European Parliament co-rapporteurs Constanze Krehl (S&D, Germany) and Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgaria), propose that the additional resources provided for in the REACT-EU regulation should also be available for budgetary commitment in 2023 and 2024, in their draft report on the proposal to amend the umbrella regulation introducing additional resources in the wake of the pandemic (REACT-EU).
The priorities of the two rapporteurs are threefold, Andrey Novakov explained on his Twitter account on Tuesday 7 July: - guarantee eligibility for funds from 1 February 2021; - balancing the need to respond to the consequences of the pandemic with the need to ensure the development of economic regions; - allow Member States to use the additional resources provided by REACT-EU until 2024 and not 2022 as proposed by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12495/3).
The two parliamentarians note the Commission's decision to allocate the financial envelopes at national, rather than regional, level because of the urgency of the response. But they still want a democratic safeguard. Thus, whereas the Commission was planning to take its decisions by implementing acts for the breakdown of additional resources, the two co-rapporteurs prefer a delegated act, which gives more power to the European Parliament.
In addition, they propose to introduce a pre-financing level of 50% on the additional resources foreseen. They suggest binding provisions to make the Fund more visible to citizens (through educational signs), to make it clear to citizens that the project in question is being funded as part of the Union's response to the pandemic.
In general, the co-rapporteurs are concerned about the lack of democratic control of the new external resources made available to the Member States and ask that the Commission submit a report on the impact of the measures foreseen by REACT-EU at the end of 2023 and a second report at the end of 2025.
For Ms Krehl and Mr Novakov, the measures announced by the European Commission and the proposed relaxations must remain temporary. From 2023 onwards, cohesion policy must stick to the usual rules, according to them.
To consult the report: https://bit.ly/2VZiJ2r (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)