Simplifying reimbursement of expenses, reducing the number of documents that need to be provided, promoting synergy and best practice in order to take best advantage of the combination of sources of European finance, and harmonising the requirements that apply in connection with financial instruments: these are in effect the four main recommendations of the high-level group on simplifying access to Structural and Investment Funds, chaired by former EU commissioner Siim Kallas, expressed during an assessment on Tuesday 27 September. The recommendations cover the period 2014-2020 and aim to facilitate use of European funds for beneficiaries and management authorities.
But what are they exactly? Simplifying the methods of compensation for costs so that beneficiaries no longer have to justify every cost individually but can use set amounts or rates for some types of expenditure (staff costs, insurance and rent). The group suggests applying the ‘once only principle’ to egovernance (see EUROPE 11491) which would give beneficiaries the possibility to digitally register all supplied documents in order to save them from having to photocopy these documents at each stage of implementing a project.
The group suggests a veritable European Commission commonplace - boosting exchanges of best practice among the member states and strengthening synergy among different sources of finance. The Commission unveiled guidelines at the start of the year on combining sources of funding (see EUROPE 11496), but a number of sources say this has not yet had the expected results.
Finally, harmonising and simplifying demands on beneficiaries in the use of financial instruments in connection with Structural and Investment (ESI) funds is an area under consideration (see EUROPE 11481). The high-level group considers that these requirements should be less restrictive than for the use of ESI funds by reducing the number of documents required, for example.
The recommendations were partially formulated earlier in the month during the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework (see EUROPE 11624) and are built on four reports published by the group since it was set up more than a year ago. A fifth report on gold-plating of regulations is expected to be published later this year. The high-level group will have its final meeting on this topic on Wednesday 28 September.
Post-2020 Cohesion Policy in the firing line. The high-level group is expected to publish its final report in 2018, which will serve a basis for drawing up the Cohesion Policy for the next multiannual framework. Quizzed by EUROPE about the likely characteristics of Cohesion Policy in the future, Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu made two comments. The contribution from financial instruments will be substantially increased and the policy will cover all member states, adjusted according to their economic and administrative situation. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)