Brussels, 21/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - Corina Cretu has called for patience regarding the adoption of the operational programmes, although she is under pressure from the member states and beneficiaries to pick up the pace (see EUROPE 11200 and 11201). Of the 310 programmes in total, barely 40 have been approved by the Commission so far and are guaranteed funding under the structural funds in 2014.
Operational programmes. Speaking to the press on Friday 21 November, the European Commissioner said that she would do “everything necessary whenever needed” to ensure that as many projects as possible are adopted by the end of the year. However, it will be “impossible” to push all 310 through in that time, she admitted, as she is mainly focusing on the quality of the programmes, since the funding will be in place for nearly 10 years. Cretu went on to say that she expected no major problems in the member states, as “they know that the money will come through in the end (…) and that there is a procedure to be followed”. “I understand the pressing desire”, she added, stating that the money will be there for the projects adopted this year and that for the others, it will be necessary to wait for the next budget, that of 2015, in March or April. “It will be necessary to show patience”, she concluded.
Investment plan. When also asked about the contribution of the cohesion policy to the €300 billion investment plan, Cretu took pains to reassure the beneficiaries, stating that “it will not be a source of problems; quite the reverse, it may resolve problems”. However, she declined to go into details until the plan is officially presented, which is scheduled for next week.
Task force. Lastly, Cretu provided details about the working group (Task force) she has set in place to help member states with very low absorption rates for the structural funds available in 2007-2013 (money available until the end of 2015). Cretu confirmed that along with her services, she is currently in the process of looking at which countries could be involved. But she has already said that Romania, Bulgaria and the countries of Eastern Europe could be affected, as well as other regions from Europe in which “European money is 'released' and where there has been no change to the standard of living or growth in GDP”, such as southern Italy, she confirmed. The Commission's priority will be to provide technical assistance and promote the exchange of best practice, she went on to explain. (MD)