to be managed by the HQ;
• The delegations have direct responsibility for contracting (tenders, contracts) and for financial implementation (commitments and payments) by means of a sub-delegation of the HQ;
• The delegations have direct responsibility for technical implementation (approval of working plan, monitoring, evaluation, etc.).

Thus, devolved delegations are responsible for programme identification, programme preparation and some procurement, as well as for technical contractual and financial implementation. Decisions regarding programming, financing agreements, riders and derogations are still taken by EC headquarters services and the EU Member States as represented in the Council in Brussels.

Sources: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/decentr/pdf/decon-notedinfo.pdf