PURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nOBJECTIF : définir le prochain cadre de la\npolitique de cohésion pour la période 2014-2020\n(règlement relatif au Fonds de cohésion).
\nACTE PROPOSÉ : Règlement du Parlement\neuropéen et du Conseil.
\nCONTEXTE : dans sa proposition\nrelative au prochain cadre financier pluriannuel pour la\npériode 2014-2020, la Commission a décidé\nque la politique de cohésion devrait rester un\nélément essentiel du prochain train de dispositions\nfinancières. Elle a toutefois proposé un certain\nnombre de changements importants concernant la manière dont\nla politique de cohésion est conçue et\nappliquée. La prochaine période de programmation sera\nessentiellement marquée par la simplification de la mise en\nœuvre des politiques, la focalisation sur les\nrésultats et le recours accru à la\nconditionnalité.
\nLa présente proposition s'inscrit dans un\nensemble de mesures législatives relatives à la\npolitique de cohésion pour la période 2014-2020.\nL'ensemble de mesures comprend:
\nLe Fonds de cohésion soutient les États membres dont le PNB par\nhabitant est inférieur à 90% de la moyenne de l'UE 27\nà réaliser des investissements dans les\nréseaux de transport RTE-T et l'environnement. Une partie de\nla dotation du Fonds de cohésion (10 milliards EUR) sera\naffectée au financement des réseaux de transport de\nbase dans le cadre du «mécanisme pour l'interconnexion\nen Europe». Le Fonds de cohésion peut aussi soutenir\ndes projets ayant trait à l'énergie, dès lors\nqu'ils présentent clairement un bénéfice pour\nl'environnement, par exemple, en promouvant l'efficacité\nénergétique et l'utilisation des énergies\nrenouvelables.
\nANALYSE D'IMPACT : plusieurs options ont\nété examinées, notamment en ce qui concerne la\ncontribution du Fonds de cohésion aux investissements dans\nles infrastructures de base dans les transports et l'environnement.\nDifférentes manières de subordonner l'octroi de\nfinancements à un cadre macro budgétaire sain ont\nété évaluées, notamment : i) le statu\nquo (c'est à dire une faible subordination ex post,\nce qui n'a jamais été appliqué), ii) la\nsubordination à des conditions ex post plus strictes,\net iii) la subordination ex ante (qui impliquerait qu'un\ncertain nombre de conditions soient remplies préalablement\nà l'adoption des programmes).
\nLa solution qui répond le mieux aux\ncritères d'appropriation, de transparence et de\nprévisibilité est une évolution du\nsystème actuel. Cette procédure consiste à\nsuspendre tout ou partie des engagements en cas de manquements\nrépétés.
\nBASE JURIDIQUE : Articles 177 du traité sur le\nfonctionnement de l'Union européenne (TFUE).
\nCONTENU : le règlement proposé\ndéfinit le champ d'intervention du Fonds de cohésion.\nIl comprend à cet égard un article dans lequel sont\nprécisés les domaines généraux\nd'intervention dans le secteur des transports et de\nl'environnement. Le champ d'intervention est également\ndélimité à l'aide d'une liste négative\nd'activités qui ne pourront entrer ligne de compte pour\nl'octroi d'un soutien et d'une liste de priorités\nd'investissement.
\nEnvironnement : le Fonds\nde cohésion soutiendra les investissements liés\nà l'adaptation aux changements climatiques et à la\nprévention des risques, les investissements\nréalisés dans les secteurs de l'eau et des\ndéchets ainsi que dans l'environnement urbain.
\nÉnergie : les\ninvestissements dans le secteur de l'énergie sont\négalement admissibles au soutien du Fonds, pour autant\nqu'ils aient des effets positifs sur l'environnement. C'est\npourquoi les investissements dans l'efficacité\nénergétique et les énergies renouvelables\nbénéficient eux aussi d'un soutien.
\nTransports : le Fonds de\ncohésion contribuera aux investissements relatifs au\nréseau transeuropéen de transport, ainsi qu'aux\nsystèmes de transport à faibles émissions de\ncarbone et aux transports urbains.
\nINCIDENCE BUDGÉTAIRE : la proposition de cadre\nfinancier pluriannuel présentée par la Commission\nprévoit une enveloppe de 376 milliards EUR pour la\ncohésion économique, sociale et territoriale pour la\npériode 2014-2020. Le budget (en milliards d'euros) est\nréparti comme suit :
\nLe Conseil a\ndégagé une orientation générale\npartielle sur la politique de cohésion de l'UE pour la\npériode allant de 2014 à 2020.
\nL'orientation\ngénérale partielle du Conseil vise à renforcer\nl'orientation sur les résultats et à améliorer\nla qualité des dépenses. Elle vise également\nà intégrer la politique de cohésion dans la\ngouvernance économique de l'UE.
\nL'orientation\ngénérale partielle ne préjuge pas du\nrésultat des négociations sur d'autres\néléments de la politique de cohésion ni des\nnégociations sur le cadre financier pluriannuel de l'UE\n(CFP) pour la période 2014-2020 ou sur le règlement\nfinancier.
\n1) Texte de\ncompromis dégagé par le Conseil : celui-ci\nconcerne certains éléments techniques de la\nfuture politique de cohésion. Les travaux portant sur les\néléments plus politiques se poursuivront, notamment\ndans le cadre des négociations relatives au CFP.
\n\nConcrètement, l'approche générale partielle\ncomprend les éléments suivants:
\nLa\nprogrammation : des règles\ncommunes de programmation sont envisagées pour les cinq\nfonds prévus par le cadre stratégique commun,\nà savoir : i) le Fonds\neuropéen de développement régional\n(FEDER), ii) le Fonds\nsocial européen (FSE), iii) le Fonds de\ncohésion (FC), iv) le Fonds européen agricole\npour le développement rural (Feader) et v) le Fonds\neuropéen pour les affaires maritimes et la pêche\n(FEAMP).
\nChaque programme\ndoit préciser la manière dont il contribue à\nla stratégie Europe 2020 pour l'emploi et la croissance. La\nquestion de savoir si le lien entre la stratégie de l'UE\npour l'emploi et la croissance, d'une part, et la politique de\ncohésion, d'autre part, devrait être assuré au\nmoyen de recommandations par pays ou de programmes nationaux de\nréformes n'a pas été tranchée. Le\nConseil y reviendra au mois de juin.
\nLa\nconditionnalité ex ante : certaines conditions\ndoivent être remplies avant que le financement puisse\nintervenir. Elle a pour objectif d'améliorer les\nrésultats de la politique de cohésion.
\nLa gestion et\nle contrôle : l'approche générale\npartielle prévoit des règles spécifiques pour\nla gestion et le contrôle des fonds versés.
\nLe suivi et\nl'évaluation : ce volet permet de garantir que la\nmise en œuvre des programmes de la politique de\ncohésion sera dûment suivie et\névaluée.
\n\nL'éligibilité : l'approche\ngénérale partielle prévoit que le financement\nde projets déjà menés à bien, qui est\nautorisé par les règles actuelles, soit exclu.
\nLes grands\nprojets: le texte de compromis du Conseil permettrait plus\nfacilement à des experts indépendants d'effectuer une\névaluation de la qualité des grands projets. La\nCommission juge cette solution plus efficace que la formule\nactuelle de l'approbation en aval.
\nD'autres\ndiscussions auront lieu au niveau du Conseil dans les prochains\nmois. Les nouvelles règles en matière de politique\nde cohésion sont étroitement liées aux\nnégociations relatives au cadre financier pluriannuel\n(CFP) pour la période allant de 2014 à 2020.\nElles ne devraient être adoptées par le Parlement\neuropéen et le Conseil que lorsqu'un accord sur le CFP sera\nintervenu.
\n2)\nCFP 2014-2020: le Conseil a débattu\nparallèlement, pour la première fois, des aspects du\nCFP concernant, entre autres, la politique de cohésion et\nles dispositions relatives aux cinq fonds relevant de ces domaines\nd'action.
\nAu cours de la\ndiscussion, plusieurs délégations ont exprimé\ndes inquiétudes sur le niveau général des\ndépenses proposé en ces temps d'assainissement\nbudgétaire et demandé que l'ensemble des rubriques\nsoient revues à la baisse.
\nPolitique de\ncohésion : certains États membres\nconsidèrent que le montant proposé pour la politique\nde cohésion constitue un minimum.
\nPar ailleurs,\ncertains États membres ont exprimé des\ninquiétudes quant à la nouvelle catégorie de\nrégions en transition, en tant que telle ou du point de vue\nde sa portée. Plusieurs délégations ont\nexprimé leur opposition au niveau de plafonnement\nproposé, qui limite le niveau de transfert de chaque\nÉtat membre à un certain pourcentage de son produit\nintérieur brut. Certains États membres ont\nformulé des objections concernant le «filet de\nsécurité inversé», qui limite le niveau\ndu soutien à un certain pourcentage de ce qu'il était\npour la période 2007-2013.
\nEn outre, certains\nÉtats membres ont plaidé en faveur de taux de\ncofinancement de 85% pour les régions les moins\ndéveloppées alors que d'autres se sont\nprononcés pour une réduction des taux.
\nDispositions\nrelatives aux cinq fonds : en ce qui concerne les\nrègles applicables aux cinq fonds s'insérant dans le\ncadre stratégique commun, certains États membres ont\nsouligné l'importance de la conditionnalité macro\néconomique. D'autres se sont dits sceptiques à cet\négard, à moins que celle-ci ne soit étendue\nà d'autres types de dépenses.
\nIl faut noter que\nle Conseil des affaires générales procèdera,\nlors de sa session du 29 mai 2012, à un premier examen d'une\nversion globale du cadre de négociation comprenant tous les\néléments du cadre de négociation sur le\nCFP.
\nLes ministres des\naffaires européennes poursuivront leurs travaux sur le CFP\nlors d'une réunion informelle à Horsens, au Danemark,\nles 10 et 11 juin 2012.
\nLe Conseil européen tiendra une\npremière discussion sur le CFP les 28 et 29 juin\n2012.
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nThe Council reached agreement on a partial general\napproach concerning the EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020\nperiod.
\nThe Council's partial general approach is aimed at\nstrengthening results orientation and improving the quality of\ncohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration\nof cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU.
\nThe partial general approach does not prejudge the\noutcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on\nthe EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or the\nFinancial Regulation.
\n(1) The Council's compromise text: this covers some of the more technical features of\nthe future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements\nwill continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on\nthe MFF.
\nMore concretely, the partial general approach includes\nthe following elements:
\nProgramming: common programming rules are\nenvisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic\nframework, namely: (i) the European Regional Development Fund\n(ERDF); (ii) the European Social Fund\n(ESF); (iii) the Cohesion Fund (CF); \n(iv) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD) ; (v) the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund\n(EMFF).
\nEach programme has to specify how it contributes to\nthe EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question as to\nwhether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one\nhand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through\ncountry-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has\nbeen left open. The Council will come back to it in\nJune.
\nEx ante conditionality: certain conditions must be met before funding may\nstart. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy\nperformance.
\nManagement and control: the partial general approach provides for specific\nrules for the management and control of funds disbursed.
\nMonitoring and evaluation: this part of the partial general approach makes sure\nthat the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly\nmonitored and evaluated.
\nEligibility: the\nfinancing of already completed projects, which is possible under\nthe current rules, would be excluded under the partial general\napproach.
\nMajor projects: the\nCouncil's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of\n\"upstream\" quality reviews by independent experts of major\nprojects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing\napprovals \"downstream\" by the Commission.
\nFurther discussions will be held at Council level in\nthe coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked\nto the MFF negotiations. They are only expected to be adopted by\nthe European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the\nMFF has been reached.
\n(2) Multiannual financial\nframework 2014-2020: the Council\ndiscussed, in public session, for the first time on the basis of\nthe negotiating box, certain areas of the multiannual financial\nframework (MFF) including cohesion policy and the provisions\nrelating to the five funds belonging to these policy\nfields.
\nDuring the debate, a number of delegations voiced\nconcerns about the proposed overall level of expenditure in\ntimes of fiscal consolidation and asked for cuts to be made in all\nheadings.
\nCohesion policy:\nsome Member States considered the proposed amount for cohesion\npolicy as a minimum, whereas others viewed the amount proposed for\nthe common agricultural policy as a minimum.
\nSeveral Member States expressed concerns relating\neither to the new category of transition regions or to its scope. A\nnumber of delegations opposed the proposed level of capping,\nlimiting the level of transfer to each Member State to a certain\npercentage of its gross domestic product. Some Member States\nobjected to the so-called reversed safety net, which would limit\nthe scope of support to a certain percentage as compared to its\nlevel during the 2007-2013 period. Some Member States argued for\nco-financing rates of 85% for less developed regions, whereas\nothers pleaded for reducing the rates.
\nThe rules governing the five funds under the common\nstrategic framework: some Member\nStates stressed the importance of macro-economic conditionality.\nOthers were sceptical about it, unless it was extended to other\ntypes of expenditure.
\nThe General Affairs Council of 29 May will hold a\nfirst discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box\ncovering all elements of the MFF negotiating package.
\nMinisters for European Affairs will continue their\nwork on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10\nand 11 June.
\nThe European Council will discuss the MFF for the\nfirst time on 28 and 29 June.
\nLe Conseil a\ndégagé une orientation générale\npartielle sur la politique de cohésion de l'UE pour la\npériode allant de 2014 à 2020.
\nL'orientation\ngénérale partielle du Conseil vise à renforcer\nl'orientation sur les résultats et à améliorer\nla qualité des dépenses. Elle vise également\nà intégrer la politique de cohésion dans la\ngouvernance économique de l'UE.
\nL'orientation\ngénérale partielle ne préjuge pas du\nrésultat des négociations sur d'autres\néléments de la politique de cohésion ni des\nnégociations sur le cadre financier pluriannuel de l'UE\n(CFP) pour la période 2014-2020 ou sur le règlement\nfinancier.
\n1) Texte de\ncompromis dégagé par le Conseil : celui-ci\nconcerne certains éléments techniques de la\nfuture politique de cohésion. Les travaux portant sur les\néléments plus politiques se poursuivront, notamment\ndans le cadre des négociations relatives au CFP.
\n\nConcrètement, l'approche générale partielle\ncomprend les éléments suivants:
\nLa\nprogrammation : des règles\ncommunes de programmation sont envisagées pour les cinq\nfonds prévus par le cadre stratégique commun,\nà savoir : i) le Fonds\neuropéen de développement régional\n(FEDER), ii) le Fonds\nsocial européen (FSE), iii) le Fonds de\ncohésion (FC), iv) le Fonds européen agricole\npour le développement rural (Feader) et v) le Fonds\neuropéen pour les affaires maritimes et la pêche\n(FEAMP).
\nChaque programme\ndoit préciser la manière dont il contribue à\nla stratégie Europe 2020 pour l'emploi et la croissance. La\nquestion de savoir si le lien entre la stratégie de l'UE\npour l'emploi et la croissance, d'une part, et la politique de\ncohésion, d'autre part, devrait être assuré au\nmoyen de recommandations par pays ou de programmes nationaux de\nréformes n'a pas été tranchée. Le\nConseil y reviendra au mois de juin.
\nLa\nconditionnalité ex ante : certaines conditions\ndoivent être remplies avant que le financement puisse\nintervenir. Elle a pour objectif d'améliorer les\nrésultats de la politique de cohésion.
\nLa gestion et\nle contrôle : l'approche générale\npartielle prévoit des règles spécifiques pour\nla gestion et le contrôle des fonds versés.
\nLe suivi et\nl'évaluation : ce volet permet de garantir que la\nmise en œuvre des programmes de la politique de\ncohésion sera dûment suivie et\névaluée.
\n\nL'éligibilité : l'approche\ngénérale partielle prévoit que le financement\nde projets déjà menés à bien, qui est\nautorisé par les règles actuelles, soit exclu.
\nLes grands\nprojets: le texte de compromis du Conseil permettrait plus\nfacilement à des experts indépendants d'effectuer une\névaluation de la qualité des grands projets. La\nCommission juge cette solution plus efficace que la formule\nactuelle de l'approbation en aval.
\nD'autres\ndiscussions auront lieu au niveau du Conseil dans les prochains\nmois. Les nouvelles règles en matière de politique\nde cohésion sont étroitement liées aux\nnégociations relatives au cadre financier pluriannuel\n(CFP) pour la période allant de 2014 à 2020.\nElles ne devraient être adoptées par le Parlement\neuropéen et le Conseil que lorsqu'un accord sur le CFP sera\nintervenu.
\n2)\nCFP 2014-2020: le Conseil a débattu\nparallèlement, pour la première fois, des aspects du\nCFP concernant, entre autres, la politique de cohésion et\nles dispositions relatives aux cinq fonds relevant de ces domaines\nd'action.
\nAu cours de la\ndiscussion, plusieurs délégations ont exprimé\ndes inquiétudes sur le niveau général des\ndépenses proposé en ces temps d'assainissement\nbudgétaire et demandé que l'ensemble des rubriques\nsoient revues à la baisse.
\nPolitique de\ncohésion : certains États membres\nconsidèrent que le montant proposé pour la politique\nde cohésion constitue un minimum.
\nPar ailleurs,\ncertains États membres ont exprimé des\ninquiétudes quant à la nouvelle catégorie de\nrégions en transition, en tant que telle ou du point de vue\nde sa portée. Plusieurs délégations ont\nexprimé leur opposition au niveau de plafonnement\nproposé, qui limite le niveau de transfert de chaque\nÉtat membre à un certain pourcentage de son produit\nintérieur brut. Certains États membres ont\nformulé des objections concernant le «filet de\nsécurité inversé», qui limite le niveau\ndu soutien à un certain pourcentage de ce qu'il était\npour la période 2007-2013.
\nEn outre, certains\nÉtats membres ont plaidé en faveur de taux de\ncofinancement de 85% pour les régions les moins\ndéveloppées alors que d'autres se sont\nprononcés pour une réduction des taux.
\nDispositions\nrelatives aux cinq fonds : en ce qui concerne les\nrègles applicables aux cinq fonds s'insérant dans le\ncadre stratégique commun, certains États membres ont\nsouligné l'importance de la conditionnalité macro\néconomique. D'autres se sont dits sceptiques à cet\négard, à moins que celle-ci ne soit étendue\nà d'autres types de dépenses.
\nIl faut noter que\nle Conseil des affaires générales procèdera,\nlors de sa session du 29 mai 2012, à un premier examen d'une\nversion globale du cadre de négociation comprenant tous les\néléments du cadre de négociation sur le\nCFP.
\nLes ministres des\naffaires européennes poursuivront leurs travaux sur le CFP\nlors d'une réunion informelle à Horsens, au Danemark,\nles 10 et 11 juin 2012.
\nLe Conseil européen tiendra une\npremière discussion sur le CFP les 28 et 29 juin\n2012.
\nPURPOSE: to define\nthe next framework for cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020\n(Cohesion Fund Regulation).
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European\nParliament and of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: in its proposal for the next multi-annual financial\nframework for the period 2014-2020, the Commission decided that\ncohesion policy should remain an essential element of the next\nfinancial package and underlined its pivotal role in delivering the\nEurope 2020 strategy. It proposed a\nnumber of important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed\nand implemented. Concentrating funding on a smaller number of\npriorities better linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing on\nresults, monitoring progress towards agreed objectives, increasing\nthe use of conditionalities and simplifying the delivery are among\nthe major hallmarks of the proposal
\nThis proposal is part of a\npackage of legislative measures relating to the Cohesion policy\n2014-2020. This package includes:
\nThe Cohesion\nFund helps Member States whose GNI\nper inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making\ninvestments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. Part\nof the Cohesion Fund allocation (EUR 10 billion) will be\nring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the\n\"Connecting Europe\" Facility. The Cohesion Fund can also support\nprojects related to energy, as long as they clearly present a\nbenefit to the environment, for example by promoting energy\nefficiency and the use of renewable energy.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: options\nwere assessed in particular in relation to the Cohesion Fund\ncontribution to investing in basic infrastructure in transport and\nenvironment. Various ways of making funding conditional on a\nsound macro-fiscal framework were assessed, including: (i) the\nstatus quo, with a weak ex-post conditionality which has never been\napplied; (ii) a strengthened ex post conditionality; (iii) ex ante\nconditionality, which would require the fulfilment of preconditions\nbefore the adoption of the programmes.
\nAn evolution of the current\nsystem best fulfils the criteria of ownership, transparency and\npredictability, while at the same time ensuring that the\neffectiveness of growth-enhancing investments is not undermined by\nthe pursuit of unsound fiscal policies. Such a procedure implies\nsuspension of part or all of commitments in the case of repeated\nbreaches.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 177 of\nthe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: the proposed\nRegulation determines the scope of intervention of the Cohesion\nFund. It includes an article on scope defining the general areas\nfor intervention within the area of transport and environment. The\nscope of intervention is also defined by a negative list of\nactivities which will not be eligible for support, and a list of\ninvestment priorities.
\nEnvironment: the\nCohesion Fund will support investment in climate change adaptation\nand risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and\nthe urban environment.
\nEnergy: investment in energy is also eligible for support,\nprovided it has positive environmental benefits. Therefore\ninvestment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are also\nsupported.
\nTransport: the Cohesion\nFund will contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport\nNetwork, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban\ntransport.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the\nCommission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework\nincludes EUR 376 billion for cohesion policy for the\nperiod 2014-2020. The proposed budget (in billion euros) is broken\ndown as follows:
\nOBJECTIF : définir le prochain cadre de la\npolitique de cohésion pour la période 2014-2020\n(règlement relatif au Fonds de cohésion).
\nACTE PROPOSÉ : Règlement du Parlement\neuropéen et du Conseil.
\nCONTEXTE : dans sa proposition\nrelative au prochain cadre financier pluriannuel pour la\npériode 2014-2020, la Commission a décidé\nque la politique de cohésion devrait rester un\nélément essentiel du prochain train de dispositions\nfinancières. Elle a toutefois proposé un certain\nnombre de changements importants concernant la manière dont\nla politique de cohésion est conçue et\nappliquée. La prochaine période de programmation sera\nessentiellement marquée par la simplification de la mise en\nœuvre des politiques, la focalisation sur les\nrésultats et le recours accru à la\nconditionnalité.
\nLa présente proposition s'inscrit dans un\nensemble de mesures législatives relatives à la\npolitique de cohésion pour la période 2014-2020.\nL'ensemble de mesures comprend:
\nLe Fonds de cohésion soutient les États membres dont le PNB par\nhabitant est inférieur à 90% de la moyenne de l'UE 27\nà réaliser des investissements dans les\nréseaux de transport RTE-T et l'environnement. Une partie de\nla dotation du Fonds de cohésion (10 milliards EUR) sera\naffectée au financement des réseaux de transport de\nbase dans le cadre du «mécanisme pour l'interconnexion\nen Europe». Le Fonds de cohésion peut aussi soutenir\ndes projets ayant trait à l'énergie, dès lors\nqu'ils présentent clairement un bénéfice pour\nl'environnement, par exemple, en promouvant l'efficacité\nénergétique et l'utilisation des énergies\nrenouvelables.
\nANALYSE D'IMPACT : plusieurs options ont\nété examinées, notamment en ce qui concerne la\ncontribution du Fonds de cohésion aux investissements dans\nles infrastructures de base dans les transports et l'environnement.\nDifférentes manières de subordonner l'octroi de\nfinancements à un cadre macro budgétaire sain ont\nété évaluées, notamment : i) le statu\nquo (c'est à dire une faible subordination ex post,\nce qui n'a jamais été appliqué), ii) la\nsubordination à des conditions ex post plus strictes,\net iii) la subordination ex ante (qui impliquerait qu'un\ncertain nombre de conditions soient remplies préalablement\nà l'adoption des programmes).
\nLa solution qui répond le mieux aux\ncritères d'appropriation, de transparence et de\nprévisibilité est une évolution du\nsystème actuel. Cette procédure consiste à\nsuspendre tout ou partie des engagements en cas de manquements\nrépétés.
\nBASE JURIDIQUE : Articles 177 du traité sur le\nfonctionnement de l'Union européenne (TFUE).
\nCONTENU : le règlement proposé\ndéfinit le champ d'intervention du Fonds de cohésion.\nIl comprend à cet égard un article dans lequel sont\nprécisés les domaines généraux\nd'intervention dans le secteur des transports et de\nl'environnement. Le champ d'intervention est également\ndélimité à l'aide d'une liste négative\nd'activités qui ne pourront entrer ligne de compte pour\nl'octroi d'un soutien et d'une liste de priorités\nd'investissement.
\nEnvironnement : le Fonds\nde cohésion soutiendra les investissements liés\nà l'adaptation aux changements climatiques et à la\nprévention des risques, les investissements\nréalisés dans les secteurs de l'eau et des\ndéchets ainsi que dans l'environnement urbain.
\nÉnergie : les\ninvestissements dans le secteur de l'énergie sont\négalement admissibles au soutien du Fonds, pour autant\nqu'ils aient des effets positifs sur l'environnement. C'est\npourquoi les investissements dans l'efficacité\nénergétique et les énergies renouvelables\nbénéficient eux aussi d'un soutien.
\nTransports : le Fonds de\ncohésion contribuera aux investissements relatifs au\nréseau transeuropéen de transport, ainsi qu'aux\nsystèmes de transport à faibles émissions de\ncarbone et aux transports urbains.
\nINCIDENCE BUDGÉTAIRE : la proposition de cadre\nfinancier pluriannuel présentée par la Commission\nprévoit une enveloppe de 376 milliards EUR pour la\ncohésion économique, sociale et territoriale pour la\npériode 2014-2020. Le budget (en milliards d'euros) est\nréparti comme suit :
\n