5 Amendments of Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA related to 2020/2140(DEC)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that more than half of EU expenditure in 2019 may be considered as high-risk, including reimbursement-based payments for investments in the areas of cohesion and rural development, which is worthwhile considering also in the context of the COVID-19 crisis; notes that the increase in the estimated rate of material error from 4,5 % in 2018 to 4,9 % in 2019 can result in auditors giving an adverse opinion on EU expenditure, with the potential for a possible subsequent loss of funding, made somewhat more considerable by strict time limits foreseen in certain cohesion policy-related pieces of legislation adopted in the wake of this crisis;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes efforts to simplify requirements to be made of project managers and management authorities in the Member States under the 2021-2027 Common Provisions Regulation, as further simplification of rules and procedures can contribute to a more efficient use of funds and a reduced error rate; emphasises, that any increase in funding requires greater attention and that in the event of an error, the institutions risk a loss to their credibility;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges that high-risk expenditures are often subject to complex rules and eligibility conditions, and that such rules and conditions are often supplemented by further requirements imposed by national authorities, leading to an increased risk of error that underlines the difference between error and fraud; recalls in this respect its previous positions on the errors in the reimbursement of VAT and the need to simplify the rules in this area to help the Member States to comply with their obligations to pay beneficiaries;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern that, at the end of the sixth year of implementation, absorption rates for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF) are 6,6% lower than at the same stage in the previous programming period; and draws attention to the risk that, as the eligibility period draws to an end and given the circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis, Member States may prioritise spending over performance and regularity; calls on the Commission and the Council to develop a plan to speed up the process in resolving the issue, including measures to simplify procedures, which under the above-mentioned circumstances would contribute to the responsible and adequate use of funds, and thus to recovery in the Member States.
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes with concern the European Court of Auditors report for 20191a as well, as it would point out, that most of the errors in expenses of programmes under shared management have their origins in errors in audits by national audit authorities; welcomes therefore the creation of technical assistance programmes by the European Commission for collaboration with managing bodies, training programmes and deepening the figures of National Experts programme as a tool to increase the knowledge of the instruments and avoid aforementioned errors; points out in this context the necessary monitoring of the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Strategy as well as support and assistance to States in the implementation of anti- fraud measures, including the analysis of irregularities reported by Member States in the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds. _________________ 1aReport of the European Court of Auditors on the performance of the EU budget – Status at the end of 2019.