Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020
Date: 2016-04-07
Institutions: Commission for Economic Policy, European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, distribution of EU funding, economic convergence, economic reform, fund (EU), political reform, structural adjustment, technical cooperation








C_2016240EN.01004901.xml










1.7.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 240/49





Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020
(2016/C 240/09)











Rapporteur:


Olga ZRIHEN (BE/PES), Member of the Walloon Parliament




Reference document:


Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013
COM(2015) 701 final








I.   RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDMENTS


Amendment 1

Recital 4








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






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


Reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require 
political will, the ability to engage in dialogue and multi-level cooperation, budgetary and administrative resources, and
 a complete chain of highly-specialised knowledge and skills. Addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise. Therefore, early and efficient design and implementation is crucial, be it for crisis-struck or structurally-weak economies. In this context, the provision of support by the Union in the form of technical assistance 
must take into account the lessons learned from the programmes that aimed to support
 the economic adjustment of Greece and Cyprus in the last years. 
Ownership of structural reforms on the ground, in particular through local and regional authorities and the social partners, is essential for the Programme to be successful.








Reason


Special Report No 19/2015 of the European Court of Auditors (1) on the technical assistance provided to Greece provides some useful lessons regarding possible improvements in terms of technical assistance intended to improve a beneficiary Member State’s economic adjustment.

Amendment 2

Recital 5








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Member States may benefit from support in addressing challenges as regards the design and implementation of structural reforms. These challenges may be dependent on various factors, including limited administrative and institutional capacity or inadequate application and implementation of Union legislation.


Member States may benefit from support in addressing challenges as regards the design and implementation of structural reforms. These challenges may be dependent on various factors, including limited administrative and institutional capacity 
at different levels of government
 or inadequate application and implementation of Union legislation.





Amendment 3

Recital 6








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment








The Union has a long-lasting experience on providing specific support to national administrations and other authorities of Member States as regards capacity building and similar actions in certain sectors (e.g. taxation, customs, support to small and medium-sized enterprises) and in relation to the implementation of cohesion policy.
 The experience gained by the Union in assisting national authorities carrying out reforms should be used 
in order to enhance the capacity of the Union to provide support to Member States
. 
Comprehensive and integrated action is indeed necessary in order
 to 
provide
 support 
to
 those Member States that are undertaking 
growth-enhancing
 reforms and request assistance from the Union in this respect.


The experience gained by the Union in assisting national 
and/or subnational
 authorities carrying out reforms 
related to capacity building in national administrations, local and regional authorities and other Member State authorities, and similar actions in certain sectors (e.g. taxation, customs, support to small- and medium-sized enterprises),
 should be used. 
Action
 to support those Member States that are undertaking reforms 
to enhance sustainable growth, social well-being, and the accessibility of healthcare and education,
 and 
that
 request assistance from the Union in this respect
, might be necessary if these reforms are not already eligible for other technical assistance programmes
. 
These support measures will be based on an integrated approach, taking into account the links between the different areas of structural reforms, and the ability of all levels of government to work together as partners – while respecting each Member State’s institutional framework and also involving all stakeholders.







Amendment 4

Recital 8








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission upon request by a Member State, in areas such as 
budget and taxation, public function, institutional and administrative reforms,
 the justice system, anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, business environment, private sector development, investment, competition, public procurement, 
privatization processes,
 access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, education and training, labour policies, public health, 
asylum, migration policies, agriculture and rural development
 and financial sector policies.


Support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission upon request by a Member State, in areas 
that fall under the competences shared between the Union and the Member States and that are not already targeted by a technical assistance programme,
 such as 
the administrative capacity of the public service,
 the justice system 
and the rule of law, taxation
, anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, business environment, private sector development, investment, competition, public procurement
, privatisation or (re-)nationalisation or (re-)municipalisation processes
, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, education and training, labour policies, public health, and financial sector policies. 
Member States wishing to benefit from the Programme must bring local and regional authorities, as well as the social partners, civil society and other stakeholders, into the process of drawing up the application, based on the code of conduct on partnership in force with regard to cohesion policy.








Reason


It would be illogical for EU funds to finance technical assistance in areas that do not fall under the competences shared between the Union and the Member States. The partnership principle will guarantee the effectiveness of the technical assistance provided by the programme due to ownership on the ground.

Amendment 5

Recital 10








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Further to a dialogue with the requesting Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency, breadth and depth of the problems as identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged, analysis of socioeconomic indicators, and the general administrative capacity of the Member State. The Commission should also, in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, identify the priority areas, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support, taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes.


Further to a dialogue with the requesting Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of 
subsidiarity,
 transparency, equal treatment
, partnership
 and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency, breadth and depth of the problems as identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged, analysis of socioeconomic indicators, and the general administrative capacity of the Member State. 
With a view to the entry into force of the Programme, the Union will draw up a single strategic document to improve the institutional and administrative capacity of public authorities at all levels of government, transparently and fairly setting criteria to be adopted so as to determine which measures under the Programme are to be prioritised and how available resources are to be allocated, as well as criteria and mechanisms to coordinate measures at Union, national, regional and local level.
 The Commission should also, in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, identify the priority areas, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support, taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes
; in so doing, the Commission and the Member State concerned will take into account the current division of powers between the different levels of government – which often provides for an important role for local and regional authorities – as well as the fact that some Country Specific Recommendations are addressed to local and regional authorities.








Reason


The partnership principle is one of the cornerstones of the governance of the European Structural and Investment Funds, which are to provide the funds to finance the structural reform support programme. By analogy, therefore, it is consistent to apply the partnership principle to the structural reform support programme as well.

Amendment 6

Recital 11








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






The Commission Communications ‘The EU Budget Review’ (2) and ‘A budget for Europe 2020’ (3) underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear European added value, i.e. where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone. Against this background, the support actions carried out under the Programme should ensure complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national, Union and international level. The actions under the Programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges and achieve a consistent and coherent implementation of Union law. In addition, they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the Commission and among Member States. Moreover, the Union is in a better position than Member States to provide a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertise.


The Commission Communications ‘The EU Budget Review’ (4) and ‘A budget for Europe 2020’ (5) underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear European added value, i.e. where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone. Against this background, the support actions carried out under the Programme should ensure complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national, 
regional, local,
 Union and international level. The actions under the Programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges and achieve a consistent and coherent implementation of Union law. In addition, they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the Commission and among Member States. Moreover, the Union is in a better position than Member States to provide a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertise 
so as to develop solutions tailored to the specific situation in the requesting Member States
.





Amendment 7

Recital 21








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






In order to adapt the list of indicators measuring the achievement of the objectives of the Programme, in the light of experience during the implementation of the Programme, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the amendment of the list. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, 
including at expert level
. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.


In order to adapt the list of indicators measuring the achievement of the objectives of the Programme, in the light of experience during the implementation of the Programme, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the amendment of the list. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, 
involving – in accordance with the partnership principle – the relevant local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society players
. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to 
the Committee of the Regions,
 the European Parliament and to the Council.





Amendment 8

Article 3(1)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






The Programme shall finance actions 
with
 European added value. To that effect, the Commission shall ensure that actions selected for funding are likely to produce results with European added value and shall monitor whether European added value is actually achieved.


The Programme shall finance 
technical assistance
 actions 
that have, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
 European added value
, and that fall under the competences shared between the Union and the Member States and are not already targeted by a technical assistance programme
. To that effect, the Commission shall ensure that actions selected for funding are likely to produce results with European added value and shall monitor whether European added value is actually achieved.






Reason


Using the EU budget to fund national measures over which the EU has no jurisdiction would go against the spirit of the principle of subsidiarity.

Amendment 9

Article 3(2)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Actions and activities of the Programme shall ensure European added value in particular through:


Actions and activities of the Programme shall ensure European added value in particular through:










(a)


the development and implementation of solutions that address 
national
 challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges;












(a)


the development and implementation of solutions that address challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges;














(b)


their complementarity and synergy with other Union programmes and policies at national, Union and international level;












(b)


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














(c)


their contribution to the consistent and coherent implementation of Union law;












(c)


their contribution to the consistent and coherent implementation of Union law;














(d)


their contribution to the sharing of good practices and to building a Union-wide platform and network of expertise;












(d)


their contribution to the sharing of good practices and to building a Union-wide platform and network of expertise;
















(e)






the promotion of mutual trust between Beneficiary Member States and the Commission and cooperation among Member States.








 






Reason


Trust between Member States and the Commission cannot be reduced to the implementation of this programme – it is a general principle of how the European Union operates and is necessary for it to function.

Amendment 10

Article 4








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to 
institutional, administrative and
 structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to 
national
 authorities 
for
 measures aimed at reforming 
institutions, governance, administration,
 economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness, growth, jobs, 
and
 investment, 
in particular in the context of economic governance processes
, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds.


The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to structural reforms in the Member States 
that bring European added value in policy areas relating to competences shared between the Union and the Member States and that are not already targeted by a technical assistance programme,
 by providing support to 
Member States’ public
 authorities 
to attain the administrative capacity necessary to design and implement
 measures aimed at reforming economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness, 
sustainable
 growth, jobs, investment, 
and economic, social and territorial cohesion,
 including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds
, involving all levels of government
.






Reason


Clarification in line with the proposed legislative amendments to Articles 3(1) and 3(2), and Recital 9.

Amendment 11

Article 5(1)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






To achieve the general objective set out in Article 4, the Programme shall have the following specific objectives:


To achieve the general objective set out in Article 4, the Programme shall have the following specific objectives:










(a)


to assist the initiatives of 
national
 authorities to design their reforms according to priorities, taking into account initial conditions and expected socioeconomic impacts;












(a)


to assist the initiatives of 
public
 authorities to design their reforms according to priorities, taking into account initial conditions and expected socioeconomic impacts;














(b)


to support the 
national
 authorities to enhance their capacity to formulate, develop and implement reform policies and strategies and pursue an integrated approach ensuring consistency between goals and means across sectors;












(b)


to support the 
public
 authorities to enhance their capacity to formulate, develop and implement reform policies and strategies and pursue an integrated approach ensuring consistency between goals and means across sectors;














(c)


to support the efforts of 
national
 authorities to define and implement appropriate processes and methodologies by taking into account good practices and lessons learned by other countries in addressing 
similar
 situations;












(c)


to support the efforts of 
public
 authorities to define and implement appropriate processes and methodologies by taking into account good practices and lessons learned by other countries in addressing situations 
with some similarities
;














(d)


to assist the 
national
 authorities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human resources management, where appropriate, through definition of clear responsibilities and increase of professional knowledge and skills.












(d)


to assist the 
public
 authorities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human resources management, where appropriate, through definition of clear responsibilities and increase of professional knowledge and skills
, especially within the framework of any collective bargaining agreements (CBA) concluded as part of the national and/or regional social consultation process;










 










(e)






to assist public authorities to enhance their capacity to work with each other as partners, as well as with stakeholders, especially the social partners and private economic players.










These objectives shall be pursued 
in close cooperation with
 Beneficiary Member States.


These objectives shall be pursued 
upon the request of
 Beneficiary Member States
, and in close cooperation with them, as well as with local and regional authorities, according to the division of powers and competences in force in each Member State, and the Country Specific Recommendations addressed to local and regional authorities.








Reason


Structural reforms are not the preserve of national authorities, least of all in Member States with a federal structure. Indeed, several Country Specific Recommendations are addressed to regional and local authorities. Moreover, it is worth noting that the programme only comes into play upon the request of beneficiary Member States.

Amendment 12

Article 5(2)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






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


The specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall refer to policy areas related to competitiveness, 
sustainable
 growth, jobs, investment, 
and economic, social and territorial cohesion, and that are among the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy,
 in particular to the following:










(a)


public financial management, budget process, debt management and revenue administration;












(a)


public financial management, budget process, debt management and revenue administration;














(b)




institutional reform and
 efficient and 
service
-oriented functioning of public administration, effective rule of law, reform of the justice system and reinforcement of anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering;












(b)


efficient and 
general interest
-oriented functioning of public administration, effective rule of law, reform of the justice system and reinforcement of anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering;














(c)


business environment, private sector development, investment, 
privatization processes, trade and foreign direct investment,
 competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for innovation;












(c)


business environment, private sector development, 
privatisation or (re-)nationalisation or (re-)municipalisation processes,
 investment, competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for innovation;














(d)


education and training, labour market policies, social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems
, asylum, migration and borders policies
;












(d)


education and training, labour market policies, social inclusion 
and combating poverty
, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems;














(e)




policies for the agricultural sector and the sustainable development of rural areas;














(e)


financial sector policies and access to finance.
















(f)




financial sector policies and access to finance.






 






Reason


Omission of policy areas that are already targeted by a technical assistance programme and compliance with Article 345 TFEU, which enshrines the neutrality of EU law in relation to systems of property ownership. Moreover, the crisis has demonstrated that public authorities might also feel the need to renationalise, at least temporarily, certain economic activities.

Amendment 13

Article 7(2)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Taking into account the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify the priority areas for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.


Taking into account the principles of 
subsidiarity,
 transparency, equal treatment
, partnership
 and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member 
State’s relevant public authorities
, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, 
and within the framework established under the single strategic Union document to improve the institutional and administrative capacity of public authorities at all levels of government, transparently and fairly setting criteria to be adopted so as to determine which measures under the programme are to be prioritised and how available resources are to be allocated, as well as criteria and mechanisms to coordinate measures at Union, national, regional and local level,
 the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify the priority areas for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.





Amendment 14

Article 8(2)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






The Beneficiary Member State, in coordination with the Commission, may enter into partnership with one or more other Member States 
which shall act as
 Reform Partners in respect of specific areas of reform. A Reform Partner shall, in coordination with the Commission, help formulate strategy, reform roadmaps, design high-quality assistance or oversee implementation of strategy and projects.


The Beneficiary Member State, in coordination with the Commission, may enter into partnership with one or more other Member States 
and, if necessary, strengthen this or these partnership(s) with the level of government most relevant to implementing the reform, so that they become
 Reform Partners in respect of specific areas of reform. A Reform Partner shall, in coordination with the Commission, help formulate strategy, reform roadmaps, design high-quality assistance or oversee implementation of strategy and projects.





Amendment 15

Article 12(3)








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Grants may be awarded to Member States’ 
national
 authorities, the European Investment Bank group, international organisations, public and/or private bodies and entities legally established in any of the following:


Grants may be awarded to Member States’ 
public
 authorities, the European Investment Bank group, international organisations, public and/or private bodies and entities legally established in any of the following:










(a)


Member States;












(a)


Member States;














(b)


European Free Trade Agreement countries which are party to the European Economic Area Agreement, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement.












(b)


European Free Trade Agreement countries which are party to the European Economic Area Agreement, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement.








The co-financing rate for grants shall be up to 100 % of the eligible costs, without prejudice to the principles of co-financing and no-profit.


The co-financing rate for grants shall be up to 100 % of the eligible costs, without prejudice to the principles of co-financing and no-profit.





Amendment 16

Article 13








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






The Commission and the Beneficiary Member States, within their respective responsibilities, shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the Programme and other Union programmes and instruments, and in particular with measures financed by the Union funds. To this end, they shall:


The Commission and the Beneficiary Member States, within their respective responsibilities, shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the Programme and other Union programmes and instruments, and in particular with measures financed by the Union funds
, on the basis of the single strategic document mentioned in Article 7.
 To this end, they shall:










a)


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












a)


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














b)


optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort;












b)


optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort;














c)


ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation at Union and national level to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions.












c)


ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation at Union and national
, regional and local
 level to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions.








(…)


(…)





Amendment 17

Article 15








Text proposed by the Commission






CoR amendment






Monitoring and evaluation


Monitoring and evaluation




1.   The Commission shall monitor the implementation of the actions financed by the Programme and measure the achievement of the specific objectives referred to in Article 5(1) in accordance with indicators set out in the Annex.


1.   The Commission shall monitor the implementation of the actions financed by the Programme and measure the achievement of the specific objectives referred to in Article 5(1) in accordance with indicators set out in the Annex.




The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 concerning amendments to the list of indicators set out in the Annex.


The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 concerning amendments to the list of indicators set out in the Annex.




2.   The Commission shall provide the European Parliament and the Council with an interim evaluation report, by mid of 2019, at the latest, and an ex-post evaluation report by end of December 2021.


2.   The Commission shall provide the European Parliament and the Council
, as well as the consultative committees,
 with an interim evaluation report, by mid of 2019, at the latest, and an ex-post evaluation report by end of December 2021.




3.   The interim evaluation report shall include information on the achievement of the Programme’s objectives, the efficiency of the use of resources and the Programme’ European added value and assessment on whether funding in areas covered by the Programme needs to be adapted 
or
 extended after 2020. It shall also address the continued relevance of all objectives and actions. The ex-post evaluation report shall include information on the longer-term impact of the Programme.


3.   The interim evaluation report shall include information on the achievement of the Programme’s objectives, the efficiency of the use of resources and the Programme’ European added value and assessment on whether funding in areas covered by the Programme needs to be adapted, extended after 2020 
or stopped
. It shall also address the continued relevance of all objectives and actions. The ex-post evaluation report shall include information on the longer-term impact of the Programme.




II.   POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS








1.


agrees with the principle underlying this support programme, which aims to provide – on a voluntary basis and upon request – technical assistance with regard to structural reforms in Member States in policy areas that fall under the competences shared between the European Union and the Member States; is of the opinion that effective coordination with existing technical assistance programmes at EU and beneficiary Member State level and active participation by local and regional authorities in that coordination with a view to giving the programme a more regional focus are prerequisites for the success of this programme;












2.


considers that the main objective of the support programme should be to improve administrative capacity at national, regional and local levels of government in requesting Member States, and that such improvements must also be used as a parameter in the ongoing revision of the Europe 2020 strategy;












3.


calls for the programme to be based on a single strategic Union document to improve the institutional and administrative capacity of public authorities at all levels of government; invites the Commission to put forward this single document which must, among other things, transparently and fairly set criteria to be adopted so as to determine which measures under the programme are to be prioritised and how available resources are to be allocated, as well as criteria and mechanisms to coordinate existing measures both at Union level, including under the programme, and at national, regional and local level, in full compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and guaranteeing the autonomy and individuality of the different regional levels. On this basis, similar single documents will be drawn up for beneficiary Member States, in cooperation with the Member States and in accordance with the partnership principle;












4.


stresses that, in view of the division of powers and responsibilities in each Member State and the Country Specific Recommendations that are often addressed to local and regional authorities, the programme must be open to local and regional authorities; calls on the Commission to ensure that this is the case, for example, by checking, in cases of requests for technical assistance made by national authorities that come under local and regional authorities’ areas of responsibility, that the latter have been involved in putting together the structural reform project in question, while respecting each country’s institutional set-up;












5.


considers that the proposal for a Regulation appears to comply with the principle of subsidiarity if technical assistance is provided in areas of shared competence between the Union and the Member States (see amendments to Recital 6, Article 3(1) and Article 4). As the proposal is based on a voluntary mechanism, the question of proportionality does not arise;












6.


considers it essential that the programme is effectively coordinated with the EU programmes and instruments that co-finance technical assistance under the Structural Funds (Article 59 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and thematic objective No 11), the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF), and sectoral EU programmes (Connecting Europe Facility, Horizon 2020, ‘Europe for Citizens’, ‘Justice’ and ‘Rights, Equality and Citizenship’);












7.


stresses that financing the programme through the transfer of funds allocated to technical assistance under the European Structural and Investment Funds can only be a temporary solution. Furthermore, it is opposed to these funding arrangements paving the way for subordinating cohesion policy to the ‘European Semester’ exercise since cohesion policy has its own legitimacy, enshrined in the European Treaties;












8.


stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all method for structural reforms and that best practices can only act as the incentive to search for solutions tailored to the different conditions and local and regional characteristics in requesting Member States;












9.


encourages best practices regarding the implementation of structural reforms to be exchanged between the Member States, and calls for local and regional authorities with socioeconomic or geographical similarities, or subject to structural reforms with cross-border implications, to be involved so as to strengthen partnerships between Member States under the programme;












10.


points out that a high level of ownership of the structural reforms on the ground by the relevant local and regional authorities, social partners and civil society players is essential for the programme to be successful and for it to help to raise confidence and promote cooperation between the requesting Member State, the Commission and the other Member States;












11.


calls for support for structural reforms to systematically draw attention to the objectives of sustainable development, social inclusion, and accessibility of health care, employment and training, in line with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. The CoR therefore urges indicators other than GDP to be taken into account in evaluations of the support programme carried out by the Commission (6);












12.


believes that Member States’ co-financing under the support programme comes under the Stability and Growth Pact’s structural reform clause (7);












13.


stresses that the programme should be considered to be a pilot programme; recommends that an evaluation be carried out in good time before the beginning of the next financial programming period, starting in 2021, in order to decide whether it would be beneficial to make it permanent, and, if so, whether establishing a fund of own resources to support structural reforms is necessary, feasible and desirable.





Brussels, 7 April 2016.


The President of the European Committee of the Regions

Markku MARKKULA




(1)  http://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/DocItem.aspx?did=35302

(2)  COM(2010) 700 final of 19 October 2010.

(3)  COM(2011) 500 final of 29 June 2011.

(4)  COM(2010) 700 final of 19 October 2010.

(5)  COM(2011) 500 final of 29 June 2011.

(6)  See the CoR’s opinion on ‘Indicators for territorial development – GDP and beyond’, adopted on 10 February 2016.

(7)  See the CoR’s opinion on ‘Making the best use of the flexibility within the existing rules of the Stability and Growth Pact’, adopted on 9 July 2015.