1 / 16

Bruno CASSETTE DG REGIO, Unit D1

This seminar highlights the European Commission's strategy to expedite program implementation and financing for the 2007-2013 period through simplification measures. It covers legislative changes and non-legislative measures aimed at enhancing project implementation and accelerating investment under the Cohesion Policy Operational Programmes. The strategy is outlined based on recommendations and regulations focusing on growth and job-related objectives to combat the economic crisis. It includes non-legislative recommendations, non-legislative measures to accelerate program implementation, and legislative changes to facilitate the utilization of Structural Funds and extend eligible expenditure areas. The temporary State aid framework is addressed as well.

btejeda
Download Presentation

Bruno CASSETTE DG REGIO, Unit D1

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. “ Cohesion policy:response to the economic crisis”European Commission seminar for managing and certifying authoritiesBrussels, 9 June 2009 Bruno CASSETTE DG REGIO, Unit D1 Brussels, 9 June 2009

  2. The Commission has adopted a global strategybased on the reiteration of the strategic focus of the programmes on growth and job-related objectives. Objectives are to speed up implementation of programmes and accelerate financing to beneficiaries for programmes already approved for the 2007-2013 period through a series of simplification measures. This strategy is based on a set of documents: 3 Communications and 3 Regulations Brussels, 9 June 2009

  3. The three Commission Communications are: • “From financial crisis to recovery: a European framework for action” adopted on 29 October 2008; • “A European Economic Recovery Plan” adopted on 26 November 2008; • “Cohesion Policy: investing in the real economy” adopted on 16 December 2008; Brussels, 9 June 2009

  4. The three new Regulations are: • Regulation (EC) n° 284/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006, so called the “General Regulation”, on certain provisions relating to financial management, adopted by the Commission on 26 November 2008, published in the Official Journal on 8 April 2009 and entered into force on 9 April 2009; • Regulation (EC) n° 396/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 on the European Social Fund to extend the types of costs eligible for a contribution from the ESF, adopted by the Commission on 26 November 2008, published in the Official Journal on the 21st of May and then, entered into force on 22 May 2009; • Regulation (EC) n° 397/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund as regards the eligibility of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in housing, adopted by the Commission on 3 December 2008, published in the Official Journal on the 21st of May and then, will enter into force on 10 June 2009. Brussels, 9 June 2009

  5. This strategy is based on two pillars: • Non-legislative recommendations to Member States to accelerate implementation; • Legislative changes to accelerate investment and simplify implementation of the Cohesion Policy Operational Programmes. In addition, the Commission has put in place a temporary arrangement under State aid rules for Member States to tackle the effects of the credit squeeze on the real economy until 2010. Brussels, 9 June 2009

  6. Non-legislative measures These measures aim to help accelerate the implementation of programmes and projects: • By providing technical support for project implementation (measures 1 and 2); • By offering flexibility in programme management (measures 3 to 6). Brussels, 9 June 2009

  7. Non-legislative measures (1/3) • Measure 1:Promote entrepreneurship and enhance cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Funds (EIF); • Measure 2:Increase the capacity to prepare major projects; Brussels, 9 June 2009

  8. Non-legislative measures (2/3) • Measure 3:Adapt the priorities of existing Operational Programmes / reprogramming; • Measure 4:Extend the final date of eligibility of expenditure for the 2000-2006 programming period to 30 June 2009 (instead of 31 December 2008); • Measure 5:Modify the guidelines on closure of assistance (2000-2006) from the Structural Funds Brussels, 9 June 2009

  9. Non-legislative measures (3/3) • Measure 6:Additional recommendations to Member States from the Communication “Cohesion policy investing in the real economy” adopted on 16th December 2008. • For instance : • Directing action to smart investment; • Maintaining public investment. Brussels, 9 June 2009

  10. Legislative changes The Legislative Package aims to achieve three main goals: • In line with the non-legislative measures, to clarify the use of technical support available for programme implementation (measure 1); • To accelerate and facilitate the actual take-up of Structural Funds (measures 2 – 4); • To extend the scope of eligible expenditure in strategic areas, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes (measures 5 and 6). Brussels, 9 June 2009

  11. Legislative changes (1/3) • Measure 1: Facilitate the implementation of financial engineering instruments; • Measure 2: Increase the advances to ERDF and ESF programmes to increase the cash flow to the national, regional and local authorities; Brussels, 9 June 2009

  12. This amendment brings the total of advance payments to €11.25 billion in 2009 Brussels, 9 June 2009

  13. Legislative changes (2/3) • Measure 3: Accelerate intermediate payments for major projects; • Measure 4: Simplify the system for advances paid to beneficiaries under State aid schemes; Brussels, 9 June 2009

  14. Legislative changes (3/3) • Measure 5: Symplify the reimbursement of expenditure; • Measure 6: Increase the share of energy-efficiency investment. Brussels, 9 June 2009

  15. Legislative changes (+) • Temporary framework under State aid rules • Modification of Art.55 of the General Regulation concerning certain projects generating revenue (entered in force on 25 December 2008) Brussels, 9 June 2009

  16. Thank you for your attention!bruno.cassette@ec.europa.eu Brussels, 9 June 2009

More Related