EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 6.6.2018

SWD(2018) 313 final

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Accompanying the document

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council

establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and repealing Regulations (EU)
No 1316/2013 and (EU) No 283/2014

{COM(2018) 438 final}
{SEC(2018) 292 final}
{SWD(2018) 312 final}

The Commission proposal is based on an Impact Assessment (IA) submitted to the Regulatory Scrutiny Board on 21 March 2018 and for which the Board issued a positive opinion (ref. number "MFF – CEF") with reservations. The Board in particular recommended reinforcing the description of the arrangements for monitoring and evaluation of the programme, explaining better the coherency with other EU programmes and explaining in more detail how the extensions of the programme's scope reinforce the cross-border character of CEF. The recommendations provided by the Board in its opinion have been reflected in the final version of the IA report.

In line with the general approach applied for all the MFF-related impact assessments, the IA for CEF focused on the changes and policy choices foreseen in the legislative proposal. The report in particular explained the structure and priorities for the proposed continuation of the CEF programme and looked into the options for a most optimal delivery.

The IA report drew on lessons learned and experience from the current CEF with the recent mid-term evaluation of CEF used as the principle source of data (in addition to the results of the open public consultation organised as part of a series of public consultations covering the entire spectrum of EU future funding and of more targeted exchanges with stakeholders in case of synergies and renewables).

Using the lessons learned and considering the new challenges and developments (in particular in the area of the digital sector) it was assessed whether the objectives needed to be adjusted for the continued programme. The challenges ahead for the new CEF programme were set out and the assessment was carried out on how CEF could deliver on the common objectives of the MFF such as simplification, greater flexibility and improved performance.

The structure and priorities, the calibration with the current CEF as well as the expected delivery mechanism of the new programme were further discussed from the perspective of the programme effectively attaining the set objectives. Alternative implementation options were assessed in particular for the extensions to the programme’s scope of intervention, both in the digital pillar and for the Renewable Projects of European Interest. The IA also looked into options and capacities for reinforcing synergies between the sectors under the programme.