Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund, in respect of certain revenue-gathering projects

COM(2008) 558/2 — 2008/0186 (AVC)

2009/C 100/30

On 8 October 2008 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund, in respect of certain revenue-gathering projects

Given the urgent nature of the work, the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr DASSIS as rapporteur-general at its 448th plenary session, held on 22 and 23 October 2008 (meeting of 23 October), and adopted the following opinion by 45 votes to none with one abstention.

1.   Conclusions and recommendations

1.1.   The EESC notes the Commission's proposal to amend Article 55 of Regulation 1083/2006 and welcomes this step to lighten the administrative burden it imposes.

1.2.   The EESC approves the proposal.

2.   Reason

2.1.   Article 55 of Regulation 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund establishes management procedures and provisions regarding the contribution from these funds to revenue-gathering projects. Article 55 also lays down a threshold of EUR 200 000 for the application of these provisions.

2.2.   These provisions do not seem appropriate to projects co-financed by the European Social Fund, which essentially finances non-physical operations; they also impose a disproportionate administrative burden on the small operations co-financed by the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund.

2.3.   Given the impossibility of resolving the issue of the administrative burden by way of interpretation, and following informal consultations with the Member States, the Commission has decided to proposal an amendment to Article 55, so that its provisions will henceforth apply only to operations co-financed by the ERDF or the Social Fund and the total cost of which exceeds EUR 1 million. In the Commission's opinion, this technical amendment will significantly simplify the management of such projects.