26/08/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission approved on Wednesday 26 August the modification of four operational programmes under the Coronavirus Pandemic Investment Initiatives (CRII and CRII+). Three operational programmes are thus amended in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in order to release EUR 7.5 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) for the purchase of personal protective equipment. The Operational Programme for the Centre-Val de Loire has been amended in order to redirect EUR 10.1 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support SMEs hard hit by the pandemic. Five French operational programmes have already been amended and, at European level, around 100 amendments to operational programmes have been approved (see EUROPE 12544/5). (PH)