On the choice of performance indicators for audit and budgetary control in the context of financing measures to support the implementation of future European competitiveness
CONT-PR-778327
Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel
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This draft report concerns the choice of performance indicators for audit and budgetary control of EU financing measures supporting competitiveness. It calls for a simplified, results-focused performance framework with SMART indicators, reliable data, and independent verification.¶¶¶ It proposes specific output and results indicators for competitiveness projects, including innovation, industrial relocation, energy purchasing, and skills, and stresses the need for harmonised core indicators across member states.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution calling for a simplified, results-focused performance framework with SMART indicators, reliable data, and specific indicators for competitiveness projects.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for the EU budget to become more results-focused and for performance indicators to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART).¶
- Regrets that most performance indicators are input and output indicators, lacking reliable baseline data; calls on the Commission to ensure indicators are measurable, verifiable, and traceable.¶
- Notes the Commission's proposal for a standardised set of performance indicators for the 2028-2034 MFF, including the European Competitiveness Fund.¶
- Calls for simplification of the performance framework to harmonise measurement across member states, reduce administrative burden, and increase transparency.¶
- Calls on the Commission to develop secure and interoperable IT infrastructure, using AI and machine learning, and to make indicator data publicly available in real time.¶
- Calls for independent verification of performance data reported by member states, including by national audit bodies and the European Court of Auditors.¶
- Stresses that indicators should capture outcomes and impacts, not just outputs, to measure efficiency and effectiveness of EU spending.¶
- Calls for a harmonised set of core competitiveness indicators across member states, with consultation of business associations, research institutions, and civil society.¶
- Proposes output indicators for innovation projects such as funding volume, return on investment, number of projects per sector, and start-ups created; results indicators include patents and survival rates.¶
- Proposes indicators for industrial relocation, including number of relocated projects and SMEs, and reduction in imports of critical raw materials.¶
- Proposes indicators for joint energy purchasing, such as number of participating companies and share of renewable energy, and for skills, such as number trained and employment rates.¶¶
- Suggests indicators for green and digital projects, including number of projects approved annually, appeals rate, and time to access EU funding.¶
Who is affected
- The Commission and member states, which must establish and use harmonised performance indicators and ensure data reliability.¶¶
- Businesses, research institutions, and civil society, which should be consulted on defining indicators.
- EU-funded projects and beneficiaries, whose data will be subject to verification and traceability.¶¶