Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States
Date: 2016-10-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, Framework Programme for Research and Development, Mediterranean region (EU), Mediterranean third countries, Union for the Mediterranean, food policy, innovation, research and development, scientific cooperation, water resources

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 18.10.2016  COM(2016) 662 final 2016/0325 (COD)   Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union  in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)  jointly undertaken by several Member States {SWD(2016) 331 final} {SWD(2016) 332 final}  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

With 180 million people who are considered 'water poor', the Mediterranean area is generally 
characterised by high levels of hydric stress. This is why the sustainable management of water 
provision and food systems in the area is so important. 

Climate change is increasingly causing severe water shortages in the area, with major impacts 
on  agriculture.  Most  water  available  is  used  for  irrigation.  This  means  that  such  shortages 
result in decreasing and irregular crop yields, putting additional pressure on natural resources 
and on the capacity to provide clean water and affordable food for the region’s inhabitants. 

This  in  turn  has  a  negative  effect  on  nutrition,  health,  livelihoods,  standards  of  living  and 
levels  of  wellbeing.  This  social  and  economic  stress  is  a  major  cause  of  instability.  It  also 
contributes to migration, both internally, leading numerous farm families to move to cities and 
externally, driving part of the population to migrate, in particular to Europe. 

The  unsustainable  management  of  water  provision  and  food  systems  in  the  Mediterranean 
area  is  due  to  a  number  of  factors  including  political  instability,  climate  change  and  the 
rapidly growing population. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of a set of common 
innovative solutions that are adapted to the realities of the region and are easily transferable 
across  it.  These  solutions  are  not  forthcoming  because  the  overall  level  of  research  and 
innovation (R&I) investment in the Mediterranean is not commensurate with the size of the 
regional challenge. Investment levels also differ greatly from one country to another. Funding 
is not geared towards tackling the water and food problem and the relevant stakeholders – for 
instance, the private sector – do not always have sufficiently strong R&I capabilities. On top 
of all this, R&I collaboration efforts between Union Member States and Southern and Eastern 
Mediterranean  countries  are  too  fragmented  (mostly  governed  by  bilateral  agreements)  to 
have any significant impact.  

In  this context  and with  regard to migration,  the PRIMA Joint Programme  initiative, led by 
Participating States from the Union and the Southern Mediterranean1, is particularly important 
and  relevant.  The  initiative  follows  the  approach  of  the  new  Migration  Partnership  for 
enhanced  financial  collaboration  with  Member  States  and  other  partners.  It  shows  how 
research  policy  can  bring  about  effective  coordination  by  leveraging  national  budgets  and 
bringing Mediterranean countries together to tackle long-term common problems. 

The programme’s strategic objective is to develop the common innovative solutions for water 
provision  and  food  systems  that  the  Mediterranean  region  urgently  needs.  Achieving  this 
strategic objective will make water provision and food systems more efficient, cost-effective 
and  sustainable.  In  this  way  R&I  could  help  solve  bigger  problems  in  relation  to  nutrition, 
health and social wellbeing, and ultimately help address mass migration trends. R&I policies 

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The PRIMA Joint Programme involves 19 countries: 
- 11 Member States: Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, 
Portugal, Slovenia and Spain; 
- 8 third countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. 
Of  these,  14  countries  (Cyprus,  the  Czech  Republic,  Egypt,  France,  Greece,  Israel,  Italy,  Lebanon, 
Luxembourg,  Malta,  Morocco,  Portugal,  Spain  and  Tunisia)  have  agreed  to  jointly  undertake  the 
PRIMA initiative. 

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can  thus  be  leveraged  to  the  maximum  to  tackle  the  migration  challenge,  in  line  with  the 
Communication  from  the  Commission  on  establishing  a  new  Partnership  Framework  with 
third countries under the European Agenda on Migration, (COM(2016)385).  

• 

Institutional background 

The  process  leading  to  the  PRIMA  Joint  Programme  started  with  the  Euro-Mediterranean 
Conference  on  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation  in  Barcelona  in  2012.  The  aim  is  to 
strengthen  Euro-Mediterranean  cooperation  in  R&I  as  part  of  the  broader  objectives  of  the 
Union’s external policy with regard to the Southern Neighbourhood. 

Several  Council  Presidencies  have  highlighted  the  need  to  set  up  a  regional  partnership  to 
tackle  major  common  challenges,  including  water  availability  and  management,  innovation 
and institutional coordination. The idea behind a regional partnership is to work on the basis 
of co-ownership, mutual interest and shared benefit in a long-lasting, structured framework.  

The Competitiveness Council of 5 December 2014 invited the Commission to assess whether 
the Union’s participation in the PRIMA Joint Programme on the basis of Article 185 of the 
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) would be justified by the scope of 
the  objectives  and  the  extent  of  the  resources  required.  In  its  Conclusions,  the  Council 
endorsed  in  particular  the  programme’s  focus  on  developing  and  implementing  innovative, 
integrated solutions  for the sustainable management of  water provision and food systems in 
the  Mediterranean  area.  The  Council  regarded  this  as  a  priority,  in  order  to  improve  the 
health,  wellbeing  and  sociocultural  conditions  of  the  populations  of  the  Mediterranean  area 
and boost economic growth. 

Consequently,  in  December  2014  Member  States  and  third  countries  of  the  Mediterranean 
area submitted a proposal to the Commission to participate in the PRIMA Joint Programme. 

On the basis of the Competitiveness Council’s Conclusions and after the formal submission of 
the proposal, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas asked the 
Commission  services  to  prepare  an  impact  assessment  of  the  available  policy  options, 
including an initiative based on the legal basis of Article 185 TFEU. 

• 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

The PRIMA Joint Programme fits into an institutional context which, at the highest political 
level,  highlighted  the  need  to  strengthen  Union  cooperation  with  Southern  Mediterranean 
countries in the key areas of water resources and food systems and related areas. 

PRIMA  anchors  key  regional  R&I  challenges  in  broader  socioeconomic  and  geopolitical 
objectives. It is intended to complement recent relevant institutional actions in Union policies 
other than R&I. These are listed below. 

a)  Water diplomacy (Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions dated 22 July 2013) 

The  effects  of  climate  change  and  demographic  and  economic  development,  coupled  with 
stress  on  water  quality,  availability and  management  are  major  security  challenges  likely  to 
give  rise  to  tension  and  conflicts  over  access  to  water.  In  this  context,  the  Union  plays  an 
important role in supporting water diplomacy across the world and in transboundary waters in 
Europe  –  including  by  promoting  water  initiatives  with  countries  in  the  EU  neighbourhood 
and other countries identified in the EU water security mapping exercise. 

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b)  Review  of  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  (ENP)  (Foreign  Affairs  Council 

Conclusions dated 14 December 2015) 

The Council welcomed the Review of the ENP as a key political priority for the Union in the 
coming  years.  This  includes  the  crucial  role  of  R&I  for  socioeconomic  development  in  the 
neighbourhood  and  helps  neighbourhood  countries  modernise  and  diversify  their  economies 
by facilitating their participation in EU initiatives.  

c)  Sustainable Development Goals (Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions dated 26 May 

2015) 

Reference  is  made  to  Horizon  2020’s  commitment  to  supporting  sustainable  development, 
both within the Union and with international partners, as well as to the need to foster science, 
technology  and  innovation  as  part  of  the  overall  post-2015  approach  to  eradicating  poverty 
and promoting sustainable development. 

d)  Migration  (Foreign  Affairs  Council  Conclusions  dated  12  October  2015  and  17-18 

March 2016) 

These Council Conclusions acknowledge that the migration crisis within and beyond the EU 
neighbourhood is exacerbated by poverty, poor socioeconomic development and violations of 
human  rights,  and  call  for  a  strong  EU  external  migration  and  asylum  policy.  The  Council 
also  renewed  its  commitment  to  mobilising  all  instruments  and  policies  to  address  the  root 
causes of migratory flows, mainly poor socioeconomic conditions and climate change. 

e)  European  climate  diplomacy  after  COP21  (Foreign  Affairs  Council  Conclusions 

dated 15 February 2016) 

In  the  overall  context  of  climate  diplomacy,  the  Council  refers  to  the  development  of  a 
climate  diplomacy  action  plan,  including  efforts  measures  focusing  on  the  nexus  of  climate 
change, natural resources (including water), prosperity, stability and migration. 

• 

Consistency with other Union policies 

The objectives are in line with the problem definition and cover the related R&I challenges, 
ensuring interaction with European, Mediterranean and global policies. In particular, PRIMA 
is  consistent  with  the  recent  Communication  from  the  Commission  on  establishing  a  new 
Partnership  Framework  with  third  countries  under  the  European  Agenda  on  Migration, 
(COM(2016)385). It focuses on tackling the root causes of migration and forced displacement 
through ‘all EU policies including education, research, climate change, energy, environment, 
agriculture’.  It  also  advocates  new  development  cooperation  models  involving  the  private 
sector,  innovative  financing  mechanisms  and  investments  in  SMEs  and  sustainable 
infrastructures.  

Horizon  2020  has  already  identified  ‘Climate  action,  environment,  resource  efficiency  and 
raw materials’ and ‘Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and 
inland water research, and the bio-economy’ as  two of the priority societal challenges to be 
addressed  by  supporting  R&I  investments.  It  also  recognises  that  R&I  activities  aimed  at 
addressing  these  challenges  should  be  carried  out  at  EU  level  and  beyond,  given  the 
transnational  and  global  nature  of  climate  and  the  environment,  their  scale  and  complexity 
and the international aspect of the food and agricultural supply chain. 

The  R&I  objectives  related  to  water  provision  and  food  systems  in  the  Mediterranean  area 
appear to be consistent with and relevant to the following initiatives. 

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•  The Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

•  The  Barcelona  Process  launched  in  November  1995  at  the  initiative  of  the  Euro-
Mediterranean  Foreign  Ministers  and  the  related  Communication  Barcelona  Process: 
Union  for  the  Mediterranean  (COM(2008)319),  which  set  up  a  multilateral  partnership, 
focusing on regional and transnational projects. 

•  The  Communication  Enhancing  and  focusing  EU  international  cooperation  in  research 
and  innovation:  A  strategic  approach  (COM(2012)497),  which  establishes  a  focus  on 
fostering integration into – or alignment with – the European Research Area (ERA) for the 
neighbourhood. 

2. 

• 

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The  proposal  for  the  PRIMA  Programme  is  based  on  Article  185  TFEU.  This  instrument 
allows  the  EU,  in  implementing  the  multiannual  framework  programme,  to  make  provision 
for participation in research and development programmes run by several Member States, in 
agreement with the Member States concerned, including participation in the structures created 
for the execution of those programmes. 

• 

Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)  

PRIMA  is  a  joint  programme  based  on  and  composed  of  national  programmes  run  and 
activities carried out by the participating Member States and Associated Countries, with the 
support and participation of the EU. 

The Commission’s proposal for Horizon 2020 makes provision for the EU’s participation in 
PRIMA under Article 185 TFEU. It is  the appropriate instrument for the EU to  support the 
initiative since it makes both the coordination of national research programmes and the EU’s 
participation in the joint programme possible. 

The  national,  bilateral  and  transnational  programmes  that  have  been  used  so  far  to  improve 
R&I  in  water  provision  and  food  systems  have  not  proved  sufficient  to  tackle  cross-border 
issues and attract further public and private investments. 

On top of that, the challenges of water provision and food systems in the Mediterranean area 
are  complex,  interrelated,  transnational  and  multi-sectorial.  They  require  transdisciplinary 
research  and  integrated  solutions  that  include  innovation.  Other  factors,  such  as  the  social 
behaviour  of  rural  communities,  economic  constraints,  or  the  stability  of  the  legal  and 
institutional  frameworks,  may  also  be  conducive  to  the  adoption  of  the  most  appropriate 
measures. One country alone would hardly be able to cope with such complexity. 

The experience of similar Article 185 initiatives shows that action at Union level can produce 
a well-coordinated and integrated programme by: 

a)  Attaining the scale and scope needed and getting a critical mass of resources 
b)  Stimulating  leverage  effects  and  having  impacts  on  and  implications  for  the  EU’s 

external policies and migration 

c)  Contributing to global cooperation and the Southern European Neighbourhood 

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• 

Proportionality 

The  proposal  does  not  go  beyond  what  is  necessary  to  achieve  its  objectives.  Union 
participation in PRIMA will take place within the limits of the competence provided under the 
TFEU  and  will  only  facilitate  and support,  including  financially, the  fulfilment  of  PRIMA's 
objectives  by  the  participating  states.  The  participating  states  will  have  to  work  together  to 
better  coordinate,  align  and  integrate  the  relevant  national  programmes  or  activities,  and 
ultimately develop a common long-term strategic research agenda. 

Please refer also to the impact assessment report, section 6.5. 

• 

Choice of instrument 

The conclusions of the stakeholder consultation activities and the analysis and comparison of 
the  options  in  the  impact  assessment  have  shown  that  Article  185  TFEU  is  the  most 
appropriate way to achieve the objectives of PRIMA. Article 185 TFEU is also the choice of 
the participating states. 

An  Article  185  TFEU  initiative  is  the  most  efficient  and  effective  mode  of  intervention  to 
achieve PRIMA’s strategic and specific objectives. An Article 185 TFEU initiative is likely to 
have the highest overall leverage effect in comparison to other instruments in a stable, long-
term and integrated manner. 

An Article 185 TFEU would further enable the development of a more equal relationship with 
neighbourhood  countries.  The  Union  and  the  countries  concerned  will  determine  together 
their mutual priorities, entering a new phase of cooperation, in line with the priorities of the 
European Neighbourhood Policy. 

3. 

• 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EX-POST 

EVALUATIONS, 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Stakeholder consultations 

Two main consultation activities were organised as part of the PRIMA impact assessment: 

• 

• 

a 12-week online public consultation, from 1 February to 24 April 2016; 

a stakeholder event in Malta on 17 March 2016.  

Different  European  and  southern  Mediterranean  stakeholders  from  research,  academia, 
industry  and  civil  society  gave  their  views.  The  preparation  of  the  proposal  has  taken  full 
account of the many contributions and inputs received. 

The consulted stakeholders were largely in favour of an Article 185 option. 

• 

Collection and use of expertise 

A  group  of  external  experts  (the  PRIMA  Expert  Group)  from  Mediterranean  and  non-
Mediterranean  Member  States  and  third  countries,  was  set  up  to  support  the  impact 
assessment exercise. The Group’s findings were compared with findings from other sources 
(for  example  a  literature  review  carried  out  by  Commission  services,  results  of  the  online 
public consultation) and taken into account in the impact assessment. 

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• 

Impact assessment 

Different  possible  policy  options  were  identified  during  the  impact  assessment,  differing  in 
terms of scope, geographical coverage and the type of instrument used. All these options were 
screened using Tool #14 of the Better Regulation Toolbox. On that basis, the following policy 
options have been retained. 

  Option  0:  No  policy  change  -  Baseline  scenario  -  Horizon  2020  will  continue 
providing support for water and food issues in general on an ad hoc basis. It is unlikely 
that  dedicated  initiatives  aimed  at  integrating  Mediterranean  R&I  systems  will  be 
launched.  Individual  actions  would  typically  last  three  to  four  years,  with  limited 
impact. 

  Option  1:  ERA-NET  Cofund  action  –  The  main  activity  under  Horizon  2020  is  the 
implementation of a single co-funded joint call for proposals for each action, resulting 
in the funding of transnational research and/or innovation projects. Individual actions 
would  typically  last  five  years.  This  option  would  consist  of  a  series  of  ERA-NET 
Cofund  actions,  limited  to  the  remainder  of  Horizon  2020.  It  would  not  allow  to 
address  substantially  the  innovation  dimension,  since  the  national  programmes  that 
would  collaborate  and  coordinate  their  activities  mainly  focus  on  the  research 
activities  of  public  research  organisations.  Option  1  is  not  expected  to  integrate 
national funding programmes into a common strategic research agenda. 

  Option 2: PRIMA Joint Programme based on Article 185 TFEU – This enables the EU 
to make provisions for its participation in research and development programmes run 
by several Member States, including its participation in the structures created for the 
implementation  of  those  programmes.  Article  26  of  the  Horizon  2020  Framework 
Programme  Regulation  specifies  the  conditions  and  criteria  for  identifying  and 
proposing an initiative pursuant to Article 185 TFEU. 

implemented 

Among other criteria, the Commission may only propose Article 185 initiatives if there is a 
need for a dedicated implementation structure and participating states have expressed a high 
level of commitment to a closer integration at scientific, management and financial level. This 
option involves coming up with a comprehensive strategic research agenda and its complete 
implementation  through  multiple  transnational  calls  for  proposals,  undertaken  by  several 
Participating  States  and 
implementation  structure 
(hereinafter referred to as DIS funding body). This is typically a long-term commitment (ten 
years).  The  Union  would  provide  financial  support  by  matching  national  investments.  This 
option  is  the  best  one  for  achieving  the  specific  and  general  objectives  and  implementing  a 
number of pilots and demonstrators in strategically important areas related to water provision 
and  food  systems.  It  takes  full  account  of  all  the  lessons  learned  –  with  respect  to  the 
management  of  the  Union  financial  contribution,  the  achievement  of  impacts,  etc.  –  from 
implementing  past  and  ongoing  Article  185  initiatives.  It  is  also  designed  to  ensure  sound 
financial  management  and  protect  the  financial  interests  of  the  Union  through  adequate  ex-
ante checks, financial reporting and ex-post verification. 

through  a  dedicated 

Taking into account their likely impacts, these options were compared with each other using 
the baseline scenario as the reference point and applying the following criteria. 

  effectiveness:  the  proposed  options  should  improve  the  R&I  framework  in  the 

Mediterranean area in the fields of water provision and food systems. 

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  efficiency:  the  proposed  options  should  achieve  the  impacts  with  the  greatest 

cost/benefit ratio. 

  consistency with other policies: the proposed options should be consistent with other 
EU  and  national  R&I  policies  and  programmes  and  with  international  coordination 
and cooperation policies. 

Previous  and  ongoing  Article  185  TFEU  initiatives  show  that  such  an  initiative  is  likely  to 
have  a  high  leverage  effect  on  national  public  funds  in  a  stable,  long-term  and  integrated 
manner, helping to: 

  deliver the desired structuring effect on national R&I policies and programmes and to 

integrate them; 

  enable the formulation of stable, long-term, common strategic research agendas with 

the adequate scale and scope of actions;  

  support the alignment of national R&I programmes;  

  enable the involvement of partner countries on an equal footing; 

  enable  the  structural  involvement  of  different  types  of  stakeholders,  both  public  and 
private,  bringing  together  and  leveraging  their  respective  knowledge  and  financial 
resources; 

  strengthen R&I capabilities in a lasting manner. 

• 

Fundamental rights 

The  initiative  is  consistent  with  Article  37  on  Environmental  protection  of  the  Charter  of 
Fundamental  Rights  of  the  EU:  ‘A  high  level  of  environmental  protection  and  the 
improvement  of  the  quality  of  the  environment  must  be  integrated  into  the  policies  of  the 
Union and ensured in accordance with the principle of sustainable development’. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

The  Legislative  Financial  Statement  accompanying  this  decision  sets  out  the  indicative 
budgetary  implications.  The  EU  contribution  shall  be  up  to  EUR  200  million  including  the 
EFTA contribution. The envelope is in current prices. The EU contribution shall be made as 
part  of the implementation  of Horizon 2020  – the Framework  Programme  for Research  and 
Innovation. 

 

 

From DG Agriculture and Rural Development: 

– 

Societal Challenge 2 ‘Research and innovation related to agriculture – Securing 
sufficient supplies of safe and high quality food’. 

From DG R&I: 

– 

– 

– 

Societal  Challenge  2  ‘Food  Security,  Sustainable  Agriculture  and  Forestry, 
Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bio-economy’;  
Societal  Challenge  5  ‘Climate  Action,  Environment,  Resource  Efficiency  and 
Raw Materials’; 
Industrial Leadership.  

The  maximum  amount  of  the  EU  contribution  to  administrative  costs  is  up  to  5%.  This 
corresponds to EUR 10 million. 

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The  EU  contribution  will  be  managed  by  the  Prima  Implementation  Structure  PRIMA-IS 
(indirect  management  of  EU  funds).  Before  the  delegation  of  management  and  transfer  of 
funds  the  PRIMA-IS  will  be  subject  to  an  ex-ante  assessment  in  accordance  with  the 
requirements set out in Article 61 of the Financial Regulation, in order to assess its capacity to 
implement the programme, including receiving, allocating and monitoring the EU's financial 
contribution in the framework of indirect management of the EU budget.  

The provision of the Decision and of the delegation agreement to be concluded between the 
Commission and the dedicated implementation structure ensure that the EU financial interests 
are  protected.  The  risk  of  non-recovery  is  covered  by  the  financial  guarantees  that  the 
Participating States will have to provide in due time and at the latest before the signature of 
the delegation agreement. 

The Participating States and the EU make up-front commitments to contribute to PRIMA. The 
EU's commitment of €200 million from the current Multiannual Financial Framework will be 
mainly used to finance indirect actions resulting from calls launched by the PRIMA-IS. This 
will cover a series of seven Annual Work Plans (2018 – 2024), with the last commitment from 
the  Commission  being  made  in  2020  that  will  be  used  for  the  funding  of  projects  resulting 
from the calls in the years 2020 – 2024. The Participating States will describe in the Annual 
Work  Plan  their  activities  funded  from  national  programmes  and  the  respective  budgets 
allocated to these activities. Participating States have been made aware of the need to provide 
substantial  commitments  already  in  the  first  years  of  programme  implementation  and  front-
load the initiative to balance the strong up-front commitment from the Union budget. 

The  EU  contribution  to  each  Annual  Work  Plan  will  not  exceed  the  commitment  of  the 
participating  states  to  it.  This  ensures  that  there  is  a  balance  with  at  least  matching 
contributions of EU funding and Participating States. This allows a mechanism to reduce the 
EU commitment if participating states fail to commit as expected. 

Furthermore,  an  assessment  by  the  Commission  of  Participating  States  commitments 
undertaken  through  the  first  two  annual  work  plans  has  been  foreseen  in  the  legislative 
proposal  as  a  condition  for  the  EU  financial  contribution.  Following  this  evaluation,  the 
maximum  EU  contribution  may  be  reviewed  in  accordance  with  the  applicable  safeguards 
regarding termination, reduction or suspension of the EU financial contribution, which set out 
that "If the Participating States do not contribute, contribute partially or late to the financing 
of  PRIMA  the  Commission  may  terminate,  proportionally  reduce  or  suspend  the  Union’s 
financial  contribution,  taking  into  account  the  amount  of  funding  allocated  by  the 
Participating States to implement PRIMA." 

5. 

• 

OTHER ELEMENTS 

Annual Work Plans, monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements 

The PRIMA Annual Work Plans (AWP) will ensure consistency and coordination between all 
activities  and  their  orientation  towards  the  achievement  of  the  operational,  specific  and 
general  objectives  of  PRIMA.  The  AWP,  which  is  subject  to  approval  by  the  Commission, 
will include:  

-  Transnational  calls  for  proposals  to  be  funded  by  the  PRIMA-IS  with  EU  contribution,  in 
accordance with the Horizon 2020 Rules for Participation; 

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-  Activities  only  funded  by  the  Participating  States,  and  counting  for  the  matching  with  the 
Union contribution under certain conditions. In particular, these activities will be included in 
the  AWP  after  positive  external  evaluation  by  international  peer  review  with  regard  to  the 
objectives  of  the  PRIMA  Joint  Programme.  They  will  be  implemented  in  compliance  with 
common  principles,  to  be  agreed  by  the  Participating  States  and  the  Commission.  These 
activities  will  include  calls  between  Participating  States'  programmes  for  transnational 
projects,  organised  by  the  PRIMA-IS  (including  proposal  evaluations).  Activities  should 
increasingly address also the higher Technology Readiness Levels, as defined in the General 
Annexes to the Horizon 2020 Work Programmes2. 

The annual reporting of the PRIMA-IS will cover both strands. This allows close monitoring 
by  the  Commission  services  and  facilitates  taking  corrective  measures,  if  necessary,  in 
particular reducing EU commitments to individual Annual Work Plans if the implementation 
of the activities by Participating States does not maintain the necessary level of commitment 
to match the one of the EU. 

The  Directorate-General  for  Research  and  Innovation  has  adopted  standard  supervision 
arrangements  for  Article  185  TFEU  initiatives.  These  arrangements  will  also  apply  to  the 
PRIMA  Joint  Programme.  Their  effectiveness  should  be evaluated  at both  programme  level 
(focusing on whether the overall objectives have been achieved) and national level (focusing 
on the goals of individual countries). 

The  responsibilities  of  the  Commission  services  and  those  of  the  PRIMA-IS  and  the 
Participating States with regard to monitoring and audit mechanisms are clearly differentiated 
in  the  basic  act.  They  will  be  further  developed  in  the  delegation  agreement  between  the 
Commission and the PRIMA-IS. 

An interim and a final independent evaluation are envisaged. 

The Commission will also ensure that all actions taken and supported as part of the initiative 
respect the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. 

• 

Derogations from the Horizon 2020 Rules on Participation 

The  approach  chosen  for  the  Article  185  PRIMA  option  requires  only  limited  derogations 
from  the  Horizon  2020  Rules  for  Participation.  To  ensure  balanced  core  participation  in 
indirect actions in a north-south configuration, as a derogation from point (b) of Article 9(1) 
of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013, the minimum number of participants should be three legal 
entities  established  in  three  different  Participating  States,  one  of  which  is  established  in  a 
Member  State  or  in  a  country  associated  to  Horizon  2020  and  one  in  a  third  country, 
associated  or  not  to  Horizon  2020.  Derogation  from  Article  9(3)  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
1290/2013 is necessary to ensure that the minimum eligibility conditions for participation in 
indirect  actions  with  a  minimum  condition  of  the  participation  of  one  legal  entity  are  not 
discriminatory  for  entities  established  in  third  countries  participating  in  PRIMA  as 
Participating States. This would only apply in the exceptional case that calls for proposals in 
the  annual  work  plan  include  mono-beneficiary  actions,  and  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Commission. Derogations from Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 are necessary to 
broaden  cooperation  through  joint  calls  launched  by  the  PRIMA  Implementation  Structure 
with legal entities other than third countries and international organisations. 

2 

European Commission Decision C(2016)4614 of 25 July 2016 

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2016/0325 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the participation of the Union  
in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)  
jointly undertaken by several Member States 

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 185 and the second paragraph of Article 188 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 Committee3,  

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

3 
4 

In  its  Communication  of  3  March  2010  entitled  'Europe  2020  A  strategy  for  smart, 
sustainable  and  inclusive  growth'  the  Commission  emphasised  the  need  to  develop 
favourable  conditions  for  investment  in  knowledge  and  innovation  so  as  to  achieve 
smart,  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth  in  the  Union.  Both  the  European  Parliament 
and the Council have endorsed that strategy. 
Regulation  (EU)  No  1291/2013  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council4  
established  Horizon  2020  -  the  Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  Innovation 
(2014-2020)  ('Horizon  2020').  Horizon  2020  aims  at  achieving  a  greater  impact  on 
research  and  innovation  by  contributing  to  the  strengthening  of  public-public 
partnerships,  including  through  Union  participation  in  programmes  undertaken  by 
several Member States.  

Public-public  partnerships  should  aim 
increase 
coordination  and  avoid  unnecessary  duplication  with  Union,  international,  national 
and regional research programmes, and should fully respect the Horizon 2020 general 
principles, in particular those relating to openness and transparency. 

to  develop  closer  synergies, 

Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 has identified 'Climate action, environment, resource 
efficiency and raw materials' and 'Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, 
marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy' as two of the priority 
societal  challenges  to  be  addressed  by  supporting  investment  in  research  and 
innovation.  Moreover,  Regulation  (EU)  No  1291/2013  recognises  that  research  and 
innovation activities for these challenges should be carried out at the Union level and 
beyond, given the transnational and global nature of the climate and the environment, 

OJ C … [ESC opinion] 
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 
establishing Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and 
repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104). 

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(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

(11) 

their  scale  and  complexity,  and  the  international  dimension  of  the  food  and 
agricultural supply chain. 

Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 acknowledges that international cooperation with third 
countries  is  necessary  to  address  effectively  common  challenges.  International 
cooperation  in  research  and  innovation  is  a  key  aspect  of  the  Union’s  global 
commitments  and  has  an  important  role  to  play  in  the  Union’s  partnership  with 
neighbourhood  countries.  This  cooperation  follows  the  approach  taken  in  the 
European  neighbourhood  policy  to  differentiate  the  level  of  cooperation  with  each 
country in the neighbourhood based on their commitment towards the Union.  

In  its  Communication  of  7  June  2016  on  establishing  a  new  Partnership  Framework 
with  third  countries  under  the  European  Agenda  on  Migration,  the  Commission 
emphasised  the  need  to  call  upon  all  policies,  including  research  and  innovation,  to 
address  the  root  causes  of  migration  through  a  new  cooperation  model  involving 
private  investors,  leveraging  limited  budget  resources,  and  focusing  on  SMEs  and 
sustainable infrastructure.  

On 23 December 2014, a group of 19 countries of the Mediterranean Area submitted 
to  the  Commission  a  proposal  for  a  Joint  Programme  initiative  'Partnership  for 
Research  and  Innovation  in  the  Mediterranean  Area'  (PRIMA).  Among  these 
countries,  14  countries  have  agreed  to  jointly  undertake  the  PRIMA  initiative  by 
committing  financial  contributions:  Cyprus,  Czech  Republic,  France,  Greece,  Italy, 
Luxembourg,  Malta,  Portugal  and  Spain,  Member  States  of  the  Union;  Israel  and 
Tunisia,  third  countries  associated  to  Horizon  2020;  Egypt,  Lebanon  and  Morocco, 
third countries not associated to Horizon 2020. 

PRIMA  aims  at  implementing  a  joint  programme  for  the  development  and  the 
adoption  of  innovative  and  integrated  solutions  for  improving  the  efficiency,  safety, 
the 
security  and  sustainability  of  food  production  and  water  provision 
Mediterranean  area.  PRIMA  should  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the  recently-
agreed Sustainable Development Goals and to the forthcoming European Sustainable 
Development Strategy. 

in 

For  ensuring  participation  of  the  third  countries  not  associated  to  Horizon  2020  in 
PRIMA, namely Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco, international agreements between the 
Union and these third countries should be required in order to extend to them the legal 
regime established by this Decision. 

In line with the objectives of Horizon 2020, any other Member State and third country 
associated to Horizon 2020 should be entitled to participate in PRIMA if it commits to 
contribute to the financing of PRIMA. 

In order to achieve the objectives of PRIMA, participation of any other third country 
not associated to Horizon 2020, in particular Southern Mediterranean countries, should 
be possible if it commits to contribute to the financing of PRIMA and if the PRIMA-
IS  approves  its  participation.  Its  participation  should  also  be  provided  for  by  the 
relevant international agreement between such third country and the Union. 

(12) 

In  order  to  ensure  the  joint  implementation  of  PRIMA,  an  implementation  structure 
should be set up ('PRIMA-IS'). The PRIMA-IS should be the recipient of the Union’s 
financial contribution and it should ensure the efficient implementation of PRIMA.  

(13)  The Union’s financial contribution should be subject to formal commitments from the 
Participating States to contribute to the financing of PRIMA and to the fulfilment of 
those  commitments  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this Decision.  Flexibility  should 

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be  provided  to  the  Participating  States  to  optionally  contribute  financially  to  the 
PRIMA-IS  in  view  of  funding  indirect  actions,  thus  achieving  a  high  degree  of 
financial integration. Furthermore, Participating States should contribute financially or 
in kind to activities implemented without Union contribution. The period during which 
the Participating States have to provide their contribution should be clearly defined. 

(14)  A ceiling should be established for the Union’s contribution in PRIMA with funding 
from Horizon 2020. Within that ceiling, the Union contribution should be equal to the 
contribution of the Participating States to PRIMA in order to achieve a high leverage 
effect  and  ensure  a  stronger  integration  of  the  Participating  States'  programmes.  It 
should  be  possible  to  use  a  limited  part  of  the  Union  contribution  to  cover 
administrative costs of the PRIMA-IS. 

(15) 

In order to avoid a prolonged implementation of PRIMA, a deadline should be fixed 
for the launch of the last activities, including the last calls for proposals. 

(16)  PRIMA  activities  should  be  in  line  with  the  objectives  and  research  and  innovation 
priorities of Horizon 2020 and with the general principles and conditions laid down in 
Article  26  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  1291/2013.  PRIMA  should  take  into  account  the 
OECD  definitions  regarding  Technological  Readiness  Level  in  the  classification  of 
technological research, product development and demonstration activities. 

(17) 

In order to achieve the objectives of PRIMA, the PRIMA-IS should provide financial 
support mainly in the form of grants to participants in actions funded by the PRIMA-
IS.  Those  actions  should  be  selected  following  open  and  competitive  calls  for 
proposals under the responsibility of the PRIMA-IS.  

(18)  Calls for proposals managed by the PRIMA-IS should also be published on the single 
portal  for  participants,  as  well  as  through  other  Horizon  2020  electronic  means  of 
dissemination managed by the Commission. 

(19)  The  Union’s  financial  contribution  should  be  managed  in  accordance  with  the 
principle  of  sound  financial  management  and  with  the rules  on  indirect  management 
laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council5 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/20126. 

(20) 

In  order  to  protect  the  Union's  financial  interests,  the  Commission  should  have  the 
right to reduce, suspend or terminate the Union’s financial contribution if PRIMA is 
implemented  inadequately,  partially  or  late,  or  if  the  Participating  States  do  not 
contribute, or contribute partially or late, to the financing of PRIMA. 

(21)  Participation in indirect actions funded by the PRIMA-IS is subject to Regulation (EU) 
No 1290/2013  of the European Parliament and of the Council7. However, due to the 
specific  operating  needs  of  PRIMA,  it  is  necessary  to  provide  for  derogations  in 
accordance with Article 1(3) of that Regulation. 

5 

6 

7 

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 
2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union repealing Council Regulation 
(EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298 of 26.10.2012, p. 1). 
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application 
of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 362 of 31.12.2012, p. 1). 
Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 
laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in 'Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme 
for  Research  and  Innovation  (2014-2020)'  and  repealing  Regulation  (EC)  No  1906/2006  (OJ  L  347, 
20.12.2013, p. 81). 

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(22)  Derogations from point (b) of Article 9(1) and from Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) 
No 1290/2013 are necessary in order to account for the specificities resulting from the 
geographical scope of PRIMA, by further adjusting the minimum eligibility conditions 
for  participation  in  indirect  actions.  In  order  to ensure  balanced  core  participation  in 
indirect  actions  under  a  north-south  configuration,  as  a  derogation  from  point  (b)  of 
Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013, the minimum number of participants 
should  be  three  legal  entities  established  in  three  different  Participating  States  of 
which  one  is  established  in  a  Member  State  or  in  a  country  associated  to  Horizon 
2020,  and  one  is  established  in  a  third  country,  associated  or  not  to  Horizon  2020. 
Derogation from Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 is necessary in order 
to  ensure  that  the  minimum  eligibility  conditions  for  participation  in  indirect  actions 
are  not  discriminatory  for  entities  established  in  third  countries  participating  in 
PRIMA  as  Participating  States.  In  order  to  ensure  that  funding  conditions  are  not 
discriminatory  for  entities  established  in  third  countries  participating  in  PRIMA  as 
Participating  States,  it  should  be  provided  for  that  legal  entities  established  in  the 
Participating States are eligible for funding in addition to entities referred to in Article 
10(1)  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  1290/2013.  Derogations  from  Article  12  of  Regulation 
(EU)  No  1290/2013  are  necessary  in  order  to  allow  broadening  cooperation  through 
joint calls launched by the PRIMA-IS with legal entities other than third countries and 
international organisations. 

(23)  For  the  purpose  of  simplification,  administrative  burden  should  be  reduced  for  all 
parties.  Double  audits  and  disproportionate  documentation  and  reporting  should  be 
avoided.  When  audits  are  conducted,  the  specificities  of  the  national  programmes 
should be taken into account, as appropriate. 

(24)  Audits of recipients of Union funds provided in accordance with this Decision should 
ensure a reduction of administrative burden, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 
1291/2013.  

(25)  The  Union’s  financial  interests  should  be  protected  through  proportionate  measures 
throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation 
of  irregularities,  the  recovery  of  funds  lost,  wrongly  paid  or  incorrectly  used  and, 
where  appropriate,  administrative  sanctions  in  accordance  with  Regulation  (EU, 
Euratom) No 966/2012. 

(26)  The  Commission  should  conduct  an  interim  evaluation  assessing  in  particular  the 
quality  and  efficiency  of  PRIMA  and  the  progress  made  towards  the  objectives  set, 
and a final evaluation, and should prepare reports on those evaluations.  

(27)  Upon request from the Commission, the PRIMA-IS and the Participating States should 
submit  any  information  the  Commission  needs  to  include  in  the  reports  on  the 
evaluation of PRIMA. 

(28)  The  objective  of  this  Decision  is  to  strengthen  the  integration  and  alignment  of 
research  and  innovation  systems  and  activities  in  the  Mediterranean  countries  in  the 
fields of water provision and food systems. The scale of the research and innovation 
necessary to address the challenges in  the Mediterranean  area is immense due to  the 
systemic character of the major bottlenecks. The scope of research and innovation is 
complex,  multidisciplinary  and  requires  a  multi-actor  and  cross-border  approach.  A 
collaborative approach with a wide set of Participating States can help to increase the 
required  scale  and  scope,  by  pooling  financial  and  intellectual  resources.  Since  the 
objective can therefore be better achieved at Union level by integrating national efforts 
into  a  consistent  Union  approach,  by  bringing  together  compartmentalised  national 

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research  programmes,  by  helping  design  common  research  and  funding  strategies 
across national borders, and by achieving the critical mass of actors and investments 
required,  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 Decision does not 
go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. 

(29)  Therefore, the Union should participate in PRIMA, 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

1. 

2. 

Article 1 
Participation in PRIMA  

The  Union  shall  participate  in  the  Partnership  for  Research  and  Innovation  in  the 
Mediterranean  Area  ('PRIMA')  jointly  undertaken  by  [Cyprus,  Czech  Republic, 
France,  Greece,  Israel,  Italy,  Luxembourg,  Malta,  Portugal,  Spain  and  Tunisia] 
('Participating States'), in accordance with the conditions laid down in this Decision. 

Egypt,  Lebanon  and  Morocco  shall  become  Participating  States  subject  to  the 
conclusion  of  international  agreements  with  the  Union  setting  out  the  terms  and 
conditions of their participation in PRIMA. 

Any  Member  State  and  any  country  associated  to  Horizon  2020  other  than  those 
listed in paragraph 1 may participate in PRIMA provided it fulfils the condition laid 
down in point (c) of Article 4(1) of this Decision. If it fulfils that condition, it shall 
be regarded as a Participating State for the purposes of this Decision. 

Any third country not associated to Horizon 2020 other than those listed in paragraph 
2 may participate in PRIMA provided that: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

it fulfils the condition laid down in point (c) of Article 4(1) of this Decision; 

the  PRIMA-IS  approves  its  participation  in  PRIMA  after  examining  the 
relevance of its participation for achieving the objectives of PRIMA; and  

it  concludes  an  international  agreement  with  the  Union  setting  out  the  terms 
and conditions of its participation in PRIMA. 

If  the  country  complies  with  the  requirements  set  out  in  the  first  subparagraph,  it 
shall be regarded as a Participating State for the purposes of this Decision. 

Article 2 
Objectives of PRIMA  

The  general  objective  of  PRIMA  is  to  develop  the  fully  piloted  and  demonstrated 
common  innovative  solutions  for  water  provision  and  food  systems  in  the 
Mediterranean  region,  to  make  them  more  climate  resilient,  efficient,  cost-effective 
and  sustainable,  and  to  contribute  to  solving  nutrition,  health,  well-being  and 
migration problems upstream. 

In  order  to  contribute  to  the  general  objective,  PRIMA  shall  fulfil  the  following 
specific objectives: 

(i) 

the formulation of a stable, long-term, common strategic  agenda in the area of 
water provision and food systems; 

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(ii) 

(iii) 

the orientation of all national R&I programmes towards the implementation of 
the strategic  agenda; 

the  structural  involvement  of  all  relevant  public  and  private  sector  actors  in 
implementing  the  strategic  agenda  by  pooling  knowledge  and  financial 
resources to achieve the necessary critical mass; 

(iv) 

the  strengthening  of  funding  and  of  the  implementation  capabilities  of  all 
actors involved. 

Article 3 
Union’s financial contribution to PRIMA 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  maximum  Union’s  financial  contribution,  including  EFTA  appropriations,  to 
PRIMA  shall  be  EUR  200  000  000  to  equal  the  contributions  of  the  Participating 
States.  

The  Union's  financial  contribution  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriations  in  the 
general budget of the Union allocated to the relevant parts of the Specific Programme 
implementing Horizon 2020, established by Council Decision 2013/743/EU8, and in 
particular  from  Part  II  'Industrial  Leadership'  and  Part  III  'Societal  challenges',  in 
accordance with point (c)(vi) of Article 58(1) and Articles 60 and 61 of Regulation 
(EU, Euratom) No 966/2012. 

The Union's financial contribution shall be used by the implementation structure of 
PRIMA (the 'PRIMA-IS'): 

(a) 

(b) 

to fund the activities referred to in Article 6(1)(a);  

to  cover  the  PRIMA-IS  administrative  costs,  up  to  a  maximum  of  5%  of  the 
Union's financial contribution. 

Article 4 
Conditions for the Union’s financial contribution to PRIMA 

1. 

The Union’s financial contribution shall be conditional upon the following: 

(a) 

(b) 

the  demonstration  by  the  Participating  States  that  PRIMA  is  set  up  in 
accordance with the terms set out in this Decision; 

the  designation  by  the  Participating  States  or  organisations  designated  by  the 
Participating States of an entity with legal personality, as referred to in Article 
58(1)(c)(vi) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, as the PRIMA-IS. The 
PRIMA-IS  shall  be  responsible  for  efficiently  implementing  PRIMA,  for 
receiving, allocating and monitoring the Union’s financial contribution, as well 
as  the  Participating  States'  contribution,  where  appropriate,  and  for  ensuring 
that all necessary actions are undertaken to achieve the objectives of PRIMA; 

(c) 

the  commitment  by  each  Participating  State  to  contribute  to  the  financing  of 
PRIMA;  

8 

Council Decision 2013/743/EU of 3 December 2013 establishing the specific programme implementing 
Horizon  2020  -  the  Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  Innovation  (2014-2020)  and  repealing 
Decisions  2006/971/EC,  2006/972/EC,  2006/973/EC,  2006/974/EC  and  2006/975/EC  (OJ  L  347, 
20.12.2013, p. 965). 

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(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

the  demonstration  by  the  PRIMA-IS  of  its  capacity  to  implement  PRIMA, 
including receiving, allocating and monitoring the Union’s contribution in the 
framework  of  indirect  management  of  the  Union  budget  in  accordance  with 
Articles 58, 60 and 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012; 

the  establishment  of  a  governance  model  for  PRIMA  in  accordance  with 
Article 12; 

the adoption by the PRIMA-IS, after obtaining approval by the Commission, of 
the common principles referred to in Article 6(6). 

2. 

During  the implementation  of PRIMA, the Union's  financial contribution shall  also 
be conditional upon the following:  

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

the implementation by the PRIMA-IS of the objectives set out in Article 2, and 
of the activities referred to in Article 6; 

the  maintenance  of  an  appropriate  and  efficient  governance  model  in 
accordance with Article 12; 

the  compliance  by  the  PRIMA-IS  with  the  reporting  requirements  set  out  in 
Article 60(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012; 

the  fulfilment  by  the  Participating  States  of  the  commitments  referred  to  in 
point (c) of paragraph 1.  

The  Commission  shall  assess  the  fulfilment  of  commitments  undertaken  by  the 
Participating  States,  in  particular  through  the  first  two  PRIMA  annual  work  plans. 
Following  that  assessment  the  maximum  Union  contribution  referred  to  in  Article 
3(1) shall be reviewed in accordance with Article 9. 

Article 5 
Contributions from Participating States to PRIMA 

The  Participating  States  shall  make  or  arrange  for  their  national  funding  bodies  to 
make  financial  or  in  kind  contributions  of  at  least  EUR  200  000  000  during  the 
period from the date of entry into force of this Decision until 31 December 2028.  

Contributions  from  the  Participating  States  or  their  national  funding  bodies  shall 
consist of the following: 

(a)  where appropriate, financial contributions to the PRIMA-IS in view of funding 

indirect actions referred to in Article 6(1)(a);  

(b) 

(c) 

financial  or  in  kind  contributions  in  implementing  activities  referred  to  in 
Article 6(1)(b); and 

financial  contributions  to  the  administrative  budget  of  the  PRIMA-IS  not 
covered by the Union contribution as set out in Article 3(3)(b). 

In-kind  contributions  referred  to  in  point  (b)  of  paragraph  2  of  this  Article  shall 
consist  of  costs  incurred  by  the  Participating  States  through  their  national  funding 
bodies  in  implementing  activities  referred  to  in  Article  6(1)(b),  less  any  direct  or 
indirect Union financial contribution to those costs. 

For  the  purpose  of  valuing  the  in  kind  contributions  referred  to  in  point  (b)  of 
paragraph 2, the costs shall  be determined in  accordance with  the usual accounting 
practices  of  the  Participating  States  or  national  funding  bodies  concerned,  the 
applicable  accounting  standards  of  the  Participating  State  where  the  concerned 

3. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

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national funding bodies are established and the applicable International Accounting 
Standards/International Financial Reporting Standards. The costs shall be certified by 
an  independent  auditor  appointed  by  the  Participating  States  or  national  funding 
bodies concerned. Should there be any uncertainty arising from the certification, the 
valuation  method  may  be  verified  by  the  PRIMA-IS.  In  case  of  remaining 
uncertainties, it may be audited by the PRIMA-IS. 

5. 

Contributions  referred  to  in  points  (a)  and  (b)  of  paragraph  2  counting  as 
contributions from Participating States shall be made after the entry into force of this 
Decision for the activities included  in  the first PRIMA annual work plan, and after 
adoption of the subsequent annual work plans by the PRIMA-IS. 

Article 6 
Activities and implementation of PRIMA  

1. 

PRIMA shall support the following activities: 

(a) indirect actions within the meaning of Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) 
No 1291/2013 funded by the PRIMA-IS in accordance with Article 7, mainly in the 
form  of  grants  following  transnational  open  and  competitive  calls  for  proposals 
organised by the PRIMA-IS, including: 

(i)  research  and  innovation  actions,  as  well  as  innovation  actions,  including 
demonstrators, pilot plants, testing, pre-commercial deployment, addressing in 
particular the higher Technology Readiness Levels; 

(ii) coordination and support actions focussing on dissemination and outreach 
to promote PRIMA and maximise its impacts; 

(b) activities funded by the Participating States through their national funding bodies 
without  Union  contribution,  addressing  increasingly  also  the  higher  Technology 
Readiness Levels and consisting in: 

(i)  activities  selected  following  transnational  open  and  competitive  calls  for 
proposals  organised  by  the  PRIMA-IS,  managed  by  the  national  funding 
bodies  under  the  national  programmes  of  the  Participating  States,  providing 
financial support mainly in the form of grants; 

(ii) activities under the national programmes of the Participating States. 

PRIMA shall be implemented on the basis of annual work plans, to be adopted by the 
PRIMA-IS, after obtaining approval by the Commission, by the end of the previous 
year. As an exception, the PRIMA annual work plan for 2018 may be adopted by 31 
March 2018. The PRIMA-IS shall make the annual work plan publicly available. 

Activities may only be funded under PRIMA if they are set out in the PRIMA annual 
work  plan.  The  PRIMA  annual  work  plan  shall  distinguish  between  the  activities 
referred to  in  point  (a)  of  paragraph  1,  the  activities  referred  to  in  point  (b)  of  that 
paragraph, as well as the administrative costs of the PRIMA-IS. It shall provide for 
their  corresponding  expenditure  estimates  as  well  as  for  the  budget  allocation  to 
activities funded with Union contribution and to activities funded by the Participating 
States through their national funding bodies without Union contribution. The PRIMA 
annual work plan shall also include the estimated value of the Participating States' in 
kind contributions referred to in Article 5(2)(b). 

2. 

3. 

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4. 

5. 

6. 

The  last  activities  to  be  funded,  including  the  last  calls  for  proposals  under  the 
relevant PRIMA annual work plans shall be launched by 31 December 2024. In duly 
justified cases, they may be launched by 31 December 2025.  

Activities  to  be  funded  by  the  Participating  States  through  their  national  funding 
bodies without Union contribution may only be included in the PRIMA annual work 
plan  following  the  positive  outcome  of  their  external  independent  evaluation  by 
international  peer  review  with  regard  to  the  objectives  of  PRIMA,  as  organised  by 
the PRIMA-IS. 

Activities  included  in  the  PRIMA  annual  work  plan  that  are  funded  by  the 
Participating States through their national funding bodies without Union contribution 
shall  be  implemented  in  compliance  with  common  principles  to  be  adopted  by  the 
PRIMA-IS,  after  obtaining  approval  by  the  Commission.  The  common  principles 
shall  take  into  account  the  principles  set  out  in  this  Decision,  in  Title  VI  of 
Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No  966/2012  and  in  Regulation  (EU)  No  1290/2013,  in 
particular  the  principles  of  equal  treatment,  transparency,  independent  peer  review 
evaluation and selection. The PRIMA-IS shall also adopt, after obtaining approval by 
the  Commission,  the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Participating  States  to  the 
PRIMA-IS, including with regard to indicators inserted into each of those activities. 

7. 

The  activities  referred  to  in  point  (b)(i)  of  paragraph  1  shall,  in  addition  to  the 
common principles referred to in paragraph 6, comply with the following conditions:  

(a)  The proposals shall be for transnational projects, with minimum participation of 
three  different 

legal  entities  established 

in 

least 

independent 
at 
Participating States, of which: 

three 

(i)  one  established  in  a  Member  State  or  in  a  country  associated  to  Horizon 

2020, and 

(ii)  one  established  in  a  third  country  considered  as  a  Participating  State  in 
accordance  with  this  Decision  by  the  submission  deadline  under  the 
relevant call for proposals. 

(b)  The  proposals  shall  be  selected  following  transnational  calls  for  proposals  and 
through  a  two-step  procedure.  Step  1  shall  consist  of  a  review  at  national  or 
transnational  level  of  proposals  submitted  by  legal  entities  eligible  for  funding 
under  the  relevant  national  programmes.  Step  2  shall  consist  of  a  single 
independent  international  peer  review  organised  by  the  PRIMA-IS.  Under  step 
2,  the  proposals  shall  be  evaluated  with  the  assistance  of  at  least  three 
independent  experts,  on  the  basis  of  the  following  award  criteria:  excellence, 
impact, quality and efficiency of the implementation. 

(c)  Proposals shall be ranked according to the evaluation results. The selection shall 
be made by the PRIMA-IS on the basis of this ranking. The Participating States 
shall agree on an adequate funding mode that allows maximising the number of 
proposals  to  be  funded  on  the  basis  of  this  ranking,  in  particular  by  providing 
reserve amounts to the national contributions for calls for proposals. 

The PRIMA-IS shall monitor and report to the Commission on the implementation of 
all activities included in the PRIMA annual work plan. 

Any  communication  or  publication  relating  to  the  activities  of  PRIMA,  and 
performed  in  cooperation  with  PRIMA,  whether  undertaken  by  the  PRIMA-IS,  a 
Participating State or its national funding bodies, or participants to an activity, shall 

8. 

9. 

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19 

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1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

2. 

be labelled or co-labelled as ‘[name of the activity] is part of the PRIMA programme 
supported by the European Union’. 

Article 7 
Rules for participation and dissemination 

The  PRIMA-IS  shall  be  considered  to  be  a  funding  body  within  the  meaning  of 
Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 and shall provide financial support to indirect actions 
referred to in Article 6(1)(a) of this Decision in accordance with the rules set out in 
that Regulation, subject to the derogations set out in this Article.  

By  way  of  derogation  from  point  (b)  of  Article  9(1)  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
1290/2013,  the  minimum  number  of  participants  shall  be  three  legal  entities 
established in three different Participating States of which:  

(a)  one established in a Member State or in a country associated to Horizon 2020, 

and  

(b)  one  established  in  a  third  country  considered  as  a  Participating  State  in 
accordance with this Decision by the submission deadline under the relevant call 
for proposals. 

By way of derogation from Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013, in duly 
justified cases provided for in the PRIMA annual work plan, the minimum condition 
shall  be  the  participation  of  one  legal  entity  established  in  a  Participating  State, 
which  is  a  Member  State,  a  country  associated  to  Horizon  2020  or  a  third  country 
considered  as  a  Participating  State  in  accordance  with  this  Decision  by  the 
submission deadline under the relevant call for proposals. 

In addition to the participants eligible for funding under Article 10(1) of Regulation 
(EU)  No  1290/2013,  any  legal  entity  established  in  a  Participating  State  shall  be 
eligible for funding. 

By way of derogation from Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013, where such 
an activity is included in the PRIMA annual work plan, the PRIMA-IS may launch 
joint  calls  with  third  countries  other  than  the  Participating  States  or  their  scientific 
and  technological  organisations  and  agencies,  with  international  organisations  or 
with other third parties, in particular non-governmental organisations, in accordance 
with the rules set out in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013. 

Article 8 
Agreements between the Union and the PRIMA-IS  

Subject to a positive ex-ante assessment of the PRIMA-IS in accordance with Article 
61(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and provision of adequate financial 
guarantees in accordance with article 58(1)(c)(vi) thereof, the Commission, on behalf 
of  the  Union,  shall  conclude  a  delegation  agreement  and  annual  transfer  of  funds 
agreements with the PRIMA-IS. 

The  delegation  agreement  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  be  concluded  in 
accordance with Articles 58(3), 60 and 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 
and Article 40 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012. It shall also set out inter 
alia the following: 

(a) 

the  requirements  for  the  PRIMA-IS  contribution  regarding  the  performance 
indicators set out in Annex II to Decision 2013/743/EU; 

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20 

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(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

the requirements for the PRIMA-IS contribution to the monitoring referred to 
in Annex III to Decision 2013/743/EU;  

the specific performance indicators related to the functioning of the PRIMA-IS; 

the requirements for the PRIMA-IS regarding the provision of information on 
administrative  costs  and  of  detailed figures  concerning  the implementation  of 
PRIMA; 

the  arrangements  regarding  the  provision  of  data  necessary  to  ensure  that  the 
Commission is able to meet its dissemination and reporting obligations; 

the arrangements for the approval or rejection by the Commission of the draft 
PRIMA  annual  work  plan,  the  common  principles  referred  to  in  Article  6(6) 
and  the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Participating  States,  before  they  are 
adopted by the PRIMA-IS; and 

(g)  provisions  for  the  publication  of  calls  for  proposals  by  the  PRIMA-IS,  in 
particular on the single portal for participants as well as through other Horizon 
2020 electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission. 

Article 9 
Termination, reduction or suspension of the Union’s financial contribution 

If PRIMA is not implemented or is implemented inadequately, partially or late, the 
Commission may terminate, proportionally reduce or suspend the Union’s financial 
contribution in line with actual implementation of PRIMA. 

If  the  Participating  States  do  not  contribute,  contribute  partially  or  late  to  the 
financing  of  PRIMA  the  Commission  may  terminate,  proportionally  reduce  or 
suspend  the  Union’s  financial  contribution,  taking  into  account  the  amount  of 
funding allocated by the Participating States to implement PRIMA.  

Article 10 
Ex-post audits  

Ex-post audits of expenditure on indirect actions referred to in Article 6(1)(a) of this 
Decision  shall  be  carried  out  by  the  PRIMA-IS  in  accordance  with  Article  29  of 
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013.  

The Commission may decide to carry out the audits referred to in paragraph 1 itself. 
In such cases, it shall do so in accordance with the applicable rules, in particular the 
provisions  of  Regulations  (EU,  Euratom)  No  966/2012,  (EU)  No  1290/2013  and 
(EU) No 1291/2013. 

Article 11 
Protection of the financial interests of the Union 

The  Commission  shall  take  appropriate  measures  ensuring  that,  when  actions 
financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are 
protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any 
other illegal activities,  by effective checks and, if irregularities  are detected, by the 
recovery  of  the  amounts  wrongly  paid  and,  where  appropriate,  by  effective, 
proportionate and dissuasive administrative sanctions.  

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

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21 

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2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

The  PRIMA-IS  shall  grant  Commission  staff  and  other  persons  authorised  by  the 
Commission, as well as the Court of Auditors, access to its sites and premises and to 
all  the  information,  including  information  in  electronic  format,  needed  in  order  to 
conduct their audits. 

The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-
the-spot  checks  and  inspections,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  and  procedures 
laid  down  in  Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No  2185/969  and  Regulation  (EU, 
Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council10  with a view 
to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity 
affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement or 
grant  decision  or  a  contract  funded,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  accordance  with  this 
Decision. 

Without  prejudice  to  paragraphs  1,  2  and  3,  contracts,  grant  agreements  and  grant 
decisions, resulting from the implementation of this Decision shall contain provisions 
expressly  empowering  the  Commission,  the  PRIMA-IS,  the  Court  of  Auditors  and 
OLAF  to  conduct  such  audits  and  investigations,  according  to  their  respective 
competences. Where the implementation of an action is outsourced or subdelegated, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  or  where  it  requires  the  award  of  a  procurement  contract  or 
financial support to a third party, the contract, grant agreement or grant decision shall 
include  the  contractor’s  or  beneficiary’s  obligation  to  impose  on  any  third  party 
involved explicit acceptance of these powers of the Commission, the PRIMA-IS, the 
Court of Auditors and OLAF. 

In  implementing  PRIMA,  the  Participating  States  shall  take  the  legislative, 
regulatory,  administrative  and  other  measures  necessary  for  protecting  the  Union’s 
financial  interests,  in  particular,  to  ensure  full  recovery  of  any  amounts  due  to  the 
Union  in  accordance  with  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No  966/2012  and  Delegated 
Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012. 

1. 

The bodies of the PRIMA-IS shall include: 

Article 12 
Governance of PRIMA 

(a) the General Assembly; 

(b) the Management Board; 

(c) the Secretariat; 

(d) the Scientific Advisory Board. 

2. 

9 

10 

The  PRIMA-IS  shall  be  governed  by  the  General  Assembly,  in  which  all 
Participating  States  are  represented.  The  General  Assembly  shall  be  the  decision-
making body of PRIMA-IS. 

The General Assembly shall adopt, after obtaining approval from the Commission: 

Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No  2185/96  of  11  November  1996  concerning  on-the-spot  checks 
and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial 
interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2). 
Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No  883/2013  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  11 
September  2013  concerning  investigations  conducted  by  the  European  Ant-Fraud  Office  'OLAF)  and 
repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council  and Council 
Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1). 

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(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

the PRIMA annual work plan; 

the common principles referred to in Article 6(6); and 

the reporting requirements of the Participating States to the PRIMA-IS. 

The  General  Assembly  shall  approve  the  participation  in  PRIMA  of  any  third 
country  not  associated  to  Horizon  2020  other  than  those  listed  in  Article  1(2)  after 
examining the relevance of its participation for achieving the objectives of PRIMA. 

Each Participating State shall have one vote in the General Assembly. The decisions 
shall  be  taken  by  consensus.  Failing  that,  the  General  Assembly  shall  take  its 
decisions by a majority of at least 75% of the votes. Approval of the participation in 
PRIMA of any third country not associated to Horizon 2020 other than those listed in 
Article 1(2) shall be by unanimity. 

The Union, represented by the Commission, shall be invited to all the meetings of the 
General  Assembly  as  an  observer,  and  may  take  part  in  the  discussions.  It  shall 
receive all necessary documents. 

The General Assembly shall determine the number of Management Board members, 
which  shall  not  be  less  than  five,  and  shall  appoint  them.  The  Management  Board 
shall supervise the Secretariat of the PRIMA-IS. 

The  General  Assembly  shall  establish  the  Secretariat  of  the  PRIMA-IS  as  the 
executive body of PRIMA.  

The Secretariat shall: 

(a) 

implement the PRIMA annual work plan; 

(b)  provide support to the other bodies of PRIMA-IS; 

(c)  monitor and report on the implementation of PRIMA; 

(d)  manage the financial contributions from the Union and the Participating States 

and report on their use; 

(e) 

(f) 

increase the visibility of PRIMA through advocacy and communication; 

liaise  with  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  delegation  agreement 
referred to in Article 8. 

The  General  Assembly  shall  appoint  a  Scientific  Advisory  Board  consisting  of 
independent  experts  from  the  Participating  States,  competent  in  areas  relevant  to 
PRIMA.  The  General  Assembly  shall  establish  the  number  of  Scientific  Advisory 
Board  members,  their  voting  rights  and  the  arrangements  for  their  appointment  in 
accordance with Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013.  

The  General  Assembly  may  set  up  specialised  working  groups  under  the  Scientific 
Advisory Board with additional independent experts for specific tasks. 

The Scientific Advisory Board shall: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

advise the General Assembly on strategic priorities and needs; 

advise  the  General  Assembly  on  the  content  and  scope  of  the  draft  PRIMA 
annual work plan from a scientific and technical standpoint; 

review  the  scientific  and  technical  aspects  of  the  implementation  of  PRIMA 
and deliver an opinion on its annual report; 

3. 

4. 

5. 

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(d)  where  appropriate,  advise  the  General  Assembly  to  set  up  scientific 

subcommittees, task forces and specialised working groups. 

Article 13 
Communication of information 

At the request of the Commission, the PRIMA-IS shall send to the Commission any 
information necessary for the preparation of the reports referred to in Article 14. 

The Participating States shall submit to the Commission, through the PRIMA-IS, any 
information  requested  by  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  or  the  Court  of 
Auditors concerning the financial management of PRIMA. 

The  Commission  shall  include  the  information  referred  to  in  paragraph  2  of  this 
Article in the reports referred to in Article 14. 

Article 14 
Evaluation 

By  30  June  2022  the  Commission  shall  conduct  an  interim  evaluation  of  PRIMA. 
The Commission shall prepare a report on that evaluation which includes conclusions 
of the evaluation and observations by the Commission. The Commission shall send 
that report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 31 December 2022. 

By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall conduct a final evaluation of PRIMA. 
The Commission shall prepare a report on that evaluation which includes results of 
that  evaluation.  The  Commission  shall  send  that  report  to  the  European  Parliament 
and the Council by 30 June 2029. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

Article 15 
Entry into force 

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 16 
Addressees  

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1.  Title of the proposal/initiative  

1.2.  Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure 

1.3.  Nature of the proposal/initiative  

1.4.  Objective(s)  

1.5.  Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

1.6.  Duration and financial impact  

1.7.  Management mode(s) planned  

2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

2.2.  Management and control system  

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

3. 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

3.1.  Heading(s)  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  expenditure  budget 
line(s) affected  

3.2.  Estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.2. Estimated impact on operational appropriations  

3.2.3. Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature 

3.2.4. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework 

3.2.5. Third-party contributions  

3.3.  Estimated impact on revenue

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1. 

Title of the proposal/initiative  

Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the 
European Union in a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean 
Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States. 
Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure11  

1.2. 

Title 08 Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 

1.3. 

Nature of the proposal/initiative  

 The proposal/initiative relates to a new action  

  The  proposal/initiative 
project/preparatory action12  

relates 

to  a  new  action 

following  a  pilot 

 The proposal/initiative relates to the extension of an existing action  

 The proposal/initiative relates to an action redirected towards a new action  

1.4. 

Objective(s) 

1.4.1.  The  Commission's  multiannual 

strategic  objective(s) 

targeted  by 

the 

proposal/initiative  

The strategic objective of the PRIMA Joint Programme is to develop the fully piloted 
and  demonstrated  common  innovative  solutions  in  the  field  of  water  provision  and 
food  systems  in  the  Mediterranean  region,  thereby  making  them  more  climate 
resilient, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable, and thereby contributing to solving 
the higher-level problems in the field of nutrition, health, well-being and migration. 

1.4.2. 

Specific objective(s) and ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned  

The  above  strategic  objective  requires  a  durable  framework  for  Research  and 
Innovation, which concretely translates into the following specific objectives: 

• The formulation of a stable, long-term, common strategic research and innovation 
agenda in the field of water provision and food systems; 

•  The  orientation  of  all  national  research  and  innovation  programmes  towards  the 
implementation of the strategic research and innovation agenda; 

• The structural involvement of all relevant research and innovation actors (the public 
and  private  sectors)  in  the  implementation  of  the  strategic  research  agenda  by 
pooling  knowledge  and  financial  resources  so  as  to  achieve  the  necessary  critical 
mass; 

•  The  strengthening  of  research  and  innovation  funding  and  implementation 
capabilities of all involved actors. 

11 
12 

ABM: activity-based management; ABB: activity-based budgeting. 
As referred to in Article 54(2)(a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation. 

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1.4.3.  Expected result(s) and impact 

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted. 

The  formulation  of  a  stable,  long-term,  common  strategic  research  and  innovation 
agenda  in  the  field  of  water  provision  and  food  systems;  resulting  in  significant 
progress towards the above specific objectives. Additional effects, such as attracting 
private  investment  thanks  to  the  predictable  long-term  institutional  commitment; 
fostering  scientific  and  diplomatic  links  among  participants  (science  diplomacy); 
reinforcing bilateral S&T agreements  between the EU and  individual  countries, are 
also expected. 

1.4.4. 

Indicators of results and impact  

Specify the indicators for monitoring implementation of the proposal/initiative. 

PRIMA progress will be measured as follows: 

1. Through implementation indicators, namely output and input indicators, to assess 
the medium-term development of the PRIMA activities: 

a) Output indicators: 

• Large-scale pilots and demonstrators 

•  The  national  research  (funding)  priorities  adapted  as  results  and  the  (R&I) 

priorities of the SRIA 

• Alignment of national R&I funding programmes 

• New or updated country strategies that mirror the impact of the initiative 

• Efficiency benefits through pooling of resources. Share of public investment of 
participating  states.  Volume  and  share  of  co-funding  from  EU  and  Mediterranean 
third countries. Operating costs. Time to Grant. Time to Pay 

• Allocated funding through joint transnational calls for proposals or non-project 

funded activities 

•  Growth  in  share  of  implemented  models  of  sustainable  management  of  water 

provision and food systems in the Mediterranean area 

•  Growth  in  share  of  implemented  new  strategies  for  improved  water  and  food 

efficiency and waste reduction developed for the Mediterranean area 

• New water and food quality oriented business models and strategies adopted at 

national and regional levels 

• Expansion of national teams involved in R&I projects on improving efficiency 

in management of water provision and food systems 

• Number of countries in which water-saving solutions are implemented 

•  Number  of  transitional  calls  per  year  addressing  water  provision  and  food 

systems 

b) Input indicators: 

• Participation grade of participating states in Management Board meetings 

• Additional countries participating in the initiative 

• Countries dropping out as participating states 

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• The actual financial commitment in kind by the Participating States 

•  Progress  on  the  updates  of  the  Strategic  Research  and  Innovation  Agenda 

(SRIA) 

• Participation on equal footing by all third countries 

2. Through specific indicators, based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 
framework  and  focus  mainly  but  not  exclusively  on  food  security  (SDG  #2)  and 
sustainable management of water (SDG #6). The most important indicators and their 
link to the operational objectives are: 

• Multidimensional Poverty Index  
 Objective 1 (smart  and 

sustainable 

production)  

farming,  natural 

resources, 

increase 

 Objective 4 (solutions  for  food  and  water  chain  efficiency,  reduce  losses  and 

wastes) 

 Objective 5 (reduce pests and pathogens in farming, human health) 

• Population overweight (%) 
 Objective 3 (solutions for agro-food industry, nutritional Mediterranean heritage) 

• Land Use (%) 
 Objective 7 (improve land and water sustainability in semi-arid watersheds) 

• GHG emissions (total and AFOLU – t CO2e) 
 Objective 1 

• Cereal Yield (kg/ha) 
 Objective 1 

• Agriculture Value Added (EUR/worker) 
 Objective 6 (innovative models in agro-business, new jobs, economic growth) 

• Fertilizers consumption (kg/ha of arable land) 
 Objective 1 

• Crop water productivity (kg/m3) 
 Objective 2 (water-saving solutions in agriculture) 

• Proportion of total water used 
 Objective 7 

• Population using safely managed water services (rural, %) 
 Objective 8 (new governance models in water management) 

• Population using safely managed sanitation services (rural, %)  
 Objective 8 

• Amount of agricultural residues used for energy purpose (t)  
 Objective 4 

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1.5. 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative 

1.5.1.  Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term  

PRIMA will combine EU and national resources  to  develop, in  a structured way, a 
durable  framework  for  research  and  innovation  in  the  field  of  water  provision  and 
food systems in the Mediterranean area. 

Please refer to the PRIMA Impact Assessment Report, accompanying the legislative 
proposal, for more information. 

1.5.2.  Added value of EU involvement 

The  initiative  is  in  line  with  the  new  Partnership  Framework  with  third  countries 
under the European Agenda on Migration as it addresses some of the root causes of 
migration;  is  clearly  situated  at  the  interchange  between  research,  climate  change, 
environment  and  agriculture  policies;  and  exemplifies  the  new  development 
cooperation  model  championed  by  the  new  Partnership  Framework  insofar  as  it 
involves private investors, leverages limited budget resources, and focuses on SMEs 
and sustainable infrastructure. 

Only  action  at  EU  level  is  capable  of  achieving  a  well-coordinated  and  integrated 
programme  reaching  the  needed  scale,  scope  and  critical  mass  to  deliver  on  the 
specific  and  general  objectives.  Action  at  EU  level  is  characterised  by  a  strong 
leverage effect as it mobilises significant additional public and private investment. It 
also generates impacts that go beyond R&I policy and solutions, thus supporting the 
EU's  external  policies  and  efforts  to  address  the  root  causes  of  migration.  The 
involvement of the EU in PRIMA is also likely to strengthen Europe's visibility and 
global  responsibility,  in  the  spirit  of  the  EU  Neighbourhood  Policy,  which 
encourages  differentiation  and  greater  mutual  ownership  with  neighbourhood 
partners. 

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past 

PRIMA  is  designed  to  operate  as  an  Art.  185  initiative,  i.e.  a  multiannual  joint 
programming undertaken by the PS, with EU participation. The experience from past 
and  on-going  initiatives  from  FP6  to  Horizon  2020  shows  positive  effects,  in 
particular on: 

- long-term scientific, managerial and financial integration of national and European 
efforts  on  common  challenges  with  clear  up-front  financial  and  political 
commitments;  without  the  need  to  institutionalise  joint  efforts  or  create  large  new 
structures; 

- leverage effects and delivery on impacts; 

- international leadership and global cooperation – both in terms of visibility, 
scientific leadership and new model for development cooperation; 

- efficient implementation and sound financial management. 

1.5.4.  Compatibility and possible synergy with other appropriate instruments 

PRIMA  will  contribute  to  a  number  of  flagship  initiatives,  in  particular  to  the 
sustainability  policy:  A  resource-efficient  Europe  Flagship  initiative,  European 
Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development. PRIMA is also 
relevant  to  a  number  of  external  policies,  in  particular  the  Partnership  framework 

EN 

29 

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with  third  countries  under  the  European  Agenda  on  migration  and  Post-2015 
Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

PRIMA  will  strongly  contribute  to  achieving  the  objectives  of  Horizon  2020  and 
Research  &  Innovation  policy  (3O's  -  Open  science,  Open  innovation,  Open  to  the 
World). 

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30 

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1.6. 

Duration and financial impact  

 Proposal/initiative of limited duration  

–   Proposal/initiative  in  effect  from  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this  Decision 

until 31/12/2028 

–   Financial impact from 2018 to 2020 for commitment appropriations and from 

2018 to 2029 for payment appropriations 

 Proposal/initiative of unlimited duration 

–  Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY, 

–  followed by full-scale operation.  

1.7.  Management mode(s) planned13  

 Direct management by the Commission 

–   by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;  

–    by the executive agencies  

 Shared management with the Member States  

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to: 

–   third countries or the bodies they have designated; 

–   international organisations and their agencies (to be specified); 

–   the EIB and the European Investment Fund; 

–   bodies referred to in Articles 208 and 209 of the Financial Regulation; 

–   public law bodies; 

–   bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that 

they provide adequate financial guarantees; 

–   bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with 
the  implementation  of  a  public-private  partnership  and  that  provide  adequate 
financial guarantees; 

–    persons  entrusted  with  the  implementation  of  specific  actions  in  the  CFSP 

pursuant to Title V of the TEU, and identified in the relevant basic act. 

– 

If more than one management mode is indicated, please provide details in the ‘Comments’ section. 

Comments  

A new legal entity will be established - dedicated exclusively to the PRIMA implementation. 
The EU financial contribution to the initiative will be provided through this structure. 

13 

Details  of  management  modes  and  references  to  the  Financial  Regulation  may  be  found  on  the 
BudgWeb site: http://www.cc.cec/budg/man/budgmanag/budgmanag_en.html. 

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2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

Specify frequency and conditions. 

Standard  supervision arrangements, adopted by DG  RTD  for initiatives pursuant  to 
Article 185 TFEU that will apply equally to the PRIMA Joint Programme. 

The responsibilities of the Commission Services and those of the PRIMA Dedicated 
Implementation Structure (PRIMA-IS) and the Participating States will be defined in 
the basic act and in the delegation agreement.  

The  PRIMA-IS  will  be  subject  to  an  ex-ante  assessment  in  accordance  with  the 
requirements set out in Article 61 of the Financial Regulation before the delegation 
agreement  is  signed.  The  PRIMA-IS  provides  comprehensive  annual  reporting 
including auditor opinions and a management declaration and is responsible for the 
ex-ante control of expenditure of all indirect actions funded by the PRIMA-IS.  

Furthermore,  as  required  by  the  Financial  Regulation,  the  Participating  States  will 
have  to  provide  adequate  financial  guarantees  in  due  time  and  at  the  latest  before 
signature of the Delegation Agreement by the Commission.   

The Participating States will determine the costs of their activities in accordance with 
the  usual  accounting  practices  and  accounting  standards  of  the  concerned 
International  Accounting 
Participating 
include  audit 
Standards/International  Financial  Reporting  Standards.  These 
certificates and a management declaration. 

and  with 

applicable 

States 

The  Commission  is  observer  in  the  decision-making  body  of  the  PRIMA-IS  and 
verifies  and  approves  the  Annual  Work  Plan  (AWP)  and  related  budget  plans  by 
Commission  decision  and  the  annual  reporting.  If  the  accounts  cannot  be  accepted 
then follow-up action will be taken in order to mitigate any financial and reputational 
risks  to  the  Commission.  Where  necessary,  payments  to  the  PRIMA-IS  will  be 
suspended  and/or  recovered,  if  necessary  by  drawing  on  the  financial  guarantees 
provided by the Participating States. If all of the above steps are inadequate to protect 
the  financial  interests  of  the  Union  or  to  ensure  that  policy  objectives  are  properly 
achieved then, after due consideration, an audit of the PRIMA-IS may be performed. 
Furthermore, 
the 
implementation or terminate the Delegation Agreement. 

the  Commission  may  decide 

if  necessary 

to  suspend 

Implementation  of  PRIMA  will  be  monitored  through  annual  reports.  They  will 
include  a  detailed  overview  of  the  PRIMA  activities  in  comparison  to  the 
multiannual strategic work plan and the annual work plan, as well progress towards 
objectives and updated indicators listed in 1.4.4. 

2.2.  Management and control system  

2.2.1.  Risk(s) identified  

1) Capacity of the PRIMA-IS to manage the EU contribution and to protect the EU 
financial interest 

2) Capacity of Participating States to finance their contributions to the programme 

3) Important upfront commitment of the EU in 2020 

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2.2.2. 

Information concerning the internal control system set up 

Risk 1 – see point 2.1 

Risk 2 – EU contribution will be released in particular in accordance with conditions 
set out in the basic act and in the delegation agreement. A mechanism of termination, 
reduction  or  suspension  of  the  Union  contribution  is  also  foreseen  in  the  basic  act 
(Art. 9). 

Risk 3 – The basic act foresees the possibility of terminating, reducing or suspending 
the  EU  financial  contribution  if  PS  commitments  are  not  fulfilled  in  due  time,  and 
reallocating the budget to other initiatives in 2020. 

2.2.3.  Estimate of the costs and benefits of the controls and assessment of the expected level 

of risk of error  

Art. 10 of the basic act provides for ex-post audits of expenditure on indirect actions 
to be carried out in accordance with H2020 rules. The costs of the control system are 
part of the administrative expenditure for the implementation of PRIMA. The system 
will  provide  reasonable  assurance  and  achieve  adequate  management  of  the 
identified risks. 

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures. 

The  basic  act  provides  a  set  of  measures  to  prevent  fraud  and  irregularities,  in 
particular:  

Art.  11  of  the  basic  act  sets  out  inter  alia  that  PRIMA-IS  has  to  grant  access  to 
information  and  premises  necessary  for  the  Commission  to  Control,  evaluate  and 
carry out audits on PRIMA implementation or for OLAF to carry out investigations. 

Art. 4 of the basic act sets out inter alia that the EU contribution is conditional upon 
the  compliance  by  PRIMA  with  reporting  requirements  set  out  in  Art.  60(5)  of 
Regulation (EU, Euratom) N° 966/2012. According to Art. 9, the Commission may 
terminate, reduce or suspend its contribution. 

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3. 

3.1. 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

Heading(s)  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  expenditure  budget 
line(s) affected  

  Existing budget lines  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Budget line 

Type of  
expenditure 

Contribution  

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Heading 1a - Competitiveness for growth and 
jobs 

Diff./Non-
diff14. 

from 
EFTA 
countries
15 

from 
candidate 
countries16 

from third 
countries 

within the 
meaning of 
Article 21(2)(b) of 
the Financial 
Regulation  

1A 

1A 

1A 

1A 

05.090301  –  Securing  sufficient  supplies  of 
safe and high quality food and other bio-based 
products 

08.020302  – 
security, 
Improving 
developing sustainable agriculture, marine and 
maritime research and the bio-economy 

food 

08.020305  -  Achieving  a  resource-efficient 
and  climate  change  resilient  economy  and  a 
sustainable supply of raw materials 

08.020201  –  Leadership  in  nanotechnologies, 
and 
biotechnology 
advanced  materials, 
advanced manufacturing and processing 

Diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

Diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

Diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

Diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

14 
15 
16 

Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations. 
EFTA: European Free Trade Association. . 
Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans. 

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3.2. 

Estimated impact on expenditure  

[This section should be filled in using the spreadsheet on budget data of an administrative nature (second document in annex to this 
financial statement) and uploaded to CISNET for interservice consultation purposes.] 

3.2.1. 

Summary of estimated impact on expenditure  

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Heading of multiannual financial  
framework  

Number  Heading 1a - Competitiveness for growth and jobs 

DG: AGRI/H, RTD/F, RTD/I, RTD/D 

 Operational appropriations  

Year 
201817 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021-2029 

TOTAL 

08.020302 

08.020305 

08.020201 

TOTAL appropriations  
for DG RTD 

Commitments 

(1) 

5.000 

5.000 

40.000 

Payments 

(2) 

1.000 

2.500 

2.500 

44.000 

Commitments 

(1a) 

7.500 

7.500 

60.000 

Payments 

(2a) 

1.500 

3.750 

3.750 

66.000 

Commitments 

(1b) 

2.500 

2.500 

20.000 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(2b) 

=1+1a
+1b 

=2+2a
+2b 

500 

1.250 

1.250 

22.000 

15.000 

15.000 

120.000 

3.000 

7.500 

7.500 

132.000 

50.000 

50.000 

75.000 

75.000 

25.000 

25.000 

150.000 

150.000 

17 

Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts. 

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35 

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05.090301  

TOTAL appropriations  
for DG AGRI 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1c) 

(2c) 

=1c 

=2c 

5.000 

5.000 

40.000 

1.000 

2.500 

2.500 

44.000 

5.000 

5.000 

40.000 

1.000 

2.500 

2.500 

44.000 

50.000 

50.000 

50.000 

50.000 

Year 
201818 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021-2029 

TOTAL 

 TOTAL operational appropriations  

Commitments 

(4) 

20.000 

20.000 

160.000 

Payments 

(5) 

4.000 

10.000 

10.000 

176.000 

  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature 
financed  from  the  envelope  for  specific  programmes  (08  01 
05) 

(6) 

0.222 

0.226 

0.230 

TOTAL appropriations  
under HEADING 1a 
of the multiannual financial framework 

Commitments 

=4+ 6 

20.222 

20.226 

160.230 

Payments 

=5+ 6 

4.222 

10.226 

10.230 

176.000 

200.000 

200.000 

0.678 

200.678 

200.678 

18 

Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts. 

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36 

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Heading of multiannual financial  
framework  

5 

‘Administrative expenditure’ 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year 
2018 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021-2029 

TOTAL 

DG: RTD 

 Human resources  

0.204 

0.208 

0.212 

 Other administrative expenditure  

0.018 

0.018 

0. 018 

TOTAL DG RTD 

Appropriations  

0.222 

0.226 

0.230 

0.624 

0.054 

0.678 

TOTAL 
under  HEADING 1A 
expenditure' 
of the multiannual financial framework  

appropriations 
'Administrative 

(Total  commitments  = 
Total payments) 

0.222 

0.226 

0.230 

0.678 

                                                                                           EUR million (to three decimal places) 

appropriations  
TOTAL 
under 
5 
to 
1 
of the multiannual financial framework  

HEADINGS 

Commitments 

20.222 

20.226 

160.230 

200.678 

Payments 

4.222 

10.226 

10.230 

176.000 

200.678 

Year 
201819 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021-2029 

TOTAL 

19 

Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts. 

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3.2.2.  Estimated impact on operational appropriations  

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations  

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below: 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)  

Indicate 
objectives 
and outputs  

20

Type

 

Av
er
ag
e 
co
st 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021 

Year 
2022 

Year 
2023 

Year 
2024 

Year 
2025 

o
N

Cost  N

o

Cost  N

o

Cost  N

o

Cost  N

o

Cost  N

o

Cost  N

o

Cost 

TOTAL 

OUTPUTS 

Total 
Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

l
a
t
o
T

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 
… 

21

1

- Output  Demonstrat

3 

20.000 

3 

20.000 

3 

20.000 

4 

30.000 

4 

30.000 

6 

40.000 

6 

40.000 

29 

200.000 

or /Pilot  
projects* 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2 ... 

- Output 

R&D 
projects** 

15 

20.000 

15 

20.000 

15 

20.000 

20 

30.000 

20 

30.000 

30 

40.000 

30 

40.000 

145 

200.000 

TOTAL COST 

18 

40.000 

18 

40.000 

19 

55.000 

24 

65.000 

24 

65.000 

36 

67.500 

36 

67.500 

175 

400.000 

*   EU contribution used for 10 demonstration projects with an average cost of EUR 10 to 15 million and 20 pilots with an average cost of EUR 2.5 million per project.. 

** PS contribution used for projects with an average cost of EUR 1 to 1.5 million

20 
21 

Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g.: number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 
As described in point 1.4.2. ‘Specific objective(s)…’  

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3.2.3.  Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature 

3.2.3.1.  Summary  

–    The  proposal/initiative  does  not  require  the  use  of  appropriations  of  an 

administrative nature  

–   The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative 

nature, as explained below: 

EUR million (to three decimal places)  

Year 
2018  

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021-2029 

TOTAL 

5 
the  multiannual 

HEADING 
of 
financial framework 

Human resources  

Other 
expenditure  

administrative 

Subtotal  HEADING  5 
of 
the  multiannual 
financial framework  

22

Outside  HEADING  5
of 
financial framework  

the  multiannual 

Human resources  

0.204 

0.208 

0.212 

Other 
of an administrative nature 

expenditure  

0.018 

0.018 

0.018 

Subtotal  
outside  HEADING 
of 
financial framework  

5 
the  multiannual 

0.222 

0.226 

0.230 

0.624 

0.054 

0.678 

TOTAL 

0.222 

0.226 

0.230 

0.678 

The appropriations required for human resources and other expenditure of an administrative nature will be met by 
appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the 
DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual 
allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

22 

Technical  and/or  administrative  assistance  and  expenditure  in  support  of  the  implementation  of 
EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

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3.2.3.2.  Estimated requirements of human resources 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources.  

–    The  proposal/initiative  requires  the  use  of  human  resources,  as  explained 

below: 

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y
e
a
r 

2
0
1
8 

Y
e
a
r 

2
0
1
9 

Y
e
a
r 

2
0
2
0 

 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary agents) 

08  01  01  01 
Representation Offices) 

(Headquarters  and  Commission’s 

08 01 01 02 (Delegations) 

08 01 05 01 (Indirect research) 

1 

1 

1 

10 01 05 01 (Direct research) 

 External personnel (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE)

23

 

 

XX 01 02 01 (CA, INT, SNE from the ‘global envelope’) 

XX  01  02  02  (CA,  INT,  JED,  LA  and  SNE  in  the 
delegations) 

XX  01  04 

24

yy

 

 

 

at 

- 
headquart
ers 

- 
in 
delegation
s  

 

 

08 01 05 02 (CA, SNE, INT — Indirect research) 

1 

1 

1 

10 01 05 02 (CA, SNE, INT — Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

TOTAL 

2 

2 

2 

XX is the policy area or budget title concerned. 

23 

24 

CA=  Contract  Agent;  LA  =  Local  Agent;  SNE  =  Seconded  National  Expert;  INT  =  agency  staff 
(‘Intérimaire’); JED= ‘Jeune Expert en Délégation’ (Young Experts in Delegations). 
Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines). 

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The human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to management of the 
action  and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG,  together  if  necessary  with  any  additional  allocation  which 
may  be  granted  to  the  managing  DG  under  the  annual  allocation  procedure  and  in  the  light  of  budgetary 
constraints. 

Description of tasks to be carried out: 

Officials and temporary staff 

Officials and contractual agents 
The human resources of section 8.2.1 are calculated with an average cost of 134,000 
euros per official and 70,000 euros per contractual agent increased by 2% per year.  

The main tasks deriving from the action will be: 

Participation in meetings of the PRIMA committee and the meetings of the 
PRIMA Research Council as member, +/- 3-4 times two-day meetings/year  

Observer in PRIMA proposal evaluations, 2-3 days per years  

Participation in workshops and dissemination events, 2-3 times per year 

Negotiation and Preparation of agreement with the PRIMA-IS 

Preparation of annual financing decision and related payments 

Approval of the annual work plan 

Monitoring of implementation based on the yearly reports, and coordination 
of the mid-term and final evaluations 

Financial and legal auditing of the implementation of PRIMA 

External staff 

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3.2.4.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework  

–   The  proposal/initiative  is  compatible  the  current  multiannual  financial 

framework. 

–    The proposal/initiative will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the 

multiannual financial framework. 

Explain what reprogramming is required, specifying the budget lines concerned and the corresponding 
amounts. 

–    The  proposal/initiative  requires  application  of  the  flexibility  instrument  or 

revision of the multiannual financial framework. 

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned and the corresponding 
amounts. 

3.2.5.  Third-party contributions  

–  The proposal/initiative does not provide for co-financing by third parties.  

–   The proposal/initiative provides for the co-financing estimated below: 

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year 
2018 

Year 
2019 

Year 
2020 

Year 
2021 

Year 
2022 

Year 
2023 

Commitments  of  PRIMA 
Participating States 

TOTAL appropriations 
co-financed  

20.000 

20.000 

20.000 

30.000 

30.000 

40.000 

40.000 

200.000 

20.000 

20.000 

20.000 

30.000 

30.000 

40.000 

40.000 

200.000 

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3.3. 

Estimated impact on revenue  

–   The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue. 

–    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact: 

– 

– 

 

 

on own resources  

on miscellaneous revenue  

Appropriation
s available for 
the current 
financial year 

Budget revenue line: 

Article …………. 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Impact of the proposal/initiative25 

Year 
N 

Year 
N+1 

Year 
N+2 

Year 
N+3 

Enter as many years as necessary to show 
the duration of the impact (see point 1.6) 

For miscellaneous ‘assigned’ revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected. 

Specify the method for calculating the impact on revenue. 

25 

As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net 
amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 25 % for collection costs. 

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