EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 28.5.2020

COM(2020) 409 final

2020/0103(COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Technical Support Instrument

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the Union and in the world. The short-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis in individual Member States will depend on the duration and severity of the lockdown measures, the composition of output and the economic policy measures taken to cushion the immediate impact of the crisis. The medium and long-term effects of the crisis will depend on the resilience of their economies. Given the differences in short-term economic impact and in available policy space, there is a real risk that the COVID-19 crisis will cause further widening of the divergences in the Union in the absence of decisive policy action.

As confinement measures are gradually lifted, there is a need to strategically plan the recovery, revitalising the economy and getting back on a path of sustainable growth. This requires supporting public and private investments but also enhancing Member States’ reform efforts to address the underlying social and economic weaknesses of their economies, improve their resilience and facilitate the return to sustainable growth. In that regard, it is crucial to continue accompany Member States’ reform efforts by providing them with substantial technical support to strengthen their administrative capacity to prepare and implement the reforms that will foster resilience and underpin the recovery.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The Technical Support Instrument allows the Commission to support Member State authorities in their efforts to design reforms according to their own priorities and enhance their capacity to develop and implement reform policies and strategies, as well as benefitting from good practices and examples of peers. Technical support will be particularly needed in the aftermath of the crisis. This proposal therefore adequately complements the packages of measures that are proposed by the Commission to address the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the REACT EU 4 under the structural and cohesion funds, the amended proposals for the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and InvestEU, and the range of measures developed in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic such as the “Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative” 5 .

The Technical Support Instrument builds on the success of the SRSP, which has constantly experienced positive feedback from beneficiary Member States and excess demand in respect of the budgets available in the past selection rounds (e.g. for the 2019 round, of the 508 requests submitted, equating to a total value of EUR 194 million, 263 amounting to EUR 79.3 million could be selected; for the 2020 round, of the 609 requests submitted, equating to a value of EUR 250 million, 228 amounting to EUR 84.7 million could be selected). The Technical Support Instrument is designed as a continuation of the existing SRSP, and is consistent, coherent and complementary to the existing resources for capacity building and technical assistance, which are available within other Union financing programmes. Technical assistance available under cohesion policy aims to help stakeholders implement Union-funded programmes and projects, in the form of financial support for preparation, management, evaluation, monitoring, audit and control made available through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF) and Cohesion Fund. Technical assistance available in that context therefore aims at building capacity to administer Union funds and at fostering the implementation of projects co-financed under Union funds, thereby facilitating the absorption of these funds. The technical assistance hub available under the InvestEU is mainly targeted at the preparation of large (private) investment projects and does not target structural reforms. By contrast, the Technical Support Instrument aims at providing support for administrative capacity and long-term structural reforms, thereby adequately complementing and adding value to the existing assistance provided by the various sectoral Union programmes and the actions carried out under the Union funds.

Furthermore, this instrument is consistent with the policy guidance provided under the European Semester, by providing technical support to foster the implementation of the country specific recommendations addressed to Member States in that context.

•Consistency with other Union policies

The proposal is consistent with and provides for complementarity and synergies with the other Union policies.

The aim of the proposal establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility is to offer financial support for public investments and reforms, in particular in the field of the green and digital transitions, that make economies more resilient and better prepared for the future.

The technical support instrument will be complementary to the proposal establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility, as it will provide support for strengthening the administrative capacity of the Member States and, in this context, support for the preparation and implementation of the recovery and resilience plans that set out reforms and investments to be financed under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and, more in general, also for providing support for national reform actions related to the green and digital transitions.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The funding of the proposed activities through the envisaged regulation respects the principles of European added-value and subsidiarity. Funding from the Union budget concentrates on activities whose objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone (“necessity test”), and where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone.

The objective of the regulation is to promote cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and convergence, and to support Member States’ efforts to strengthen their administrative capacity to implement Union law in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors.

The underlying logic of the regulation is that technical support is provided in response to a request from the Member State concerned made on a voluntary basis. As a result, each Member State decides whether action at Union level is necessary, in light of the possibilities available at national, regional or local level. The implementation of technical support measures linked to the economic and social recovery, resilience and convergence, and to the strengthening of the administrative capacity of Member States to implement Union law is a matter of common interest for the Union.

•Proportionality

•Choice of the instrument

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

A Commission’s staff working document accompanying the independent mid-term evaluation report, soon to be adopted by the Commission, examined the performance of the SRSP against the evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value) and drew a number of lessons. Even though the programme was adopted recently and many technical support projects are still at the initial phases of the implementation, the findings demonstrate that the SRSP is progressing well towards achieving its objectives. The evaluation namely shows that the design of the SRSP is well aligned with the actual needs of Member States and serves as an appropriate instrument for supporting Member States in strengthening their administrative and institutional capacity. The high degree of flexibility and the absence of co-financing requirements make it possible to translate Member States’ needs into feasible actions with realistic timelines and to meet the expectations of the Member State. Sharing good practices among Member States was also evaluated as having significant added value. Furthermore, the SRSP is well integrated in the Union economic governance process. The annual cycles of the SRSP and the European Semester are adequately feeding into each other, which enables a comprehensive and coordinated approach towards structural reforms in Member States. A high degree of commitment from all stakeholders, a high level of expertise of the technical support providers and favourable political circumstances are considered factors that have a positive influence on the delivery of the SRSP project outputs. A lack of collaboration among stakeholders and changing or uncertain political circumstances are considered to have a negative influence on the successful implementation of technical support projects.

•Stakeholder consultations

Due to the urgency to prepare the proposal so that it can be adopted in a timely manner by the co-legislators, a formal stakeholder consultation could not be carried out. The views of the stakeholders were taken into account also in the course of the legislative process on the proposal for the Reform Support Programme.

•Impact assessment

Due to the urgent nature of the proposal, no new impact assessment was carried out. The present proposal for a regulation anyhow builds on the latest available text of the Council working party on the RSP proposal as regards the technical support instrument and is consistent with the joint draft report of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament on the technical support instruments contained in the RSP proposal, published on 20 April 2020. This proposal replaces in part the original Commission proposal for the RSP (COD …), which was based on an impact assessment, whose main findings remain valid mutatis mutandis.

•Fundamental rights

The proposal has a positive effect on the preservation and development of Union fundamental rights, assuming that the Member States request and receive support in related areas. For example, support in areas such as labour markets and social insurance, healthcare, education, the environment, property, public administration and the judicial system can support Union fundamental rights such as dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizens' rights and justice.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

In order to monitor the performance of this regulation in delivering on the objectives of the technical support instrument, some key performance indicators have been identified and will be collected periodically. Specific result and impact indicators will be defined in relation to the concrete projects, with baselines and targets, in order to monitor the progress made towards the final targets and to evaluate the impact of the implemented reforms.

A mid-term evaluation and an ex-post evaluation will be carried out with a view to assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence of the instrument. Evaluations will be carried out in line the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 10 . Evaluations will include lessons learned to identify any deficiencies and/or problems or any potential to further improve the actions or their results and help maximise their exploitation and impact.

The mid-term evaluation of the Regulation will be performed once sufficient information is available about its implementation, but no later than four years after the start of the implementation. No later than three years after the end of the period of application of the Regulation, an ex-post final evaluation will be carried out by the Commission. The Commission will communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

•Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

The Regulation establishes the Technical Support Instrument, which will support, with technical measures, Member States to carry out institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining and resilience-enhancing structural reforms (Article 1).

The general objective of the technical support instrument is to promote cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and convergence, and to support Member States’ efforts to strengthen their administrative capacity to implement Union law in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors. (Article 3)

Specific objectives of the instrument are set out (Article 4) as assisting national authorities in improving their capacity to design, develop and implement reforms, including through exchange of good practices, appropriate processes and methodologies and a more effective and efficient human resources management. They are to be pursued in close cooperation with the Member States concerned.

The scope of the application is a broad range of policy domains that include areas related to public financial and asset management, institutional and administrative reform, business environment, product, service and labour markets, education and training, sustainable development, public health, education and the financial sector (Article 5). Specific emphasis is given to actions that foster the green and digital transitions.

The overall financial envelope for the implementation of the Instrument for the period 2021-2027 will be EUR 864 406 000 in current prices (Article 6). In addition to that financial envelope, Member States may transfer on voluntary basis, in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation [CPR successor] ] 11 , technical assistance resources under shared management programmes to the Technical Support Instrument. Transferred resources shall be implemented in accordance with the rules of this instrument and shall be used exclusively for the benefit of the Member State concerned (Article 6(3) and Article 10).

The Commission proposals for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework set a more ambitious goal for climate mainstreaming across all EU programmes, with an overall target of 25% of EU expenditure contributing to climate objectives. The contribution of this instrument to the achievement of this overall target will be tracked through an EU climate marker system at an appropriate level of disaggregation, including the use of more precise methodologies where these are available (Recital 10).

The Technical Support Instrument should support the implementation of growth-sustaining and resilience-enhancing reforms undertaken at the initiative of the Member States, or in the context of economic governance processes, or actions related to the implementation of Union law and Union policy priorities and reforms in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes. The instrument should also provide technical support for the preparation and implementation of reforms to be undertaken under the new Recovery and Resilience Facility (Article 8).

The Commission will analyse the requests for support on the basis of urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy area concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Based on that analysis and taking into account the existing measures and actions financed by other Union funds or Union programmes, the Commission will come to an agreement with the Member State on the priority areas for support, the objectives, an indicative timeline, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the estimated global financial contribution, to be set out in a cooperation and support plan (Article 8).

The type of actions eligible for financing under the Technical Support Instrument will include, among others, expertise related to policy advice and/or change, formulation of strategies and reform roadmaps, as well as to legislative, institutional, structural and administrative reforms; the provision of experts, including resident experts; capacity building and related supporting actions at all governance levels, also contributing to the empowerment of civil society (Article 7). The actions financed under the Technical Suport Instrument may receive support from other Union programmes, instruments or funds under the Union's budget provided that such support does not cover the same cost (Article 11).

The Commission will adopt work programmes in order to implement the Technical Support Instrument, by way of implementing acts, setting out the measures for the provision of technical support and all the elements required under the Financial Regulation 12 (Article 12).

Provisions are made on communication activities vis-à-vis the European Parliament and the Council and vis-à-vis the general public (Articles 9 and 17), as well as provisions on complementarity (Article 13), monitoring (Article 14), annual reports (Article 15) and evaluation (Article 16).

2020/0103 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Technical Support Instrument

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 the third paragraph of Article 175 and Article 197(2) 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 Committee 13 ,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions 14 ,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1)In accordance with Articles 120 and 121 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘the Treaty’), Member States are required to conduct their economic policies with a view to contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Union and in the context of the broad guidelines that the Council formulates. Under Article 148 of the Treaty Member States shall implement employment policies that take into account the guidelines for employment. The coordination of the economic policies of the Member States is therefore a matter of common concern.

(2)Article 175 of the Treaty provides, inter alia, that Member States should coordinate their economic policies in such a way as to attain the objectives on economic social and territorial cohesion set out in Article 174.

(3)The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 changed the economic outlook for the years to come in the EU and in the world. In the Union, new priorities have emerged, linked with the crisis, specifically focussing on recovery and resilience. They require an urgent and coordinated response from the Union in order to cope with the economic consequences for Member States as well to mitigate the social and economic fallouts. The current COVID-19 pandemic as well as the previous economic and financial crisis have shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. Growth enhancing reforms and investments to address structural weaknesses of the economies and strengthen their resilience will therefore be essential to set the economies and societies back on a sustainable recovery path and overcome the economic, social and territorial divergences in the Union.

(4)At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies are presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priorities to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the structural and cohesion funds, and from other programmes.

(5)Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and the Council 15 established the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) for the period 2017 to 2020, with a budget of EUR 142 800 000. The SRSP was established to strengthen the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-sustaining administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. Technical support under that programme is provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, and can cover a wide range of policy areas. This Regulation is designed as a continuation of that programme which has been positively received by the Member States.

(6)Member States have increasingly taken up technical support under the SRSP in the past, therefore, through this Regulation, a technical support instrument should be established with a view to continuing to support Member States in the implementation of reforms.

(7)Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s growth strategy and the translation of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the technical support instrument will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and to the achievement of an overall target of 25% of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Relevant actions should be identified during the instrument’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. This should also tackle broader environmental and social challenges within the Union, including the protection of natural capital and the support to the circular economy and be in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

(8)The general objective of the technical support instrument should be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and convergence. To that effect, it should support the strengthening of the administrative capacity of the Member States to implement Union law, in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors.

(9)The specific objectives of the technical support instrument should be to assist national authorities in their endeavours to design, develop and implement reforms, including through exchange of good practices, appropriate processes and methodologies and a more effective and efficient human resources management.

(10)With a view to helping Member States address reform needs in all the key economic and societal areas, technical support should continue to be provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, in a broad range of policy domains, which include areas related to public financial and asset management, institutional and administrative reform, business environment, the financial sector, markets for products, services and labour, education and training, sustainable development, public health and social welfare. Specific emphasis should be given to the actions that foster the green and digital transitions.

(11)This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the Technical Support Instrument, which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management 16 , for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure.

(12)In order to cater for additional needs under the Technical Support Instrument, Member States should have the possibility to transfer to the budget of that instrument resources programmed in shared management under the Union funds, in accordance with the procedure thereof. Transferred resources should be implemented in accordance with the rules of that instrument and should be used exclusively for the benefit of the Member State concerned. The Commission should provide feedback to the Member State concerned on the use of the additional voluntary contributions.

(13)The Technical Support Instrument should be provided on request, in order to support the implementation of reforms undertaken at the initiative of the Member States, reforms in the context of economic governance processes or actions related to the implementation of Union law, and reforms in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes. It should also provide technical support for the preparation and implementation of recovery plans to be undertaken under Regulation (EU) No YYY/XX.

(14)In line with the rules and practice already existing under the previous programme, the SRSP, a light process for the submission of requests for technical support should be established. For this reason, requests by Member States should be submitted by 31 October of a calendar year. Respecting the overarching principle of equal treatment, sound financial management and transparency, appropriate criteria for the analysis of the requests submitted by Member States should be laid down. Those criteria should be based on the urgency, the severity and extent of the problems, as well as on the support needs identified in respect of the policy areas where technical support is envisaged.

(15)The content of the cooperation and support plans detailing the measures for the provision of technical support to Members States should also be specified. To that end, the technical support measures envisaged and the related estimated global financial contribution should take into account the actions and activities financed by Union funds or Union programmes.

(16)For the purposes of accountability, transparency and to ensure visibility of the Union action, subject to certain conditions that protect sensitive information, the cooperation and support plans should be provided to the European Parliament and the Council and communication activities should be carried out by the Commission as appropriate.

(17)Provisions on the implementation of the Technical Support Instrument should be laid down, in particular the management modes, the forms of funding for the technical support measures and the content of work programmes, which should be adopted by way of implementing acts. In view of the importance of sustaining the efforts of Member States in pursuing and implementing reforms, it is necessary to allow for a co-financing rate for grants of up to 100% of the eligible costs. To allow for a rapid mobilisation of technical support in case of urgency, provision should be made for the adoption of special measures for a limited period of time. To that effect, a limited amount of the budget within the work programme of the Technical Support Instrument should be set aside for special measures.

(18)In order to ensure an efficient and coherent allocation of funds from the Union budget and to respect the principle of sound financial management, actions under this Regulation should be consistent with and be complementary to ongoing Union programmes, whilst avoiding double funding for the same expenditure. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.

(19)Pursuant to paragraphs 22 and 23 of the Interinstitutional Agreement for Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016, there is a need to evaluate the instrument established by this Regulation on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, in particular on Member States. These requirements, where appropriate, should include measurable indicators, as a basis for evaluating the effects of the instrument on the ground.

(20)It is opportune that Commission provides an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation. An independent mid-term evaluation, looking at the achievement of the objectives of the instrument established by this Regulation, the efficiency of the use of its resources and its added value should be carried out. An independent ex-post evaluation should, in addition, deal with the long-term impact of the instrument.

(21)The work programmes for the implementation of technical support should be established. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the Financial Regulation) 17 and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding.

(22)In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 18 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/95 19 ,Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 20 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 21 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council 22 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors.

(23)Since the objective of this Regulation cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone, but can rather be better achieved at Union level, 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 Regulation does not go beyond that which is necessary to achieve that objective.

(24)This Regulation should not affect the continuation and modification of support measures approved by the Commission on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2017/825 or any other Union act applying to that assistance by 31 December 2020. Measures approved under Regulation (EU) 2017/825 should therefore remain valid. To that effect, a transitional provision should also be laid down.

(25)In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Regulation, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

General provisions

Article 1
Subject matter

This Regulation establishes a Technical Support Instrument (‘the instrument’).

It lays down the objectives of the instrument, the budget for the period 2021 – 2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.

Article 2
Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1)technical support’ means measures that help Member States to carry out institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining and resilience-enhancing reforms;

(2)‘national authority’ means one or more public authority at the level of government, including those at regional and local levels, as well as Member State organisations within the meaning of Article 2(42) of the Financial Regulation, cooperating in a spirit of partnership in accordance with the Member States' institutional and legal framework;

(3)‘Union funds’ means the funds covered by Regulation (EU) YYY/XX of the European Parliament and of the Council [CPR successor] 23 ;

(4)‘international organisation’ means an organisation within the meaning of Article 156 of the Financial Regulation, and organisations assimilated with such an international organisation pursuant to that Article.

Article 3
General objective

The general objective of the instrument shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by supporting Member States efforts to implement reforms necessary to achieve economic and social recovery, resilience and upward economic and social convergence, and to support Member States’ efforts to strengthen their administrative capacity to implement Union law in relation to challenges faced by institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors.

Article 4
Specific objectives

To achieve the general objective set out in Article 3, the instrument shall have the specific objectives of assisting national authorities in improving their capacity to design, develop and implement reforms, including through exchange of good practices, appropriate processes and methodologies and a more effective and efficient human resources management. Those specific objectives shall be pursued in close cooperation with the Member States concerned.

Article 5
Scope

The specific objectives set out in Article 4 shall refer to policy areas related to cohesion, competitiveness, education, productivity, research and innovation, smart, fair, sustainable, and inclusive growth, jobs and investment, with specific emphasis to actions that foster the green and digital transitions, and in particular to one or more of the following:

(a)public financial and asset management, budget process, macro-fiscal framework, debt and cash management, expenditure and tax policy, tax compliance, aggressive tax planning, tax fraud and evasion and revenue administration and customs union;

(b)institutional reform and efficient and service-oriented functioning of public administration and e-government, including, where appropriate, through the simplification of rules, effective rule of law, reform of the justice systems and reinforcement of the fight against fraud, corruption and money laundering;

(c)business environment, including for small and medium-sized enterprises and social economy enterprises, re-industrialisation, private sector development, product and service markets, investment, public participation in enterprises, privatisation processes, trade and foreign direct investment, competition and public procurement, sustainable sectoral development and support for research and innovation and digitisation;

(d)education and training, labour market policies, including social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, up- and re-skilling, in particular digital skills, media literacy, active citizenship, the fight against poverty and excessive income inequality, gender equality, the promotion of social inclusion, adequate and inclusive social security and social welfare systems, accessible and affordable public health and healthcare systems, as well as cohesion, asylum, migration and border policies;

(e)policies for implementing the digital and the green transitions, e-government solutions, e-procurement, connectivity, data access and governance, e-learning, use of Artificial Intelligence based solutions, the environmental pillar of sustainable development and environmental protection, climate action, mobility, promoting the circular economy, energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy sources, achieving energy diversification and ensuring energy security, and for the agricultural sector, soil and biodiversity protection, fisheries and the sustainable development of rural areas; and

(f)financial sector policies, including: the promotion of financial literacy, financial stability, access to finance and lending to the real economy; and production, provision and quality monitoring of data and statistics.

Article 6
Budget

1.The financial envelope for the implementation of the instrument for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 864 406 000 in current prices.

2.The financial envelope for the instrument may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the instrument and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, in so far as they are related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, including corporate information technology tools, and all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the instrument. Expenses may also cover the costs of other supporting activities such as quality control and monitoring of technical support projects on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of structural reforms.

3.Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be transferred to the instrument. The Commission shall implement those resources directly in accordance with point (a) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation or indirectly in accordance with point (c) of that Article. Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned.

CHAPTER II

Technical support

Article 7
Eligible actions for technical support

Pursuant to the objectives set out in Articles 3 and 4, the instrument shall finance, in particular, the following types of action:

(a)expertise related to policy advice, policy change, formulation of strategies and reform roadmaps, as well as to legislative, institutional, structural and administrative reforms;

(b)the short-term or long-term provision of experts, including resident experts, to perform tasks in specific domains or to carry out operational activities, where necessary with interpretation, translation and cooperation support, administrative assistance and infrastructure and equipment facilities;

(c)institutional, administrative or sectoral capacity building and related supporting actions at all governance levels, also contributing to the empowerment of civil society, including social partners, as appropriate, in particular:

(i)seminars, conferences and workshops;

(ii)working visits to relevant Member States or third countries to enable officials to acquire or increase their expertise or knowledge in relevant matters;

(iii)training actions and the development of online or other training modules to support the necessary professional skills and knowledge relating to the relevant reforms;

(d)collection of data and statistics, development of common methodologies and, where appropriate, indicators or benchmarks;

(e)organisation of local operational support in areas such as asylum, migration and border control;

(f)IT capacity building, including expertise related to development, maintenance, operation and quality control of the IT infrastructure and applications needed to implement the relevant reforms, cybersecurity, as well as expertise related to programmes geared towards the digitalisation of public services;

(g)studies, research, analyses and surveys, evaluations and impact assessments, and the development and publication of guides, reports and educational material;

(h)communication projects for learning, including e-learning, cooperation, awareness raising, dissemination activities and exchange of good practices; organisation of awareness-raising and information campaigns, media campaigns and events, including corporate communication and communication, where appropriate, through social networks;

(i)compilation and publication of materials to disseminate information and the results of technical support provided under the instrument, including through the development, operation and maintenance of systems and tools using information and communication technologies; and

(j)any other relevant activity in support of the general and specific objectives set out in Articles 3 and 4.

Article 8
Request for technical support

1.A Member State wishing to receive technical support under the instrument shall submit a request for technical support to the Commission, identifying the policy areas and the priorities for support within the scope as set out in Article 5. These requests shall be submitted by 31 October of a calendar year. The Commission may provide guidance on the main elements to be included in the request for support.

2.Members States may submit a request for technical support in the following circumstances linked to:

(a)the implementation of reforms by Member States, undertaken on their own initiative, in particular to support recovery [in line with Regulation (EU) No YYY/XX], achieve sustainable economic growth and job creation and enhance resilience;

(b)the implementation of economic adjustment programmes for Member States that receive Union financial assistance under existing instruments, in particular in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 472/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 24 as regards the Member States whose currency is the euro and Council Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 25 as regards Member States whose currency is not the euro;

(c)the implementation of growth-sustaining and resilience-enhancing reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particular the country-specific recommendations issued in the context of the European Semester or actions related to the implementation of Union law;

(d)the preparation of recovery and resilience plans pursuant to Regulation (EU) No YYY/XX and the implementation thereof undertaken by Member States;

3.Taking into account the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management, and further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State.

Based on that analysis, and taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, the Commission shall come to an agreement with the Member State concerned on the priority areas for support, the objectives, an indicative timeline, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the estimated global financial contribution for such technical support, which shall be set out in a cooperation and support plan.

4.The cooperation and support plan referred to in paragraph 3 shall identify, separately from other technical support, the measures linked to the recovery and resilience plans for the Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) No YYY/XX.

Article 9
Information to the European Parliament and the Council and communication on the cooperation and support plans

1.The Commission shall transmit, with the consent of the Member State concerned, the cooperation and support plan to the European Parliament and the Council without undue delay. The Member State concerned may refuse to give such consent in the case of sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State.

2.Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, the Commission shall transmit the cooperation and support plan to the European Parliament and the Council in the following circumstances:

(a)as soon as the Member State concerned has redacted all sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State;

(b)after a reasonable period of time, when the disclosure of relevant information would not adversely affect the implementation of the support measures, and in any case no later than two months after the delivery of such measures under the cooperation and support plan.

3.The Commission may engage in communication activities to ensure the visibility of the Union funding for the support measures envisaged in the cooperation and support plans, including through joint communication activities with the national authorities concerned.

Article 10
Transfers of resources to the instrument

1.In addition to the financial envelope set out in Article 6(1), the technical support budget may be financed through voluntary transfers from Member States made in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation [CPR successor], and pursuant to the procedure set out in that Article, as referred to in Article 6(3) of this Regulation.

2.A transfer made by a Member State in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be used exclusively in that Member State.

Article 11
Complementary funding

Actions financed under the instrument may receive support from other Union programmes, instruments or funds under the Union's budget provided that such support does not cover the same costs.

Article 12
Implementation of technical support

1.The Commission shall implement the instrument in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

2.The measures under the instrument may be implemented either directly by the Commission or, indirectly, by entities and persons other than Member States in accordance with Article XX of the Financial Regulation. In particular, Union support for actions pursuant to Article 7 shall take the form of:

(a)grants;

(b)public procurement contracts;

(c)reimbursement of costs incurred by external experts, including experts from the national, regional or local authorities of Member States providing or receiving support;

(d)contributions to trust funds set up by international organisations; and

(e)actions carried out through indirect management.

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

(a)Member States;

(b)European Free Trade Association countries which are party to the European Economic Area Agreement, in accordance with the conditions laid down therein.

The co-financing rate for grants shall be up to 100 % of the eligible costs.

4.Technical support measures may be provided with the cooperation of other Member States’ entities and international organisations.

5.Technical support may also be provided by individual experts, who may be invited to contribute to selected activities organised wherever that is necessary for the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4.

6.In order to implement the technical support, the Commission shall adopt work programmes by way of implementing acts, and inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof.

Work programmes shall set out the allocation for the instrument. They shall also set out the measures needed for their implementation, in line with the general and specific objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 4 and, the selection and award criteria for grants, and all the elements required by the Financial Regulation.

7.To ensure timely availability of resources, a limited part of the work programme shall be reserved for special measures in the event of unforeseen and duly justified grounds of urgency requiring an immediate response, including a serious disturbance in the economy or significant circumstances seriously affecting the economic or social conditions in a Member State going beyond its control.

The Commission may, on request by a Member State wishing to receive technical support, adopt special measures in accordance with the objectives and actions defined in the instrument to provide technical support to the national authorities in addressing urgent needs. Such special measures shall be interim in nature, and shall be linked the circumstances laid down in Article 8(2). The special measures shall end within six months and may be replaced by technical support measures in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 8.

CHAPTER III

Complementarity, monitoring and evaluation

Article 13
Coordination and complementarity

1.The Commission and the Member States concerned shall, in a measure commensurate to their respective responsibilities, foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the technical support instrument and other Union programmes and instruments, and in particular with measures financed by the Union funds. For that purpose, they shall:

(a)ensure complementarity, synergy, coherence and consistency among different instruments at Union, national and, where appropriate, regional levels, in particular in relation to measures financed by Union funds, both in the planning phase and during implementation;

(b)optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort; and

(c)ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation at Union, national and, where appropriate, regional levels to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions under the instrument.

2.The Commission shall endeavour to ensure complementarity and synergies with support provided by other relevant international organisations.

Article 14
Monitoring of implementation

1.The Commission shall monitor the implementation of the instrument and measure the achievement of the general and specific objectives set out in Articles 3 and 4. Indicators to be used for reporting on progress and for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of this Regulation towards the achievement of the general and specific objectives are set in the Annex. The monitoring of implementation shall be targeted and proportionate to the activities carried out under the instrument.

2.The performance reporting system shall ensure that data for monitoring the implementation of the instrument and results are collected efficiently, effectively, and in a timely manner. To that end, proportionate reporting requirements shall be imposed on recipients of Union funding.

Article 15
Annual report

1.The Commission shall provide an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation.

2.The annual report shall include information on:

(a)requests for support submitted by Member States pursuant to Article 8(1);

(b)the analysis of the application of the criteria, referred to in Article 8(2), used to analyse the requests for support submitted by Member States;

(c)cooperation and support plans referred to in Article 8(3);

(d)special measures adopted pursuant to Article 12(7); and

(e)implementation of support measures. 

Article 16
Mid-term evaluation and ex-post evaluation

1.Four years after the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall provide the European Parliament, and the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions with an independent mid-term evaluation report on the implementation of this Regulation. The Commission shall also provide those institutions with an independent ex post evaluation report no later than three years after the end of the period specified in Article 1.

2.The mid-term evaluation report shall, in particular, assess to which extent the objectives of the instrument referred to Articles 3 and 4 have been achieved, the efficiency of the use of resources and the European added value. It shall also consider the continued relevance of all objectives and actions.

3.The ex-post evaluation report shall consist of a global assessment of the implementation of this Regulation and shall include information on its impact in the long-term.

CHAPTER IV

Transitional and final provisions

Article 17
Information, communication and publicity

1.The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding, in particular when promoting the actions and their results, by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.

2.The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the instrument, its actions and its results. Financial resources allocated to the instrument shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 4.

Article 18
Transitional provision

1.Technical support actions and activities initiated on or before 31 December 2020 pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 2017/825 shall continue to be governed by that Regulation until their completion.

2.The financial envelope set out in Article 6(1) may also cover technical and administrative assistance expenses, including monitoring, communication and evaluation required pursuant to Regulation No (EU) 2017/825 and not completed by 31 December 2020.

3.Where necessary, appropriations may be entered in the budget beyond 2020 to cover the expenses provided for in Article 6(2) relating to the management of actions not completed by 31 December 2020.

Article 19
Entry into force

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

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

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

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 26  

1.3.Nature of the proposal/initiative

◻ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action 

◻ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action following a pilot project/preparatory action 27  

✓ 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

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

1.4.3.Expected result(s) and impact

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

1.4.4.Indicators of results and impact

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

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative

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

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.Compatibility and possible synergy with other appropriate instruments

1.6.Duration and financial impact

◻ Proposal/initiative of limited duration

–◻    Proposal/initiative in effect from YYYY to YYYY

–✓    Financial impact from from 2021 to 2027

◻ 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) planned 28  

 ✓ 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

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules

Specify frequency and conditions.

2.2.Management and control system

2.2.1.Risk(s) identified

2.2.2.Information concerning the internal control system set up

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

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures.

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.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.

Heading of multiannual financial framework	Budget line	Type of expenditure	Contribution
	Number Heading 2: Cohesion and Values	Diff./Non-diff. 29	from EFTA countries 30	from candidate countries 31	from third countries	within the meaning of Article 21(2)(b) of the Financial Regulation
2	06.01 04 01 (Support expenditure for the Technical Support Instrument– TSI)	Diff./Non-diff.	NO	NO	NO	NO
2	06.02.02 (TSI – Operational Technical Support )	Diff.	NO	NO	NO	NO

3.2.Estimated impact on expenditure

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on expenditure

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework

2

Cohesion and Values

DG REFORM				Year 2021	Year 2022	Year 2023	Year 2024	Year 2025	Year 2026	Year 2027	Post-2027	TOTAL
• Operational appropriations
06.02.02 (TSI – Operational Technical Support )	Commitments	(1)		114.364	116.692	119.065	121.486	123.956	126.476	128.367	-	850.406
	Payments	(2)		56.382	84.658	97.685	102.053	104.886	107.981	107.853	188.908	850.406
Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes 32
06.04 04 01 (Support expenditure for the Technical Support Instrument - TSI)		(3)		2.000	2.000	2.000	2,000	2.000	2.000	2.000	-	14.000
TOTAL appropriations for DG REFORM	Commitments	=1+1a +3		116.364	118.692	121.065	123.486	125.956	128.476	130.367	-	864.406
	Payments	=2+2a +3		58.382	86.658	99.685	104.053	106.886	109.981	109.853	188.908	864.406

Heading of multiannual financial framework

5

‘Administrative expenditure’

EUR million (to three decimal places)

				Year 2021	Year 2022		Year 2023		Year 2024	Year 2025		Year 2026	Year 2027	TOTAL
DG: REFORM
• Human resources				29,890	31,945		31,945		31,945	31,945		31,945	31,945	221,560
• Other administrative expenditure				1,400	1,655		1,695		1,695	1,695		1,695	1,695	11,530
TOTAL DG REFORM	Appropriations			31,290	33,600		33,640		33,640	33,640		33,640	33,640	233,090

TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework

(Total commitments = Total payments)

31,290

33,600

33,640

33,640

33,640

33,640

33,640

233,090

EUR million (to three decimal places)

			Year 2021	Year 2022	Year 2023	Year 2024	Year 2025	Year 2026	Year 2027	Post 2027	TOTAL
TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 7 of the multiannual financial framework	Commitments		154,720	157,030	157,070	157,070	157,070	157,070	156,060	0,000	1096,090
	Payments		75,791	126,065	150,999	157,070	157,070	157,070	157,070	114,955	1096,090

3.2.2.Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature

3.2.2.1.Summary

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

–X    The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year 2021 33

Year 2022

Year 2023

Year 2024

Year 2025

Year 2026

Year 2027

TOTAL

HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework
Human resources	29,890	31,945	31,945	31,945	31,945	31,945	31,945	221,560
Other administrative expenditure	1,400	1,655	1,695	1,695	1,695	1,695	1,695	11,530
Subtotal HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework	31,290	33,600	33,640	33,640	33,640	33,640	33,640	233,090

Outside HEADING 7 34 of the multiannual financial framework
Human resources
Other expenditure of an administrative nature	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	14,000
Subtotal outside HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000	14,000

TOTAL

33,290

35,600

35,640

35,640

35,640

35,640

35,640

247,090

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.

3.2.2.2.Estimated requirements of human resources

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

–X    The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below:

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units

		2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026		2027
• Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff)
XX 01 01 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices)		162	173	173	173	173	173		173
XX 01 01 02 (Delegations)
XX 01 05 01 (Indirect research)
10 01 05 01 (Direct research)
• External staff (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE) 35
XX 01 02 01 (AC, END, INT from the ‘global envelope’)		69	74	74	74	74	74		74
XX 01 02 02 (AC, AL, END, INT and JED in the delegations)
XX 01 04 yy  36	- at Headquarters
	- in Delegations
XX 01 05 02 (AC, END, INT - Indirect research)
10 01 05 02 (AC, END, INT - Direct research)
Other budget lines (specify)
TOTAL		231	247	247	247	247	247		247

XX is the policy area or budget title concerned.

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
External staff

3.2.3.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.

–◻    The proposal/initiative requires application of the flexibility instrument or revision of the multiannual financial framework.

3.2.4.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 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)			Total
Specify the co-financing body
TOTAL appropriations co-financed

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

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Budget revenue line:	Appropriations available for the current financial year	Impact of the proposal/initiative 37
		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)
Article ………….

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

Specify the method for calculating the impact on revenue.

(1)    Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013, OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1–16.

(2)    2018/0213 (COD), Brussels 31.5.2018 COM(2018) 391 final.

(3)    [COD…]

(4)    OJ…

(5)    OJ…

(6)    Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1–16, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2018/1671, OJ L 284, 12.11.2018, p. 3–5 (the SRSP Regulation).

(7)    Annex to Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the work programme for 2017 and on the financing of Structural Reform Support Programme and repealing Decision C(2017)3093, 2017, C(2017)5780 final

(8)     https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/structural-reform-support-programme-financing-decisions-and-annual-work-programmes_en

(9)     https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/annual-monitoring-reports_en

(10)    Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016 (OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1–14).

(11)    OJ C , , p. .

(12)    OJ C , , p. .

(13)    OJ C , , p. .

(14)    OJ C , , p. .

(15)    Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013 (OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1).

(16)    Interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on better law-making of 13 April 2016 (OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1–14)

(17)    Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).

(18)    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-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 L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1)

(19)    Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1)

(20)    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 L292,15.11.96, p.2)

(21)    Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1)

(22)    Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29)

(23)    OJ C , , p. .

(24)    Regulation (EU) No 472/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on the strengthening of economic and budgetary surveillance of Member States in the euro area experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (OJ L 140, 27.5.2013, p. 1)

(25)    Council Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 of 18 February 2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 1)

(26)    ABM: activity-based management; ABB: activity-based budgeting.

(27)    As referred to in Article 54(2)(a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

(28)    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

(29)    Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations.

(30)    EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

(31)    Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidate countries from the Western Balkans.

(32)    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.

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

(34)    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.

(35)    AC= Contract Staff; AL = Local Staff; END= Seconded National Expert; INT = agency staff; JED= Junior Experts in Delegations.

(36)    Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines).

(37)    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.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 28.5.2020

COM(2020) 409 final

ANNEX

to the Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Technical Support Instrument

ANNEX

Indicators

The achievement of the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 4 shall be measured on the basis of the following indicators, broken down by Member State and by area of intervention.

Indicators shall be used in accordance with data and information available, including quantitative and/or qualitative data.

   Output indicators:

(a)number of cooperation and support plans concluded;

(b)number of technical support activities carried out;

(c)deliverables provided by the technical support activities such as action plans, roadmaps, guidelines, handbooks, and recommendations;

   Result indicators:

(d)outcomes of the technical support activities provided, such as adoption of a strategy, adoption of a new law /act or modification of an existing one, adoption of (new) procedures and actions to enhance the implementation of reforms;

Impact indicators:

(e)the objectives set in the cooperation and support plans, which have been achieved due, inter alia, to the technical support received.

The ex-post evaluation referred to in Article 16 shall be undertaken by the Commission also with the purpose of establishing the links between the technical support provided and the implementation of the relevant measures in the Member State concerned with a view to enhancing resilience, sustainable growth, jobs and cohesion.