Strasbourg, 27/11/14 (Agence Europe) - More than 600 MEPs have expressed their concern about the accumulated cohesion policy implementation delays. On Thursday 27 November, they adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission and member states to speed up adoption of the operational programmes.
The resolution was put forward by all the political groups at the European Parliament, even the Eurosceptics, and was adopted by 608 votes in favour, 31 against, with 27 abstentions. MEPs are urging the Commission and member states to adopt a maximum of operational programmes that are funded through Structural Funds for 2014-20, as soon as possible and for as many programmes as possible to be, “ready for adoption” by 31 December 2014. To this end, MEPs are appealing to the European Commission to simplify internal procedures and carry out the inter-service consultation planned by the end of the year.
MEPs are demanding that the operational programmes that are not adopted by the end of December are re-budgeted from money that has not been earmarked. This would subsequently involve a revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework before next May and the MEPs expressed their apologies in advance, regarding the delays that will subsequently occur and which will affect certain programmes (at least until the middle of June 2015). MEPs also believe that the Commission should present an amending budget as soon as possible. The European Commission responsible referred to March during the debate preceding the vote, on Monday 24 November (EUROPE 11204).
MEPs also managed to include a reminder in the resolution referring to unpaid invoices for the 2007-2013 period. (MD)