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Structural reform support programme 2017-2020

2015/0263(COD)

The Committee on Regional Development adopted the report by Lambert van NISTELROOIJ (EPP, NL) and Constanze KREHL (S&D, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 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.

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, exercising its prerogative as an associated committee in accordance with Rule 54 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, also gave an opinion on the report.

The committee recommended that Parliament’s position adopted in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Objectives and activities: the Programme will:

  • strengthen the capacity of Member States to design and implement growth-enhancing administrative and structural reforms and establish coherence with national and regional development strategies including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds in particular the European Structural and Investment Funds ('ESI Funds') and programmes;
  • contribute to the achievement of common goals towards: (i) obtaining economic recovery, economic, social and territorial cohesion, job creation; (ii) guaranteeing a high level of social welfare and high-quality health and education services; (iii) combating poverty and social exclusion.

Added value: actions and activities of the Programme shall ensure European added value in particular through:

  • the development and implementation of solutions that address local, regional and national challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges, and that contribute to social, economic and territorial cohesion;
  • their complementarity and synergy with other Union programmes and policies at regional, national and Union level;
  • their contribution to the consistent and coherent implementation of Union law and policies, as well as the promotion of European values, in particular solidarity and respect for fundamental rights;
  • their contribution to the sharing of good practices with a view to increasing the visibility of the Union’s reform programmes.

Specific objectives: these shall be pursued in close cooperation with beneficiary Member States and shall refer to policy areas related to economic, social and territorial cohesion, competitiveness, innovation, smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, jobs and investment, including the following:

  • re-industrialisation,  financial and administrative assistance to SMEs, increasing public participation in enterprises and privatization processes,  and digitalisation;
  • policies for implementing climate action and promoting energy efficiency, achieving energy diversification;
  • financial sector policies, including the promotion of financial literacy, financial stability, access to finance and lending to the real economy, and combating tax evasion.

Eligible actions: the Programme may finance expertise related to policy advice, policy change, formulation of strategies and reform roadmaps, as well as to legislative, institutional, structural and administrative reforms at national, regional and local level where appropriate.

The Commission shall: (i) inform the European Parliament as soon as a request for support under the Programme has been received and give details of the analysis undertaken; (ii) provide the cooperation and support plan to the European Parliament as soon as possible; (iii) inform the European Parliament about the participation of a Reform Partner and the latter’s role in the cooperation and support plan.

The request for support may be submitted regarding the following: (i) the implementation of reforms by Member States, undertaken at their own initiative, in particular to achieve sustainable economic growth and job creation; (ii) the implementation of sustainable reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particular of the relevant Country Specific Recommendations issued in the context of the European semester.

Financial envelope: this amounts to EUR 142 800 000 in current prices. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.