Brussels, 21/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The code of conduct on partnership to be observed in the use of structural funds can enter into force. The European ministers responsible for competitiveness decided not to object to this first delegated act to stem from the reform of cohesion policy, following a similar decision by the European Parliament earlier in the month. The question was dealt with at the Competitiveness Council of Thursday 20 February without debate.
This code of conduct determines how cooperation regarding programmes paid for out of European structural funds are to be divided between the public authorities at national, regional and local levels. The regulation is significant, as preparations for partnership agreements are already underway, without this legal basis. This is the first delegated act which has been dealt with via the non-objection procedure, with further acts to follow over the next few months.
Commissioner Johannes Hahn welcomed the outcome of the accelerated procedure regarding this delegated act, the first in a long series. The code of conduct “gives the policy a democratic legitimacy, a feeling of approval at local level and will ensure its success”, he said. (MD/transl.fl)