P8_TC1-COD(2018)0199

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 26 March 2019 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2019/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific provisions for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) supported by the European Regional Development Fund and external financing instruments

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 178, Article 209(1), Article 212(2), and Article 349 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3),

Whereas:

(1) Article 176 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) provides that the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’) is intended to help to redress the main regional imbalances in the Union. Under that Article and the second and third paragraphs of Article 174 of the TFEU, the ERDF is to contribute to reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and to reducing the backwardness of the least favoured regions, among which particular attention is to be paid to certain categories of regions, among which cross-border rural areas, areas affected by an industrial transition, areas with a low population density, islands and mountain regions are explicitly listed. [Am. 1]

(2) Regulation (EU) [new CPR] of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) sets out provisions common to the ERDF and certain other funds and Regulation (EU) [new ERDF] of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) sets out provisions concerning the specific objectives and the scope of the ERDF support. It is now necessary to adopt specific provisions in relation to the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) where one or more Member States and their regions cooperate across borders with regard to effective programming including provisions on technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation, communication, eligibility, management and control, as well as financial management. [Am. 2]

(3) In order to support the a cooperative and harmonious development of the Union's territory at different levels and to reduce existing disparities , the ERDF should support cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation, maritime cooperation, outermost regions’ cooperation and interregional cooperation under the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg). In the process, the principles of multi-level governance and partnership should be taken into account, and place-based approaches should be strengthened. [Am. 3]

(3a) The different components of Interreg should contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as described in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015. [Am. 4]

(4) The cross-border cooperation component should aim to tackle common challenges identified jointly in the border regions, and to exploit the untapped growth potential in border areas as evidenced in the Communication of the Commission ‘Boosting Growth and Cohesion in EU Border Regions’ (6) (‘Border Regions Communication’). Consequently Therefore , the cross-border component should be limited to include cooperation on land borders and cross-border cooperation on both land or maritime borders should be integrated into the transnational , without prejudice to the new component for outermost regions cooperation . [Am. 5]

(5) The cross-border cooperation component should also involve cooperation between one or more Member States or their regions, and one or more countries or regions, or other territories outside the Union. Covering internal and external cross-border cooperation under this Regulation should result in a major simplification and streamlining of applicable provisions for the programme authorities in the Member States and for the partner authorities and beneficiaries outside the Union compared to the programming period 2014-2020. [Am. 6]

(6) The transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation component should aim to strengthen cooperation by means of actions conducive to integrated territorial development linked to the Union's cohesion policy priorities, and should also include maritime cross-border cooperation in full respect of subsidiarity . Transnational cooperation should cover larger transnational territories on the mainland of the Union, whereas maritime cooperation should cover and, where appropriate, territories around sea-basins and integrate that extend geographically beyond those covered by cross-border cooperation on maritime borders during the programming period 2014-2020. Maximum flexibility should be given to continue implementing previous maritime cross-border cooperation within a larger maritime cooperation framework, in particular by defining the territory covered, the specific objectives for such cooperation, the requirements for a project partnership and the setting-up of sub-programmes and specific steering committees programmes . [Am. 7]

(7) Based on the experience with cross-border and transnational cooperation during the programming period 2014-2020 in outermost regions, where the combination of both components within a single programme per cooperation area has not brought about sufficient simplification for programme authorities and beneficiaries, a specific additional outermost regions’ component should be established in order to enable outermost regions to cooperate with their neighbouring third countries, overseas countries and territories (OCTs), or regional integration and cooperation organisations in the most effective and simple way that takes into account their individual characteristics . [Am. 8]

(8) Based on the positive experience with the interregional cooperation programmes under Interreg , on the one hand, and the lack of such cooperation within programmes under the Investment for jobs and growth goal during the programming period 2014-2020, the on the other, interregional cooperation component should focus more specifically on boosting the effectiveness of cohesion policy. That component should therefore be limited to two programmes, one to enable all kind , through the exchange of experience, innovative approaches and capacity building the development of capacities for programmes under both goals and to promote (European territorial cooperation and Investment for growth and jobs) among cities and regions is an important component with a view to finding common solutions in the cohesion policy field and building lasting partnerships. Existing programmes and, in particular, promotion of project-based cooperation, including promoting European groupings of territorial cooperation (‘EGTCs’) set up or to be set up pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) and one to improve the analysis of development trends. Project-based cooperation throughout the Union) , as well as macro-regional strategies should be integrated into the new component on interregional innovation investments and closely linked to the implementation of the Communication from the Commission ‘Strengthening Innovation in Europe's Regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth’ (8) , in particular to support thematic smart specialisation platforms on fields such as energy, industrial modernisation or agrifood. Finally, integrated territorial development focusing on functional urban areas or urban areas should be concentrated within programmes under the Investment for jobs and growth goal and in one accompanying instrument, the ‘European Urban Initiative’. The two programmes under the interregional cooperation component should cover the whole Union and should also be open for the participation of third countries. therefore be continued. [Am. 9]

(8a) The new initiative on interregional innovation investments should be based on smart specialisation, and used to support thematic smart specialisation platforms on fields such as energy, industrial modernisation, circular economy, social innovation, the environment or agrifood, and to help those involved in smart specialisation strategies to cluster together, in order to scale up innovation and bring innovative products, processes and ecosystems to the European market. The evidence suggests that a persistent systemic failure remains at the testing and validation stage of demonstration of new technologies (e.g. Key Enabling Techologies), especially when innovation is the result of the integration of complementary regional specialisations creating innovative value chains. That failure is particularly critical in the phase between piloting and full market uptake. In some strategic technology and industrial areas, SMEs cannot currently count on excellent and open, connected pan-European demonstration infrastructure. The programmes under the interregional cooperation initiative should cover the whole European Union and should also be open for the participation of OCTs, third countries, their regions, and regional integration and cooperation organisations, including the outermost neighbouring regions . Synergies between interregional innovation investments and other relevant EU programmes such as those under the European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020, Digital Market Europe and the single market programme should be encouraged, as they will amplify the impact of investments and provide better value for citizens. [Am. 10]

(9) Common objective criteria for designating eligible regions and areas should be established. To that end, the identification of eligible regions and areas at Union level should be based on the common system of classification of the regions established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9). [Am. 11]

(10) It is necessary to continue supporting or, as appropriate, to establish cooperation in all its dimensions with the Union's neighbouring third countries, as such cooperation is an important regional development policy tool and should benefit the regions of the Member States which border third countries. To that effect, the ERDF and the external financing instruments of the Union, IPA (10), NDICI (11) and OCTP (12), should support programmes under cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, outermost regions’ cooperation and interregional cooperation. The support from the ERDF and from the external financing instruments of the Union should be based on reciprocity and proportionality. However, for IPA III CBC and NDICI CBC, the ERDF support should be complemented by at least equivalent amounts under IPA III CBC and NDICI CBC, subject to a maximum amount set out in the respective legal act, that is to say, up to 3 % of the financial envelope under IPA III and up to 4 % of the financial envelope of the Neighbourhood geographic programme under Article 4(2)(a) of the NDICI. [Am. 12]

(10a) Particular attention should be paid to regions which become new external borders of the Union to ensure the adequate continuity of ongoing cooperation programmes. [Am. 13]

(11) IPA III assistance should mainly focus on assisting the IPA beneficiaries to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, reform the judiciary and public administration, respect fundamental rights and promote gender equality, tolerance, social inclusion and non-discrimination as well as regional and local development . IPA assistance should continue to support the efforts of the IPA beneficiaries to advance regional, macro-regional and cross-border cooperation as well as territorial development, including through the implementation of Union macro-regional strategies. In addition, IPA assistance should address security, migration and border management, ensuring access to international protection, sharing relevant information, enhancing border control and pursuing common efforts in the fight against irregular migration and migrant smuggling. [Am. 14]

(12) With regard to NDICI assistance, the Union should develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation. This Regulation and the NDICI should therefore support the internal and external aspects of relevant macro-regional strategies. Those initiatives are strategically important and offer meaningful political frameworks for deepening relations with and among partner countries, based on the principles of mutual accountability, shared ownership and responsibility.

(12a) Developing synergies with Union external action and development programmes should also help to ensure maximum impact whilst fulfilling the principle of policy coherence for development as provided for by Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Achieving coherence across all Union policies is crucial for achieving the SDGs. [Am. 15]

(13) It is important to continue observing the role of the EEAS and the Commission in the preparation of the strategic programming and of Interreg programmes supported by the ERDF and the NDICI as established in Council decision 2010/427/EU (13).

(14) In view of the specific situation of outmost regions of the Union, it is necessary to adopt measures concerning the improvement of conditions under which those regions may have access to structural funds. Consequently, certain provisions of this Regulation should be adapted to the specificities of the outermost regions in order to simplify and foster their cooperation with their neighbors third countries and OCTs , while taking into account the Communication from the Commission ‘A stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the EU's outermost regions’ (14). [Am. 16]

(14a) This Regulation lays down the possibility of the OCTs to participate in Interreg programmes. The specificities and challenges of the OCTs should be taken into consideration in order to facilitate their effective access and participation. [Am. 17]

(15) It is necessary to set out the resources allocated to each of the different components of Interreg, including each Member State's share of the global amounts for the cross-border cooperation, the transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, the outermost regions’ cooperation and the interregional cooperation, the potential available to Member States concerning flexibility between those components. Compared to the programming period 2014-2020, the share for cross-border Given globalisation , cooperation should be reduced, while the share for transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation aimed to boost investments in more jobs and growth and joint investments with other regions should be increased because of the integration of maritime cooperation, and a new outermost , however, also be determined by the regions’ cooperation component common characteristics and ambitions and not necessarily by borders, therefore sufficient additional funds for the new initiative on interregional innovation investments should be created made available to respond to the global market condition . [Am. 18]

(16) For the most efficient use of the support from the ERDF and the external financing instruments of the Union, a mechanism should be set up to organise the return of such support in cases where external cooperation programmes cannot be adopted or have to be discontinued, including with third countries which do not receive support from any financing instrument of the Union. That mechanism should seek to achieve optimal functioning of the programmes and the maximum possible coordination between those instruments.

(17) The ERDF should contribute, under Interreg, to the specific objectives under the cohesion policy objectives. However, the list of the specific objectives under the different thematic objectives should be adapted to the specific needs of Interreg, by providing for additional specific objectives under the policy objective ‘a more social Europe by implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights’ in order to allow for ESF-type interventions.

(18) Within the context of the unique and specific circumstances on the island of Ireland, and with a view to supporting North-South cooperation under the Good Friday Agreement, a new ‘PEACE PLUS’ cross-border programme should continue is to continue and build on the work of previous programmes between the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Taking into account its practical importance, it is necessary to ensure that, where the programme is acting in support of peace and reconciliation, the ERDF should also contribute to promoting social, economic and regional stability and cooperation in the regions concerned, in particular through actions to promote cohesion between communities. Given the specificities of the programme it should be managed in an integrated manner with the United Kingdom contribution being integrated into the programme as external assigned revenue. Furthermore, certain rules on the selection of operations in this Regulation should not apply to that programme in relation to operations in support of peace and reconciliation. [Am. 19]

(19) This Regulation should add two Interreg-specific objectives, one to support an Interreg-specific objective strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing legal and administrative cooperation, in particular where linked to implementation of the Border Regions Communication, intensify cooperation between citizens and institutions and the development and coordination of macro-regional and sea-basin strategies, and one to address specific external cooperation issues such as safety, security, border crossing management and migration.

(20) The major part of the Union support should be concentrated on a limited number of policy objectives in order to maximise the impact of Interreg. Synergies and complementarities between the components of INTERREG should be strengthened.. [Am. 20]

(21) Provisions on the preparation, approval and amendment of Interreg programmes as well as on territorial development, on the selection of operations, on monitoring and evaluation, on the programme authorities, on audit of operations, and on transparency and communication should be adapted to the specificities of Interreg programmes compared to the provisions set out in Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. These specific provisions should be kept simple and clear in order to avoid gold-plating and additional administrative burdens for Member States and beneficiaries. [Am. 21]

(22) The provisions on the criteria for operations to be considered as genuinely joint and cooperative, on the partnership within an Interreg operation and on the obligations of the lead partner as set out during the programme period 2014-2020 should on be continued. However, Interreg partners should cooperate in all four dimensions (development, and implementation, as well as staffing and or financing) , or both, and, under outermost regions’ cooperation, in three out of four, as it should be simpler to combine support from the ERDF and external financing instruments from the Union both on the level of programmes and operations. [Am. 22]

(22a) Under cross-border cooperation programmes, people-to-people (P2P) and small-scale projects are an important and successful instrument for eliminating border and cross border obstacles, fostering contacts between people locally and, in so doing, bringing border regions and their citizens closer together. P2P projects and small-scale projects are carried out in many areas such as, inter alia, culture, sport, tourism, general education and vocational training, the economy, science, environmental protection and ecology, healthcare, transport and small-scale infrastructure projects, administrative cooperation and public-relations work. As also set forth in the opinion of the Committee of the Regions ‘People-to-people and small-scale projects in cross-border cooperation programmes’ (15) , P2P projects and small-scale projects have high European added value and make a considerable contribution towards realising the overall objective of cross-border cooperation programmes. [Am. 23]

(23) It is necessary to clarify the rules governing small project funds which have been implemented Since Interreg has existed, but P2P projects and small-scale projects have been supported via small-project funds or similar instruments that have never been covered by specific provisions , making it necessary to clarify the rules governing those funds. In order to maintain the added value and advantages of P2P . As also set out in the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions ‘People-to-people and small-scale projects in cross-border cooperation programmes’ (16) , such small project funds play an important role in building up trust between citizens and institutions, offer great European added value and contribute considerably to the overall objective of cross-border cooperation programmes by overcoming border obstacles and integrating border areas and their citizens. In order to , also with regard to local and regional development, and to simplify the management of the financing of small projects by the final recipients, who are often not used to applying for Union funds, the use of simplified cost options and of lump sums should be made obligatory below a certain threshold. [Am. 24]

(24) Due to the involvement of more than one Member State, and the resulting higher administrative costs, including for regional points of contact (or ‘antennae’), which are important points of contact for those proposing and implementing projects, and therefore function as a direct line to the joint secretariats or the relevant authorities, but in particular in respect of controls and translation, the ceiling for technical assistance expenditure should be higher than that under the Investment for jobs and growth goal. In order to offset the higher administrative costs, Member States should be encouraged to reduce the administrative burden with regard to the implementation of joint projects wherever possible. In addition, Interreg programmes with limited Union support or external cross-border cooperation programmes should receive a certain minimum amount for technical assistance to ensure sufficient funding for effective technical assistance activities. [Am. 25]

(25) Pursuant to paragraph 22 and 23 of the Inter-institutional agreement for Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016, there is a need to evaluate the Funds on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, in particular on Member States. These requirements, where appropriate, can include measurable indicators, as a basis for evaluating the effects of the Funds on the ground.

(25a) In connection with reducing administrative burden, the Commission, Member States and regions should cooperate closely in order to be able to make use of the enhanced proportionate arrangements for the management and control system for an Interreg programme that are referred to in Article 77 of Regulation (EU) …/… [new CPR]. [Am. 26]

(26) Based on experience during the programming period 2014-2020, the system introducing a clear hierarchy of rules on eligibility of expenditure should be continued while maintaining the principle of rules on eligibility of expenditure to be established at Union level or for Interreg programme as a whole to avoid any possible contradictions or inconsistencies between different Regulations and between Regulations and national rules. Additional rules adopted by one Member State which would only apply to the beneficiaries in that Member State should be limited to the strict minimum. In particular, provisions of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 481/2014 (17) adopted for the programming period 2014-2020 should be integrated into this Regulation.

(27) Member States should be encouraged to assign , where appropriate, delegate the functions of the managing authority to an a new or, where applicable, an existing EGTC or to make such a grouping, like other cross-border legal bodies, responsible for managing a sub-programme, an integrated territorial investment or one or more small project funds, or to act as sole partner. Member States should enable regional and local authorities and other public bodies from different Member States to set up such cooperation groupings with a legal personality and should involve local and regional authorities in their functioning. [Am. 27]

(28) In order to continue the payment chain established for the programming period 2014-2020, i.e. from the Commission to the lead partner via the certifying authority, that payment chain should be continued under the accounting function. The Union support should be paid to the lead partner, unless this would result in double fees for conversion into euro and back into another currency or vice versa between the lead partner and the other partners. If not otherwise specified, the lead partner should ensure that the other partners receive the total amount of the contribution from the respective Union fund in full and within the timeframe agreed by all partners and following the same procedure applied in respect of the lead partner. [Am. 28]

(29) Pursuant to Article [63(9)] of Regulation (EU, Euratom) [FR-Omnibus] sector-specific rules are to take account of the needs of European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) programmes as regards, in particular the audit function. The provisions on the annual audit opinion, the annual control report and the audits of operations should therefore be simplified and adapted to those programmes involving more than one Member States State . [Am. 29]

(30) A clear chain of financial liability in respect of recovery for irregularities should be established from sole or other partners via the lead partner and the managing authority to the Commission. Provision should be made for liability of Member States, third countries, partner countries or Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), where obtaining recovery from the sole or other or lead partner is not successful, meaning that the Member State reimburses the managing authority. Consequently, under Interreg programmes there is no scope for irrecoverable amounts on the level of beneficiaries. It is necessary , however, necessary to clarify the rules, should a Member State, third country, partner country or OCT not reimburse the managing authority. The obligations of the lead partner for recovery should also be clarified. In particular Moreover, the procedures related to recoveries should be established and agreed by the monitoring committee. However , the managing authority should not be allowed to oblige the lead partner to launch a judicial procedure in a different country. [Am. 30]

(30a) It is appropriate to encourage financial discipline. At the same time, arrangements for decommitment of budgetary commitments should take into account the complexity of Interreg programmes and their implementation. [Am. 31]

(31) In order to apply a mostly common set of rules both in the participating Member States and third countries, partner countries or OCTs, this Regulation should also apply to the participation of third countries, partner countries or OCTs, unless specific rules are set out in a specific Chapter of this Regulation. Interreg programme authorities may be mirrored by comparable authorities in third countries, partner countries or OCTs. The starting point for the eligibility of expenditure should be linked to the signature of the financing agreement by the relevant third country, partner country or OCT. Procurement for beneficiaries in the third country, partner country or OCT should follow the rules for external procurement under Regulation (EU, Euratom) [new FR-Omnibus] of the European Parliament and the Council (18). The procedures for the conclusion of financing agreements with each of the third countries, partner countries or OCTs as well as of the agreements between the managing authority and each third country, partner country or OCT with regard to the support from an external financing instrument of the Union or in the case of transfer of an additional contribution from a third country, partner country or OCT to the Interreg programme other than national co-financing should be set out.

(32) Although Interreg programmes with the participation of third countries, partner countries or OCTs should be implemented under shared management, outermost regions’ cooperation may be implemented under indirect management. Specific rules should be set out on how to implement those programmes as a whole or partially under indirect management. [Am. 32]

(33) Based on the experience during the programming period 2014-2020 with large infrastructure projects within cross-border cooperation programmes under the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the procedures should be simplified. However, the Commission should retain certain rights concerning the selection of such projects.

(34) Implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to adopt and amend the lists of Interreg programmes, the list of the global amount from Union support for each Interreg programme and to adopt decisions approving Interreg programmes and amendments thereof. These implementing powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (19). Although these acts are of a general nature, the advisory procedure should be used given that they only implement the provisions in a technical way.

(35) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the adoption or amendment of Interreg programmes, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. However, where applicable, external cross-border cooperation programmes should respect, where applicable, Committee procedures established under Regulations (EU) [IPA III] and [NDICI] with regard to the first approval decision of those programmes. [Am. 33]

(36) In order to supplement or amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission to amend the Annex on the template for Interreg programmes. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(36a) The promotion of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) is a major priority of Union cohesion policy. Support for SMEs for costs incurred in ETC projects is already block-exempted under the Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 (20) (General block exemption Regulation (GBER)). Special provisions in relation to regional aid for investments by undertakings of all sizes are also included in the Guidelines on regional State aid for 2014-2020 (21) and in the regional aid section of the GBER. In the light of experience gained, aid for European Territorial Cooperation projects should only have limited effects on competition and trade between Member States, and thus the Commission should be able to declare that such aid is compatible with the internal market and that financing provided in support of ETC projects is able to be block-exempted. [Am. 34]

(37) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to foster cooperation between Member States and between Member States and third countries, partner countries or OCTs cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, 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,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

General provisions

SECTION I

SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND INTERREG COMPONENTS

Article 1 Subject matter and scope 1. This Regulation lays down rules for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) with a view to fostering cooperation between Member States and their regions inside the Union and between Member States , their regions and adjacent third countries, partner countries, other territories or overseas countries and territories (‘OCTs’) , or regional integration and cooperation organisations, or group of third countries forming part of a regional organisation, respectively. [Am. 35] 2. This Regulation also lays down the provisions necessary to ensure effective programming including on technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation, communication, eligibility, management and control, as well as financial management of programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal (‘Interreg programmes’) supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’). 3. With regard to support from the ‘Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance’ (‘IPA III’), the ‘Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument’ (‘NDICI’) and the funding for all the OCTs for the period 2021 to 2027 established as a Programme by Council Decision (EU) XXX (‘OCTP’) to Interreg programmes (the three instruments together: ‘the external financing instruments of the Union’), this Regulation defines additional specific objectives as well as the integration of those funds into Interreg programmes, the criteria for third countries, partner countries and OCTs and their regions to be eligible and certain specific implementation rules. 4. With regard to support from the ERDF and the external financing instruments of the Union (jointly referred to as ‘the Interreg funds’) to Interreg programmes, this Regulation defines the Interreg-specific objectives as well as the organisation, the criteria for Member States, third countries, partner countries and OCTs and their regions to be eligible, the financial resources, and the criteria for their allocation. 5. Regulation (EU) [new CPR] and Regulation (EU) [new ERDF] shall apply to Interreg programmes, except where specifically provided for otherwise under those Regulations and this Regulation or where provisions of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] can only apply to the Investment for jobs and growth goal.

Article 2 Definitions 1. For the purpose of this Regulation, the definitions in Article [2] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] shall apply. The following definitions shall also apply: (1) ‘IPA beneficiary’ means a country or territory listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) [IPA III]; (2) ‘third country’ means a country which is not a Member State of the Union and does not receive support from the Interreg funds; (3) ‘partner country’ means an IPA beneficiary or a country or territory covered by the ‘Neighbourhood geographic area’ listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) [NDICI] and the Russian Federation, and which receives support from the external financing instruments of the Union; (4) ‘cross-border legal body’ means a legal body including a euroregion, established under the laws of one of the participating countries in an Interreg programme provided that it is set up by territorial authorities or other bodies from at least two participating countries. [Am. 36] (4a) ‘regional integration and cooperation organisation’ means a group of Member States or regions in the same geographical area that aim to cooperate closely on issues of common interest. [Am. 37] 2. For the purpose of this Regulation, where provisions of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] refer to a ‘Member State’, this shall be construed as meaning ‘the Member State hosting the managing authority’ and where provisions refer to ‘Each Member State’ or ‘Member States’, this shall be construed as meaning ‘the Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries and OCTs participating in a given Interreg programme’. For the purpose of this Regulation, where provisions of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] refer to ‘the Funds’ as listed in [point (a) of Article 1(1)] of that Regulation or to the ‘ERDF’, this shall be construed as also covering the respective external financing instrument of the Union.

Article 3 Components of the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) Under the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg), the ERDF and, where applicable, external financing instruments of the Union shall support the following components: (1) cross-border cooperation between adjacent regions to promote integrated and harmonious regional development (component 1): [Am. 38] (a) internal cross-border cooperation between adjacent land or maritime border regions of two or more Member States or between adjacent land or maritime border regions of at least one Member State and one or more third countries listed in Article 4(3); or [Am. 39] (b) external cross-border cooperation, between adjacent land or maritime border regions of at least one Member State and of one or more of the following: [Am. 40] (i) IPA beneficiaries; or (ii) partner countries supported by NDICI; or (iii) the Russian Federation, for the purpose of enabling its participation in cross-border cooperation also supported by NDICI; (2) transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation over larger transnational territories or around sea-basins, involving national, regional and local programme partners in Member States, third countries and partner countries and in Greenland OCTs , with a view to achieving a higher degree of territorial integration (‘component 2’; where referring only to transnational cooperation: ‘component 2A’; where referring only to maritime cooperation: ‘component 2B’); [Am. 41] (3) outermost regions' cooperation among themselves and with their neighbouring third or partner countries or OCTs, or regional integration and cooperation organisations, or several thereof, to facilitate their regional integration and harmonious development in their neighbourhood (‘component 3’); [Am. 42] (4) interregional cooperation to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy (‘component 4’) by promoting: (a) exchange of experiences, innovative approaches and capacity building in relation to: (i) the implementation of Interreg programmes; (ia) the implementation of common interregional development projects; [Am. 43] (ib) the development of capacities between partners throughout the Union in connection with: [Am. 44] (ii) the implementation of Investment for jobs and growth goal programmes, in particular with regard to interregional and transnational actions with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State; (iia) the identification and dissemination of good practices with a view to their transfer principally to operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal; [Am. 45] (iib) the exchange of experiences concerning the identification, transfer and dissemination of best practice on sustainable urban development, including linkages between urban and rural areas; [Am. 46] (iii) the setting-up, functioning and use of European groupings of territorial cooperation (EGTCs); (iiia) the setting-up, functioning and use of the European Cross-Border Mechanism as referred to in Regulation (EU) …/… [new European Cross-Border Mechanism]; [Am. 47] (b) analysis of development trends in relation to the aims of territorial cohesion; (5) interregional innovation investments through the commercialisation and scaling up of interregional innovation projects having the potential to encourage the development of European value chains (‘component 5’). [Am. 48]

SECTION II

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

Article 4 Geographical coverage for cross-border cooperation 1. For cross-border cooperation, the regions to be supported by the ERDF shall be the NUTS level 3 regions of the Union along all internal and external land or maritime borders with third countries or partner countries , without prejudice to potential adjustments to ensure the coherence and continuity of cooperation programme areas established for the 2014-2020 programming planning period . [Am. 49] 2. Regions on maritime borders which are connected over the sea by a fixed link shall also be supported under cross-border cooperation. [Am. 50] 3. Internal cross-border cooperation Interreg programmes may cover regions in Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom which are equivalent to NUTS level 3 regions as well as Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Monaco and San Marino . [Am. 51] 4. For external cross-border cooperation, the regions to be supported by IPA III or NDICI shall be NUTS level 3 regions of the respective partner country or, in the absence of NUTS classification, equivalent areas along all land or maritime borders between Member States and partner countries eligible under IPA III or NDICI. [Am. 52]

Article 5 Geographical coverage for transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation [Am. 53] 1. For transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation, the regions to be supported by the ERDF shall be the NUTS level 2 regions of the Union covering contiguous functional areas, without prejudice to potential adjustments to ensure the coherence and continuity of such cooperation in larger coherent areas based on the 2014-2020 programming planning period and taking into account, where applicable, macro-regional strategies or sea basin strategies. [Am. 54] 2. Transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation Interreg programmes may cover: [Am. 55] (a) regions in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom as well as Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino; (b) Greenland OCTs benefit from the support provided by the OCT programme ; [Am. 56] (c) the Faroe Islands; (d) regions of partner countries under IPA III or NDICI; whether or not they are supported from the EU budget. 3. The regions, third countries or partner countries , or OCTs listed in paragraph 2 shall be NUTS level 2 regions or, in the absence of NUTS classification, equivalent areas. [Am. 57]

Article 6 Geographical coverage for outermost regions' cooperation 1. For the outermost regions' cooperation, all regions listed in the first paragraph of Article 349 of the TFEU shall be supported by the ERDF. 2. The outermost regions' Interreg programmes may cover neighbouring partner countries supported by the NDICI or OCTs supported by the OCTP, regional cooperation organisations, or a combination of two or all three of these both. [Am. 58]

Article 7 Geographical coverage for interregional cooperation and interregional innovation investments [Am. 59] 1. For any component 4 Interreg programme or for interregional innovation investments under component 5, the entire territory of the Union shall be supported by the ERDF including the outermost regions . [Am. 60] 2. Component 4 Interreg programmes may cover the whole or part of the third countries, partner countries, other territories or OCTs referred to in Articles 4, 5 and 6, whether or not they are supported by the external financing instruments of the Union. Third countries may participate in those programmes, provided that they make a funding contribution in the form of externally allocated revenue. [Am. 61]

Article 8 List of Interreg programme areas to receive support 1. For the purposes of Articles 4, 5 and 6, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act setting out the list of Interreg programme areas to receive support, broken down for each component and each Interreg programme. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 63(2). External cross-border Interreg programmes shall be listed as ‘Interreg IPA III CBC programmes’ or ‘Interreg Neighbourhood CBC programmes’ respectively. 2. The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall also contain a list specifying those NUTS level 3 regions of the Union taken into account for the ERDF allocation for cross-border cooperation at all internal borders and those external borders covered by the external financing instruments of the Union as well as a list specifying those NUTS level 3 regions taken into account for allocation purposes under component 2B referred to in point (a) of Article 9(3). [Am. 62] 3. Regions of third or partner countries or territories outside the Union which do not receive supported support from the ERDF or an external financing instrument of the Union shall also be mentioned in the list referred to in paragraph 1. [Am. 63]

SECTION III

RESOURCES AND CO-FINANCING RATES

Article 9 ERDF resources for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) 1. The ERDF resources for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) shall amount to EUR 8 430 000 000 of 11 165 910 000 (2018 prices) of out the global resources available for budgetary commitment from the ERDF, ESF+ and the Cohesion Fund for the 2021 the 2021 -2027 programming period and set out in Article [102(1) 103(1) ] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. [Am. 64] 2. EUR 10 195 910 000 (91,31 %) of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 shall be allocated as follows: [Am. 65] (a) 52.7 % (i.e., a total of EUR 4 440 000 000 EUR 7 500 000 000 (67,16 % ) for cross-border cooperation (component 1); [Am. 66] (b) 31.4 % (i.e., a total of EUR 2 649 900 000 EUR 1 973 600 880 (17,68 % ) for transnational cooperation and maritime cooperation (component 2); [Am. 67] (c) 3.2 % (i.e., a total of EUR 270 100 000 EUR 357 309 120 (3,2 % ) for outermost regions' cooperation (component 3); [Am. 68] (d) 1.2 % (i.e., a total of EUR 100 000 000 EUyR 365 000 000 (3,27 % ) for interregional cooperation (component 4); [Am. 69] (e) 11.5 % (i.e., a total of EUR 970 000 000) for interregional innovation investments (component 5). [Am. 70] 3. The Commission shall communicate to each Member State its share of the global amounts for components 1, 2 and 3, broken down by year. Population size in the following regions shall be used as the criterion for the breakdown by Member State: (a) NUTS level 3 regions for component 1 and those NUTS level 3 regions for component 2B listed in the implementing act under Article 8(2); [Am. 71] (b) NUTS level 2 regions for components 2A and 3 component 2 . [Am. 72] (ba) NUTS level 2 and 3 regions for component 3. [Am. 73] 4. Each Member State may transfer up to 15 % of its financial allocation for each of components 1, 2 and 3 from one of those components to one or more of the others. 5. Based on the amounts communicated pursuant to paragraph 3, each Member State shall inform the Commission whether and how it has used the transfer option provided for in paragraph 4 and the resulting distribution of its share among the Interreg programmes in which the Member State participates. 5a. EUR 970 000 000 (8,69 %) of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 shall be allocated to the new initiative on interregional innovation investments as referred to in Article 15 a (new). If by 31 December 2026, the Commission has not committed all of the available resources referred to in paragraph 1 on projects selected under that initiative, the remaining uncommitted balances shall be re-allocated prorata among components 1 to 4. [Am. 74]

Article 10 Cross-fund provisions 1. The Commission shall adopt an implementing act setting out the multi-annual strategy document with regard to external cross-border Interreg programmes supported by the ERDF and the NDICI or IPA III. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 63(2). With regard to Interreg programmes supported by the ERDF and the NDICI, that implementing act shall set out the elements referred to in Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) [NDICI]. 2. The contribution from the ERDF to external cross-border Interreg programmes to be also supported from the financial envelope under IPA III allocated to cross-border cooperation (‘IPA III CBC’) or from the financial envelope under NDICI allocated to cross-border cooperation for the Neighbourhood geographic area (‘NDICI CBC’) shall be established by the Commission and the Member States concerned. The ERDF contribution established for each Member State shall not subsequently be reallocated between the Member States concerned. 3. Support from the ERDF shall be granted to individual external cross-border Interreg programmes provided that at least equivalent amounts are provided by IPA III CBC and NDICI CBC under the relevant strategic programming document. That equivalence contribution shall be subject to a maximum amount set out in the IPA III or NDICI legislative act. [Am. 75] However, where the review of the relevant strategic programming document under IPA III or NDICI results in the reduction of the matching amount for the remaining years, each Member State concerned shall choose from the following options: (a) to request the mechanism under Article 12(3); (b) to continue the Interreg programme with the remaining support from the ERDF and IPA III CBC or NDICI CBC; or (c) to combine options (a) and (b). 4. The annual appropriations corresponding to the support from the ERDF, IPA III CBC or NDICI CBC to external cross-border Interreg programmes shall be entered in the relevant budget lines for the 2021 budgetary exercise. 5. Where the Commission has included a specific financial allocation to assist partner countries or regions under Regulation (EU) [NDICI] and OCTs under Council Decision [OCT Decision] or both in strengthening their cooperation with neighbouring Union outermost regions in accordance with Article [33(2)] of Regulation (EU) [NDICI] or Article[87] of the [OCTP Decision] or both, the ERDF may also contribute in accordance with this Regulation, where appropriate and on the basis of reciprocity and proportionality as regards the level of funding from the NDICI or the OCTP or both, to actions implemented by a partner country or region or any other entity under Regulation (EU) [NDICI], by a country, territory or any other entity under the [OCT Decision] or by a Union outermost region under, in particular, one or more joint component 2, 3 or 4 Interreg programmes or under cooperation measures referred to in Article 60 established and implemented pursuant to this Regulation.

Article 11 List of Interreg programme resources 1. On the basis of the information provided by Member States pursuant to Article 9(5), the Commission shall, adopt an implementing act setting out a list of all Interreg programmes and indicating per programme the global amount of the total support from the ERDF and, where applicable, the total support from external financing instruments of the Union. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 63(2). 2. That implementing act shall also contain a list of the amounts transferred pursuant to Article 9(5) broken down by Member State and by external financing instrument of the Union.

Article 12 Return of resources and discontinuation 1. In 2022 and 2023, the annual contribution from the ERDF to external cross-border Interreg programmes, for which no programme has been submitted to the Commission by 31 March of the respective years, and which has not been re-allocated to another programme submitted under the same category of external cross-border Interreg programmes, shall be allocated to the internal cross-border Interreg programmes in which the Member State or Member States concerned participates or participate. 2. If by 31 March 2024, there are still external cross-border Interreg programmes which have not been submitted to the Commission, the entire contribution from the ERDF referred to in Article 9(5) to those programmes for the remaining years up to 2027, which has not been re-allocated to another external cross-border Interreg programme also supported by IPA III CBC or NDICI CBC respectively, shall be allocated to the internal cross-border Interreg programmes in which the Member State or Member States concerned participates or participate. 3. Any external cross-border Interreg programme already approved by the Commission shall be discontinued, or the allocation to that programme shall be reduced, in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures, in particular if: (a) none of the partner countries covered by the respective Interreg programme has signed the relevant financing agreement by the deadlines set out in accordance with Article 57; (b) In duly justified cases, where the Interreg programme cannot be implemented as planned due to problems in relations between the participating countries. [Am. 76] In such cases, the contribution from the ERDF referred to in paragraph 1 corresponding to annual instalments not yet committed, or annual instalments committed and de-committed totally or partially during the same budgetary year, which have not been re-allocated to another external cross-border Interreg programme also supported by IPA III CBC or NDICI CBC respectively, shall be allocated to the internal cross-border Interreg programmes in which the Member State or Member States concerned participates or participate. 4. With regard to a component 2 Interreg programme already approved by the Commission, the participation of a partner country or of Greenland an OCT shall be discontinued, if one of the situations set out in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 3 is fulfilled. [Am. 77] The participating Member States and, where applicable, the remaining participating partner countries, shall request one of the following: (a) that the Interreg programme be discontinued in total, in particular where the main joint development challenges thereof cannot be achieved without the participation of that partner country or of Greenland OCT ; [Am. 78] (b) that the allocation to that Interreg programme be reduced, in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures; (c) that the Interreg programme continue without the participation of that partner country or of Greenland an OCT . [Am. 79] Where the allocation to the Interreg programme is reduced pursuant to point (b) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, the contribution from the ERDF corresponding to annual instalments not yet committed, shall be allocated to another component 2 Interreg programme in which one or more of the Member States concerned participate or, where a Member State only participates in one component 2 Interreg programme, to one or more internal cross-border Interreg programmes in which that Member State participates. 5. The contribution from IPA III, NDICI or OCTP reduced pursuant to this Article shall be used in accordance with Regulations (EU) [IPA III], [NDICI] or Council Decision [OCT] respectively. 6. Where a third country, or partner country or OCTs contributing to an Interreg programme with national resources, which do not constitute the national cofinancing of support from the ERDF or from an external financing instrument of the Union, reduces that contribution during the implementation of the Interreg programme, either globally or with regard to joint operations already selected and having received the document provided for in Article 22(6), the participating Member State or Member States shall request one of the options set out in the second subparagraph of paragraph 4 of this Article . [Am. 80]

Article 13 Co-financing rates The co-financing rate at the level of each Interreg programme shall be not higher than 70 80 %, unless, with regard to external cross-border or component 3 Interreg programmes, a higher percentage is fixed in Regulations (EU) [IPA III], [NDICI] or Council Decision (EU) [OCTP] respectively or in any act adopted thereunder. [Am. 81]

CHAPTER II

Interreg-specific objectives and thematic concentration

Article 14 Interreg-specific objectives 1. The ERDF, within its scope as set out in Article [4] of Regulation (EU) [new ERDF], and, where applicable, the external financing instruments of the Union shall contribute to the policy objectives set out in Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] through joint actions under Interreg programmes. 2. In the case of the PEACE PLUS programme, where it is acting in support of peace and reconciliation, the ERDF, as a specific objective under policy objective 4, shall also contribute to promoting social, economic and regional stability in the regions concerned, in particular through actions to promote cohesion between communities. A separate priority shall support that specific objective. 3. In addition to the specific objectives for the ERDF as set out in Article [2] of Regulation (EU) [new ERDF], the ERDF and, where applicable, the external financing instruments of the Union may shall also contribute to the specific objectives under PO 4 as follows: [Am. 82] (a) enhancing the effectiveness of labour markets and improving access to quality employment across borders; (b) improving access to and the quality of education, training and lifelong learning across borders with a view to increasing the educational attainment and skills levels thereof as to be recognised across borders; (c) enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable healthcare services across borders; (d) improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services across borders; (e) promoting social inclusion and tackling poverty, including by enhancing equal opportunities and combating discrimination across borders. 4. Under components 1, 2, and 3, the ERDF and, where applicable, the external financing instruments of the Union may also support the Interreg-specific objective ‘a better Interreg governance’, in particular by the following actions: (a) under component 1 and 2B 2 Interreg programmes: [Am. 83] (i) enhance the institutional capacity of public authorities, in particular those mandated to manage a specific territory, and of stakeholders; (ii) enhance efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens , including people-to-people projects, civil society actors and institutions, in particular, with a view to resolving legal and other obstacles in border regions; [Am. 84] (b) under component 1, 2 and 3 Interreg programmes: enhance institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies; (c) under external cross-border and component 2 and 3 Interreg programmes supported by the Interreg funds, in addition to points (a) and (b): building up mutual trust, in particular by encouraging people-to-people actions, by enhancing sustainable democracy and by supporting civil society actors and their role in reforming processes and democratic transitions; 5. Under external cross-border and component 1, 2 and 3 Interreg programmes the ERDF and, where applicable, the external financing instruments of the Union shall may also contribute to the external Interreg-specific objective ‘a safer and more secure Europe’, in particular by actions in the fields of border crossing management and mobility and migration management, including the protection , economic and social integration of migrants and refugees under international protection . [Am. 85]

Article 15 Thematic concentration 1. At least 60 % of the ERDF and, where applicable, of the external financing instruments of the Union allocated under priorities other than for technical assistance to each Interreg programme under components 1, 2 and 3, shall be allocated on a maximum of three of the policy objectives set out in Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. 2. An additional 15 % of the ERDF and, where applicable, of the external financing instruments of the Union allocations under priorities other than for technical assistance to each Interreg programme under components 1, 2 and 3, up to15 % shall be allocated on the Interreg-specific objective of ‘a better Interreg governance’or and up to 10 % may be allocated on the external Interreg-specific objective of ‘a safer and more secure Europe’. [Am. 86] 3. Where a component 2A 1 or 2 Interreg programme supports a macro-regional strategy, or a sea-basin strategy , at least 80 % the total ERDF and, where applicable, part of the total external financing instruments of the Union allocations under priorities other than for technical assistance shall be programmed on contribute to the objectives of that strategy. [Am. 87] 4. Where a component 2B Interreg programme supports a macro-regional strategy or sea-basin strategy, at least 70 % of the total ERDF and, where applicable, of the external financing instruments of the Union allocations under priorities other than for technical assistance shall be allocated on the objectives of that strategy. [Am. 88] 5. For component 4 Interreg programmes, the total ERDF and, where applicable, of the external financing instruments of the Union allocations under priorities other than for technical assistance shall be allocated on the Interreg-specific objective ‘a better Interreg governance’.

Article 15 a Interregional innovation investments 1. The resources referred to in Article 9 (5 a) (new) shall be allocated to a new initiative on interregional innovation investments that is earmarked for: (a) the commercialisation and scaling up of common innovation projects that are likely to encourage the development of European value chains; (b) the bringing together of researchers, businesses, civil society organisations, and public administrations involved in smart specialisation and social innovation strategies at national or regional level; (c) pilot projects aimed at identifying or testing new development solutions at regional and local level which are based on smart specialisation strategies; or (d) sharing innovation experiences with the aim of benefiting from the experience gained in regional or local development. 2. To maintain the European territorial cohesion principle, with an approximate equal share of financial resources, those investments shall focus on creating linkages between less developed regions with those in lead regions by increasing the capacity of regional innovation eco-systems in less developed regions to integrate in and move up the existing or emerging EU value as well as the capacity to participate in partnerships with other regions. 3. The Commission shall implement those investments under direct or indirect management. It shall be supported by an expert group in defining a long-term work programme and related calls. 4. The entire territory of the Union shall be supported by the ERDF for interregional innovation investments. Third countries may participate in those investments, provided that they make a funding contribution in the form of externally allocated revenue. [Am. 89]

CHAPTER III

Programming

SECTION I

PREPARATION, APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT OF INTERREG PROGRAMMES

Article 16 Preparation and submission of Interreg programmes 1. The European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) shall be implemented through Interreg programmes under shared management with the exception of component 3, which may be implemented as a whole or partially under indirect management, and of component 5 which shall be implemented under direct or indirect management after consulting stakeholders . [Am. 90] 2. The participating Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries, or OCTs, or regional integration and cooperation organisations shall prepare an Interreg programme in accordance with the template set out in the Annex for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027. [Am. 91] 3. The participating Member States shall prepare an Interreg programme in cooperation with the programme partners referred to in Article [6] of Regulation (EU) [the new CPR]. In the preparation of the Interreg programmes, covering macro-regional or sea basin strategies, the Member States and the programme partners should take into account the thematic priorities of the relevant macro-regional and sea basins strategies and consult the relevant actors. An ex ante mechanism shall be set up by the Member States and the programme partners to ensure that all actors at macro-region and sea basin level, ETC programme authorities, regions and countries are brought together at the start of the programming period to decide jointly on the priorities for each programme. Those priorities shall be aligned with macro-regional or sea basin strategies’ Action Plans wherever relevant. [Am. 92] The participating third countries or partner countries or OCTs, where applicable, shall also involve the programme partners equivalent to those referred to in that Article. 4. The Member State hosting the prospective managing authority, shall submit an one or more Interreg programme programmes to the Commission by [date of entry into force plus nine months twelve months ;] on behalf of all participating Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries or OCTs , OCTs, or regional integration and cooperation organisations . [Am. 93] However, an Interreg programme covering support from an external financing instrument of the Union shall be submitted by the Member State hosting the prospective managing authority no later than six twelve months after the adoption by the Commission of the relevant strategic programming document under Article 10(1) or where required under the respective basic act of one or more of an external financing instrument of the Union. [Am. 94] 5. The participating Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries or OCTs shall confirm in writing their agreement to the contents of an Interreg programme prior to its submission to the Commission. That agreement shall also include a commitment by all participating Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries or OCTs to provide the co-financing necessary to implement the Interreg programme and, where applicable, the commitment for the financial contribution of the third countries, partner countries or OCTs. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of Interreg programmes involving outermost regions and third countries, partner countries or OCTs, the Member States concerned shall consult the respective third countries, partner countries or OCTs before submitting the Interreg programmes to the Commission. In that case, the agreements to the contents of the Interreg programmes and the possible contribution of the third countries, partner countries or OCTs may, instead, be expressed in the formally approved minutes of the consultation meetings with the third countries, partner countries or OCTs or of the deliberations of the regional cooperation organisations. 6. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 62 to amend the Annex in order to adapt to changes occurring during the programming period for non-essential elements thereof.

Article 17 Content of Interreg programmes 1. Each Interreg programme shall set out a joint strategy for the programme's contribution to the policy objectives set out in Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] and to the Interreg-specific objectives set out in Article 14(4) and (5) of this Regulation and the communication of its results. 2. Each Interreg programme shall consist of priorities. Each priority shall correspond to a single policy objective or, where applicable, to one or both Interreg-specific objectives respectively or to technical assistance. A priority corresponding to a policy objective or, where applicable, to one or both Interreg-specific objectives respectively shall consist of one or more specific objectives. More than one priority may correspond to the same policy or Interreg-specific objective. 3. In duly justified cases and in agreement with the Commission, in order to increase the efficiency of programme implementation and to achieve larger-scale operations, the Member State concerned may decide to transfer to Interreg programmes up to [x] 20 % of the amount of the ERDF allocated to the corresponding programme under the Investment for jobs and growth goal for the same region. Each Member State shall inform the Commission in advance that it intends to make use of the transfer option, and shall give the Commission reasons for its decision. The amount transferred shall constitute a separate priority or separate priorities. [Am. 95] 4. Each Interreg programme shall set out: (a) the programme area (including a map thereof as a separate document); (b) a summary of the main joint challenges, particularly taking into account: [Am. 96] (i) economic, social and territorial disparities; (ii) joint investment needs and complementarity with other forms of support and potential synergies to be achieved ; [Am. 97] (iii) lessons learnt from past experience and how they have been taken into account into the programme ; [Am. 98] (iv) macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies where the programme area as a whole or partially is covered by one or more strategies; (c) a justification for the selected policy objectives and Interreg-specific objectives, corresponding priorities, specific objectives and the forms of support, and addressing, where appropriate, missing links in cross-border infrastructure; [Am. 99] (d) for each priority, except for technical assistance, specific objectives; (e) for each specific objective: (i) the related types of actions, including a list of planned operations of strategic importance, and their expected contribution to those specific objectives and to macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, where appropriate , respectively the set of criteria and the corresponding transparent selection criteria for such operation ; [Am. 100] (ii) output indicators and result indicators with the corresponding milestones and targets; (iii) the main target groups; [Am. 101] (iv) specific territories targeted, including the planned use of integrated territorial investments, community-led local development or other territorial tools; (v) the planned use of financial instruments; [Am. 102] (vi) an indicative breakdown of the programmed resources by type of intervention. (f) for the technical assistance priority, the planned use in accordance with Articles [30], [31] and [32] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] and relevant types of intervention; (g) a financing plan containing the following tables (without any division per participating Member State, third country, partner country or OCT, unless specified otherwise therein): (i) a table specifying the total financial allocation for the ERDF and, where relevant, for each external financing instrument of the Union for the whole programming period and by year; (ii) a table specifying the total financial allocation for each priority by the ERDF and, where relevant, by each external financing instrument of the Union by priority and the national co-financing and whether the national co-financing is made up of public and private co-financing; (h) the actions taken to involve the relevant programme partners referred to in Article [6] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] in the preparation of the Interreg programme, and the role of those programme partners in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of that programme; (i) the envisaged approach to communication and visibility for the Interreg programme through defining its objectives, target audiences, communication channels, social media outreach, planned budget and relevant indicators for monitoring and evaluation. 5. The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall be given as follows: (a) with regard to the tables referred to in point (g) and as concerns the support from external financing instruments of the Union, those funds shall be set out as follows: (i) for external cross-border Interreg programmes supported by IPA III and NDICI as a single amount (‘IPA III CBC’ or ‘Neighbourhood CBC’ combining the contribution from [Heading 2 Cohesion and Values, sub-ceiling Economic, social and territorial cohesion] and [Heading 6 Neighbourhood and the World]; (ii) for component 2 and 4 Interreg programmes supported by IPA III, NDICI or the OCTP as a single amount (‘Interreg funds’) combining the contribution from [Heading 2] and [Heading 6] or split per financing instrument ‘ERDF’, ‘IPA III’, ‘NDICI’ and ‘OCTP’, pursuant to the choice of the programme partners; (iii) for component 2 Interreg programmes supported by OCTP concerning split per financing instrument (‘ERDF’ and ‘OCTP Greenland’); [Am. 103] (iv) for component 3 Interreg programmes supported by the NDICI and by the OCTP split per financing instrument (‘ERDF’, ‘NDICI’ and ‘OCTP’, as appropriate). (b) with regard to the table referred to in point (g)(ii) of paragraph 4, it shall include the amounts for the years 2021 to 2025 only. [Am. 104] 6. With regard to point (e)(vi) and (f) of paragraph 4, the types of intervention shall be based on a nomenclature set out in Annex [I] to Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. 7. The Interreg programme shall: (a) identify the managing authority, the audit authority and the body to which payments are to be made by the Commission; (b) lay down the procedure for setting up the joint secretariat and, where applicable, supporting management structures in the Member States or third countries ; [Am. 105] (c) set out the apportionment of liabilities among the participating Member States and, where applicable, third or partner countries or OCTs, in the event of financial corrections imposed by the managing authority or the Commission. 8. The managing authority shall communicate to the Commission any changes in the information referred to in point (a) of paragraph 7 without requiring a programme amendment. 9. By way of derogation from paragraph 4, the content of component 4 Interreg programmes shall be adapted to the specific character of those Interreg programmes, in particular as follows: (a) the information referred to in point (a) is not required; (b) the information required under points (b) and (h) shall be given as a short outline; (c) for each specific objective under any priority other than technical assistance, the following information shall be given: (i) the definition of a single beneficiary or a limited list of beneficiaries and the granting procedure; (ii) the related types of actions and their expected contribution to the specific objectives; (iii) output indicators and result indicators with the corresponding milestones and targets; (iv) the main target groups; (v) an indicative breakdown of the programmed resources by type of intervention.

Article 18 Approval of Interreg programmes 1. The Commission shall assess with full transparency each Interreg programme and its compliance with Regulation (EU) [new CPR], Regulation (EU) [new ERDF] and this Regulation and, in the case of support from an external financing instrument of the Union and where relevant, its consistency with the multi-annual strategy document under Article 10(1) of this Regulation or the relevant strategic programming framework under the respective basic act of one or more of those instruments. [Am. 106] 2. The Commission may make observations within three months of the date of submission of the Interreg programme by the Member State hosting the prospective managing authority. 3. The participating Member States and, where applicable, third or partner countries or OCTs , OCTs, or regional integration and cooperation organisations shall review the Interreg programme taking into account the observations made by the Commission. [Am. 107] 4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act approving each Interreg programme no later than six three months after the date of submission of the revised version of that programme by the Member State hosting the prospective managing authority. [Am. 108] 5. With regard to external cross-border Interreg programmes, the Commission shall adopt its decisions in accordance with paragraph 4 after consultation of the ‘IPA III Committee’ in accordance with Article [16] of Regulation (EU) [IPA III] and of the ‘Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Committee’ in accordance with Article [36] of Regulation (EU) [NDICI].

Article 19 Amendment of Interreg programmes 1. Following consultation with the local and regional authorities and in compliance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU)…/… [new CPR], the Member State hosting the managing authority may submit a motivated request for an amendment of an Interreg programme together with the amended programme, setting out the expected impact of that amendment on the achievement of the objectives. [Am. 109] 2. The Commission shall assess the compliance of the amendment with Regulation (EU) [new CPR], Regulation (EU) [new ERDF] and this Regulation and may make observations within three months one month of the submission of the amended programme. [Am. 110] 3. The participating Member States and, where applicable, third countries, partner countries or OCTs , OCTs, or regional integration and cooperation organisations shall review the amended programme and take into account the observations made by the Commission. [Am. 111] 4. The Commission shall approve the amendment of a Interreg programme no later than six three months after its submission by the Member State. [Am. 112] 5. Following consultation with the local and regional authorities and in compliance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU)…/… [new CPR], the Member State may transfer during the programming period an amount of up to 5 % 10 % of the initial allocation of a priority a priority and no more than 3 % 5 % of the programme budget to another priority of the same Interreg programme. [Am. 113] Such transfers shall not affect previous years. They shall be considered to be not substantial and shall not require a decision of the Commission amending the Interreg programme. They shall, however comply with all regulatory requirements. The managing authority shall submit to the Commission the revised table referred to in point (g)(ii) of Article 17(4). 6. The approval of the Commission shall not be required for corrections of a purely clerical or editorial nature that do not affect the implementation of the Interreg programme. The managing authority shall inform the Commission of such corrections.

SECTION II

TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

Article 20 Integrated territorial development For Interreg programmes, the relevant urban, local or other territorial authorities or bodies responsible for drawing up territorial or local development strategies as listed in Article [22] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] or responsible for the selection of operations to be supported under those strategies as referred to in Article [23(4)] of that Regulation or for both shall be either cross-border legal bodies or EGTCs. A cross-border legal body or an EGTC implementing an integrated territorial investment under Article [24] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] or another territorial tool under point (c) of Article [22] of that Regulation may also be the sole beneficiary pursuant to Article 23(5) of this Regulation, provided that there is a separation of function inside the cross-border legal body or the EGTC.

Article 21 Community-led local development Community-led local development (‘CLLD’) under point (b) of Article [22] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] may be implemented in Interreg programmes, provided that the relevant local action groups are composed of representatives of public and private local socio-economic interests, in which no single interest group controls the decision-making, and of at least two participating countries, of which at least one is a Member State.

SECTION III

OPERATIONS AND SMALL PROJECT FUNDS

Article 22 Selection of Interreg operations 1. Interreg operations shall be selected in accordance with the programme's strategy and objectives by a monitoring committee set up in accordance with Article 27. That monitoring committee may set up one or, in particular in the case of sub-programmes, more steering committees which act under its responsibility for the selection of operations. Steering committees shall apply the partnership principle as set out in Article 6 of Regulation (EU)…/… [new CPR] and shall involve partners from all participating Member States. [Am. 114] Where all or part of an operation is implemented outside the programme area [inside or outside the Union], the selection of that operation shall require the explicit approval by the managing authority in the monitoring committee or, where applicable, the steering committee. 2. For the selection of operations, the monitoring committee or, where applicable, the steering committee shall establish and apply criteria and procedures which are non-discriminatory and transparent, ensure gender equality and take account of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the principle of sustainable development and of the Union policy on the environment in accordance with Article 11 and Article 191(1) of the TFEU. The criteria and procedures shall ensure the prioritisation of operations to be selected with a view to maximise the contribution of Union funding to the achievement of the objectives of the Interreg programme and to implementing the cooperation dimension of operations under Interreg programmes, as set out in Article 23(1) and (4). 3. The managing authority shall consult notify the Commission and take its comments into account prior to the initial submission of the selection criteria to the monitoring committee or, where applicable, the steering committee. The same shall apply for any subsequent changes to those criteria. [Am. 115] 4. In selecting operations, Before the monitoring committee or, where applicable, the steering committee selects operations, the managing authority shall: [Am. 116] (a) ensure that selected operations comply with the Interreg programme and provide an effective contribution to the achievement of its specific objectives; (b) ensure that selected operations do not conflict with the corresponding strategies established under Article 10(1) or established for one or more of the external financing instruments of the Union; (c) ensure that selected operations present the best relationship between the amount of support, the activities undertaken and the achievement of objectives; (d) verify that the beneficiary has the necessary financial resources and mechanisms to cover operation and maintenance costs; (e) ensure that selected operations which fall under the scope of Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (22) are subject to an environmental impact assessment or a screening procedure, on the basis of the requirements of that Directive as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (23). (f) verify that where the operations have started before the submission of an application for funding to the managing authority, the applicable law has been complied with; (g) ensure that selected operations fall within the scope of the Interreg fund concerned and are attributed to a type of intervention; (h) ensure that operations do not include activities which were part of an operation subject to relocation in accordance with Article [60] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] or which would constitute a transfer of a productive activity in accordance with [point (a) of Article 59(1)] of that Regulation. (i) ensure that selected operations are not affected by a reasoned opinion by the Commission in respect of an infringement under Article 258 of the TFEU that puts at risk the legality and regularity of expenditure or the performance of operations; (j) ensure the climate proofing of investments in infrastructure with an expected lifespan of at least five years. 5. The monitoring committee or, where applicable, the steering committee shall approve the methodology and criteria used for the selection of Interreg operations, including any changes thereto, without prejudice to [point (b) of Article 27(3)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] with regard to CLLD and to Article 24 of this Regulation. 6. For each Interreg operation, the managing authority shall provide a document to the lead or sole partner setting out the conditions for support of that Interreg operation, including the specific requirements concerning the products or services to be delivered, its financing plan, time-limit for its execution and, where applicable, the method to be applied for determining the costs of the operation and the conditions for payment of the grant. That document shall also set out the lead partner's obligations with regard to recoveries pursuant to Article 50. Those obligations Procedures related to recoveries shall be defined and agreed by the monitoring committee. However, a lead partner located in a different Member State, third country, partner country or OCT from the partner shall not be obliged to recover through a judicial procedure. [Am. 117]

Article 23 Partnership within Interreg operations 1. Operations selected under components 1, 2 and 3 shall involve actors from at least two participating countries or OCTs , at least one of which shall be a beneficiary from a Member State. [Am. 118] Beneficiaries receiving support from an Interreg fund and partners which do not receive any financial support under those funds (beneficiaries and partners together: ‘partners’) constitute an Interreg operation partnership. 2. An Interreg operation may be implemented in a single country or OCT , provided that the impact on and the benefits for the programme area are identified in the operation application. [Am. 119] 3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to operations under the PEACE PLUS programme in where the programme is acting in support of peace and reconciliation. 4. Partners shall cooperate in the development, and implementation, staffing and financing of Interreg operations , as well as in the staffing and/or financing thereof . An effort shall be made to limit the number of partners for each Interreg operation to no more than ten . [Am. 120] For Interreg operations under component 3 Interreg programmes, the partners from outermost regions and third countries, partner countries or OCTs shall be required to cooperate only in three two of the four dimensions listed in the first subparagraph. [Am. 121] 5. Where there are two or more partners, one of them shall be designated by all the partners as the lead partner. 6. A cross-border legal body or an EGTC may be the sole partner of an Interreg operation under component 1, 2 and 3 Interreg programmes, provided that the members thereof involve partners from at least two participating countries or OCTs . [Am. 122] The cross-border legal body or EGTC shall have members from at least three participating countries under component 4 Interreg programmes. A legal body that implements a financial instrument or a fund of funds, as applicable, may be the sole partner of an Interreg operation without the application of the requirements for its composition set out in paragraph 1. 7. A sole partner shall be registered in a Member State participating in the Interreg programme. However, a sole partner may be registered in a Member State not participating in that programme, provided the conditions set out in Article 23 are satisfied. [Am. 123]

Article 24 Small project funds 1. The total contribution from the ERDF or, where applicable, an external financing instrument of the Union, to a one or more small project fund funds within an Interreg programme shall not exceed EUR 20 000 000 or 15 % 20 % of the total allocation of the Interreg programme, whichever is lower and shall, in the case of an Interreg programme for cross-border cooperation, be at least 3 % of the total allocation . [Am. 124] The final recipients within a small project fund shall receive support from the ERDF or, where applicable the external financing instruments of the Union through the beneficiary and implement the small projects within that small project fund (‘small project’). 2. The beneficiary of a small project fund shall be a cross-border legal body or an EGTC public or private law body, an entity with or without legal personality or a natural person, that is responsible for initiating or both initiating and implementing operations . [Am. 125] 3. The document setting out the conditions for support to a small project fund shall, in addition to the elements laid down in Article 22(6) set out the elements necessary to ensure that the beneficiary: (a) establishes a non-discriminatory and transparent selection procedure; (b) applies objective criteria for the selection of small projects, which avoid conflicts of interest; (c) assesses applications for support; (d) selects projects and fixes the amount of support for each small project; (e) is accountable for the implementation of the operation and keeps at its level all supporting documents required for the audit trail in accordance with Annex [XI] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]; (f) makes available to the public the list of the final recipients which benefit from the operation. The beneficiary shall ensure that the final recipients comply with the requirements set out in Article 35. 4. The selection of small projects shall not constitute a delegation of tasks from the managing authority to an intermediate body as referred to in Article [65(3)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. 5. Staff and other direct costs corresponding to the cost categories in Articles 39 to 42, as well as indirect costs generated at the level of the beneficiary for the management of the small project fund or funds, shall not exceed 20 % of the total eligible cost of the respective small project fund or funds . [Am. 126] 6. Where the public contribution to a small project does not exceed EUR 100 000, the contribution from the ERDF or, where applicable, an external financing instrument of the Union shall take the form of unit costs or lump sums or include flat rates, except for projects for which the support constitutes State aid. [Am. 127] Where the total costs of each operation do not exceed EUR 100 000, the amount of support for one or more small projects may be set out on the basis of a draft budget which is established on a case-by-case basis and agreed ex ante by the body selecting the operation. [Am. 128] Where flat-rate financing is used, the categories of costs to which the flat rate is applied may be reimbursed in accordance with [point (a) of Article 48(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR].

Article 25 Tasks of the lead partner 1. The lead partner shall: (a) lay down the arrangements with the other partners in an agreement comprising provisions that, inter alia, guarantee the sound financial management of the respective Union fund allocated to the Interreg operation, including the arrangements for recovering amounts unduly paid; (b) assume responsibility for ensuring implementation of the entire Interreg operation; (c) ensure that expenditure presented by all partners has been incurred in implementing the Interreg operation and corresponds to the activities agreed between all the partners, and is in accordance with the document provided by the managing authority pursuant to Article 22(6). 2. If not otherwise specified in the arrangements laid down pursuant to point (a) of paragraph 1 the lead partner shall ensure that the other partners receive the total amount of the contribution from the respective Union fund as quickly as possible and in full and within timeframe agreed by all partners and following the same procedure applied in respect of the lead partner . No amount shall be deducted or withheld and no specific charge or other charge with equivalent effect shall be levied that would reduce that amount for the other partners. [Am. 129] 3. Any beneficiary in a Member State, third country, partner country or OCT participating in an Interreg programme may be designated as the lead partner. [Am. 130] However, Member States, third countries, partner countries or OCTs participating in an Interreg programme may agree that a partner not receiving support from the ERDF or an external financing instrument of the Union may be designated as the lead partner. [Am. 131]

SECTION IV

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Article 26 Technical assistance 1. Technical assistance to each Interreg programme shall be reimbursed as a flat rate by applying the percentages set out in paragraph 2 for 2021 and 2022 to the yearly instalments of the pre-financing pursuant to points (a) and (b) of Article 49(2) of this Regulation and then to the eligible expenditure included in each payment application pursuant to [points (a) or (c) of Article 85(3)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] as appropriate for subsequent years . [Am. 132] 2. The percentage of the ERDF and the external financing instruments of the Union to be reimbursed for technical assistance shall be as follows: (a) for internal cross-border cooperation Interreg programmes supported by the ERDF: 6 % 7 % ; [Am. 133] (b) for external cross-border Interreg programmes supported by IPA III CBC or NDICI CBC: 10 %; (c) for component 2, 3 and 4 Interreg programmes, both for the ERDF and, where applicable, for the external financing instruments of the Union: 7 % 8 % . [Am. 134] 3. For Interreg programmes with a total allocation between EUR 30 000 000 and EUR 50 000 000 the amount resulting from the percentage for technical assistance shall be increased by an additional amount of EUR 500 000. The Commission shall add that amount to the first interim payment. 4. For Interreg programmes with a total allocation below EUR 30 000 000, the amount needed for technical assistance expressed in EUR and the resulting percentage shall be fixed in the Commission decision approving the Interreg programme concerned.

CHAPTER IV

Monitoring, evaluation and communication

SECTION I

MONITORING

Article 27 Monitoring committee 1. The Member States and, where applicable, the third countries, partner countries and OCTs , OCTs or regional integration cooperation organisations participating in that programme shall set up, in agreement with the managing authority, a committee to monitor implementation of the respective Interreg programme (‘monitoring committee’) within three months of the date of notification to the Member States of the Commission decision adopting an Interreg programme, [Am. 135] 2. The monitoring committee shall be chaired by a representative of the Member State hosting the managing authority or of the managing authority. Where the rules of procedure of the monitoring committee establish a rotating chair, the monitoring committee may be chaired by a representative of a third country, partner country or OCT, and co-chaired by a representative of the Member State or of the managing authority, and vice-versa . [Am. 136] 3. Each member of the monitoring committee shall have the right to vote. 4. Each monitoring committee shall adopt its rules of procedure during its first meeting. The rules of procedure of the monitoring committee and, where applicable, of the steering committee shall prevent any situation of conflict of interest when selecting Interreg operations. 5. The monitoring committee shall meet at least once a year and shall review all issues that affect the programme’s progress towards achieving its objectives. 6. The managing authority shall publish the rules of procedures of the monitoring committee and all the , the summary of data and information as well as all the decisions shared with the monitoring committee on the website referred to in Article 35(2). [Am. 137]

Article 28 Composition of the monitoring committee 1. The composition of the monitoring committee of each Interreg programme shall may be agreed by the Member States and, where applicable, by the third countries, partner countries and OCTs participating in that programme and shall ensure aim for a balanced representation of the relevant authorities, intermediate bodies and representatives of the programme partners referred to in Article [6] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] from Member States, third countries, partner countries and OCTs. [Am. 138] The composition of the monitoring committee shall take into account the number of participating Member States, third countries, partner countries and OCTs in the Interreg programme concerned. [Am. 139] The monitoring committee shall also include representatives of regions and local governments as well as other bodies jointly set up in the whole programme area or covering a part thereof, including EGTCs. [Am. 140] 2. The managing authority shall publish a list of the authorities or bodies appointed as members of the monitoring committee on the website referred to in Article 35(2). [Am. 141] 3. Representatives of the Commission shall may participate in the work of the monitoring committee in an advisory capacity. [Am. 142] 3a. Representatives of bodies established throughout the area of the programme or which cover a part of it, including EGTCs, may participate in the work of the monitoring committee in an advisory capacity. [Am. 143]

Article 29 Functions of the monitoring committee 1. The monitoring committee shall examine: (a) the progress in programme implementation and in achieving the milestones and targets of the Interreg programme; (b) any issues that affect the performance of the Interreg programme and the measures taken to address those issues; (c) with regard to financial instruments, the elements of the ex ante assessment listed in Article [52(3)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] and the strategy document referred to in Article [53(2)] of that Regulation; (d) the progress made in carrying out evaluations, syntheses of evaluations and any follow-up given to findings; (e) the implementation of communication and visibility actions; (f) the progress in implementing Interreg operations of strategic importance and, where applicable, of large infrastructure projects; (g) the progress in administrative capacity building for public institutions and beneficiaries, where relevant and propose any further support measures if necessary . [Am. 144] 2. In addition to its tasks concerning the selection of operations listed in Article 22, the monitoring committee shall approve: (a) the methodology and criteria used for the selection of operations, including any changes thereto, after consultation with notifying the Commission pursuant to Article 22(2), without prejudice to [points (b), (c) and (d) of Article 27(3)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]; [Am. 145] (b) the evaluation plan and any amendment thereto; (c) any proposal by the managing authority for the amendment of the Interreg programme including for a transfer in