Guidance on Joint Action Plans

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 — rules concerning joint action plans — Articles 104-109

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THESE ARTICLES?

Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 contains the main rules in regard to the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds (ESIF) which aim to support the EU’s Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Articles 104 to 109 of the regulation set out rules and conditions for the use of joint action plans (JAPs) as a tool of EU cohesion policy in the context of general rules for ESIFs.

KEY POINTS

Emphasis on results

A key objective of the ESIFs for the 2014-2020 period is to reinforce the focus on achieving results. In contrast to other funding tools, payments under JAPs are based on selected output and result indicators which are linked with corresponding unit costs or lump sums.

Main features of JAPs

a defined scope;
managed with a focus on output (rather than input), results and achieving a pre-defined objective;
a project or a group of projects, carried out under the responsibility of the beneficiary, as part of an operational programme or programmes;
the outputs and results of a JAP are agreed between an EU country and the European Commission, and must contribute to the specific objectives of the operational programmes and form the basis of support from the Funds;
the beneficiary must be a body governed by public law within an EU country;
as amended by the ‘Omnibus’ regulation, public expenditure allocated to a JAP must be a minimum of €5 million or 5% of the public support of the operational programme or programmes, whichever is lower. This does not apply to:
- operations supported under the Youth Employment Initiative;
- the first JAP submitted by an EU country under the Investment for growth and jobs goal; or
- the first JAP submitted by a programme under the European territorial cooperation goal.

Preparation

Proposals for a JAP can be submitted by an EU country, the managing authority or any designated public law body at the same time as or subsequent to the submission of the operational programmes concerned.
JAPs must cover part of the period between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023.

Content

A JAP must contain a number of details including:

an analysis of the development needs and objectives justifying it;
framework describing the relationship between the general and specific objectives, the milestones and the targets for outputs and results, and the projects or types of projects envisaged;
implementing provisions such as arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the plan;
financial arrangements.

Evaluation

The Commission will decide on the basis of the content of the JAP proposal whether support from ESIFs is justified.
Where the Commission does not consider the proposal meets the appraisal standards required, it will inform the EU country concerned within 2 months of the submission.
An EU country must provide the Commission with all information requested and, where necessary, revise the bid accordingly.
If these are satisfactorily addressed, the Commission will approve the act no more than 4 months after the original submission.

Steering Committee and amendment of a JAP

Each EU country or managing authority must set up a steering committee for a JAP, separate from the managing committee of the relevant operational programme. The committee will:
- review progress towards achieving the milestones, outputs and results;
- consider and approve any proposal to amend the JAP to take account of any issues affecting its performance.

Financial management and control

Financial management, control and audit of the JAP is aimed solely at checking that the defined conditions for payments have been fulfilled.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 21 December 2013.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Guidance on joint action plans (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 320-469)

Successive amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.