Activities of Derek VAUGHAN related to 2016/2151(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
Amendments (10)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that the Annual Report of the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’) for 2015 found that the estimated error rate in Cohesion Policy decreased from 5,7 % in 2014 to 5,2 % in 2015; highlights that the trend of the reduced level of error for the 2007-2013 programming period compared to the 2000-2006 period, which is a result of the strengthened management and control systems of Member States and the corrective measures taken by the Commission;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the main sources of errors are those found in the application of rules on eligibility, infringements of public procurement rules and state aid rules; underlines that for errors made in 2015 may also bethere is still a possibility of correctedion before closure; notes with satisfaction the significant improvements in audit authorities’ controls compared to the previous year;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Reminds that 2014 was a start of new programming period, however, most of the Cohesion Policy's payments in 2014 were related to the previous programming period;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. UrgeAsks the Commission through the 1 HLG to pay specific attention to national eligibility rules in its audit of national management and control systems, helping Member States to simplify them; urgescalls on the Commission through guidance to clarify the notion of recoverable VAT by providing guidanc; and further urges the HLG to rethink its recommendation as soon as possible to allow changes to be made; _________________ 1 High Level Group of Independent Experts on Monitoring Simplification for Beneficiaries of the European Structural and Investment Funds
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses its concern that managing authorities presented a lower level of cost claims for reimbursement in 2015 than in 2014, which led to a fall in the level of unpaid cost claims from EUR 23,2 billion in 2014 to EUR 10,8 billion in 2015, of which EUR 2,8 billion had remained unpaid since the end of 2014; points out the risk that delays in the budgetary execution for 2014-2020 period willshould not be greater than those for the previous period;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with concern the delayed start-up of the 2014-2020 programming period and(most of the Cohesion Policy's payments in 2014 being related to the previous programming period) and the fact that by the end of 2015 fewer than 20 % of the national authorities responsible for ESI funds had been designated; urges Member States to speed up this process and the Commission to provide assistance and clarifications;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern that the average disbursement rate for 1 025 ERDF and ESF financial instruments was 57 % at the end of 2014, which represents only a 10 % increase compared to 2013; notes the Court’s observation on the extention of the eligibility period of disbursements made to final recipients within financial instruments by means of a Commission Decision rather than an amending Regulation; expresses concern that the Court might consider all disbursements after 31 December 2015 irregular;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to propose measures to achieve balance between greater simplification and strict application of rules and the good fiscal management and notes that the interruption and suspension of payments in case of irregularities should be the measures of the last resort;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the revised Financial Regulation recently proposed by the Commission with its supporting acts, as well as the proposed review of the MFF, aiming at simplification of procedures and more flexibility and synergies; urges the Commission, all institutions and stakeholders involved to reconsider the delivery mechanism for the ESI funds post 2020, taking into account the suggestions of the HLG;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the Court’s approach to focus on performance and considers it good practice that managing authorities define relevant result indicators measuring the contribution of the projects to the achievement of the objectives set for the operational programmes.; asks for a strategy on capacity building in Members States in order to facilitate cohesion policy; stresses the need to intensify communication of results for European citizens to make the European added value more visible; and finally calls on the Commission to develop a limited number of relevant indicators which can help measure performance;