The European Parliament’s negotiating group, led by co-rapporteurs Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgaria) and Constanze Krehl (S&D, Germany), and the Finnish EU Council Presidency reached a provisional partial agreement on the Common Provisions Regulation on the night of Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 11 December, following a marathon negotiation session.
“The principles to which the European Parliament is committed are reflected in the agreement, which I believe is balanced”, welcomed the Chairman of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, France), to EUROPE. These include introducing the principle of partnership for all Member States, adding horizontal principles between funds, granting Member States the benefit of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in the audit process and – last but not least – generally simplifying the Regulation. “We have an agreement that is strictly in line with the European Parliament’s position”, he added.
The provisional agreement covers Block 1, dedicated to the strategic approach and programming, Block 2, on the conditions for eligibility and the performance framework, and Block 5, dedicated to the management and control of funds (see EUROPE 12379/6). This agreement, if approved by the Ambassadors to the EU next Wednesday, would already start programming work for the upcoming budget cycle.
Points for the European Parliament
According to several sources, the co-legislators have indeed done a thorough job of simplification, in particular as regards the partnership agreements (which will therefore apply to all Member States), which will be limited to 35 pages, unless the Member States wish to go further. This is a step forward for beneficiaries and managing authorities, but also – observes one source – for citizens, who will be able to find out more easily about their State’s major cohesion objectives.
On the horizontal principles between the funds, the European Parliament won its case and succeeded in integrating the 4 main principles that were dear to it, relating to respect for the UN Paris Agreement and the UN objectives of sustainable development, the fight against discrimination and respect for human rights, and equality between men and women.
In addition, another great satisfaction for the European Parliament is that the Member States of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will be given more favourable treatment in the audit processes, which are sometimes extremely cumbersome.
Items for the EU Council
The EU Council was also heard on many points. The so-called “Home” funds will be outside the partnership agreements, but will remain within the scope of the Regulation and must be in synergy with all the funds that are governed by the umbrella regulation. The EU Council won on mid-term programming, with the possibility of reprogramming 50% of the funds for the last 2 years of the MFF.
The EU Council also made its position clear on public procurement arrangements and the rejection of simplified costs in the context of technical assistance. E-Cohesion will not be mandatory and the reinstatement – requested by Parliament – of the provisions relating to major projects has not been retained.
Negotiations on the European budget. However, the matter is far from over and negotiations will continue under the Croatian Presidency, as MEP Omarjee points out. “There are still many questions open before us and any delay will be paid at the high price”, he warned, referring to the ‘negotiation box’ on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. “The ‘negotiation box’ is a major blocking factor for the proper conduct of all these negotiations on other legislative dossiers”, he acknowledged, before reminding that the European Parliament “will not compromise” on budgetary ambition. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)