Europese Raad neemt eerste stappen op weg naar nieuw EU-cohesiebeleid (en)

Council takes first hurdle towards new EU cohesion policy

The Council took today¹ the first step towards the adoption of new rules for EU cohesion policy for the 2014-2020 period by agreeing on a partial general approach² (REV 2 + ADD 7 REV 1).

The purpose of cohesion policy is to reduce disparities between the levels of development of the EU's various regions

The Council's partial general approach is aimed at strengthening results orientation and improving the quality of cohesion spending. It also seeks to contribute to the integration of cohesion policy in the economic governance of the EU

Care has been taken to ensure that the partial general approach does not prejudge the outcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 or financial regulation

The partial general approach may however be subject to change as a result of these other negotiations

The decision was taken at a meeting of the General Affairs Council. A general approach is a political agreement of the Council pending the adoption of a first-reading position by the European Parliament. The general approach on the cohesion policy legislative package is partial since some elements are excluded, in particular the sums to be devoted to cohesion policy and the eligibility of different regions which will be decided under the EU's new multiannual financial framework

The Council's compromise text covers some of the more technical features of the future cohesion policy. Work on the more political elements will continue. Some of these are dealt with in the negotiations on the MFF

More concretely, the partial general approach includes the following elements:

programming, as set out in ADD 1 REV 2. Common programming rules are envisaged for the five funds covered by a common strategic framework, namely the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Each programme has to specify how it contributes to the EU's 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The question whether the link between the EU strategy for jobs and growth on one hand and cohesion policy on the other should be assured through country-specific recommendations or national reform programmes has been left open. The Council will come back to it in June

ex ante conditionality, as set out in ADD 2 REV 2. Ex ante conditionality means that certain conditions must be met before funding may start. It is aimed at improving cohesion policy performance ().

management and control, as set out in ADD 3 REV 2. The partial general approach provides for specific rules for the management and control of funds disbursed

monitoring and evaluation, as set out in ADD 4 REV 2. This part of the partial general approach makes sure that the implementation of the cohesion policy programmes is duly monitored and evaluated

eligibility, as set out in ADD 5 REV 2. The financing of already completed projects, which is possible under the current rules, would be excluded under the partial general approach

major projects, as set out in ADD 6 REV 2. The Council's compromise text would facilitate the deployment of "upstream" quality reviews by independent experts of major projects. This is considered to be more effective than the existing approvals "downstream" by the Commission

Further discussions will be held at Council level in the coming months. The new cohesion policy rules are closely linked to the MFF negotiations; they are only expected to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council once an agreement on the MFF has been reached