Regulation (EU) 2020/559 amending Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 as regards the introduction of specific measures for addressing the outbreak of COVID-19

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Series Details L 130, Pages 7-10
Publication Date 24/04/2020
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Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2020/559 which amends Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 (also know as the FEAD Regulation) to address challenges relating to the sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19. This initiative was formally adopted on 23 April 2020.

Further information:

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports actions in the EU Member States to provide food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived in society. In light of the coronavirus outbreak, specific measures were deemed necessary to protect them from falling victim to the disease and to ensure that the FEAD assistance still reaches them. Distribution of food and basic material assistance, as well as social inclusion support, faced increasing logistical and human resource constraints. Many of the volunteers could no longer be mobilised to restrictions in place.

The proposal responds to the challenges facing stakeholders in the implementation of the FEAD during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is proposed the introduction of specific provisions to address the emergency situation. It is proposed that the expenditure for those FEAD operation. It is proposed that the expenditure for those FEAD operations that are fostering crisis response capacities to the COVID-19 outbreak should be eligible as of 1 February 2020. Likewise, it is proposed that the amendment of certain elements of the operational programme aimed at addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, does not require approval by Commission decision.

Furthermore, the proposal introduces the possibility for authorities to deliver food aid/basic material assistance through electronic vouchers. It is also proposed the introduction of flexibility regarding the respect of certain legal requirements during this period. Finally, as a temporary and exceptional measure, the temporary possibility of 100% co-financing from the EU budget is allowed.

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

Source Link Link to Main Source http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/559/oj
Related Links
Official
EUR-LEX: COM(2020)141: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 as regards the introduction of specific measures for addressing the COVID-19 crisis https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:141:FIN
European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Introduction of specific measures for addressing the COVID-19 crisis https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2020/0058(OLP)
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 08/04/2020: COVID-19 outbreak: Council approves measures to help the most deprived EU citizens https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/08/covid-19-outbreak-council-approves-measures-to-help-the-most-deprived-eu-citizens/
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: Council adopts measures to help the most deprived EU citizens https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/22/covid-19-council-adopts-measures-to-help-the-most-deprived-eu-citizens/

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