Brussels, 19/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European leaders are calling on the European Commission to find solutions to allow the European structural and investment funds not absorbed during the financial period 2007-2013 to be used in full.
The question of the maximisation of these commitment appropriations is referred to in the conclusions adopted by the European Council of Thursday 18 December. This is the result of a request which was brought mainly by the countries in receipt of the cohesion funds, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. These countries are calling for the option which has been brought in to submit invoices under the 2007-2013 envelope until the end of 2015 (N+2 rule) to be extended by one year, until the end of 2016. It is already the case that the Commission will not apply financial penalties for invoices submitted after 2015. Additionally, a 'task force' has already been set in place to examine, on a case-by-case basis, the flexibility available to countries facing absorption issues (EUROPE 11202). Work to this effect has been undertaken with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. The European Council also takes the view that it would be desirable to show flexibility with the existing rules for long-term projects. The Commission is already reported to be attentive to this for projects which straddle two financial programming periods. (MD)