This Commission report is the first in a series of
annual reports to the EU institutions on the implementation of the
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds). It provides
an overview of the 2016 annual implementation reports on the 533
programmes submitted by Member States and regions for the 2014-2015
period and summarises the available evaluations of these
programmes.
The late adoption of the multiannual financial
framework for the period 2014-2020
has had an impact on the adoption of legislation governing the ESI
Funds. By the end of 2014, 220 programmes had been adopted.
However, the majority (313) of programmes were finalised in 2015
181 of which were completed only in the second half of the
year.
Progress in implementation: on the basis of the 2016 annual implementation reports
covering 2014 and 2015, it appears that the total volume of
projects selected for support from the Funds amounted to EUR
58.8 billion, or 9.2% of the total volume of investment planned
for the 2014-2020 period. The EU’s contribution to the
selected projects is estimated at EUR 41.8 billion.
- According to the most recent financial data submitted
up to the autumn of 2016, implementation has accelerated
significantly in terms of the volume of project selection. The
total financial volume of selected projects more than doubled in
nine months, from EUR 58.8 billion at the end of 2015 to EUR
128.8 billion (20.2% of planned investments).
- By the end of 2015, the Member States and regions had
selected 989 000 projects ranging from investments in heavy
infrastructure to individual support to farms. A total of
274,000 businesses benefited from the selected operations,
representing approximately 13.6% of the target of supporting 2
million businesses by the end of the period. The selected projects
will bring support to 138 000 firms under ERDF.
- At the time of the adoption of the programmes, about
75% of all conditionalities to ensure investment
effectiveness (ex ante conditions) were met.
- The implementation of programme structures and
procedures to ensure the robustness and quality of investments
throughout the programme life cycle has been important for the
successful launch of the programmes.
- Lastly, more than two-thirds of the country-specific
recommendations adopted in 2014 in the context of the European
Semester concerned investments under the ESI Funds (in
particular the ERDF and ESF) and were therefore integrated into the
priorities of the Member States’ programmes.
Implementation by theme: the report provides an overview of the financial
volume and the selection rate of projects for the ESI Funds by
thematic objective at the end of 2015. The main findings are
as follows:
- in total, an amount of around EUR 181 billion was
provided for investments in the area of research and innovation,
information and communications technology and SME
competitiveness, mainly from the ERDF and the EAFRD. By the end
of 2015, 19 000 firms were expected to benefit from ERDF schemes
promoting cooperation with research institutes, while 5 000
researchers would benefit from improved RTD infrastructures. Also
by the end of 2015, EUR 737 million for projects in the digital
economy themes accounted for 4% of the planned total. It is
expected that 25 000 start-ups will result along with the direct
creation of 65 000 jobs in the supported firms;
- at the end of 2015, more than EUR 20 billion was
already allocated to specific projects in the fields of the
low-carbon economy (EUR 2.3 billion), climate change
(EUR 6.6 billion), the environment and transport (EUR 7.6
billion), and energy networks (EUR 4.1 billion),
representing around 9% of the total amount across all the funds
contributing directly (ERDF, Cohesion Fund, EAFRD and
EMFF);
- projects representing more than EUR 11.5 billion (more
than 12% of the planned amount) were selected in the field of
employment, social inclusion and education. Support to
selected integrated urban development strategies covers 1.7 million
people. Education and vocational training investments also
showed substantial progress;
- lastly, an amount of approximately EUR 6 billion has
been programmed to support institutional capacity building
and efficiency of public administration, mainly under the ESF, with
an ERDF contribution also planned. By the end of 2015, more than
11% of the total budget had been allocated to projects.
The Commission now considers it vital that the
implementation of the new programmes is accelerated
throughout the European Union.
Recent data show a more uniform state of advancement
in most Member States and themes. The evolution of these trends
will be further evaluated in the 2017 reporting cycle, which will
provide a more comprehensive picture of implementation and allow
for better reporting on a qualitative level.