The Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, sent a letter on Wednesday 29 July asking the Member States to do their utmost to make use of the additional funds (47.5 billion euros) made available by REACT-EU.
“REACT-EU resources can have a real impact if put to use immediately and in line with the current programming period until 2023. Swift programming of resources and execution of the operations have to be ensured”, write the two Commissioners.
Indeed, they believe that the modifications made under the CRII and CRII+ initiatives have sometimes resulted in a reduction in allocations for operations for regional programs focused on the green and digital transition.
“The REACT-EU creates an opportunity to put these investments back on track”, they add, pointing out that since the agreement approved by Member States on 21 July (see EUROPE 12532/2), relevant programmes that started as of 1st February are also eligible (see EUROPE 12533/9).
To this end, they list a series of recommendations to facilitate programming and take advantage of additional funding. They recommend that Member States target the geographical areas hardest hit by the pandemic, as well as the less developed regions, which are by nature the “least resilient”.
They furthermore insist that the country-specific recommendations in the framework of the budget process of the European Semester be followed, ensuring strict compliance with the EU’s strategic digital and climate transition objectives (according to the ‘do no harm principle’, i.e. without funding ‘outdated’ projects that would run counter to the greening of the European economy).
Above all, both Commissioners insist on respect for the partnership principle.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/2DobSJm (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)