Regulation (EU) 2020/558 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013 and (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2020/558 which allows for the processes and funding of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to be adapted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic response. This initiative became known as the 'Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus' (or CRII+). It was formally adopted by the co-legislators on 23 April 2020.

Further information:

The aim is to ensure that all support from the Funds can be mobilised to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed amendments include, among others, the temporary possibility of 100% co-financing from the EU budget for the implementation of cohesion policy programmes; the exemption from the need to comply with thematic concentration requirements; the mobilisation of resources for scaling up and extending short-time work scheme, for support to SMEs working capital and for immediate expenditure in the healthcare sector.

This proposal was adopted by the European Commission on 2 April 2020 as part of a package of measures on mobilising the full extent of the EU Budget. The European Parliament formally endorsed the draft maw on 17 April, followed by the Council of the European Union on 22 April. The Act was signed on the following day and published in the Official Journal on 24 April 2020.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: At a Glance, April 2020: Specific flexibility measures for ESI funds in response to the coronavirus outbreak https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)649378

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2020)138: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 as regards specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:138:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2020/0054(COD)

European Parliament: Press Room: What are the new measures proposed under CRII+ for EU structural funds? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200414BKG77007/making-eu-structural-funds-available-and-flexible-to-mitigate-effect-of-covid-19/2/what-are-the-new-measures-proposed-under-crii-for-eu-structural-funds

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 08/04/2020: COVID-19: Council gives go-ahead to further use of cohesion resources https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/08/covid-19-council-gives-go-ahead-to-further-use-of-cohesion-resources/

European Parliament: Press Release, 17/04/2020: COVID-19: Stepping up EU’s response to alleviate the effects of the crisis https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200415IPR77111/

European Commission: Press Release, 17/04/2020: Coronavirus: Commission welcomes Parliament's quick green light for proposed new resources to protect lives and livelihoods https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_685

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 22/04/2020: COVID-19: More flexibility for deploying EU budget money https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/22/covid-19-more-flexibility-for-deploying-eu-budget-money/

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