Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Final simplification scoreboard for the MFF 2014-2020

The Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 has set the framework for EU funding. Over the next seven years, the European Union will invest almost 1 trillion Euros for sustainable growth, jobs and competitiveness, solidarity and cohesion, and to enable the Union to play its role in the world.

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), adopted by the Council on 2 December 2013 with the consent of the European Parliament, provides for EU spending over the period 2014-2020 in the six identified categories of expenditure (headings) that correspond to broad policy areas: competitiveness for growth and jobs, economic social and territorial cohesion, sustainable growth: natural resources, security and citizenship, global Europe, administration, compensation.

Overall, over the next seven years, the EU will commit to invest up to €960 billion and, in the same period, €908.4 billion actual payments will be authorised. In comparative terms, this amount represents less than 1% of the Gross National Income (GNI) of the whole European Union. Nonetheless, these financial means will provide substantial EU added value in terms of investments and the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy on growth and jobs.

In the new financial period, the European Union will ensure delivery of results through better spending, notably through result-oriented financial support, simplification, reduction of errors and increase of efficiency – aspects to which close attention was paid in the preparation and negotiation of the MFF. Bearing this in mind, the European Commission launched a dedicated MFF Simplification Scoreboard – a process through which all simplification and rationalisation measures in all proposals for programmes under the MFF were carefully identified and guided through the legislative process.

The approval of the EU budget for 2014 by the European Parliament and the Council paves the way to allocating funds for the current year. Sectoral funding programmes, both in centralised management and shared management, have also been approved by the co-legislators and apply from 1 January 2014.

Sectoral funding programmes have been approved by the co-legislators. The legal framework to allocate funds in each sector is in place and applies from 1 January 2014. Moreover, the EU budget for 2014 has been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. The financial resources for the current year are therefore available for allocation through the sectoral programmes. This means that all elements required - MFF, budget and sectoral legislation - are in place and the EU can start the new financing period.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)114: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:114:FIN

ESO: Background information: Website: Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/multiannual-financial-framework-2014-2020/

ESO: Background information: Final 'simplification scoreboard': 120 measures to cut red tape on EU funding http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-final-simplification-scoreboard-120-measures-to-cut-red-tape-on-eu-funding/

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