On the possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds

Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: Isabel Benjumea Benjumea

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AMENDMENT

The Committee on Budgets submits the following to the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Da. whereas the establishment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the implementation deadline of 2026 for Member States led many national governments to prioritise the fulfilment of milestones and targets of this facility over the implementation of the funds under cohesion policy; whereas the delays in the submission of the Partnership Agreements by the Member States and the slow pace of implementation of the 2021-2027 programmes, as well as the request for an extension of the previous 2014-2020 programmes, is partly explained by this prioritisation; whereas the burden on national and regional public administrations and the consequent difficulty in executing funds and implementing programmes must be taken into account in the future in view of avoiding the difficulties in the management of cohesion policy funds;

Or. en

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
E. whereas the evolving and complex regulatory environment has played a decisive role in the current low implementation rate of cohesion policy in all Member States;	E. whereas the evolving and complex regulatory environment, as well as the simultaneous fulfilment of milestones and targets linked to the Recovery and Resilience Facility, has played a decisive role in the current low implementation rate of cohesion policy in all Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	2a. Stresses that future simplification measures should focus on beneficiaries with the aim of scrapping unnecessary red tape and ensuring better access to the funds;

Or. en

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4a. Recalls that, due to a lack of flexibility in the EU budget, cohesion policy resources were used and re-purposed as a response to different emergencies, including emergencies outside the scope of cohesion policy, thus putting the achievement of policy objectives at risk; considers that cohesion funding should include a limited degree of flexibility to react to unforeseen situations within the remit of cohesion policy, without compromising its primary objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion;

Or. en

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Opposes any form of top-down centralisation reform of the cohesion policy; acknowledges, however, some positive elements currently being developed within the Recovery and Resilience Facility, but draws attention to the fact that in programmes under direct management, the disbursement of funds to Member States does not necessarily reflect the quantity and importance of the milestones and targets included therein; stresses that the centralised model has highlighted several critical issues, including regarding the traceability of EU funding;	8. Opposes any form of top-down centralisation reform of the cohesion policy; acknowledges, however, some positive elements currently being developed within the Recovery and Resilience Facility, but draws attention to the fact that in programmes under direct management, the disbursement of funds to Member States does not necessarily reflect the quantity and importance of the milestones and targets included therein; stresses that the centralised model has highlighted several critical issues, including regarding the traceability of EU funding; recalls that the reports of the European Court of Auditors on the Recovery and Resilience Facility point to the difficulty in the traceability of these funds, the insufficient transparency and interoperability of national platforms, and the absence of evaluations that verify the impact of milestones and targets;

Or. en

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Calls on the Commission to propose further measures to prevent and avoid double funding, to ensure the interoperability of data-mining tools, and to ensure a balance between simplification and protection of the EU budget;	12. Calls on the Commission to propose further measures to prevent and avoid double funding, to ensure the interoperability of data-mining tools, and to ensure a balance between simplification and protection of the EU budget, taking as a reference the recommendations expressed by the European Court of Auditors in its reports; underlines that double structures should be avoided and responsibilities under shared management clearly allocated;

Or. en

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12a. Considers that an approach should be taken that better matches the implementation cycle, featuring lower payment needs at the beginning of the period with the payment ceilings defined in the MFF that have a more linear profile;

Or. en

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Recommends the setting up of a simplified and streamlined mechanism with the aim of ensuring direct funding for cities in the next multiannual financial framework and including smart conditionality;	deleted

Or. en

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Underlines that cohesion policy should promote economic growth in the regions to make them attractive to investment, and to create and develop companies, create jobs and generate opportunities; recalls the importance of public-private partnerships and of synergies and coordination with other EU funds and instruments, as well as national programmes that facilitate support for SMEs;

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