In a summary of its 69 reports on cohesion, published on Thursday 20 June, the European Court of Auditors welcomed recent progress achieved with regard to the effectiveness of cohesion policy spending and acknowledged the provisions proposed for the next multiannual financial framework. The auditors did, however, raise questions about the terms for the mid-term review of the programmes in 2025, which could prove counterproductive.
The Court examined the expenditure of funds during the 2007-2013 budget cycle, the current cycle and the next cycle using 14 main principles (which the European Commission only partly recognises), analysing strategic planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and overarching objectives in terms of sustainability.
Overall, the auditors believe that the trend is in the right direction, particularly with the introduction of a mandatory performance reserve. This reserve, which represents 6% of the total allocations to Member States, was paid out if a Member State achieved certain objectives.
The performance reserve has been removed from the 2021-2027 cycle. But the ultimate success of the proposal will largely depend on whether the Commission and the Member States can avoid the tendency to revert to payment for inputs and outputs and to ensure that the type of conditions that need to be achieved to trigger the payment are linked to genuine performance considerations. In the opinion of the auditors, however, the Commission's proposal lacks clarity.
In addition, the auditors question the coherence of overall European action over the next decade, given that cohesion policy objectives will not be supported by a post-2020 strategy, unlike in the last three multiannual financial frameworks.
At the beginning of June, the Council of the EU adopted its position on the Common Provisions Regulation (except on those points that relate to the ‘negotiating box’ on the financial perspective) (see EUROPE 12267/6). After a false start at the end of the previous term of office (see EUROPE 12212/15), negotiations can resume with the European Parliament, which adopted a position at the beginning of the year (see EUROPE 12193/2).
To consult the report, go to: https://bit.ly/2Ks8TSJ (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)