REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 21ST ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF  THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS (2009)  SEC(2010) 1230
Date: 2010-10-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Community budget, Structural Funds, activity report, implementation of the budget, structural expenditure

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION  

Brussels, 21.10.2010 
COM(2010) 587 final 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 

21ST ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF  
THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS (2009) 

SEC(2010) 1230 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Analysis of Implementation ......................................................................................... 4 

Consistency and Coordination ..................................................................................... 8 

Evaluations................................................................................................................... 8 

Controls ...................................................................................................................... 10 

Committees Assisting the Commission ..................................................................... 12 

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REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 

21ST ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF  
THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS (2009) 

This report is presented in accordance with Article 45(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 
laying  down  general  provisions  on  the  Structural  Funds.  It  covers  the  activities  linked  to 
Structural Funds 2000-2006 assistance during 2009. 

More detailed information is available in the Commission Staff Working Document (attached 
to this report). 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

2009 was the tenth year in which Structural Funds programmes and projects for the 
7181 
2000-2006 
operational programmes were managed in 2009. 

implemented.  Altogether 

period  were 

programming 

Member States and regions with programmes with a high execution rates were able 
to  start  the  preparation  for  closure.  The  general  framework  for  the  closure  of 
2000-2006  Structural  Funds  assistance  was  set  out  in  Commission  Decision 
C(2006)3424  in 2006,  modified  by  Commission  Decisions  C(2008)1362  and 
C(2009)960. 

In  the  context  of  the  financial  crisis  and  the  recovery  package  proposed  by  the 
Commission,  an  extension  of  six  (or  twelve)  months  has  been  granted  on  a 
programme-by-programme  basis  for  the  Member  States  which  opted  for  it. 
Altogether 385 programmes have chosen to extend their final date of eligibility. This 
flexibility  should  allow  a  full  implementation  of  the  allocated  funds  by  addressing 
unexpected  programme  absorption  challenges  and,  consequently,  achieve  the 
objectives of the programmes.  

In  addition  to  the  implementation  of  2000-2006  Structural  Funds  programmes  and 
projects and preparation for their closure, the Commission was also heavily involved 
in  the  implementation  of  434 programmes  (317  European  Regional  Development 
Fund (ERDF), 117 European Social Fund (ESF))2 of the 2007-2013 period in 2009.  

In order to be able to demonstrate the added value of European cohesion policy, the 
Commission continued to carry out the ex post evaluation of Objectives 1 and 2 for 
the 2000-2006 period. The synthesis report of the ex post evaluation was published 
in  April  20103.  Furthermore,  the  ex  post  evaluations  for  Community  initiatives 
URBAN  and  INTERREG,  launched  in  2008,  were  published  in  June  2010.  The 

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226  Objective  1  and  Objective  2,  47  Objective  3,  12  FIFG  (outside  Objective  1),  81  INTERREG, 
71 URBAN, 27 EQUAL, 73 LEADER+ and 181 Innovative Action programmes.  
See Communication on the results of negotiations on strategies and programmes for the programming 
period 2007-2013. 
published on: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/expost_reaction_en.htm 

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ex post evaluation of the EQUAL Community Initiative was launched in early 2009 
and  its  preliminary  results  presented  in  early  2010.  Concerning  the  Financial 
Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), the ex post evaluation was undertaken in 
2009. In 2009, the Commission also launched the ex post evaluation of Leader+. 

Exchange  of  experience  was  promoted,  notably  through  interregional  and  urban 
networks  and  the  conference  "Regions  for  Economic  Change:  Networking  for 
results",  where  for  the  second  time  "RegioStars"  were  awarded  to  good  practice 
innovation projects. 

In October 2009, the Commission organised, jointly with the Committee of Regions, 
the OPEN DAYS "European week of regions and cities". The event was attended by 
more than 6,000 participants. 

The Swedish presidency organised a two-day conference on  Partnership and Social 
Dialogue  within  the  European  Social  Fund.  This  conference  focused  on  the  crucial 
role  of  the  involvement  of  social  partners  in  the  ESF  and  their  involvement  in  the 
design and the implementation of the national recovery plans. 

2. 

ANALYSIS OF IMPLEMENTATION 

2.1. 

Budget Implementation 

2.1.1.  ERDF 

2009  was  an  excellent  year in  terms  of  budgetary  execution.  The  overall  execution 
rate  for  payments  reached  100.0%  of  the  annual  payment  credits  allocation  with 
EUR 4,100 million being  disbursed to  Member States for  regional  programmes and 
projects.  While 
the  execution  of  payment  appropriations  for  Objective  1 
(EUR 3,100 million)  was  higher  than  initially  foreseen  (EUR 187.0 million  more), 
payments  to  Objective  2  and  INTERREG  programmes  have  been  lower  than  the 
initial budget for 2009 (respectively EUR 575.0 million and EUR 334.0 million have 
been  paid).  An  additional  EUR 53.0 million  was  paid  for  other  programmes: 
URBAN  and  Innovative  Actions.  The  lower  level  of  payments  to  Objective  2  and 
INTERREG  programmes  is  explained  by  an  extraordinary  high  execution  in  2008, 
where  in  order  to  cover  the  excessive  demands  for  payments,  transfers  have  been 
made from the budget lines related to the 2007-2013 programmes. In 2009, the trend 
was reversed and thus the outstanding 2000-2006 payment appropriations have been 
transferred  to  the  2007-2013  budget  lines,  which  allowed  for  100.0%  execution  of 
payment credits for ERDF programmes financed under both programming periods.  

For  the  entire  period  2000-2006,  as  at  the  end  of  2009,  EUR  121,200  million  has 
been  paid  to  the  Member  States.  This  gives  an  average  absorption  rate  for  all 
Member States at 93.5% of the EUR 129,600 million overall allocation.  

At the end of 2009, commitments from previous years on which payments were still 
to be made (RAL) amounted to EUR 8,400 million or 6.4% of total committments, to 
compare with EUR 12,600 million as at the end of 2008.  

As in 2008, the so-called "n+2" rule did not apply in 2009. As a general rule, the last 
commitment  tranche  (i.e.  2006)  will  be  used  to  execute  final  payments  once  the 

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closure of the programme is agreed between the Member State and the Commission 
services. Accordingly, the amount to be de-committed will only be calculated at the 
closure stage of the given operational programme4.  

2.1.2.  ESF 

2009  was  a  satisfactory  year  for  the  European  Social  Fund.  The  payment  credits 
consumption  reached  EUR  1,540  million.  This  corresponds  to  97.0%  of  the  annual 
payment credits allocation. 

total  outstanding  commitments  (RAL)  at 

The 
the  end  of  2009  stood  at 
EUR 4,800 million (compared to EUR 6,400 million in 2008). This represents 7.0 % 
of total commitments for  the period  2000-2006 and is equivalent to  five  months of 
commitments  on  the  basis  of  an  average  EUR  11,000  million  being  committed  by 
year. 

In 2009, the same as in the previous year, the so-called "n+2" rule did not apply. The 
total  amount  to  be  de-committed  under  the  "n+2"  rule  for  the  programming  period 
2000-2006  will  be  finalised  at  the  closure  of  the  operational  programmes 
(Article 105(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006). 

For  the  whole  period,  as  at  the  end  of  2009,  EUR  63,800  million  has  been  paid  to 
Member States. This represents an absorption rate for all Member States of 93.0% of 
the EUR 68,600 million overall allocation.  

2.1.3.  EAGGF 

The  total  amount  paid  in  2009  was  EUR  468.2  million  or  97.9%  of  the  annual 
payment credits allocation (an amount of EUR 417.9 million was transferred during 
the  year  to  other  budget  lines  outside  the  European  Agricultural  Guidance  and 
Guarantee  Fund  (EAGGF)).  The  execution  rate  as  regards  the  initial  budget  for 
payment appropriations was 52.3%. 

In  absolute  terms,  the  amount  paid  is  far  below  the  amount  paid  in  2008 
(EUR 1,500 million less). There are two main reasons for this reduction: 

–  The rural development programmes financed by EAGGF-Guidance have followed 
a  very  high  rhythm  of  implementation  in  previous  years.  At  the  end  of  2008, 
91.9%  of  the  Fund  contribution  programmed  for  the  whole  period  had  already 
been paid, and a substantial number of programmes (66 out of a total of 152), had 
already reached the 95.0% payment limit for interim payments. In these cases, no 
further payments were possible until closure. 

–  The  low  EAGGF-Guidance  expenditure  in  2009  has  been  very  largely 
compensated for by EUR 8,210 million of European Agricultural Fund for Rural 
Development  (EAFRD)  expenditure  under  rural  development  programming  for 
2007-2013 (now distinct from the Structural Funds). 

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Article 105(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 

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EAGGF-Guidance outstanding commitments (RAL) at the end of 2009 amounted to 
EUR 1,354.6 million, equivalent to 6.0% of the whole allocation for 2000-2006. This 
amount is EUR 468.2 million lower than the EUR 1,800 million RAL at the end of 
2008. 

2.1.4.  FIFG 

The overall absorption rate for payments was 69.5%, with EUR 114.2 million of the 
available  EUR  164.4  million  being  disbursed  to  Member  States.  Concerning  the 
execution  level  of  payment  appropriations,  EUR  103.0  million  was  paid  under 
Objective 1 and EUR 11.1 million outside Objective 1.  

The total RAL for the FIFG at the end of the year 2009 reached EUR 306.2 million 
(compared  with  EUR  449.3  million  in  2008).  This  represents  7.8%  of  total 
commitments for the period 2000-2006.  

For  the  whole  period,  as  at  the  end  of  2009,  EUR  3,629  million  have  been  paid  to 
Member States. This represents an absorption rate for all Member States of 92.2% of 
the EUR 3,935 million overall allocation. 

2.2. 

Programme Implementation 

2.2.1.  Objective 1 

Objective  1  programmes  focused  on  basic  infrastructure  projects  (40.2%),  with 
almost  half  of  all  investment  in  this  category  spent  on  transport  infrastructure 
(49.9%).  More  than  a  third  (34.9%)  of  Objective 1  resources  was  invested  in  the 
productive  environment  and  projects  geared to human resources account for 22.5% 
of resources. 

2.2.2.  Objective 2 

The  main  focus  of  programmes  in  Objective  2  regions  continues  to  be  on  the 
productive  investments,  with  over  half  of  all  financial  resources  devoted  to  this 
category  (55.4%).  The  second  most  supported  field  is  basic  infrastructure,  with 
29.2%  of  all  Objective  2  resources.  In the  category  of  human  resources  (10.5%), 
workforce 
information  and 
communication technologies are the main fields of investment (31.6%). 

flexibility,  entrepreneurial  activity, 

innovation, 

2.2.3.  Objective 3 

ESF  programme  implementation  in  2009  continued  to  be  focused  on  the  European 
improving 
Employment  Strategy,  particularly  on 
employability in the labour market (30.6% of certified expenditure), lifelong learning 
(actions  developing  educational  and  vocational  training  represented  22.8%  of 
certified expenditure), social inclusion (20.8%) and equal opportunities (6.5%). 

the  measures  aimed  at 

2.2.4.  Fisheries outside Objective 1 

Expenditure  of  the  FIFG  programmes  outside  Objective  1  focussed  on  processing, 
marketing and promoting of fisheries products (26.7%). The second most important 
measure was adjustment of the fishing effort (17.8%), followed by the renewal and 

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modernisation of the fishing fleet (17.5%), fishing port facilities (16.9%) and actions 
by professionals (vocational training, small coastal fishing) (12.8%). 

2.2.5.  Community initiatives 

2.2.5.1.  INTERREG 

By the end of 2009, the 81 INTERREG III/Neighbourhood programmes had selected 
about  18,000  projects  and  networks  aiming  at  reducing  the  effects  of  national 
borders,  language  barriers  and  cultural  differences  as  well  as  developing  border 
areas, supporting strategic development and territorial integration across larger zones 
of  the  Union  and  better  integration  with  its  neighbours.  Effectiveness  of  regional 
development  policies  and  instruments  has  also  been  supported  through  sharing  of 
good practice and exchange of experience. 

In  2009,  the  implementation  of  programmes  continued  to  progress  well  with  a 
payment  execution  rate  of  92.0%.  In  total  EUR 135.0 million  was  de-committed 
during the programming period due to the automatic de-commitment rule. 

2.2.5.2.  EQUAL 

The  EQUAL  Community  Initiative  programmes  were  administratively  closed  in 
2008 in most Member States. Only a few asked for an extension of the final date of 
eligibility  into  2009  in  order  to  achieve  a  higher  absorption  rate  and  to  continue 
mainstreaming actions.  

2.2.5.3.  URBAN 

Work  continued  in  2009  on  the  management  of  the  71  URBAN  Community 
Initiative operational programmes as well as on the management of the URBACT I 
programme.  The  URBACT II  programme,  one  of  the  main  instruments  of  the 
Regions for Economic Change initiative, had a successful start in 2008 and 2009. In 
total, nineteen thematic networks and six working groups have been launched.  

2.2.5.4.  LEADER+ 

The  Community  Initiative  Leader+  consisted  of  three  actions:  implementation  of 
local  development  strategies  by  public  private  partnerships,  cooperation  between 
rural  territories  and  networking.  73  Leader+  programmes  for  the  EU-15  have  been 
approved for the period 2000-2006. Recently acceded Member States had the option 
of  integrating  Leader+  type  measures  into  their  EAGGF  Objective  1  programmes. 
In 2009,  the  Commission  also  received  final  reports  of  programmes  closed  by  the 
end of 2008. The extension of the eligibility period until 30 June 2009 was requested 
for 41 Leader + programmes.  

2.2.6. 

Innovative actions 

2.2.6.1.  ERDF 

The  Directorate-General  for  Regional  Policy  also  managed  181  Regional 
Programmes  of  Innovative  Actions  (150  were  closed  up  to  31  December  2009,  of 
which  28  were  closed  during  2009)  which  contribute  to  the  promotion  of  strategic 

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innovation  in  the  regions  by  experimenting  with  innovative  methods  and  practices 
designed to improve the level of innovation and the quality of EU assistance under 
three  themes:  knowledge  and  technological  innovation,  information  society  and 
sustainable development.  

2.2.6.2.  ESF 

During  2009,  the  remaining  Innovative  Actions  for  2005  and  2006  projects  were 
closed  project  closures  were  completed  as  foreseen.  Only  one  project  was  not 
finalised  due  to  the  late  submission  of  clarifications  by  the  Promoter.  This  closure 
was finally done in the first semester of 2010.  

3. 

CONSISTENCY AND COORDINATION 

3.1. 

Consistency with other Community policies 

The  previous  reports  have  detailed  relevant  developments  in  relation  to  ensuring 
consistency  between  cohesion  policy  and  other  EU  policy  priorities  such  as 
competition  policy,  internal  market,  environment,  transport  and  gender  equality 
objectives.  There  were  no  specific  changes  in  requirements  or  expectations  on 
managing  authorities  as  the  2000-2006  programmes  entered  the  last  months  of 
implementation. 

3.2. 

Coordination of instruments 

3.2.1.  The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund 

the 
In  2000-2006,  all  25  Member  States  benefited  from 
Structural Funds,  while  thirteen  Member  States  also  benefited  from  the  Cohesion 
Fund  which  supports  the  less  prosperous  countries.  The  programming  and 
implementation  of  the  Structural  Funds  have  been  carefully  co-ordinated,  also 
vis-à-vis  the  Cohesion  Fund  (ERDF  in  particular),  to  avoid  duplication  in  projects 
supported.  

the  support  of 

3.2.2.  The Structural Funds and the EIB/EIF  

The Commission and the EIB and EIF reinforced their cooperation by setting up the 
three initiatives JASPERS, JEREMIE and JESSICA. 

JASPERS - Joint Assistance to support Projects in European Regions - is a technical 
assistance facility for the twelve countries which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 to 
help them prepare major projects which will be assisted by EU funds. In November 
2008,  the  Commission,  as  part  of  the  Economic  Recovery  Package,  decided  to 
increase the resources provided to JASPERS by 25.0% compared to 2008, from 2009 
onward. 

JEREMIE - Joint European Resources for Micro-to medium Enterprises - is the joint 
initiative  of  the  Commission  with  the  EIF  (European  Investment  Fund)  that  was 
designed  to  increase  the  use  of  financial  engineering  instruments  within  the 
framework of cohesion policy to improve access to finance for SMEs expansion and 
investment in innovation, as well as for financing new business creation. 

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JESSICA - Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas - is the 
joint initiative of the Commission with the EIB (European Investment Bank) and the 
CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) that was designed to increase the use 
of  financial  engineering  instruments  within  the  framework  of  Cohesion  Policy  to 
support investment in sustainable urban development and regeneration. 

4. 

EVALUATIONS 

the  Commission  continued 
In  2009, 
decision-making under Cohesion Policy. 

to  carry  out  evaluations 

to  support 

ERDF 

In  2009,  the  Commission  continued  to  carry  out  the  ex  post  evaluation  of 
Objectives 1  and  2  for  the  2000-2006  period  using  a  total  of  fourteen  interlinked 
"work  packages"  to  explore  different  aspects  of  the  effectiveness  and  efficiency  of 
Cohesion Policy. Results of the studies were published in the synthesis report of the 
ex post evaluation in April 2010. 

Furthermore, the Commission launched the following evaluations in 2009: 1) the ex 
post  evaluation  of  the  Cohesion  Fund  (including  former  ISPA),  2)  two  further 
evaluations for Objectives 1 and 2 of the 2000-2006 period. 

ESF  

The work on the ex post evaluation of the ESF in the programming period 2000-2006 
also  continued.  The  provisional  results  of  the  main  ESF  ex  post  evaluation  were 
available  at  the  end  of  2009  /  early  2010.  The  ex  post  evaluation  of  the  EQUAL 
Community  Initiative  was  launched  in  early  2009,  and  its  preliminary  results 
presented in early 2010. 

Besides the main ex post evaluation of the 2000-2006, a thematic evaluation on the 
ESF  support  to  the  Open  Method  of  Coordination  in  Social  Protection  and  Social 
Inclusion  was  conducted,  as  well  as  an  evaluation  of  the  impact  of  the  ESF  on  the 
functioning  of  the  labour  market  and  on  the  investment  in  human  capital 
infrastructure through support to systems and structures. 

EAGGF 

Ex-post evaluation of LEADER+ 

In 2009, the Commission launched the ex post evaluation of Leader+. The purpose of 
this evaluation is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and sustainability 
of Leader+ programmes and Leader+-type measures as implemented respectively in 
the EU-15 and EU-10. 

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5. 

CONTROLS 

5.1. 

ERDF 

As part of its strategy for obtaining assurance on the regularity of expenditure paid at 
the closure of ERDF programmes for the 1994-1999 programming period, a closure 
audit enquiry was executed between 2003 and 2009. For 7 programmes out of the 54 
audited,  it  was  concluded  that  no  corrections  should  be  applied.  In  25  programmes 
Member States accepted the financial corrections proposed by the Commission. In 22 
programmes, financial corrections have been applied by a Commission decision. 

For the 2000-2006 programming period, an audit enquiry was started in mid-2004 to 
examine  the  effective  functioning  of  key  elements  of  the  management  and  control 
systems  in  Member States  for  mainstream  programmes.  The  audits  comprise  two 
phases,  a  systems  review  and  an  audit  of  a  sample  of  projects  selected  on  a 
representative basis. The on-the-spot audit work initially planned was concluded by 
end  2006  for  EU-15  and  end  2007  for  EU-10.  Additional  audits  on  EU-15 
programmes  were  carried  out  in  2007-2008  to  extend  coverage  or  address  specific 
risks or to follow up implementation of action plans. At the end of 2009, in total 220 
audit  missions  (excluding  INTERREG)  had  been  carried  out  examining  the 
functioning of key elements of management and control systems in Member States. 
The  programmes  audited,  represent  43.0%  of  the  number  of  the  mainstream 
programmes and 76.0% of the planned ERDF contribution. As regards INTERREG, 
a separate audit enquiry launched in 2006 and further implemented in 2007 and 2008 
was concluded in 2009 for most of the 23 programmes examined representing 54.0% 
of the amount committed. 

5.2. 

ESF 

The  Commission  adopted  seven  financial  corrections  decisions  for  1994-1999  ESF 
programmes for Luxembourg, Spain, Belgium and Finland.  

During  the  2000-2006  programming  period,  the  work  carried  out  by  the 
Directorate-General  for  Employment,  Social  Affairs  and  Equal  Opportunities 
included the assessment of management and control system descriptions, analysis of 
national  system  audit  reports  and  annual  control  reports  in  the  context  of  annual 
bilateral  coordination  meetings,  and  three  main  audit  enquiries  (an  enquiry  on  the 
verification  of  effective  functioning  of  the  management  and  control  systems  in  the 
Member States, an enquiry on project expenditure to obtain reasonable assurance on 
the compliance with the legislative framework, an enquiry to review the work of the 
winding-up bodies in the Member States in preparation for the closure of 2000-2006 
programmes). 

As a result of the above audit enquiries, at the end of 2009, the audit units had carried 
out  on-the-spot  missions  in  Member  States  covering  94.9%  of  the  operational 
programmes.  

5.3. 

EAGGF 

As  regards  the  1994-1999  period,  the  planned  ex-post  audit  programme  for  this 
period was already completed in 2006. The last financial correction procedures were 
completed in 2009 (the last one in February 2010). 

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26 programmes were audited in 2009 for the period 2000-2006 (EU-25). In total, at 
the  end  of  2009,  103  programmes  out  of  152  had  been  subject  to  audit  (67.8%), 
covering  EUR  21,700  million  (96.4%)  of  total  programmed  expenditure.  Typical 
problems identified were: inadequate management checks, failure to verify eligibility 
criteria  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  agricultural  legislation  and  a  low 
level of independent controls. These findings are being followed up with the Member 
States  concerned  in  financial  correction  proceedings.  A  number  of  financial 
correction  procedures  are  under  way.  Three  financial  correction  decisions  covering 
three programmes were adopted by the Commission during the year. 

5.4. 

FIFG 

In  2009,  no  payments  were  made  for  the  programmes  for  the  period  1994-1999. 
By the end of 2009, 50 out of 52 programmes were closed (96%). The procedure for 
the two remaining programmes will be finalised in the first semester of 2010.  

Since the beginning of the 2000-2006 programming period, the Directorate-General 
for  Maritime  Affairs  and  Fisheries  has  carried  out  a  total  of  53  audit  missions 
covering all its mono-fund programmes (eighteen programmes representing an initial 
budget contribution of EUR 3,608 million – 87.0% of the total 2000-2006 budget) as 
representing  a  contribution  of 
well  as  eighteen  multi-fund  programmes 
EUR 374.6 million  -  9.5%  of  total  2000-2006  initial  budget.  In  total,  the 
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries systems audits have covered 
programmes representing 96.5% of total FIFG initial contribution for 2000-2006. For 
the  other  programmes,  the  assurance  is  gained  from  other  Structural  Funds 
Directorates-General's audit work and/or national audits.  

The nine FIFG audits carried out in 2009 covered ten operational programmes. For 
the  other  programmes  the  audits  were  focused  on  the  verification  and  follow-up  of 
the  effective  functioning  of  management  and  control  systems  for  the  period 
2000-2006 and the preparation for the closure. 

5.5. 

OLAF 

During  2009,  OLAF  undertook  38  missions  in  the  Member  States  relating  to 
measures co-financed by the Structural Funds. Some 28 of these missions concerned 
on-the-spot  checks5  (during  which  49  on  the  spot  controls  were  carried  out  on 
economic  operators)  and  10  other  types  of  missions  were  carried  out  to  gather 
information or to assist either national administrations or judicial authorities.  

In  2009,  Members  States  communicated  to  the  Commission,  in  accordance  with 
Regulation  (EC)  N°  1681/946  as  amended7  and  Regulation  (EC)  No  1828/20068  as 
amended9, some 4,83910 notifications of irregularities involving  EUR 1,200 million 
affecting  co-financed  measures  of  the  1994-1999,  2000-2006  and  2007-2013 

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10 

Regulation (EC) N° 2185/1996, OJ L 292, 15.10.1996, p. 2 
OJ L 178, 12.07.1994, p.43 
By Regulation (EC) N°2035/2005, JO L 328, 15.12.2005, p, 8 
OJ L 371, 27.12.2006, p,1 
By Regulation (EC) N° 846/2009, JO L 250, 23.09.2009, p.1 
2008:  number  of  communicated  cases  3,869;  overall  amount  related  to  the  communications 
EUR 528,647,682 

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programming  periods.  21  notifications  concern  the  1994-1999  programming  period 
with  a  financial  impact  of  approximately  EUR  1  million.  Member  States  have 
informed  the  Commission  that  administrative  and/or  judicial  procedures  have  been 
concluded  at  national 
level  for  a  number  of  cases  and  an  amount  of 
EUR 480.2 million has been recovered. 

6. 

COMMITTEES ASSISTING THE COMMISSION 

6.1. 

Coordination Committee of the Funds (COCOF) 

the  Commission  Regulation amending  Regulation 

In  2009,  the  main  topics  discussed  by  Coordination  Committee  of  the  Funds 
(EC) 
(COCOF)  were 
No 1828/2006, the concept of reliance on the work of other auditors, fraud indicators 
for  the  ERDF,  the  ESF  and  the  Cohesion  Fund,  tolerable  risks,  the  audit  reference 
manual  for  the  Structural  Funds  and  financing  by  2007-2013  technical  assistance 
allocation  of  the  technical  assistance  tasks  of  the  2000-2006  programmes  incurred 
after the final date of eligibility. 

6.2. 

ESF Committee 

In  2009,  the  ESF  Committee  (pursuant  to  Article  163  of  the  Treaty)  discussed  the 
ESF  support  for  social  partners,  a  toolkit  for  using  EU  Structural  and  Cohesion 
Funds  in  ensuring  accessibility  and  non  discrimination  of  people  with  disabilities. 
The  ESF  Committee  also  discussed  the  implementation  of  the  European  Economic 
Recovery  Plan,  the  future  Europe  2020  Strategy  and  the  6th  Progress  report  on 
Economic  and  Social  Cohesion.  The  Technical  Working  Group  discussed,  among 
other  issues,  the  simplification  of  the  General  Regulation  and  the  ESF  Regulation 
and  the  implementation  of  the  simplified  cost  options (flat rates,  standard  scales  of 
unit costs, lump sums).  

6.3. 

Committee on Agricultural Structures and Rural Development (STAR) 

The STAR Committee met three times in 2009 and gave a favourable opinion on one 
amendment  of  the  SAPARD  Rural  Development  programme  for  Bulgaria  under 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999. 

6.4. 

Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSFA) 

The  Committee  on  Structures  for  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  (CSFA)  met  twice  in 
2009. Main points discussed at the meetings include the ex-post evaluation and the 
closure  of  the  FIFG.  There  was  also  a  presentation  on  public  procurement  rules 
where Member States were reminded of their obligations. 

EN 

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