Future of EU finances: Proposals to simplify access to EU funds

High level group of independent Cohesion Policy experts suggests to further simplify access to EU funds in the budget framework post 2020.

Although the achievements of the EU Cohesion Policy are undeniably positive, the current volume of rules does not always make life easy for local authorities managing EU funds or businesses looking to apply for EU funding. Simplification is therefore key and the European Commission should look into how to further simplify access to EU funds in the budget framework post 2020.

This is the main message that the High Level Group of Simplification seeks to feed into the discussion on the future of the EU finances which the Commission launched on 28 June with its dedicated reflection paper, the final paper in the series of five reflection documents released following the publication on 1 March of the Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe.

According to the Group's final report, the current architecture of the rules is effective but needs a good clean-up and shared management governance should be kept to ensure mutual trust and ownership of common growth and jobs goals. The Group also suggests that rules in different EU funds and instruments should be harmonised in terms of state aid, public procurement and methods to reimburse costs, to facilitate synergies and allow beneficiaries to apply for different sources of EU funding for the same project. For example, applying the same rules in Cohesion Policy and in the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) framework would allow easier access to support for small businesses.

According to the Group, an even simpler framework should be available to all Member States and regions, provided they fulfil a number of criteria: reliable management and control systems; significant national co-financing to incentivise sound spending; identification of key structural reforms to implement and focus on few priority areas to be able to deliver.

The European Commission launched the High Level Group in 2015 to identify opportunities to strip cohesion policy rules of unnecessary complexity, in view of both the mid-term review of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, to which the Group has significantly contributed, and the reflection on the post 2020 budgetary framework.

Related links

Press release - The future of EU finances: High Level Group presents proposals to simplify access to EU funds

Factsheet - key recommendations of the High Level Group on Simplification for the post 2020 framework

Report - High Level Group proposal for policymakers for post-2020

Reflection paper on the future of EU finances

Audiovisual material

EC press conference by Commissioners Günther Oettinger, Corina Creţu, and Siim Kallas - Presentation of the recommendations of the high-level group on simplification for post 2020