Requests for reprogramming of European structural and investment funds, to take advantage of the flexibility introduced by the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives (CRII and CRII+), have continued to flood in over recent weeks.
The last major reprogramming approved was that announced on 17 August by the European Commission for the French regions of Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine and the Vosges, for a total amount of €22 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This reorientation will allow, among other things, for the purchase of medical equipment for firefighters, emergency services and care homes for the elderly (known as EPHAD in France).
On 13 August the Commission also approved, again under the ERDF and Interreg, three projects near the Spanish-Portuguese border to support the production of protective equipment for medical staff such as protective screens.
Similarly, on 11 August, the European Commission approved the modification of the regional programmes for the Spanish Basque Country and Asturias, redirecting some €150 million of cohesion policy funds.
On 5 August, the European Commission approved the modification of two operational programmes under the Cohesion Policy in the Italian regions of Umbria and Campania.
By the end of July, 18 countries had adapted programmes (88 in total) under cohesion policy to take account of the coronavirus situation (see EUROPE 12538/5).
At the height of the pandemic, the European Commission presented a series of emergency measures to make maximum use of existing funds under the cohesion policy (see EUROPE 12538/5). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)