[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) In order to respond to the impact of the crisis, Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1301/2013 were amended on 30 March 2020 to allow more flexibility in the implementation of the operational programmes supported by the European Regional Development Fund ('ERDF'), the European Social Fund ('ESF') and the Cohesion Fund (the 'Funds') and by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund ('EMFF'). However, as the serious negative effects on Union economies and societies worsened, both Regulations were amended again on 23 April 2020 to provide exceptional additional flexibility to enable the Member States to concentrate on the necessary response to the unprecedented crisis by enhancing the possibility to mobilise non-utilised support from the Funds and by simplifying, without compromising on high quality reforms as well as ex ante evaluations, procedural requirements linked to programme implementation and audits.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) In order to redress huge shocks to the economy stemming from the exceptional restrictions put in place by Member States to contain the COVID-19 spreading and the risks of an asymmetric recovery stemming from the different national means available in different Member States ~~resulting in serious impacts on the functioning of the Internal Market~~, the European Council endorsed on 23 April 2020 the “Roadmap for recovery” with a strong investment component, called for the establishment of the European Recovery Fund and mandated the Commission to analyse the needs so that the resources would be targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of the Union most affected, while clarifying also the link with the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) An additional exceptional amount ~~of EUR 58 272 800 000 (in current prices)~~, to be discussed in the Council, for budgetary commitment from the Structural Funds under the Investment for growth and jobs goal, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 should be made available to support Member States and regions most impacted in crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy, with a view to deploying resources quickly to the real economy through the existing operational programmes. Resources for 2020 stem from an increase in the resources available for economic, social and territorial cohesion in the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 whereas resources for 2021 and 2022 stem from the European Union Recovery Instrument. Part of the additional resources should be allocated to technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Commission should set out the breakdown of the remaining additional resources for each Member State on the basis of an allocation method based on th~~e latest available objective statistical data concerning Member States’ relative prosperity and the extent of the effect of the current crisis on their economies and societie~~ose Member States most in need, primarily taking into account those Member States that have been hit the hardest financially, healthily and socially by the COVID-19 crisis. The allocation method should include a dedicated additional amount for the outermost regions given the specific vulnerability of their economies and societies. In order to reflect the evolving nature of the effects of the crisis, the breakdown should be revised in 2021 on the basis of the same allocation method using the latest statistical data available by 19 October 2021 to distribute the 2022 tranche of the additional resources.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) In order to allow ~~maximum~~ flexibility to Member States for tailoring crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy, allocations should be established by the Commission at Member State level. Furthermore, the possibility for using any additional resources to support aid for the most deprived should also be provided for. In addition, it is necessary to establish ceilings concerning the allocation to technical assistance at the initiative of the Member States while allowing ~~maximum~~ flexibility to the Member States as to its allocation within operational programmes supported by the ERDF or the ESF. It should be clarified that there is no need to respect the ESF minimum share for the additional resources. Taking account of the expected quick spending of the additional resources, the commitments linked to those additional resources should only be decommitted at the closure of the operational programmes.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support necessary and effective job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and support to self- employed, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, support to youth employment measures, education and training, skills development ~~and to enhance access to~~. The additional resources should be used only in exceptional cases for social services of general interest~~, including for children~~. It should be clarified that in the present exceptional circumstances support to short- time work schemes for employees and the self-employed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic can be provided even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. Union support to those short- time work schemes should be limited in time.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) Member States should have the flexibility to allocate the additional resources to new dedicated operational programmes or new priority axes within existing programmes. In order to allow quick implementation, only already designated authorities of existing operational programmes supported by the ERDF, the ESF, or the Cohesion Fund are allowed to be identified for new dedicated operational programmes. ~~An ex ante evaluation by the Member States should not be required and the elements required for the submission of the operational programme to the Commission’s approval should be limited.~~

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) In order to enable Member States to deploy the additional resources for crisis repair quickly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy within the current programming period, it is justified to exempt, on an exceptional basis, Member States from the need to comply with ex ante conditionalities and requirements on the performance reserve and application of the performance framework, on thematic concentration, also in relation to the thresholds established for sustainable urban development for the ERDF, and requirements on preparation of a communication strategy for the additional resources. It is neverthelest is necessary that Member States carry out at least one evaluation by 31 December 2024 to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the additional resources as well as how they contributed to achieving the goals of the new dedicated thematic objective. To facilitate the availability of comparable information at Union level, Member States are encouraged to make use of the programme- specific indicators made available by the Commission. In addition, while carrying out their responsibilities linked to information, communication and visibility, Member States and managing authorities should enhance the visibility of the exceptional measures and resources introduced by the Union, in particular by ensuring that potential beneficiaries, beneficiaries, participants, final recipients of financial instruments and the general public are aware of the existence, volume and additional support stemming from the additional resources.

2020/07/08
Committee: EMPL

Sara SKYTTEDAL