4 Amendments of Ondřej KNOTEK related to 2020/2140(DEC)
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes efforts to simplify requirements to be made of project managers and management authorities in the Member States under the 2021-2027 programming period of the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines that the key to solving this issue is through simpler national eligibility rules which might help reduce, first of all, the administrative burden and second of all, the source of error, thereby ensuring a high level of transparency; urges wider use of Simplified Cost Options, which ECA also considers a great relief for applicants and for control; points out that there is a need for an improvement of the audit working methods put in place at the national level.
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Acknowledges that COVID-19 crisis has provided a new and unexpected challenge that the EU and its Member States need to respond determinedly and provide solutions at the EU and national level; welcomes the increasing financial flexibility in cohesion spending which enables Member States to use the funds to finance crisis-related projects; underlines the necessity of fostering the continuity and deeper cooperation of all stakeholders relevant to cohesion policy, mainly SMEs, municipalities and regions, which will struggle with unemployment and healthcare in the coming months;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern that, at the end of the sixth year of implementation, absorption rates for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF) are 6,6% lower than at the same stage in the previous programming period; and draws attention to the risk that, as the eligibility period draws to an end and given the circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis, Member States may prioritise spending over performance and regularity. Underlines that the increasing shift from performance to compliance hinders the cohesion objectives and generates unnecessary spending.
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Points out that concerning fraud, both the Commission and the Member States are responsible for addressing fraud in Cohesion spending. They need to step up their efforts to prevent and detect fraud, in cooperation with EPPO and the anti-fraud office (OLAF).