### to better mobilise potential at the local level , it is necessary to strengthen and facilitate clld . it should take into account local needs and potential , as well as relevant socio - cultural characteristics , and should provide for structural changes , build community capacity and stimulate innovation . the close cooperation and integrated use of the funds to deliver local development strategies should be strengthened . local action groups , representing the interests of the community , should be , as an essential principle responsible for the design and implementation of clld strategies . in order to facilitate coordinated support from different funds to clld strategies and to facilitate their implementation , the use of a ' lead fund ' approach should be facilitated . ### to better mobilise potential at the regional and local level , it is necessary to strengthen and facilitate community - led regional and local development . it should take into account local needs and potential , as well as relevant socio - cultural characteristics , and should provide for structural changes , build community capacity and stimulate innovation and management capacities . the close cooperation and integrated use of the funds to deliver regional and local development strategies should be strengthened . local action groups , representing the interests of the community , should be , as an essential principle responsible for the design and implementation of clld strategies . in order to facilitate coordinated support from different funds to community - led regional and local development strategies and to facilitate their implementation , the use of a ' lead fund ' approach should be facilitated .


### a more social europe implementing the european pillar of social rights ; ### implementing the european pillar of social rights ;


### in order to examine the performance of the programmes , the member state should set up monitoring committees . for the erdf , the esf + and the cohesion fund , annual implementation reports should be replaced by an annual structured policy dialogue based on the latest information and data on programme implementation made available by the member state . ### in order to examine the performance of the programmes , the member state should setup monitoring committees . for the erdf , the esf + and the cohesion fund , annual implementation reports should be replaced by an annual structured policy dialogue based on the latest information and data on programme implementation made available by the member state with the information given by regional and local entities .


### mechanisms to ensure a link between union funding policies and the economic governance of the union should be further refined , allowing the commission to make a proposal to the council to suspend all or part of the commitments for one or more of the programmes of the member state concerned where that member state fails to take effective action in the context of the economic governance process . in order to ensure uniform implementation and in view of the importance of the financial effects of measures being imposed , implementing powers should be conferred on the council which should act on the basis of a commission proposal . to facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to ensure effective action in the context of the economic governance process , reversed qualified majority voting should be used . ### mechanisms to ensure a link between union funding policies and the economic governance of the union should be further refined and strengthened , allowing the commission to make a proposal to the council to suspend all or part of the commitments for one or more of the programmes of the member state concerned where that member state fails to take effective action in the context of the economic governance process . in order to ensure uniform implementation and in view of the importance of the financial effects of measures being imposed , implementing powers should be conferred on the council which should act on the basis of a commission proposal . to facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to ensure effective action in the context of the economic governance process , reversed qualified majority voting should be used .


### where a contribution agreement , as set out in article [ 9 ] of the [ investeu regulation ] , has not been concluded by 31 december 2021 for an amount referred to in paragraph 1 allocated in the partnership agreement , the member state shall submit a request for amendment of a programme or programmes to use the corresponding amount . ### where a contribution agreement , as set out in article [ 9 ] of the [ investeu regulation ] , has not been concluded by 31 december 2021 for an amount referred to in paragraph 1 allocated in the partnership agreement , the member state shall submit a request for amendment of a programme or programmes to use the corresponding amount , including as set out in paragraph 1 .


### the commission shall adopt an implementing act setting out the format to be used for reporting of irregularities in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in article 109 in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this article . ### the commission shall adopt a delegated act , no later than one month after the entry into force of the present regulation , setting out the format to be used for reporting of irregularities in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in article 109 in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this article .


### the partnership agreement , prepared by each member state , should be a strategic document guiding the negotiations between the commission and the member state concerned on the design of programmes . in order to reduce the administrative burden , it should not be necessary to amend partnership agreements during the programming period . to facilitate the programming and avoid overlapping content in programming documents , partnership agreements can be included as part of a programme . ### the partnership agreement , prepared by each member state , should be a strategic document guiding the negotiations between the commission and the member state concerned on the design of programmes . member states should take into account features and specificities pointed out from local and regional administrations . in order to reduce the administrative burden , it should not be necessary to amend partnership agreements during the programming period . to facilitate the programming and avoid overlapping content in programming documents , partnership agreements can be included as part of a programme .


### requests under paragraph 1 shall set out the total amount transferred for each year by fund and by category of region , where relevant , shall be duly justified and shall be accompanied by the revised programme or programmes , from which the resources are to be transferred in accordance with article 19 indicating to which other fund or instrument the amounts are transferred . ### requests under paragraph 1 shall set out the total amount transferred for each year by fund and by category of region , where relevant , shall be duly justified with a view to the complementarities and impact to be achieved , and shall be accompanied by the revised programme or programmes , from which the resources are to be transferred in accordance with article 19 indicating to which other fund or instrument the amounts are transferred .


### rules applicable for the transport sector under regulation [ new cef regulation ] shall apply to the specific calls referred to in the first subparagraph . until 31 december 2023 , the selection of projects eligible for financing shall respect the national allocations under the cohesion fund with regard to 70% of the resources transferred to the cef . ### rules applicable for the transport sector under regulation [ new cef regulation ] shall apply to the specific calls referred to in the first subparagraph . until 31 december 2025 , the selection of projects eligible for financing shall respect the national allocations under the cohesion fund with regard to 70% of the resources transferred to the cef .


### the principle of partnership is a key feature in the implementation of the funds , building on the multi - level governance approach and ensuring the involvement of civil society and social partners . in order to provide continuity in the organisation of partnership , commission delegated regulation no 240 / 201413 should continue to apply . _________________ 13 commission delegated regulation no 240 / 2014 of 7 january 2014 on the european code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the european structural and investment funds . ### the principle of partnership is a key feature in the implementation of the funds , building on the multi - level governance approach and ensuring the involvement of civil society , social partners , regional and local authorities . in order to provide continuity in the organisation of partnership , commission delegated regulation no 240 / 201413 should continue to apply . _________________ 13 commission delegated regulation no 240 / 2014 of 7 january 2014 on the european code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the european structural and investment funds .


### where a contribution agreement , as set out in article [ 9 ] of the [ investeu regulation ] , has not been concluded by 31 december 2021 for an amount referred to in paragraph 1 allocated in the partnership agreement , the member state shall submit a request for amendment of a programme or programmes to use the corresponding amount . ### where a contribution agreement , as set out in article [ 9 ] of the [ investeu regulation ] , has not been concluded by 31 december 2023 for an amount referred to in paragraph 1 allocated in the partnership agreement , the member state shall submit a request for amendment of a programme or programmes to use the corresponding amount including as set out in paragraph 1 .


### a greener , low - carbon europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition , green and blue investment , the circular economy , climate adaptation and risk prevention and management ; ### low - carbon and circular europe economy by promoting zero emission energy transition , low carbon and blue investment , the circular economy , climate adaptation and risk prevention and management ;


### for operations not falling under point , publicly displaying at least one printed or electronic display of a minimum size a3 with information about the operation highlighting the support from the funds ; ### for operations not falling under point , publicly and in a visible manner displaying at least one printed or electronic display of a minimum size a3 with information about the operation highlighting the support from the funds ;


### for programmes supported by the emff , the amf , the isf and the bmvi , the member state shall submit an annual performance report in accordance with the fund - specific regulations . ### for programmes supported by the emff , the amif , the isf and the bmvi , the member state shall submit an annual performance report in accordance with the fund - specific regulations .


### support from the funds to financial instruments invested in final recipients as well as any type of income generated by those investments , which are attributable to the support from the funds , may be used for differentiated treatment of investors operating under the market economy principle through an appropriate sharing of risks and profits . ### support from the funds to financial instruments invested in final recipients as well as any type of income generated by those investments , which are attributable to the support from the funds , may be used for differentiated treatment of investors operating under the market economy principle or of other forms of union support , through an appropriate sharing of risks and profits .


### the member state shall ensure that support from the funds for community - led local development covers : ### with a view to ensuring complementarities and synergies , the member state shall ensure that support from the funds , including the eafrd , for the purpose of community - led local development covers :


### resources paid back , before the end of the eligibility period , to financial instruments from investments in final recipients or from the release of resources set aside as agreed in guarantee contracts , including capital repayments and any type of generated income that is attributable to the support from the funds , shall be re - used in the same or other financial instruments for further investments in final recipients , under the same specific objective or objectives and for any management costs and fees associated to such further investments . ### resources paid back , before the end of the eligibility period , to financial instruments from investments in final recipients or from the release of resources set aside as agreed in guarantee contracts , including capital repayments and any type of generated income that is attributable to the support from the funds , shall be re - used in the same or other financial instruments for further investments in final recipients , under the same specific objective or objectives&#160 ; or for any management costs and fees .


### member stated shall make arrangements for ensuring the effective examination of complaints concerning the funds . they shall , upon request by the commission , examine complaints submitted to the commission falling within the scope of their programmes and shall inform the commission of the results of those examinations . ### member stated shall make arrangements for ensuring the effective examination of complaints and questions concerning the funds . they shall , upon request by the commission , examine complaints and questions submitted to the commission falling within the scope of their programmes and shall inform the commission of the results of those examinations .


### the commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act approving the partnership agreement no later than four months after the date of submission of that partnership agreement by the member state concerned . the partnership agreement shall not be amended . ### the commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act approving the partnership agreement no later than four months after the date of the first submission of that partnership agreement by the member state concerned .


### the elements of remuneration under national law or universally applicable collective agreements should be clear and transparent to all service providers . it is therefore justified to impose on member states the obligation to publish the constituent elements of remuneration on the single website provided for by article 5 of the enforcement directive . ### the information on elements of minimum rates of pay under national law or collective agreements or arbitration awards which have been declared universally applicable within the meaning of article 3 should be clear , transparent and publicly accessible to all service providers . it is therefore justified to impose on member states the obligation to publish obligations deriving from article 3 of the directive on the single website provided for by article 5 of the enforcement directive .


### laws , regulations , administrative provisions or collective agreements applicable in member states may ensure that subcontracting does not confer on undertakings the possibility to avoid rules guaranteeing certain terms and conditions of employment covering remuneration . where such rules on remuneration exist at national level , the member state may apply them in a non - discriminatory manner to undertakings posting workers to its territory provided that they do not disproportionately restrict the cross - border provision of services . ### member states have the freedom to establish and enforce on their territory appropriate measures applicable to local and foreign service providers in order to ensure compliance with the applicable rules to subcontracting chains .


### it is within member states ' competence to set rules on remuneration in accordance with their law and practice . however , national rules on remuneration applied to posted workers must be justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross - border provision of services . ### it is within member states ' competence to set rules on remuneration in accordance with their law and practice . however , national rules on remuneration applied to posted workers , when they exist , must be justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross - border provision of services .


### for the purpose of this directive , remuneration means all the elements of remuneration rendered mandatory by national law , regulation or administrative provision , collective agreements or arbitration awards which have been declared universally applicable and / or , in the absence of a system for declaring collective agreements or arbitration awards to be of universal application , other collective agreements or arbitration awards within the meaning of paragraph 8 second subparagraph , in the member state to whose territory the worker is posted . ### for the purposes of this directive , the concept of minimum rates of pay referred to in paragraph 1 is defined by national law , regulation or administrative provision , collective agreements or arbitration awards which have been declared universally applicable and / or , in the absence of a system for declaring collective agreements or arbitration awards to be of universal application , other collective agreements or arbitration awards within the meaning of paragraph 8 second subparagraph , in the member state to whose territory the worker is posted .


### in a competitive internal market , service providers compete not only on the basis of a labour costs but also on factors such as productivity and efficiency , or the quality and innovation of their goods and services . ### in a competitive internal market , service providers compete not only on the basis of costs but also on factors such as productivity and efficiency , or the quality and innovation of their goods and services and according to the highly variable costs of providing services in another member state .


### it is settled case law that restrictions to the freedom to provide services are only admissible if justified by overriding reasons in the public interest and must be proportionate and necessary . ### article 56 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union requires the abolition of any restriction on the freedom to provide services , even if that restriction applies without distinction to national service providers and to those of other member states , which is liable to prohibit , impede and render less attractive the activities of a service provider established in another member state where it lawfully provides similar services . it is settled case law that restrictions to the freedom to provide services are only admissible if justified by overriding reasons related to the public interest and must be appropriate , proportionate and necessary .


### it is within member states ' competence to set rules on remuneration in accordance with their law and practice . however , national rules on remuneration applied to posted workers must be justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross - border provision of services . ### it is within member states ' competence to set rules on remuneration in accordance with their law and practice . it is up to each member state to determine which elements of payment that applies to posted workers . however , national rules on remuneration applied to posted workers must be justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross - border provision of services .


### the principle of equal treatment and the prohibition of any discrimination based on nationality are enshrined in eu law since the founding treaties . the principle of equal pay has been implemented through secondary law not only between women and men , but also between employees with fix term contracts and comparable permanent workers , between part - time and full - time workers or between temporary agency workers and comparable workers of the user undertaking . ### the principle of equal treatment and the prohibition of any discrimination based on nationality are enshrined in eu law since the founding treaties , including for companies providing cross - border services .


### the sirene bureaux shall carry out their task in a quick and efficient manner , in particular by replying to a request as soon as possible but not later than 12 hours after the receipt of the request . ### the sirene bureaux shall carry out their task in a quick and efficient manner , in particular by replying to a request for supplementary information as soon as possible but not later than 6 hours after the receipt of the request .


### the european border and coast guard agency shall , for the purpose of analysing the threats that may affect the functioning or security of the external borders , have the right to access and search data entered in sis , in accordance with articles 24 and 27 . ### duly authorised staff from the european border and coast guard agency shall , for the purpose of analysing the threats and assessing the vulnerability referred to in articles 11 and 13 of regulation 2016 / 1624 , have the right to access and search data entered in sis , in accordance with articles 24 and 27 .


### this regulation should set out the conditions for use of dactylographic data and facial images for identification purposes . the use of facial images for identification purposes in sis should also help ensure consistency in border control procedures where identification and the verification of identity are required by the use of dactylographic data and facial images . searching with dactylographic data should be mandatory if there is any doubt concerning the identity of a person . facial images for identification purposes should only be used in the context of regular border controls in self - service kiosks and electronic gates . ### this regulation should set out the conditions for use of dactyloscopic data , photographs and facial images for identification purposes . the use of dactyloscopic data and facial images for identification purposes in sis should also help ensure consistency in border control procedures where identification and the verification of identity are required by the use of dactyloscopic data and facial images . searching with dactyloscopic data should be mandatory if there is any doubt concerning the identity of a person . to verify whether the person already appears in sis under another identity or alert , a fingerprint search can be carried out before a new alert is entered . facial images for identification purposes should only be used in the context of regular border controls in self - service kiosks and electronic gates .


### third - country nationals who are the subject of an alert issued in accordance with this regulation shall be informed in accordance with articles&#160 ; 10 and&#160 ; 11 of directive&#160 ; 95 / 46 / ec . this information shall be provided in writing , together with a copy of or a reference to the national decision giving rise to the alert , as referred to in article&#160 ; 24 . ### third - country nationals who are the subject of an alert issued in accordance with this regulation shall be informed by the issuing member state as soon as possible and in any event no later than 30 days after the creation of the alert concerning them , in accordance with articles 13 and 14 of regulation 2016 / 679 or articles 12 and 13 of directive 2016 / 680 . this information shall be provided in writing , together with a copy of or a reference to the national decision giving rise to the alert , as referred to in article&#160 ; 24 .


### sex ; ### gender ;


### supplementary information shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the sirene manual and using the communication infrastructure . member states shall provide the necessary technical and personal resources to ensure the continuous availability and exchange of supplementary information . in the event that the communication infrastructure is unavailable , member states may use other adequately secured technical means to exchange supplementary information . ### supplementary information shall be exchanged by the sirene bureaux in accordance with the provisions of the sirene manual and using the communication infrastructure set out in article 4 . member states shall provide the necessary technical and personal resources to ensure the continuous availability and quick and efficient exchange of supplementary information . in the event that the communication infrastructure is unavailable , member states may use other adequately secured technical means to exchange supplementary information . where supplementary information concerns a serious crime or a terrorist offence , europol ' s secure information exchange network application shall be the preferred technical backup tool .


### the european border and coast guard agency shall , for the purpose of performing its tasks conferred on it by the regulation establishing a european travel information and authorisation system , have the right to access and verify data entered in sis , in accordance with articles 24 and 27 . ### duly authorised staff from the etias central unit of the european border and coast guard agency shall , for the purpose of performing its tasks conferred on it by the regulation establishing a european travel information and authorisation system , have the right to access and verify data entered in sis , in accordance with articles 24 and 27 . ]


### a member state issuing an alert shall , within five years of its entry into sis , review the need to retain it . ### a member state issuing an alert shall , within three years of its entry into sis , review the need to retain it , except for alerts concerning an entry ban issued in accordance with article 24 for which the review period is five years .


### entering and extending the expiry date of a sis alert should be subject to the necessary proportionality requirement , examining whether a concrete case is adequate , relevant and important enough to insert an alert in sis . in cases of offences pursuant articles 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 of council framework decision 2002 / 475 / jha on combating terrorism49 , an alert should always be created on third country nationals for the purposes of refusal of entry and stay taking into account the high level of threat and overall negative impact such activity may result in . _________________ 49 council framework decision 2002 / 475 / jha of 13 june 2002 on combatting terrorism . ### entering and extending the expiry date of a sis alert should be subject to the necessary proportionality requirement , examining whether a concrete case is adequate , relevant and important enough to insert an alert in sis . in cases of offences pursuant to directive 2017 / 541 , an alert should always be created on third country nationals convicted for any crimes of that kind , for the purposes of refusal of entry and stay taking into account the high level of threat and overall negative impact such activity may result in .


### detailed rules for the exchange of supplementary information shall be adopted by means of implementing measures in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 55 in the form of a manual called the ‘ sirene manual’ . ### the commission shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act in accordance with article 54a concerning the adoption of a manual containing detailed rules for the bilateral or multilateral exchange of supplementary information . since some technical rules have a direct impact on the work of users in the member states , including the sirene bureaux , those rules should be included in the sirene manual . therefore annexes to the manual shall set out , inter alia , rules on transliteration , code tables , forms for communication of supplementary information and other technical application measures for data processing . the commission shall be empowered to adopt an implementing act in accordance with the procedure referred to in article 55 for establishing those rules .


### the national independent supervisory authorities should monitor the lawfulness of the processing of personal data by the member states in relation to this regulation . the rights of data subjects for access , rectification and erasure of their personal data stored in sis , and subsequent remedies before national courts as well as the mutual recognition of judgments should be set out . therefore , it is appropriate to require annual statistics from member states . ### the national independent supervisory authorities should monitor the lawfulness of the processing of personal data by the member states in relation to this regulation , including the exchange and further processing of supplementary information . the rights of data subjects for access , rectification , deletion , erasure of their personal data stored in sis and compensation , and subsequent remedies before national courts as well as the mutual recognition of judgments should be set out . therefore , it is appropriate to require member states to develop a standard statistical system for reporting annually by means of a cooperation mechanism between national supervisory authorities and the european data protection supervisor .


### in the application of article 24 member states shall , in all circumstances , create such an alert in relation to third country nationals if the offence falls under articles 1 – 4 of council framework decision 2002 / 475 / jha on combating terrorism71 . _________________ 71 council framework decision 2002 / 475 / jha of 13 june 2002 on combatting terrorism . ### in the application of article 24 member states shall , in all circumstances , create such an alert in relation to a third - country national if the decision referred to in article 24 concerns a third - country national who has been convicted of one of the offences referred to in directive 2017 / 541 on combating terrorism or a custodial sentence of less than 5 years .


### in order to bridge the gap in information sharing on terrorism , in particular on foreign terrorist fighters – where monitoring of their movement is crucial – member states should share information on terrorism - related activity with europol in parallel to introducing an alert in sis , as well as hits and related information . this should allow europol ' s european counter terrorism centre to verify if there is any additional contextual information available in europol ' s databases and to deliver high quality analysis contributing to disrupting terrorism networks and , where possible , preventing their attacks . ### in order to bridge the gap in information sharing on terrorism , in particular on foreign terrorist fighters – where monitoring of their movement is crucial – member states should share information on terrorism - related activity with europol in parallel to introducing an alert in sis , as well as hits , related information and information in case the action to be taken is not carried out . this should allow europol ' s european counter terrorism centre to verify if there is any additional contextual information available in europol ' s databases and to deliver high quality analysis contributing to disrupting terrorism networks and , where possible , preventing their attacks .


### dactylographic data stored in sis in relation to alerts issued under article 24 may also be searched with complete or incomplete sets of fingerprints or palm prints discovered at the scenes of crimes under investigation and where it can be established to a high degree of probability that they belong to the perpetrator of the offence provided that the competent authorities are unable to establish the identity of the person by using any other national , european or international database . ### dactylographic data stored in sis in relation to alerts issued under article 24 and article 27 may also be searched with complete or incomplete sets of fingerprints or palm prints discovered at the scenes of crimes under investigation and where it can be established to a high degree of probability that they belong to the perpetrator of the offence provided that the competent authorities are unable to establish the identity of the person by using any other national , european or international database .


### where the member states are unable to reach agreement within two months of the time when the evidence first came to light , as described in paragraph 3 , the member state which did not issue the alert shall submit the matter to the national supervisory authorities concerned for a decision . ### where the member states are unable to reach agreement within two months of the time when the evidence first came to light , as described in paragraph 3 , the member state which did not issue the alert shall submit the matter to the national supervisory authorities concerned and to the european data protection supervisor for a decision , following the cooperation provisions set out in article 52 .


### &#8220 ; comprehensive decision&#8221 ; means the decision or set of decisions taken by a member state authority or authorities not including courts or tribunals that determines whether or not a project promoter is to be granted authorisation to build the transport infrastructure needed to complete a project without prejudice to any decision taken in the context of an administrative appeal procedure ; ### ' comprehensive decision ' means the decision or set of decisions taken by a competent member state authority or authorities not including courts or tribunals that determines whether or not a project promoter is to be granted authorisation to build the transport infrastructure needed to complete a project without prejudice to any decision taken in the context of an administrative appeal procedure ;


### in the legal frameworks of many member states priority treatment is given to certain project categories based on their strategic importance for the economy . priority treatment is characterised by shorter timelines , simultaneous procedures or limited timeframes for appeals while ensuring that the objectives of other horizontal policies are also reached . when such a framework exists within a national legal framework , it should automatically apply to union projects recognised as projects of common interest under regulation no 1315 / 2013 . ### in the legal frameworks of many member states priority treatment is given to certain project categories based on their strategic importance for the union . priority treatment is characterised by shorter timelines , simultaneous and / or simplified procedures or limited timeframes for appeals while ensuring that the objectives of other horizontal policies are also reached . when such a framework exists within a national legal framework , it should automatically apply to union projects recognised as projects of common interest under regulation no 1315 / 2013 . it would be beneficial if member states whose national legal frameworks lack such a priority treatment facility could set one up for projects of common interest concerned with the ten - t core network .


### in case the procurement procedures are conducted by a joint entity set up by the participating member states , that entity shall apply the national provisions of one of those member states and , by way of derogation from these directives , those provisions shall be the provisions determined in accordance with point of article 57 of directive 2014 / 25 / eu of the european parliament and of the council or point of article 39 of directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , as applicable , unless an agreement between the participating member states provides otherwise . such an agreement shall in any case provide for the application of a single national legislation in case of the procurement procedures conducted by a joint entity . ### in case the procurement procedures are conducted by a joint entity set up by the participating member states , that entity , together with its subsidiaries , where appropriate , shall apply the national provisions of one of those member states and , by way of derogation from these directives , those provisions shall be the provisions determined in accordance with point of article 57 of directive 2014 / 25 / eu of the european parliament and of the council or point of article 39 of directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , as applicable , unless an agreement between the participating member states provides otherwise . such an agreement shall in any case provide for the application of a single national legislation for the procurement procedures conducted by a joint entity and , where appropriate , its subsidiaries , across the whole of the project .


### the authority is the sole point of contact for the project promoter in the procedure leading to the comprehensive decision for a given project of common interest , and ### the competent authority is the sole point of contact for the project promoter in the procedure leading to the comprehensive decision for a given project of common interest , and


### without prejudice to the obligation to comply with the time limits under this regulation , if the time - limit for the comprehensive decision is not observed , the competent authority shall immediately inform the european coordinator concerned about the measures taken or to be taken to conclude the permit granting procedure with the least possible delay . the european coordinator may request the competent authority to regularly report on progress achieved . ### without prejudice to the obligation to comply with the time limits under this regulation , if the time - limit for the comprehensive decision is not observed , the single competent authority shall immediately inform the commission and , where appropriate , the european coordinator concerned about the measures taken or to be taken to conclude the permit granting procedure with the least possible delay . the commission and , where appropriate , the european coordinator may request the single competent authority to regularly report on progress achieved .


### core network projects should be supported by integrated permit granting procedures to make clear management of the overall procedure possible and to provide a single entry point for investors . member states should designate a competent authority in accordance with their national legal frameworks and administrative set - ups . ### member states should designate a single competent authority in accordance with their national legal frameworks and administrative set - ups so that projects concerning the core network will benefit from the integration of permit granting procedures and having a single contact point for investors , thereby enabling clear and effective management of the comprehensive procedure .


### the project promoter shall submit the application file based on the detailed application outline within the period of 21 months from the receipt of that detailed application outline . after the expiry of that period , the detailed application outline is no longer considered applicable , unless the single competent authority decides to prolong that period , on the basis of a justified request from the project promoter . ### the project promoter shall submit the application file based on the detailed application outline within the period of 18 months from the receipt of that detailed application outline . after the expiry of that period , the detailed application outline is no longer considered applicable , unless the single competent authority decides , on its own initiative , to prolong that period by a maximum of 6 months , on the basis of a justified request from the project promoter .


### the authority coordinates the submission of all relevant documents and information . ### the competent authority coordinates the submission of all relevant documents and information .


### the decisions and opinions to be obtained ; ### the decisions , opinions and assessments to be obtained ;


### by &#8230 ; , each member state shall designate one single competent authority which shall be responsible for facilitating the permit granting process including for making the comprehensive decision . ### by &#8230 ; , each member state shall designate one single competent authority which shall be responsible for facilitating the permit granting process necessary for making the comprehensive decision , in accordance with paragraph&#160 ; 3 of this article .


### the responsibility of the single competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 and / or the tasks related to it may be delegated to , or carried out by , another authority at the appropriate administrative level , per project of common interest or per particular category of projects of common interest , under the following conditions : ### on the initiative of the single competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 , its responsibility , its obligations and / or the tasks related to it may , with the agreement of the member state , be delegated to and carried out by another authority at the appropriate administrative level , per project of common interest or per particular category of projects of common interest , with the exception of making the comprehensive decision as set out in paragraph 3 of this article , under the following conditions :


### notwithstanding the necessity and binding timelines , experience has shown that many investments aiming to complete the ten - t are confronted with complex permit granting procedures , cross - border procurement procedures and other procedures . this situation jeopardises the on time implementation of projects and in many cases results in significant delays and increased costs . in order to address these issues and make synchronised ten - t completion possible , , harmonised action is necessary at union level . ### notwithstanding the necessity and binding timelines , experience has shown that many investments aiming to complete the ten - t are confronted with multiple , complex permit granting procedures , cross - border procurement procedures and other procedures . this situation jeopardises the on - time implementation of projects and in many cases results in significant delays and increased costs and can even lead to projects being abandoned . given these conditions , the synchronised completion of the ten - t by the deadline set out in regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council requires harmonised action at eu level .


### in order to launch the permit granting procedure , the project promoter shall notify the single competent authority of the member states concerned about the project in writing , and shall include a detailed description of the project . no later than two months following the receipt of the above notification , the single competent authority shall either acknowledge it or , if it considers that the project is not mature enough to enter the permit granting procedure , reject the notification in writing . if the single competent authority decides to reject the notification , it shall justify its decision . the date of signature of the acknowledgement of the notification by the competent authority shall serve as the start of the permit granting procedure . if two or more member states are concerned , the date of the acceptance of the last notification by the competent authority concerned shall serve as the date of the start of the permit granting procedure . ### in order to launch the permit granting procedure , the project promoter shall notify the single competent authority of the member states concerned about the project in writing , and shall include a detailed description of the project . no later than one month following the receipt of the above notification , the single competent authority shall either acknowledge it or , if it considers that the project is not mature enough to enter the permit granting procedure , reject the notification in writing . if the single competent authority decides to reject the notification , it shall justify its decision . the date of signature of the acknowledgement of the notification by the competent authority shall serve as the start of the permit granting procedure . if two or more member states are concerned , the date of the acceptance of the last notification by the competent authority concerned shall serve as the date of the start of the permit granting procedure .


### notwithstanding the necessity and binding timelines , experience has shown that many investments aiming to complete the ten - t are confronted with complex permit granting procedures , cross - border procurement procedures and other procedures . this situation jeopardises the on time implementation of projects and in many cases results in significant delays and increased costs . in order to address these issues and make synchronised ten - t completion possible , harmonised action is necessary at union level . ### notwithstanding the necessity and binding timelines , experience has shown that many investments aiming to complete the ten - t are confronted with complex permit granting procedures , cross - border procurement procedures and other procedures . this situation jeopardises the on time implementation of projects and in many cases results in significant delays and increased costs . in order to make synchronised ten - t completion possible within the deadlines already determined and agreed in regulation no 1315 / 2013 , harmonised action is necessary at union level .


### only one authority is responsible per project of common interest ; ### the competent authority is responsible for each project of common interest ;


### the authorities , stakeholders , and the public likely to be concerned ; ### the authorities , stakeholders , and the public likely to be concerned and / or consulted ;


### the responsibility of the single competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 and / or the tasks related to it may be delegated to , or carried out by , another authority at the appropriate administrative level , per project of common interest or per particular category of projects of common interest , under the following conditions : ### the responsibility of the single competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 and / or the tasks related to it may be delegated to , or carried out by , another authority at the appropriate administrative level , per project of common interest or per particular category of projects of common interest through the delegation of management tasks , under the following conditions :


### the european coordinator referred to in article 45 of regulation ² no 1315 / 2013 shall be empowered to closely follow the permit granting procedure for cross - border projects of common interest and to facilitate contacts between the involved competent authorities . ### the european coordinator referred to in article 45 of regulation ² no 1315 / 2013 shall be empowered to follow the permit granting procedure for cross - border projects of common interest and to facilitate contacts between the involved competent authorities .


### regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council22 sets out a common framework for the creation of state - of - the - art , interoperable networks for the development of the internal market . the trans - european transport networks have a dual layer structure : the comprehensive network ensures connectivity of all regions of the union whereas the core network consists of those elements of the network which are of the highest strategic importance for the union . regulation no 1315 / 2013 defines binding completion targets for implementation , with the core network to be completed by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050 . _________________ 22regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 december 2013 on union guidelines for the development of the trans - european transport network and repealing decision no 661 / 2010 / eu . ### regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council22 sets out a common framework for the creation of state - of - the - art , interoperable networks for the development of the internal market . the trans - european transport networks have a dual layer structure : the comprehensive network ensures connectivity of all regions of the union whereas the core network consists of those elements of the network which are of the highest strategic importance and urgency for the union , facilitating connections between countries and eliminating barriers in cross - border areas . regulation no 1315 / 2013 defines binding completion targets for implementation , with the core network to be completed by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050 . _________________ 22regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 december 2013 on union guidelines for the development of the trans - european transport network and repealing decision no 661 / 2010 / eu .


### core network projects should be supported by integrated permit granting procedures to make clear management of the overall procedure possible and to provide a single entry point for investors . member states should designate a competent authority in accordance with their national legal frameworks and administrative set - ups . ### core network projects should be supported by integrated permit granting procedures to make clear management of the overall procedure possible and to provide a single entry point for investors . member states should designate a competent authority in accordance with their national legal frameworks , administrative set - ups and competent authorities .


### given the urgency to complete the ten - t core network , the simplification of permit granting procedures should be accompanied by a time limit within which competent authorities responsible should make a comprehensive decision regarding the construction of the project . this time limit should stimulate a more efficient handling of procedures and should , under no circumstances , compromise the union ' s high standards for environmental protection and public participation . ### given the urgency to complete the ten - t core network , the simplification of permit granting procedures should be accompanied by a time limit within which competent authorities responsible should make a comprehensive decision regarding the construction of the project . this time limit should stimulate a more efficient handling of procedures and should , under no circumstances , compromise the union ' s high standards for environmental protection and public participation . compliance with the deadlines set out in this regulation should be taken into account when projects are evaluated in terms of the project selection maturity criteria established by the connecting europe facility .


### in the case of projects of common interest for which the obligation to carry out assessments of the effects on the environment arises simultaneously from directive 2011 / 92 / eu of the european parliament and of the council and other union law , member states shall ensure that joint procedures within the meaning of article 2 of directive 2011 / 92 / eu are provided for . ### in the case of projects of common interest for which the obligation to carry out assessments of the effects on the environment arises simultaneously from directive 2011 / 92 / eu of the european parliament and of the council and other union law , member states shall ensure that joint procedures within the meaning of article 2 of directive 2011 / 92 / eu are provided for and shall comply with the deadlines set out in article 6 of this regulation .


### regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council22 sets out a common framework for the creation of state - of - the - art , interoperable networks for the development of the internal market . the trans - european transport networks have a dual layer structure : the comprehensive network ensures connectivity of all regions of the union whereas the core network consists of those elements of the network which are of the highest strategic importance for the union . regulation no 1315 / 2013 defines binding completion targets for implementation , with the core network to be completed by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050 . __________________ 22 regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 december 2013 on union guidelines for the development of the trans - european transport network and repealing decision no 661 / 2010 / eu . ### regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council22 sets out a common framework for the creation of interoperable networks structuring the territory of the eu in the service of citizens and for the development of the internal market . the trans - european transport networks have a dual layer structure : the core network comprises those parts of the network which have the greatest strategic significance for the eu , and the comprehensive network ensures connectivity between all regions in the eu . regulation no 1315 / 2013 defines binding completion targets for implementation , with the core network to be completed by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050 . __________________ 22 regulation no 1315 / 2013 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 december 2013 on union guidelines for the development of the trans - european transport network and repealing decision no 661 / 2010 / eu .


### the earlier the debtor can detect its financial difficulties and can take appropriate action , the higher the probability of avoiding an impending insolvency or , in case of a business whose viability is permanently impaired , the more orderly and efficient the winding - up process . clear information on the available preventive restructuring procedures as well as early warning tools should therefore be put in place to incentivise debtors who start to experience financial problems to take early action . possible early warning mechanisms should include accounting and monitoring duties for the debtor or the debtor ' s management as well as reporting duties under loan agreements . in addition , third parties with relevant information such as accountants , tax and social security authorities could be incentivised or obliged under national law to flag a negative development . ### the earlier the debtor can detect its financial difficulties and can take appropriate action , the higher the probability of avoiding an impending insolvency or , in case of a business whose viability is permanently impaired , the more orderly and efficient the winding - up process . clear information on the available preventive restructuring procedures as well as early warning tools should therefore be put in place to incentivise debtors who start to experience financial problems to take early action . possible early warning mechanisms should include accounting and monitoring duties for the debtor or the debtor ' s management as well as reporting duties under loan agreements . in addition , social security , competition and audit authorities would have sufficient means under domestic law tax to draw attention to any dangerous development at the earliest possible stage .


### the objective of this directive is to remove obstacles to the exercise of fundamental freedoms , such as the free movement of capital and freedom of establishment , which result from differences between national laws and procedures on preventive restructuring , insolvency and second chance . this directive aims at removing such obstacles by ensuring that viable enterprises in financial difficulties have access to effective national preventive restructuring frameworks which enable them to continue operating ; that honest over indebted entrepreneurs have a second chance after a full discharge of debt after a reasonable period of time ; and that the effectiveness of restructuring , insolvency and discharge procedures is improved , in particular with a view to shortening their length . ### the objective of this directive is to contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market by removing obstacles to the exercise of fundamental freedoms , such as the free movement of capital and freedom of establishment , which result from differences between national laws and procedures on preventive restructuring , insolvency and second chance . without prejudice to workers ' fundamental rights and freedoms this directive aims at removing such obstacles by ensuring that viable enterprises in financial difficulties have access to effective national preventive restructuring frameworks which enable them to continue operating and thereby reducing avoidable job losses while contributing as fully as they would in the event of liquidation to satisfying the creditors ' claims ; that honest over indebted entrepreneurs have a second chance after a full discharge of debt after a reasonable period of time ; and that the effectiveness of restructuring , insolvency and discharge procedures is improved , in particular with a view to shortening their length .


### those differences lead to uneven conditions for access to credit and to uneven recovery rates in the member states . a higher degree of harmonisation in the field of restructuring , insolvency and second chance is thus indispensable for a well - functioning single market in general and for a working capital markets union in particular . ### those differences lead to uneven conditions for access to credit and to uneven recovery rates in the member states . a higher degree of harmonisation in the field of restructuring , insolvency and second chance is thus indispensable for a well - functioning single market in general and for a working capital markets union in particular , as well as for the viability of economic operations and therefore for the preservation and creation of jobs .


### all these differences translate into additional costs for investors when assessing the risks of debtors entering financial difficulties in one or more member states and the costs of restructuring companies having establishments , creditors or assets in other member states , such as is most clearly the case of restructuring international groups of companies . many investors mention uncertainty about insolvency rules or the risk of lengthy or complex insolvency procedures in another country as a main reason for not investing or not entering into a business relationship with a counterpart outside their own country . ### all these differences translate into additional costs for investors when assessing the risks of debtors entering financial difficulties in one or more member states and the costs of restructuring companies having establishments , creditors or assets in other member states , such as is most clearly the case of restructuring international groups of companies . many investors mention uncertainty about insolvency rules or the risk of lengthy or complex insolvency procedures in another country as a main reason for not investing or not entering into a business relationship with a counterpart outside their own country . this uncertainty therefore acts as a disincentive which obstructs the freedom of establishment of undertakings and harms the proper functioning of the internal market .


### the earlier the debtor can detect its financial difficulties and can take appropriate action , the higher the probability of avoiding an impending insolvency or , in case of a business whose viability is permanently impaired , the more orderly and efficient the winding - up process . clear information on the available preventive restructuring procedures as well as early warning tools should therefore be put in place to incentivise debtors who start to experience financial problems to take early action . possible early warning mechanisms should include accounting and monitoring duties for the debtor or the debtor ' s management as well as reporting duties under loan agreements . in addition , third parties with relevant information such as accountants , tax and social security authorities could be incentivised or obliged under national law to flag a negative development . ### the earlier the debtors or the workers’ representatives can communicate concerns about the undertaking’s worrying situation or financial difficulties and can take appropriate action , the higher the probability of avoiding an impending insolvency or , in case of a business whose viability is permanently impaired , the more orderly and efficient the winding - up process . clear information on the available preventive restructuring procedures as well as early warning tools should therefore be put in place to incentivise debtors who start to experience financial problems to take early action and to empower the workers concerned in order that they are able to take an active role in the restructuring process . possible early warning mechanisms should include accounting and monitoring duties for the debtor or the debtor ' s management as well as reporting duties under loan agreements . in addition , social security , competition and audit authorities would have sufficient means under domestic law tax to draw attention to any dangerous development at the earliest possible stage .


### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness , growth , jobs , and investment , in particular in the context of economic governance processes , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds . ### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness of eu enterprises , in particular smes and their access to finances , economic growth , jobs creation and investment , in the context of economic governance processes , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds .


### member states should be able to request support from the commission under the programme in relation to the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes , in particular of country specific recommendations in the context of the european semester , to actions related to the implementation of union law , as well as in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes . they should also be able to request support in relation to reforms undertaken at their own initiative , in order to achieve sustainable investment , growth and job creation . ### member states should be able to request support from the commission under the programme in relation to the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes , in particular of country specific recommendations in the context of the european semester , to actions related to the implementation of union law , as well as in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes . they should also be able to request support in relation to reforms undertaken at their own initiative , in order to achieve economic , social and territorial cohesion , sustainable investment , economic growth and job creation .


### support under the programme should be provided by the commission upon request by a member state , in areas such as budget and taxation , public function , institutional and administrative reforms , the justice system , anti - fraud , anti - corruption and anti - money laundering , business environment , private sector development , investment , competition , public procurement , privatization processes , access to finance , investment , trade , sustainable development , innovation , education and training , labour policies , public health , asylum , migration policies , agriculture and rural development and financial sector policies . ### support under the programme should be provided by the commission upon request by a member state , in areas such as budget and taxation , public function , institutional and administrative reforms , territorial organization , decentralization , the justice system , anti - fraud , anti - corruption and anti - money laundering , business environment , private sector development , investment , competition , public procurement , privatization processes , access to finance , investment , trade , sustainable tourism , sustainable development , innovation , education and training , labour policies , public health , asylum , migration policies , agriculture and rural development and financial sector policies .


### these objectives shall be pursued in close cooperation with beneficiary member states ### these objectives shall be pursued in full cooperation with beneficiary member states and with due respect for member states’ priorities and for dialogue with the social partners .


### since the objective of this regulation , namely to contribute to the institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states alone , but can rather , by reason of their scale and effects , be better achieved at union level , the union may adopt measures , in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in accordance with the principle of proportionality , as set out in that article , this regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective , since the scope of the support would be mutually agreed with the member state concerned . ### since the objective of this regulation , namely to contribute to sustainable institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing technical assistance , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds , cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states alone , but can rather , by reason of their scale and effects , be better achieved at union level , the union may adopt measures , in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in accordance with the principle of proportionality , as set out in that article , this regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective .


### ensure complementarity and synergy between different instruments at union and national levels , in particular in relation to measures financed by union funds , both in the planning phase and during implementation ; ### ensure complementarity and synergy between different instruments at union , national , regional , and local levels , in particular in relation to measures financed by union funds , both in the planning phase and during implementation ;


### further to a dialogue with the requesting member state , including in the context of the european semester , the commission should analyse the request , taking into account the principles of transparency , equal treatment and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency , breadth and depth of the problems as identified , support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged , analysis of socioeconomic indicators , and the general administrative capacity of the member state . the commission should also , in close cooperation with the member state concerned , identify the priority areas , the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support , taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by union funds or other union programmes . ### in the respect of the partnership principle as defined in the european code of conduct , further to a dialogue with the requesting member state and the relevant subnational authorities , including in the context of the european semester , the commission should analyse the request , taking into account the principles of transparency , equal treatment and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency , breadth and depth of the problems as identified , support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged , analysis of socioeconomic indicators , and the general administrative capacity of the member state and local and regional authorities . the commission should also , in close cooperation with the member state concerned , identify the priority areas , the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support , taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by union funds or other union programmes .


### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness , growth , jobs , and investment , in particular in the context of economic governance processes , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds . ### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , public administration , economic and social sector in response to economic and social needs with a view to enhancing competitiveness , sustainable economy , growth , jobs , and investment , in particular in the context of economic governance processes , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds , and other eu programmes .


### reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly - specialised knowledge and skills . addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise . therefore , early and efficient design and implementation is crucial , be it for crisis - struck or structurally - weak economies . in this context , the provision of support by the union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of greece and cyprus in the last years . ### reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly - specialised knowledge and skills . addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise . therefore , timely and efficient design and implementation is crucial , be it for crisis - struck or structurally - weak economies . in this context , the provision of support by the union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of greece and cyprus in the last years .


### the union has a long - lasting experience on providing specific support to national administrations and other authorities of member states as regards capacity building and similar actions in certain sectors and in relation to the implementation of cohesion policy . the experience gained by the union in assisting national authorities carrying out reforms should be used in order to enhance the capacity of the union to provide support to member states . comprehensive and integrated action is indeed necessary in order to provide support to those member states that are undertaking growth - enhancing reforms and request assistance from the union in this respect . ### the union has a long - lasting experience on providing specific support to local , regional and national administrations and other authorities of member states as regards capacity building and similar actions in certain sectors and in relation to the implementation of cohesion policy . the experience gained by the union in assisting national authorities carrying out reforms should be used in order to enhance the capacity of the union to provide support to member states . comprehensive and integrated action is indeed necessary in order to provide support to those member states that are undertaking growth - enhancing reforms and request assistance from the union in this respect .


### their complementarity and synergy with other union programmes and policies at national , union and international level ; ### their complementarity and synergy with other union programmes and policies at local , regional and national , union and international level ;


### member states that request support should be able to contribute to the financial envelope of the programme with additional funds . currently , regulation no 1303 / 2013 limits the possibility of a transfer of resources dedicated to technical assistance at the initiative of a member state to those member states which face temporary budgetary difficulties . regulation no 1303 / 2013 should therefore be amended in order to allow all member states to participate financially to the programme . the resources transferred to the union budget should be used for supporting actions contributing to smart , sustainable and inclusive growth or fund - specific purposes in the member states concerned . ### member states that request support should have the option to contribute to the financial envelope of the programme with additional funds . currently , regulation no 1303 / 2013 limits the possibility of a transfer of resources dedicated to technical assistance at the initiative of a member state to those member states which face temporary budgetary difficulties . regulation no 1303 / 2013 should therefore be amended in order to allow all member states to participate financially to the programme . the resources transferred to the union budget should be used for supporting actions contributing to smart , sustainable and inclusive growth or fund - specific purposes in the member states concerned through improved effectiveness and efficiency and increased absorption of the funds .


### against this background , it is necessary to establish a structural reform support programme with the objective of strengthening the capacity of member states to prepare and implement growth - enhancing administrative and structural reforms , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds . the programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of common goals towards obtaining economic recovery , job creation , boosting europe ' s competitiveness and stimulating investment in the real economy . ### against this background , it is necessary to establish a structural reform support programme with the objective of strengthening the capacity of member states to design and implement sustainable growth - enhancing administrative and structural economic and social reforms , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds , in particular the european structural and investment funds . the programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of common goals towards obtaining economic recovery , boosting europe ' s competitiveness , creating stable and sustainable jobs , increasing productivity , stimulating sustainable investment in the real economy , and towards guaranteeing high quality health and education services , combating poverty and social exclusion and , ultimately , strengthening economic , social and territorial cohesion in the union .


### the amount for the implementation of the programme for the period 2019 - 2020 is set at eur 500 million in current prices . ### the amount for the implementation of the programme for the period 2019 - 2020 is set at eur 500 million in current prices . the financing of each action under the programme shall not exceed one tenth of the amount allocated to the implementation of the programme for the period 2019 - 2020 .


### to support and leverage the cooperation between undertakings , including small and medium - sized enterprises , in the development of technologies or products in line with defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states within the union ; ### to support and leverage the cross - border cooperation between undertakings in view of supporting integrated actions in the single market for defence , including the involvement of small and medium - sized enterprises , in the development of technologies or products in line with defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states within the union ;


### the action shall be undertaken in a cooperation of at least three undertakings which are established in at least two different member states . the undertakings which are beneficiaries shall not effectively be controlled , directly or indirectly , by the same entity or shall not control each other . ### the action shall be undertaken in a cooperation of at least three undertakings which are established in at least three different member states . the undertakings which are beneficiaries shall not effectively be controlled , directly or indirectly , by the same entity or shall not control each other .


### the commission should establish a multiannual work programme in line with the objectives of the programme . the commission should be assisted in the establishment of the work programme by a committee of member states . in light of the union policy on small and medium enterprises as key to ensuring economic growth , innovation , job creation , and social integration in the union and the fact that the supported actions will typically require trans - national collaboration , it is of importance that the work programme will reflect and enable such cross - border participation of smes and that therefore a proportion of the overall budget will benefit such action . ### the commission should establish a two - year work programme in line with the objectives of the programme . the commission should be assisted in the establishment of the work programme by a committee of member states . in light of the union policy on small and medium enterprises as key to ensuring economic growth , innovation , job creation , and social integration in the union and the fact that the supported actions will typically require trans - national collaboration , it is of importance that the work programme will reflect and enable such cross - border participation of smes and that therefore a proportion of the overall budget will benefit such action .


### in order to ensure that the funded actions will contribute to the competitiveness of the european defence industry , they should be market - oriented and demand driven . therefore , the fact that member states have already committed to jointly produce and procure the final product or technology , possibly in a coordinated way , should be taken into account in the award criteria . ### in order to ensure that the funded actions contribute to the competitiveness of the european defence industry , they should be market - oriented and demand driven . therefore , the fact that member states have already committed to jointly develop , produce or procure the final product or technology , possibly in a coordinated way , should be taken into account in the award criteria .


### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 20% of the total eligible cost of the action when it relates to prototyping which is often the most costly action in the development phase . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase . ### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 50% of the total eligible cost of the action when it relates to prototyping which is often the most costly action in the development phase . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase .


### the promotion of innovation and technological development in the union defence industry should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the union . accordingly , the action ' s contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states should serve as an award criterion . within the union , common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the capability development plan . other union processes such as the coordinated annual review on defence and the permanent structured cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation . where appropriate regional or international cooperative initiatives , such as in the nato context , and serving the union security and defence interest , may also be taken into account . ### the promotion of innovation and technological development in the union defence industry should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the union . accordingly , the action ' s contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states should serve as an award criterion . within the union , common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the capability development plan . other union processes such as the coordinated annual review on defence and the permanent structured cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation . where appropriate , regional or international cooperative initiatives , such as those undertaken in the context of nato , and serving union security and defence interests , should also be taken into account .


### beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the union , in which member states and / or nationals of member states own more than 50% of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of article 6 , whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings . in addition , all infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used by the participants , including subcontractors and other third parties , in actions funded under the programme shall not be located on the territory of non - member states during the entire duration of the action . ### beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the union or in a third country identified in the work programme . all infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used by the participants , including subcontractors and other third parties , in actions funded under the programme shall be located on the territory of the member states or third countries identified in the work programme during the entire duration of the action .


### the programme shall provide support for actions by beneficiaries in the development phase covering both new and the upgrade of existing products and technologies , in relation to : ### the programme shall provide support for actions by beneficiaries in the development phase covering new products and technologies , in relation to :


### given that the programme aims particularly at enhancing cooperation between undertakings across member states , an action should be eligible for funding under the programme only if it is undertaken by a cooperation of at least three undertakings based in at least two different member states . ### given that the programme aims particularly at enhancing cooperation between public or private undertakings across member states , an action should be eligible for funding under the programme only if it is undertaken by a cooperation of at least three undertakings based in at least three different member states .


### beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the union , in which member states and / or nationals of member states own more than 50% of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of article 6 , whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings . in addition , all infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used by the participants , including subcontractors and other third parties , in actions funded under the programme shall not be located on the territory of non - member states during the entire duration of the action . ### beneficiaries shall be public or private undertakings established in the union . the beneficiaries ' and their subcontractors ' infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used for the purposes of the actions funded under the programme shall be located on the territory of the union during the entire duration of the action , and their executive management structures shall be established in the union . for the purposes of the actions funded under the programme , the beneficiaries and their subcontractors shall not be subject exclusively controlled by third countries or by entities established in third countries . a beneficiary controlled by third countries or by entities established in third countries shall only be considered to be an eligible entity if the member state in which it is located provides sufficient assurances that the control of the beneficiary&#160 ; by third countries or by entities established therein will not contravene the security and defence interests of the union and of its member states .


### the financial assistance of the union provided under the programme may not exceed 20% of the total cost of the action where it relates to prototyping . in all the other cases , the assistance may cover up to the total cost of the action . ### the financial assistance of the union provided under the programme may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the action where it relates to prototyping . in all the other cases , the assistance may cover up to the total cost of the action .


### the commission communications ‘ the eu budget review’13 and ‘ a budget for europe 2020’14 underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear european added value , i . e . where the union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of member states alone . against this background , the support actions carried out under the programme should ensure complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national , union and international level . the actions under the programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross - border or union - wide challenges and achieve a consistent and coherent implementation of union law . in addition , they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the commission and among member states . moreover , the union is in a better position than member states to provide a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertise . __________________ 13 com700 of 19 october 2010 . 14 com500 final of 29 june 2011 . ### the commission communications ‘ the eu budget review’13 and ‘ a budget for europe 2020’14 underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear european added value , i . e . where the union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of member states alone . against this background , the support actions carried out under the programme should ensure complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national , regional , local , union and international level . the actions under the programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross - border or union - wide challenges and achieve a consistent and coherent implementation of union law . in addition , they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the commission and among member states . moreover , the union is in a better position than member states to provide a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertise so as to develop solutions tailored to the specific situation in the requesting member states . __________________ 13 com700 of 19 october 2010 . 14 com500 final of 29 june 2011 .


### education and training , labour market policies , social inclusion , social security and social welfare systems , public health and healthcare systems , asylum , migration and borders policies ; ### education and training , labour market policies , social inclusion and the fight against poverty , social security and social welfare systems , public health and healthcare systems , asylum , migration and borders policies ;


### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness , growth , jobs , and investment , in particular in the context of economic governance processes , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds . ### the general objective of the programme shall be to contribute to institutional , administrative and structural reforms in the member states that bring european added value in policy areas relating to competences shared between the union and the member states and that are not already targeted by a technical assistance programme , by providing support to member states ' public authorities to attain the administrative capacity necessary to design and implement measures aimed at reforming institutions , governance , administration , economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness , inclusive growth , sustainable jobs , investment , and economic , social and territorial cohesion , including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the union funds .


### reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly - specialised knowledge and skills . addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise . therefore , early and efficient design and implementation is crucial , be it for crisis - struck or structurally - weak economies . in this context , the provision of support by the union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of greece and cyprus in the last years . ### reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require political will , the ability to engage in dialogue and multi - level cooperation , budgetary and administrative resources , and a complete chain of highly - specialised knowledge and skills . addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their results often take time to materialise . therefore , early and efficient design and implementation is crucial , be it for crisis - struck or structurally - weak economies . in this context , the provision of support by the union in the form of technical assistance has been important in supporting the fiscal consolidation process and structural reforms in recent years , especially in the countries covered by the economic adjustment programme . therefore the eu should take into account the lessons learned from the programmes that aimed to support the economic adjustment of greece and cyprus in the last years . stakeholder involvement in the design of reforms , impact assessments and ownership of reforms by the member states , including regional and local authorities , the social partners and civil society , are also essential for support programmes to succeed .


### member states that request support should be able to contribute to the financial envelope of the programme with additional funds . currently , regulation no 1303 / 2013 limits the possibility of a transfer of resources dedicated to technical assistance at the initiative of a member state to those member states which face temporary budgetary difficulties . regulation no 1303 / 2013 should therefore be amended in order to allow all member states to participate financially to the programme . the resources transferred to the union budget should be used for supporting actions contributing to smart , sustainable and inclusive growth or fund - specific purposes in the member states concerned . ### member states that request support should have the option to contribute to the financial envelope of the programme with additional funds . currently , regulation no 1303 / 2013 limits the possibility of a transfer of resources dedicated to technical assistance at the initiative of a member state to those member states which face temporary budgetary difficulties . regulation no 1303 / 2013 should therefore be amended in order to allow all member states to participate financially to the programme . the resources transferred to the union budget should be used for supporting actions contributing to smart , sustainable and inclusive growth or fund - specific purposes in the member states concerned .


### the specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall refer to policy areas related to competitiveness , growth , jobs and investment , in particular to the following : ### the specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall refer to policy areas related to competitiveness , inclusive growth , sustainable jobs and investment , in particular to the following :


### the implementation of reforms by member states , undertaken at their own initiative , notably to achieve sustainable investment , growth and job creation . ### the implementation of reforms by member states , undertaken at their own initiative , notably to achieve sustainable investment and job creation and inclusive growth .


### support under the programme should be provided by the commission upon request by a member state , in areas such as budget and taxation , public function , institutional and administrative reforms , the justice system , anti - fraud , anti - corruption and anti - money laundering , business environment , private sector development , investment , competition , public procurement , privatization processes , access to finance , investment , trade , sustainable development , innovation , education and training , labour policies , public health , asylum , migration policies , agriculture and rural development and financial sector policies . ### support under the programme should be provided by the commission upon request by a member state , in areas such as budget and taxation , public function , institutional and administrative reforms , the justice system , anti - fraud , anti - corruption and anti - money laundering , business environment , private sector development , investment , competition , public procurement , privatization processes , access to finance , investment , trade , sustainable development , innovation , education and training , labour policies , the promotion of social inclusion , public health , asylum , migration policies , agriculture and rural development and financial sector policies . member states wishing to benefit the programme should bring local and regional authorities , as well as the social partners , civil society and other stakeholders , into the process of drawing up the application , based on the code of conduct on partnership in force with regard to cohesion policy .


### collection of data and statistics ; development of common methodologies and , where appropriate , indicators or benchmarks ; ### collection of data and statistics ; development of common methodologies and , where appropriate , indicators and / or benchmarks ;


### the identification of a generalised deficiency requires a qualitative assessment by the commission . that assessment could be based on the information from all available sources and recognized institutions , including judgments of the court of justice of the european union , reports of the court of auditors , and conclusions and recommendations of relevant international organisations and networks , such as the bodies of the council of europe and the european networks of supreme courts and councils for the judiciary . ### the identification of a potential generalised deficiency requires an impartial , transparent , qualitative assessment at the initiative of the commission , under the same conditions applicable to all member states . that assessment should factor in all the information from all available sources and recognised institutions , including judgments of the court of justice of the european union , which is the only institution that can rule on fulfilment or otherwise of the conditions set out in the eu treaties , reports of the court of auditors , and conclusions and recommendations of relevant international organisations and networks , such as the bodies of the council of europe and the european networks of supreme courts and councils for the judiciary .