02. 04.10:
Easing access to structural funds
On 18 March the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development adopted a report setting out new rules to speed up the flow of funding for certain EU-supported projects that help create employment. This sanctions advance payments and simplified Structural Funds implementing rules to enable public authorities to carry out planned EU co-financed investments despite severe budgetary constraints.
The new rules should somewhat ease the burden on public authorities by allowing countries like Ireland to receive advance payments in 2010 of 2% from the European Social Fund. This should provide some welcome element of leeway whereby approved ESF-supported initiatives such as job training courses and youth apprenticeships which may currently be stalled due to their dependence on an element of national ‘match funding’ may soon be able to get underway or resume.
Rules on the 'de-commitment' of ESF and European Regional Development Fund allocations (those approved for specific purposes in 2007), are also to be eased in order to give Member States more time to make use of them prior to a cut-off point. Major national-scale or EU-wide initiatives with a budget in excess of EUR50 million would escape the threat of decommitment under the new proposals as well as being able to avail of funding from a number of different EU programmes. Parliament will now put the proposals to a plenary vote on 21 April, and a supportive Council is expected to give its approval shortly thereafter, so that the measures can take effect by the summer.
