Cohesion Policy Legislative Package 2021-2027 - Partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament

Document date	13-02-2019
Publication date	14-02-2019
Reference	6147/19
From	General Secretariat of the Council
External link	original article
Original document in PDF

Council of the European Union Brussels, 13 February 2019 (OR. en)

6147/19 Interinstitutional Files:

2018/0196(COD)¹ 2018/0197(COD)²

2018/0206(COD)³ FSTR 18

REGIO 28 FC 10 SOC 79 PECHE 51 CADREFIN 69 JAI 104 SAN 67 CODEC 326

NOTE

From: General Secretariat of the Council

To: Permanent Representatives Committee

Subject: Cohesion Policy Legislative Package 2021-2027

• - 

  Partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament

• I. 

  INTRODUCTION

• 1. 

  On 29 and 30 May 2018, the Commission adopted the proposals configuring the Cohesion

  Policy legislative package for 2021-2027, namely the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) 1 , the ERDF/Cohesion Fund Regulation (ERDF/CF) 2 , the European Social Fund Plus Regulation (ESF+) 3 , the European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) Regulation 4 , as well as a Regulation for a mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context (ECBM) 5 .

1 Doc. 9511/18 + ADD 1.

2 Doc. 9522/18 + ADD 1-2.

3 Doc. 9573/18 + ADD 1-2.

4 Doc. 9536/18 + ADD 1.

5 Doc. 9555/18.

• 2. 

  The proposals of the Cohesion Policy legislative package have the common objective to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union, by reducing disparities between the various EU regions, in line with Article 174 TFEU, through various Funds and policy instruments.

• 3. 

  The Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee have been consulted on all Regulations part of the Cohesion Policy legislative package.

• 4. 

  The REGI committee of the European Parliament is expected to have voted on all the proposals within its remit by the end of February 2019. The EMPL committee voted on the Report of the ESF+ proposal on 3 December 2018.

II. WORK WITHIN THE COUNCIL

• 5. 

  The proposals of the Cohesion Policy Legislative package were presented to the Structural

  Measures Working Party (SMWP) in June 2018 during the Bulgarian Presidency. Detailed examination of the texts took place during the Austrian Presidency, as stated in their Presidency's Report (doc. 15428/1/18 REV).

• 6. 

  On 19 December 2018, the Permanent Representatives Committee took note of the Austrian Presidency report (doc.15428/1/18 REV1) on the progress made on the overall Cohesion

  Policy package. The report included a well-advanced compromise text, largely supported by delegations, on the articles of the Common Provisions Regulation covering conditions for eligibility and performance framework (Block 2, which also included Article 4(1) of the ESF+ Regulation) as well as on the ERDF/CF Regulation.

• 7. 

  On 30 January, the Romanian Presidency brought the text of CPR Block 2 and the ERDF/CF Regulation to the Permanent Representatives Committee (doc. 5687/19 ADD1-2), putting

  forward an amendment to the ERDF/CF Regulation on productive investments in Article 4 of such Regulation.

• 8. 

  The Permanent Representatives Committee concluded that the Structural Measures Working Party should further re-examine the compromise package.

• 9. 

  The Structural Measures Working Party, at its meetings on 8 and 13 February, further scrutinised the texts, with the aim at addressing the remaining concerns expressed by delegations.

• 10. 

  Following the deliberations at working party level, the Presidency is of the view that, based on the principle that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed", a balanced compromise text has emerged from discussions amongst Member States, including:

  • Block 2 of the Common Provisions Regulation (conditions for eligibility and

  performance framework), including Article 4(1) (Specific Objectives) of the ESF+ Regulation, with the same wording as in the Austrian Presidency report (doc. 15428/1/18 REV1) as reflected in document 6147/19 ADD1;

  • The ERDF/CF Regulation containing the same wording as in the Austrian Presidency

  report (doc. 15428/1/18 REV1), with some additional amendments proposed by the Romanian Presidency, which concern:

  ‒ The addition of three recitals meant to clarify the scope of support from the ERDF

  in the fields of district heating and cultural heritage;

  ‒ An amendment to Article 4(1) as regards productive investments and small midcap

  companies;

  ‒ An amendment to Article 6 as regards the treatment of residual waste.

  Article 3 (Thematic concentration) is bracketed and thus excluded from such compromise pending further progress on the MFF discussions.

  The final compromise on the ERDF/CF Regulation is reflected in document 6147/19 ADD2.

• 11. 

  The above-mentioned compromise seems acceptable to a large majority of delegations at the level of the Structural Measures Working Party.

III. CONCLUSION

• 12. 

  The Permanent Representatives Committee is, therefore, invited to agree on a partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament and confirm the compromise proposed by the

  Presidency as set out in documents 6147/19 ADD1-2.

• 1. 

  Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy
   
• 2. 

  Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund
   
• 3. 

  Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013