[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) On the basis of the Common Strategic Framework adopted by the Commission, each Member State should prepare, in cooperation with its partners and in dialogue with the Commission, a Partnership Contract. The Partnership Contract should translate the elements set out in the Common Strategic Framework into the national context ~~and~~, set out firm commitments to the achievement of Union objectives through the programming of the CSF Funds and lay down provisions to guarantee access to such funds for SMEs and micro-enterprises, in particular, and to ensure that they have access to such funds, and that CSF Funds are used in an efficient and effective manner.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

(17) Member States should concentrate support to ensure a significant contribution to the achievement of Union objectives in line with their specific national and regional development needs. Ex ante conditionalities should be defined to ensure that the necessary framework conditions for the effective use of Union support are in place. The fulfilment of those ex ante conditionalities should be assessed by the Commission in the framework of its assessment of the Partnership Contract and programmes. In cases where ~~there is a failure to fulfil an ex ante conditionality, the Commission should have the power to suspend payments to the programme~~, in spite of the Commission’s recommendations, a Member State does nothing to ensure such fulfilment, the Commission may have the power to suspend payments to the programme. When deciding to suspend payments, the Commission should take account of the economic and social effects on the Member State in question. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18

(18) A performance framework should be defined for each programme with a view to monitoring progress towards the objectives and targets set for each programme over the course of the programming period. The Commission should undertake a performance review in cooperation with the Member States in 2017 and 2019~~. A performance reserve should be foreseen and allocated in 2019 where milestones set in the performance framework have been attained. Due to their diversity and multi-country character,~~ and provide them with the necessary technical assistance if they are not achieving there s~~hould be no performance reserve for 'European Territorial Cooperation' programme~~tated aims. In cases where the shortfall in the achievement of milestones or targets is significant, the Commission should be able to suspend payments to the programme or, at the end of the programming period, apply financial corrections, in order to ensure that the Union budget is not used in a wasteful or inefficient way. reby proving that the measures necessary to achieve them are not being taken, the Commission should be able to suspend payments to the programme. When deciding to suspend payments, the Commission should take account of the economic and social effects on the Member State in question. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19

(19) Establishing a closer link between cohesion policy and the economic governance of the Union will ensure that the effectiveness of expenditure under the CSF Funds is underpinned by sound economic policies and that the CSF Funds can, if necessary, be redirected to addressing the economic problems a country is facing. This process has to be gradual, starting with amendments to the Partnership Contract and to the programmes in support of Council recommendations to address macroeconomic imbalances and social and economic difficulties. Where, despite the enhanced use of CSF Funds, a Member State fails to take effective action in the context of the economic governance process, the Commission should have the right to suspend all or part of the payments and commitments. Decisions on suspensions should be proportionate and effective, taking into account the impact of the individual programmes for addressing the economic and social situation in the relevant Member State and previous amendments to the Partnership Contract. When deciding on suspensions, the Commission should also respect equality of treatment between Member States, taking into account in particular the impact of the suspension on the economy of the Member State concerned. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action.deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 58

(58) In order to strengthen the focus on results and achievement of the Europe 2020 objectives and targets, five per cent of the resources for the 'Investment for growth and jobs' goal should be set aside as a performance reserve for each Fund, and category of region in each Member State.deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65

(65) Where an urban, rural or territorial development strategy requires an integrated approach because it involves investments under more than one priority axis of one or several operational programmes, action supported by the Funds should be carried out as an integrated territorial investment within an operational programme.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 85

(85) In order to safeguard the Union's financial interests and provide the means to ensure effective programme implementation, there should be measures allowing for the suspension by the Commission of payments at the level of priority axis or operational programme. When deciding to suspend payments, the Commission should take account of the economic and social effects on the region in question.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 88

(88) In order to supplement and amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of a ~~code of conduct~~set of guidelines on the objectives and criteria to support the implementation of partnership, the adoption of a Common Strategic Framework, ~~additional rules on the allocation of the performance reserve,~~ the definition of the area and population covered by the local development strategies, detailed rules on financial instruments (ex ante assessment, combination of support, eligibility, types of activities not supported), the rules on certain types of financial instruments set up at national, regional, transnational or cross- border level, rules concerning funding agreements, transfer and management of assets, the arrangements for management and control, the rules on payment requests, and establishment of a system of capitalisation of annual instalments, the definition of the flat rate for revenue generating operations, the definition of the flat rate applied to indirect costs for grants based on existing methods and corresponding rates applicable in Union policies, the responsibilities of Member States concerning the procedure for reporting irregularities and recovery of sums unduly paid, the modalities of exchange of information of operations, the arrangements for the adequate audit trail, the conditions of national audits, the accreditation criteria for managing authorities and certifying authorities, the identification of commonly accepted data carriers, and the criteria for establishing the level of financial correction to be applied. The Commission should also be empowered to amend Annex V in order to address future adaptation needs. It is of its particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 90

(90) The Commission should be empowered to adopt, by means of implementing acts, as regards all CSF Funds, decisions approving the Partnership Contracts, ~~decisions on the allocation of the performance reserve, decisions suspending payments linked to Member States’ economic policies,~~ and, in the case of decommitment, decisions to amend decisions adopting programmes; and as regards the Funds, decisions identifying the regions and Member States fulfilling the Investment for growth and jobs criteria, decisions setting out the annual breakdown of commitment appropriations to the Member States, decisions setting out the amount to be transferred from each Member State's CF allocation to the Connecting Europe Facility, decisions setting out the amount to be transferred from each Member State's Structural Funds allocation for food for deprived people, decisions adopting and amending operational programmes, decisions on major projects, decisions on joint action plans, decisions suspending payments and decisions on financial corrections.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 5 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission, after consulting the relevant stakeholders and civil society representatives, shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 142 to provide for ~~a European code of conduct~~guidelines that lays down objectives and criteria to support the implementation of partnership and to facilitate the sharing of information, experience, results and good practices among Member States.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 7 – paragraph 1

The Member States and the Commission shall ensure that ~~equality between men and women and the integration of gender perspective is~~the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination are promoted in the preparation and implementation of programmes.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 13 – paragraph 4

4. Each Member State shall transmit its Partnership Contract to the Commission within 3six months of the adoption of the Common Strategic Framework.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 14 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) an integrated approach to address the specific needs of geographical areas most affected by poverty or of target groups at highest risk of discrimination or social exclusion, with special regard to marginalised communities, where appropriate, including the indicative financial allocation for the relevant CSF Funds, with a view to helping implement the national strategies for combating poverty;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 14 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) an integrated approach to address the specific needs of the geographical areas most affected by unemployment, with special regard to youth unemployment, specifying both the measures to combat it as part of each fund strategy, and the financial allocations committed to such measures;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 14 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv

(iv) a list of partners and the actions taken to involve the partners and their role in the preparation of the Partnership Contract and the progress report as defined in Article 46 of this Regulation;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 17 – paragraph 5

5. The Commission shall assess the information provided on the fulfilment of ex ante conditionalities in the framework of its assessment of the Partnership Contract and programmes. I~~t may decid~~f it sees that these conditionalities are not being fulfilled in the agreed timeframe, wthe~~n adopting a programme,~~ Commission may initiate a recommendation process vis-à-vis the Member State. If the Member State does not then take the necessary action to implement these recommendations, the Commission may decide to suspend all or part of interim payments to the programme pending the satisfactory completion of actions to fulfil an ex ante conditionality. The failure to complete actions to fulfil an ex ante conditionality by the deadline set out in the programme shall constitute a basis for suspending payments by the Commission. When deciding to suspend payments, the Commission should take account of the economic and social effects on the Member State in question. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 18

5% of the resources allocated to each CSF Fund and Member State, with the exception of resources allocated to the European territorial cooperation goal and to Title V of the EMFF Regulation, shall constitute a performance reserve to be allocated in accordance with Article 20.Article 18 deleted Performance reserve

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 20 – paragraph 2

2. On the basis of the review undertaken in 2019, the Commission shall adopt a decision, by means of implementing acts, to determine for each CSF Fund and Member State the programmes and priorities which have attained their milestones. The Member State shall propose the attribution of the performance reserve for the programmes and priorities set out in that Commission decision. The Commission shall approve the amendment of the programmes concerned in accordance with Article 26. Where a Member State fails to submit the information in accordance with Article 46(2) and (3), the performance reserve for the programmes or the priorities concerned shall not be allocated.Commission shall approve the amendment of the programmes concerned in accordance with Article 26;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 20 – paragraph 3

3. Where there is evidence resulting from a performance review that a priority has failed to achieve the milestones set out in the performance framework, and where the state in question is not taking the necessary remedial action, the Commission may suspend all or part of an interim payment of a priority of a programme in accordance with the procedure laid down in Fund-specific rules. When deciding to suspend payments, the Commission should take account of the economic and social effects on the Member State in question. The suspensions should be lifted and funds be made available again to the Member State concerned as soon as the Member State takes the necessary action.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 21

~~[...]~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 22 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) where the overall unemployment rate, or youth unemployment rate, is substantially higher than the European average;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 23 – paragraph 2

2. Programmes shall be drawn up by Member States or any authority designated by them, ~~in cooperation with the partner~~Member States shall begin a period of consultation with the relevant stakeholders and civil society representatives and shall publish the results of these consultations before drawing up such programmes.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 23 – paragraph 3

3. Programmes shall be submitted by the Member States ~~at the same time as~~within a deadline of three months after submission of the Partnership Contract, with the exception of European territorial cooperation programmes, which shall be submitted within ~~six~~nine months of the approval of the Common Strategic Framework. All programmes shall be accompanied by the ex ante evaluation as set out in Article 48.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 24 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

Each priority shall set out indicators to assess progress of programme implementation towards achievement of qualitative and quantitative objectives as the basis for monitoring, evaluation and review of performance. These shall include:

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 24 – paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. All programmes directed at Member States whose overall unemployment and/or youth unemployment rate is substantially above the European average must state the indicative amount of support allocated to objectives linked to job creation.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 31 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

(da) consulting costs

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 32 – paragraph 3

3. Contributions in kind are not eligible expenditure in respect of financial instruments, except for contributions of land or real estate in respect of investments with the objective of supporting urban and rural development or urban and rural regeneration, where the land or real estate forms part of the investment. Such contributions of land or real estate shall be eligible provided that the conditions in Article 59 are met.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 44 – paragraph 3

3. The annual implementation report submitted in 2017 shall set out and assess the information set out in paragraph 2 and progress towards achieving the objectives of the programme, including the contribution of the CSF Funds to changes in result indicators, when evidence is available from evaluations. It shall also assess the implementation of actions to take into account the principles set out in Articles 6, 7 and 8 and report on support used for climate change, poverty reduction and overall and youth unemployment reduction targets.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 46 – paragraph 2 – point b

(b) progress towards achievement of the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, in particular in respect of the milestones set out for each programme in the performance framework and the support used for climate change, poverty reduction and overall and youth unemployment reduction objectives;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 47 – paragraph 1

1. Evaluations shall be carried out to improve the quality of the design and implementation of programmes, as well as to assess their effectiveness, efficiency and impact. Impact of programmes shall be evaluated in accordance with the mission of the respective CSF Funds in relation to the targets for the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as well as in relation to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and unemployment~~, where appropriate~~.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 47 – paragraph 2

2. Member States shall provide the resources necessary for carrying out qualitative and quantitative evaluations, and shall ensure that procedures are in place to produce and collect the data necessary for evaluations, including data related to common and where appropriate programme-specific indicators.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 50

The ex post evaluations shall be carried out by the Commission ~~or by the Member States, in close cooperation~~in close cooperation with the Member States. Ex post evaluations shall examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the CSF Funds and their contribution to the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in accordance with specific requirements established in the Fund-specific rules. Ex post evaluations shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point a a (new)

(aa) assistance in relation to accessing funds, targeted in particular at SMEs and micro-enterprises.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 52 a (new)

Article 52a Each Member State shall ensure that provision is made in each operational programme for the necessary technical assistance to enable social stakeholders and NGOs to take part in the preparation, implementation, control and evaluation of the funds.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 2 – article 66 – paragraph 4

~~As regards the performance reserve, budget commitments shall follow the Commission decision approving the amendment of the programme.~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 6

~~6. 5% of the resources for the Investment for growth and jobs goal shall constitute the performance reserve to be allocated in accordance with Article 20.~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. The Commission shall allocate a minimum percentage of the appropriations earmarked for the Investment for growth and jobs goal in Member States whose general and/or youth unemployment rate is substantially higher than the European average to actions specifically designed to combat general and/or youth unemployment.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 84 – paragraph 7

7. 0,2% of the ERDF resources for the Investment for growth and jobs goal shall be allocated to innovative actions at the initiative of the Commission in the area of sustainable urban and rural development.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3

The Commission and the Member States shall take into account the general macroeconomic conditions and specific or exceptional circumstances~~, such as privatisations or~~ which may represent an exceptional ~~level of~~variation in public or equivalent structural expenditure by a Member State in the period 2007- 2013. They shall also take into account changes in the national allocations from the Structural Funds as compared to the years 2007-2013.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 86 – paragraph 6

6. If it is established by the Commission in the ex post verification that a Member State has not maintained the reference level of public or equivalent structural expenditure under the Investment for growth and jobs goal set out in the Partnership Contract as set out in Annex III, the Commission may carry out a financial correction. In deciding whether or not to carry out a financial correction, the Commission ~~will take into account~~must have taken the view that the Member State has not taken the necessary steps to comply with the recommendations it has made to this effect and will consider whether the economic situation of the Member State has significantly changed since the mid- term verification and whether the change was taken into account at that time. The detailed rules relating to financial correction rates are set out in point 3 of Annex III.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 87 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point ii a (new)

(iia) a description of proposed actions to reduce the general and youth unemployment rate, in particular in those Member States where the rates are substantially higher than the European average;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 88 – paragraph 2

2. The ERDF and the ESF may finance, in a complementary manner and subject to a limit of 51 % of Union funding for each priority axis of an operational programme, a part of an operation for which the costs are eligible for support from the other Fund on the basis of eligibility rules applied to that Fund, provided that they are necessary for the satisfactory implementation of the operation and are directly linked to it.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 91 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point f

(f) an analysis of the environmental impact, taking into account climate change adaptation and mitigation needs, and disaster resilience, and of the social impact, taking into account the benefits in terms of cohesion and development;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 99 – paragraph 1

1. Where an urban or rural development strategy or other territorial strategy or pact as defined in Article 12(1) of Regulation…[ESF] requires an integrated approach involving investments under more than one priority axis of one or more operational programmes, the action shall be carried out as an integrated territorial investment (an 'ITI').

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 100 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

(ga) actions to improve economic, social and territorial cohesion, and in particular actions to reduce the unemployment rate, especially in those Member States where the unemployment rate is substantially higher than the European average;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 100 – paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(gb) actions to combat poverty and promote social inclusion;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 100 – paragraph 2 – point c

~~(c) the evaluation plan for the operational programme and any amendment of the plan;~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 101 – paragraph 1

1. By 30 ~~April~~June 2016 and by 30 ~~April~~June of each subsequent year until and including 2022 the Member State shall submit to the Commission an annual report in accordance with Article 44(1). The report submitted in 2016 shall cover the financial years 2014 and 2015, as well as the period between the starting date for eligibility of expenditure and 31 December 2013.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 101 – paragraph 3 – point a

(a) progress in implementation of the integrated approach to territorial development, including sustainable urban and rural development, and community- led local development under the operational programme;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 102 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. By 31 January~~, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October~~ and 31 July, the managing authority shall transmit electronically to the Commission for monitoring purposes, for each operational programme and by priority axis:

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 102 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) the total and public eligible cost of contracts ~~or other legal commitments entered into by beneficiaries in implementation of operations selected for support~~;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 102 – paragraph 2

2. In addition, the transmission on 31 January shall contain the above data broken down by category of intervention. This transmission shall be considered to fulfil the requirement for the submission of financial data referred to in Article 44(2).deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 102 – paragraph 3

3. A forecast of the amount for which Member States expect to submit payment applications for the current financial year and the subsequent financial year shall accompany the transmissions to be made by 31 January and 31 July.deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 104 – paragraph 1

1. An evaluation plan shall be drawn up by the managing authority for each operational programme. The evaluation plan shall be submitted ato the ~~first meeting of the monitoring committee~~end of 2014. Where a single monitoring committee covers more than one operational programme, an evaluation plan may cover all the operational programmes concerned.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 111 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)

(1a) the importance of the priority axis for reducing the rate of general and youth unemployment, in particular in those Member States where the rates are substantially higher than the European average;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 111 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)

(1b) the importance of the priority axis for promoting social inclusion and reducing poverty;

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 134 – paragraph 1 – point g

~~(g) the Member State fails to respond or does not reply satisfactorily under Article 20(3).~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 134 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. The Commission shall, by means of delegated acts and for the sake of legal certainty, outline the concepts and situations that may be considered serious within the meaning of Article 134(1) of this Regulation.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 136 – paragraph 6

6. The Commission shall be empowered ~~to adopt~~, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 142, to establish~~ing~~ the cases that are to be regarded as serious deficiencies within the meaning of this article and the criteria for establishing the level of financial correction to be applied.

2012/05/30
Committee: EMPL

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO

Proposal for a regulation
Annex -I

7 8 OJ L 290, 6.11.2010, p. 39–48 2010/670/EU: Commission Decision of 3 November 2010 laying down criteria and measures for the financing of commercial demonstration projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 as well as demonstration projects of innovative renewable energy technologies under the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community established by Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2010/670/EU) OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32–46. 9 “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system” COM 2011) 144 final Annex -I Common Strategic Framework The purpose of this framework is to serve, in accordance with Article 10, as a means of coordinating, integrating and balancing the objectives of different policies in specific regional contexts, and, in particular, as a means of coordinating and balancing investment priorities with the thematic objectives set out in Article 9. 1. Horizontal Principles and cross-cutting challenges 1.1 Partnership and multi-level governance 1.1.1 The principle of multi-level governance requires coordinated action carried out in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and in partnership. It also must take the form of operational and institutionalised cooperation, in particular with regard to the drawing-up and implementation of the Union's policies. Explicit reference to the principle of multi-level governance in this Regulation represents a reinforcement of that principle and provides an added value for cohesion policy itself. 1.1.2 The principle of multi-level governance must be respected in order to facilitate achieving social, economic and territorial cohesion and delivery of the Union's priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 1.1.3 In order to ensure effective multi- level governance Member States and regions must carry out the following actions: a) implement partnership according to the European code of conduct as referred to in Article 5; b) establish coordination mechanisms between the different levels of governance in accordance with the respective constitutional powers systems; c) report regularly on the implementation of partnership. 1.1.4 At all stages of the implementation of the Funds covered by the CPR, partnership must be organised so as to directly involve regional and local authorities in the preparation of Partnership Contracts, and of programmes and also in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of those programmes. Social and economic partners, other public authorities, as well as bodies representing civil society, including environmental partners, non-governmental organisations and bodies responsible for promoting equality and non-discrimination must also be included in order to ensure partnership in all phases of policy implementation. 1.2 Sustainable development 1.2.1 The principle of sustainable development, as laid down in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), relates to a concept of progress according to which social, economic and environmental considerations are to be integrated when considering well-being and a better quality of life for the present and future generations. 1.2.2 Sustainable Development considerations as well as the polluter pays principle must, therefore, be an integral part of every plan, from design to delivery, and monitoring to evaluation. Non- application of the polluter pays principle may be permitted only in exceptional cases and provided that clear mitigating measures are in place. 1.2.3 In order to tackle the complex challenges they face, Member States and regions must deploy all available Union policy instruments. In particular, for the purposes of tackling climate change, resources must be focused on preventative and mitigating measures. Any new investment made with the support of the Funds covered by the CPR must be of a nature such that it is inherently resilient to the impact of climate change and natural disasters. 1.2.4 The ERDF and CF must continue to make major investments in Member States' and Regions infrastructures to meet the requirements of the water framework7 and other relevant directives. Technological solutions, aimed at contributing to sustainable actions, exist and new ones are emerging, the ERDF must therefore continue to provide support to research in this area. Such support must aim to complement measures covered by Horizon 2020. Finance for biodiversity actions may be made available through the EAFRD and the EMFF. The EAFRD may also be used OJ ref.......Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 to provide support to land managers where mandatory environmental requirements lead to area-specific disadvantages. 1.2.5 Pursuing sustainable development must not be a technical exercise. In order to ensure that this goal is mainstreamed in the operation of the Funds covered by the CPR on the ground, managing authorities must have due and consistent regard to this goal throughout the programme lifecycle, and must take a more active approach in reducing environmentally harmful effects of interventions by, inter alia, taking the following actions: a) directing investments towards the most resource-efficient options, b) carefully weighing the need for investments where those investments have a significant negative environmental impact, c) taking a long-term perspective when ‘life-cycle’ costs of alternative methods of investment are compared, d) increasing the use of green public procurement. 1.3 Promotion of equality between men and women and non-discrimination 1.3.1 Member States and regions must increase efforts to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between men and women, as well as to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, at all stages of the implementation of the Funds covered by the CPR. 1.3.2 Member States and regions must pursue the objective of equality between men and women and must take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination during the preparation implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations in the programmes co-financed by the Funds covered by the CPR and clearly state the actions to take into account this principle in the programmes. 1.3.3 Higher participation of women in the labour market, both as employers and employees, would invigorate the Union’s economy. Unblocking the potential for such an increase in activity, by increasing the female employment rate is crucial for reaching the Europe 2020 employment targets. Barriers to women’s labour market participation, must, therefore, be fully addressed. Member States and regions must ensure that in addition to the ESF, the ERDF, the CF, the EMFF and the EAFRD also finance activities that promote women's economic independence, contribute to attaining an appropriate balance between work and family life, and that advance women's opportunities as entrepreneurs. 1.3.4 Monitoring and evaluating programmes will help to measure the impact of the expected contribution of the Funds covered by CPR to gender equality. 1.4 Accessibility 1.4.1 All products and services that are offered to the public and are co-financed by the Funds covered by the CPR must be accessible. In particular, accessibility to the built environment, transport, information and communication technologies, is essential for the purposes of inclusion for disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities. 1.4.2 It is crucial to appropriately address the needs of those who are furthest from the labour market. The principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination are cornerstones of our fundamental rights and values. EU anti-discrimination laws have considerably raised the level of protection across the EU, but equality in employment has not yet been reached, especially for disadvantaged. 1.4.3 Special attention should be given to young unemployed , elderly people, people with disabilities, the Roma, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, homeless people, and other groups at risk of poverty in order to allow them to better integrate into the labour market, and to fully participate in society. 1.4.4 Member States and regions must continue to promote social cohesion, on an equal footing to economic and territorial cohesion, across all EU regions, if the EU 2020 Strategy is to achieve its targets. 1.5 Demography 1.5.1 Adapting to demographic change is one of the core challenges facing Member States and regions in the decades to come. The combination of a smaller working population and a higher share of retired people will place additional strains on Member States' welfare systems and thus on the Union’s economic competiveness. 1.5.2 Demographic change gives rise to new challenges. Such demographic developments must be studied and met at regional and local level in particular, wherever different development trends become apparent. Member States and regions must rely on the Funds covered by the CPR to develop tailor-made strategies to tackle demographic problems and to create opportunities for developing the ‘silver economy’. 1.5.3 Enhancing job opportunities for the elderly will bring about a multitude of benefits to people, societies and public budgets. Member States and regions must use the Funds covered by the CPR to take action to facilitate inclusion of all age groups. Making the best use of all existing human resources, including by making efforts to tackle youth unemployment, reflects one of the immediate tasks for the Funds covered by the CPR in contributing to maximising the potential of all of the Union's population. This will be achieved through improving access to, minimum levels and quality of, education and enhancing social support structures. Investments in health infrastructures would also serve the goal of a long and healthy working life for all of the Union’s citizens. 1.5.4 In drawing up their programmes, Member States and regions must take account of the long-term challenges of demographic change. In those regions most affected by demographic change, they must identify measures to: a) support demographic renewal through better conditions for families and an improved balance between working and family life; b) boost employment; raise productivity and economic performance through investing in education and research; c) focus on the adequacy and quality of education and social support structures; and d) ensure provision of universal and quality health care and long-term care including investment in infrastructure. 1.6 Employment 1.6.1 Member States and regions should ensure the promotion of a high level of employment as set in Article 9 of the TFEU. Member states and regions must ensure its mainstreaming in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of actions under all CSF Funds and the integration of employability as a binding principle of ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund programmes. 1.6.2 National, regional, local and other relevant authorities must depict those projects that will have the biggest impact in terms of job creation in order to guarantee social cohesion. Funds must pay particular attention to regions and undertakings affected by restructuring and relocation processes. 1.6.3 Quality job creation for young people in those regions registering high rates of youth unemployment in comparison to the EU average rate must be a priority. 1.7 Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion 1.7.1 Priority must be given to projects that combine employment targets and strategies with integrated active inclusion approaches, such as projects designed to strengthen intergenerational solidarity at regional and local level or which specifically contribute to gender equality and the active inclusion of vulnerable groups, including the working poor. 1.8 Integrated approach 1.8.1 An integrated territorial approach is fundamental to respond effectively to the challenges Member States and regions are confronted with. Those challenges are related to the impacts of: globalisation; environmental and energy concerns; ageing-related problems and demographic change; technological transformation and innovation demands; and income inequality and social segregation. The complex and interrelated nature of these issues means that solutions must be integrated, multi-sectoral and multi- dimensional in nature in order to succeed. 1.8.2 In this context, the Funds covered by the CPR make it possible to combine the power of different EU funds into integrated packages which are tailor- made to fit local and regional specific needs. 1.8.3 In the most disadvantaged areas, social exclusion can be treated successfully only in the framework of comprehensive, multi-funded programmes which target human resource development and social infrastructure development in parallel. Therefore, safeguarding the synergy between ESF and ERDF is essential. 1.8.4 When developing their strategies and programmes with a view to identifying the most appropriate interventions, Member States and regions must pay particular attention to predominant territorial, structural and institutional features, such as connectivity of the region in question, employment patterns and labour mobility; rural-urban linkages; the local interdependencies between different sectors; cultural heritage; ageing and demographic shifts; etc. 1.8.5 Member States and regions must analyse what the major societal challenges they face are. In response to those challenges, they must also consider the question as to what are the particular aspects of the well-being of their citizens that they wish to influence and enhance by means of the policy, and how the policy is to be designed and delivered in the particular context of the Member State or region in question. 1.8.6 So as to foster good policies which are tailored to specific regional needs, Member States and regions must further develop an integrated territorial approach to policy design and delivery, taking account of relevant contextual aspects but focusing on the basis of the following central elements: a) an evaluation of the region’s Europe 2020 development potential and capacity; b) an assessment of the development challenges facing the region and its ability to address them; c) consideration of the appropriate territorial scale and context for policy design and delivery, according to the subsidiarity principle; d) design of the multi-level governance arrangements necessary to ensure effective policy delivery; e) the choice of appropriate result and outcome indicators, to be used for policy monitoring and evaluation. 2. Synergies and coordination of Funds covered by the CPR with instruments of other EU policies 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 With a view to achieving optimal results for sustainable growth and development on the ground, it is important to coordinate all Union policies and related instruments which play a role in achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion and a better balanced territorial development in the EU. This must also be reflected in better coordination between the Union budget and the Member States’ national and sub- national budgets in financing common political priorities as well as in improved vertical cooperation between the EU and national and regional entities. 2.1.2 Synergies and coordination do not imply one size-fits-all solutions. In this context, it is necessary to undertake a closer analysis of the impact of Union policies in the regions and on cohesion with a view to fostering effective synergies and to identifying and promoting the most suitable means at European level of supporting local and regional investment. 2.1.3 Member States and regions must ensure consistency at programming and implementation stages between interventions supported by the Funds covered by the CPR and the objectives of other EU policies. To this end, they must seek to: a) Identify and exploit complementarities between different Union instruments at national and regional level, both in the planning phase and during implementation. b) Optimise existing structures and where necessary establish new ones that facilitate the strategic identification of priorities for the different instruments and structures for coordination at national level, avoid duplication of effort and identify areas where additional financial support is needed. c) Make full use of the potential to combine support from different instruments to support individual operations and work closely with those responsible for implementing other national instruments to deliver coherent and streamlined funding opportunities for beneficiaries. 2.2 Horizon 2020 2.2.1 It is crucial to strengthen synergies and complementarities between cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020, while establishing a clear division of areas of intervention between them. 2.2.2 In particular, Member States and regions must develop a national or regional research and innovation (R&I) strategy for ‘smart specialisation’ in line with the National Reform Program. These strategies must be developed through close collaboration between national or regional managing authorities and the authorities directly concerned by Horizon 2020, but also involving stakeholders such as universities and higher education institutions, local industry and social partners. Those innovation strategies must take into account both upstream and downstream actions to and from Horizon 2020. 2.2.3 Upstream actions to prepare regional R&I players to participate in Horizon 2020 projects ("stairways to excellence") will be developed through capacity building. Communication and cooperation between Horizon 2020 national contact points and managing authorities of the Funds covered by the CPR must be strengthened, in particular regarding any Horizon 2020 shortlisted projects which have not been funded due to lack of resources. 2.2.4 Downstream actions must provide the means to exploit and diffuse R&I results, stemming from Horizon 2020, into the market, and may include: pilot plants and demonstration sites, proof of concept and early stage financing, incubation facilities, applied research, specific industrial and technology transfer capabilities and cluster support. 2.2.5 Joint support must be provided to national and regional authorities for the design and implementation of such innovation strategies, which may include: support to identify opportunities for joint financing of R&I infrastructures of European interest, the promotion of international collaboration, methodological support through peer reviews, exchange of good practice, and training across regions. 2.2.6 Member States and regions must consider the following additional measures aimed at unlocking their potential for excellence and innovation, in a manner that is complementary to and creates synergies with Horizon 2020: a) linking emerging centres of excellence, and innovative regions in less developed Member States to leading counterparts elsewhere in Europe; b) building links with innovative clusters and recognising excellence in less developed regions; c) establishing "ERA Chairs" to attract outstanding academics; and d) supporting access to international networks for researchers and innovators. 2.3 LIFE 2.3.1 Synergies with Union policy instruments (both funding and non- funding instruments) serving climate change mitigation, environmental protection and resource efficiency must be exploited where possible. 2.3.2 As programmes will contribute to the goals of sustainable growth through stronger thematic focus and by a reinforced sustainable development principle, the synergies referred to in 2.3.1 are inherent in the regulatory framework of the Funds covered by the CPR. 2.3.3 Synergies with LIFE, in particular with integrated projects in the areas of nature (such as ecosystem services and biodiversity), water, waste, air, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation must be pursued. Coordination with LIFE must be ensured through supporting projects that are of a complementary nature, as well as by promoting the use of solutions, methods and approaches validated under the LIFE Programme. 2.3.4 The use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and other relevant instruments must be promoted in order to take account of biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change in territorial planning (including macro-regional strategies) and regional and local decision-making. 2.3.5 Member States and regions must promote green infrastructure, eco- innovation and the adoption of innovative technologies in order to create a greener economy. 2.3.6 Capacity building is a prerequisite to deliver on these activities, and it must enhance potentials and develop skills both in local and regional authorities and partners. 2.3.7 Given that environmental challenges do not respect administrative boundaries, cross-border, interregional and transnational cooperation among European, national, regional and local authorities with regard to protecting biodiversity and natural resources across regions is of utmost importance. Better use of the potential of territorial cooperation and exchanges of information, experience and good practice would contribute significantly to achieving environmental and climate- related objectives. 2.3.8 In addition, financing from the Funds covered by the CPR must be coordinated with the support from the NER 300 Programme, which uses revenue from auctioning allowances under the European Emissions Trading Scheme.8 2.4 Programme for Social Change and Innovation (PSCI) 2.4.1 The synergies between the Funds covered by the CPR and the European Union Programme for Social Chance and Innovation (PSCI) must be increased, aiming to contributing to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, its headline targets, flagship initiatives, Integrated Guidelines and the Youth Opportunities Initiative by providing financial support in order to promote a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty, improving working conditions and improving the employment and educational situation of young people. 2.4.2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure that activities carried out in the framework of the Structural Funds and the PSCI are consistent with and complementary to other Union action in areas such as social dialogue, justice and fundamental rights, equal opportunities, education, vocational training, children's rights and well-being, youth policy, migration policy, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, health, working conditions, enlargement and external relations, and general economic policy. 2.4.3 In border regions, EURES cross- border partnerships play an important role in developing a genuine European labour market. EURES cross-border partnerships should therefore continue to be supported through horizontal Union activities, which could be complemented by national resources or by the ESF. 2.4.4 In order to ensure complementarity, actions under PSCI should be closely coordinated with those undertaken in the framework of cohesion policy. Member States should coordinate corresponding actions under the CSF Funds, in particular under the ESF and the ERDF, with actions of the PSCI-Axis on microfinance and social entrepreneurship, which aim at increasing access to and the availability of microfinance to persons who have lost or are at risk of losing their jobs, or having difficulties in entering or re-entering the labour market, as well as to persons who are at risk of social exclusion and vulnerable persons in disadvantaged positions with regard to access to the conventional credit market and wishing to start up or develop their own micro- enterprises, including self-employment, as well as to micro-enterprises, especially in the social economy, and micro- enterprises which employ persons in a disadvantaged labour market position. 2.4.5 At the initiative of the European Parliament, a ’Youth Initiative axis’ within the PSCI supports actions for people aged under 25 years, inter alia actions to prevent early-school leaving especially through reintegration into training, to develop skills that are relevant to the labour market to bring together more closely the worlds of employment, education and training, to support a first work experience and on-the-job training in order to offer the opportunity to young people to acquire both the relevant skills and work experience and quality of traineeships and apprenticeships and to support their access to the labour market. In order to strengthening these actions, Member States and regions should set up corresponding actions in the programmes under the CSF Funds. 2.5 ERASMUS for All 2.5.1 The synergies between the Funds covered by the CPR and the ‘Erasmus for All’ programme must be increased in order to maximise the impact of investment in people. That investment will crucially benefit both individuals and society as a whole by contributing to growth and prosperity. ‘Erasmus for All’ supports only transnational projects, whereas cohesion Policy has a more pronounced regional dimension. Member States and Regions are encouraged to test tools and methods resulting from transnational cooperation through ‘Erasmus for All’ and then to implement them on their territory through Funds covered by the CPR. 2.5.2 The Commission and Member States must ensure effective coordination between cohesion policy and ‘Erasmus for All’ through a clear distinction in the types of investment and target groups supported. ‘Erasmus for All’ will focus its support on transnational learning mobility of pupils, youth and staff; on strategic partnerships between organisations, stakeholders and institutions across Europe and on actions supporting policy development and implementation. The primary investment priority targets for cohesion policy will be: education, labour market training and adult learners' mobility. 2.5.3 Furthermore, enhanced results will be achieved by promoting complementarity of funding for mobility and the funding of activities that mainstream best practices and innovative projects identified at EU level under ‘Erasmus for All’ . The National Agencies, established under this programme, can contribute to achieving this coordination. 2.6 CEF + TENs, energy and telecommunications networks 2.6.1 In order to maximise European added value, the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, Trans-European Networks and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) must be planned in close cooperation, so as to ensure that optimal links of different types of infrastructure (in Transport, Energy and Telecommunications) at local, regional and national levels, and across the Union are provided for. Maximum leverage of funds must be ensured for projects with a European and Single Market dimension, in particular priority transport, energy and digital networks. 2.6.2 Just as national infrastructure needs to be planned coherently, both by taking into account the development of Union cross border links, and by developing links across regions within a Member State, plans must be based on real and projected transport demand and identify missing links and bottlenecks. Investment in regional connectivity to the comprehensive network and to the core Trans European Network of transport infrastructure (TEN-T) network must ensure that urban and rural areas benefit from the opportunities created by major networks. 2.6.3 Prioritisation of investments which have an impact beyond a certain Member State, must be coordinated with TEN-T planning so that investments by the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund in transport infrastructure are fully in line with the TEN-T Guidelines, which define the Union’s transport priorities, including: addressing the climate change challenge, the future development of an integrated TEN-T network, and the multimodal corridor concept. 2.6.4 The Commission’s White Paper on Transport9 sets out a vision for a competitive and resource-efficient transport system, highlighting that a significant reduction in greenhouse gases is required in the transport sector. For the Funds covered by the CPR, this means focusing on sustainable forms of transport and investing in areas that offer the greatest European added value, for example Trans-European Networks. Once identified, investments must be prioritised according to their contribution to mobility, sustainability, to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to the Single European Transport Area. 2.6.5 Member States and regions must focus investments on building new infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of existing infrastructure through substantial upgrading. 2.6.6 With regard to maritime transport, ports must be developed as efficient entry and exit points through full integration with land infrastructure. Priority must be given to projects concerning port access and hinterland connections. The development of inland waterways must reinforce their contribution to sustainable European freight transport networks. 2.6.7 In particular, complementarity must be sought between infrastructure investments by the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, under shared management, and by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which is a directly managed facility with competitive project selection. The CEF will fund projects on the core network (the strategically most important parts of the comprehensive network) that have the highest European added-value and appear to be the most complex with regard to the TEN-T in terms of implementation: cross-border missing links, key bottlenecks and multimodal modes. The Cohesion Fund will concentrate on high European added- value projects to remove bottlenecks in transport networks by supporting TEN-T infrastructure, for both the core and the comprehensive network. 2.6.8 Cohesion and Structural Funds will deliver the local and regional infrastructures and their linkages to the priority Union networks in the energy and telecommunication areas also. 2.6.9 The CEF is complementary to the Cohesion and Structural Funds since it contributes to the achievement of regional and local development goals in terms of infrastructure, in order to deliver maximum added value for a functional, integrated Single Market and for social, economic and territorial cohesion. 2.7 IPA, ENPI, EDF 2.7.1 Increasing synergies between external instruments and cohesion policy must be sought, to improve effectiveness in achieving multiple Union policy objectives. In particular, synergies and complementarities must be built upon with regard to the European Development Fund, the Pre Accession Instrument and the European Neighbourhood Instrument. 2.7.2 Providing for deeper territorial integration, synergies between territorial cooperation activities under cohesion policy and the European Neighbourhood Instruments must be capitalised upon. The potential for creating complementarities between these instruments is strongest with regard to cross border cooperation activities. Member States and regions must, therefore, ensure that existing activities are associated with newly created European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation, having special regard to coordination and exchange of best practices. 3. Coordination mechanism among Funds covered by the CPR 3.1 Member States and regions must ensure that the interventions financed through the Funds covered by the CPR create synergies and that streamlining leads to a reduction of administrative cost and burden on the ground. 3.2 Ministries and managing authorities responsible for the implementation of the Funds covered by the CPR must work closely together in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Partnership Contract and programmes. In particular, they must: a) identify areas of intervention where the Funds covered by the CPR can be combined in a complementary manner to achieve the thematic objectives set out in this Regulation; b) promote the involvement by managing authorities responsible for one of the Funds covered by the CPR of other managing authorities and relevant ministries in the development of support schemes to ensure synergies and avoid overlaps; c) establish joint monitoring committees for programmes implementing Funds covered by the CPR, and the development of other joint management and control arrangements to facilitate coordination between authorities responsible for the implementation of Funds covered by the CPR; d) make use of joint eGovernance solutions aimed at applicants and beneficiaries and "one-stop shops" for advice on the opportunities of support available through each Fund of the Funds covered by the CPR; e) ensure the accessibility of these funds to SMEs. 4. Priorities for territorial coordination (cross-border, transnational and interregional) 4.1 Great potential for regional development, job creation and cohesion lies in cooperation that goes beyond administrative borders and attempts to overcome the natural ones. Co-operation based on a shared need in a shared territory is often the most effective one. 4.2 Cross-border cooperation derives from an understanding that many challenges do not stop at administrative borders. An effective response requires joint, cooperative action and sharing of knowledge at the appropriate territorial level. 4.3 Furthermore, the embedded potential of border regions may be tapped through locally oriented support measures. 4.4 The two existing macro-regional strategies have paved the way for organising the interested parties into joint actions at the suitable territorial level. The strategies have increased the understanding of the necessity of cooperation in tackling problems which cannot be solved by one Member State only, such as for example, cleaning of the Baltic Sea or the Danube. Macro-regional strategies and other forms of territorial cooperation may be supported from both ERDF and ESF and the specific conditions for support for macro-regional strategies must be outlined in the programmes. 4.5 Overcoming barriers needs to be part of the programming of the Funds covered by the CPR – the objectives of the existing macro-regional strategies must be reflected in the needs analysis and goal setting for the relevant operational programmes from the planning phase on. Those strategies will not have served their purpose unless the objectives of the macro-regional strategies form part of the strategic planning in cohesion policy programmes in the regions and Member States concerned. 4.6 At the same time, Member States and regions must ensure that territorial cooperation programmes make an effective contribution to the Europe 2020 objectives. Member States and regions can thus foster cooperation as well as test, pilot and introduce new solutions, making sure that cooperation is organised in support of the wider policy goals. Where needed, territorial cooperation must be used to bring together policy-makers from across borders to work towards overcoming common problems. 4.7 Member States and regions must view the territorial cooperation programmes primarily as useful tools in overcoming barriers to co-operation, which would in turn support national and regional policy goals with impact beyond the programme area.

2012/06/08
Committee: EMPL

Activities of Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO related to 2011/0276(COD)

Shadow opinions (1)

Amendments (60)

ParlTrack - 2011-2024