13/06/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 13 June, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (625 votes for, 5 against, 28 abstentions), the agreement struck during the inter-institutional negotiations on the regulation on common provisions (regulation 1303/2013) to amend the modalities for allocating the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to regions devastated by natural disasters. Therefore, the rate of co-financing from the EU is now set at 95%, to the great disappointment of the European Commission, which wanted 100% (see EUROPE 11795). A 5% ceiling on total ERDF allocations was set in an effort to prevent abuse of the ERDF by the regions. The starting date of eligibility of expenditure of beneficiaries will have retroactive effect in order to allow for the eligibility of expenditure incurred and paid from the date when the natural disaster occurred. The regulation will apply retroactively from 1 January 2014. (PH)