EU programmes — agencies

SUMMARY OF:

Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/173 establishing the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency, the European Research Executive Agency, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, the European Research Council Executive Agency, and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It sets up the 6 executive agencies implementing EU programmes in the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF). It sets out:

their tasks, portfolios and general operating rules;
the legal transition between the agencies, and between the European Commission and the agencies.

KEY POINTS

The decision sets up 6 executive agencies until 31 December 2028 (the first five from 1 April 2021, the sixth from 16 February 2021):

Each agency is responsible for the following general tasks related to programme implementation and activities delegated to it:

managing some or all stages of programme implementation, pilot projects and preparatory activities;
providing general administrative and logistical support, if applicable;
providing information to support Commission policymaking;
adopting budget instruments for revenue and expenditure, and carrying out all the operations necessary for programme management;
implementing additional funding on the basis of the relevant work programme or programmes and under certain conditions.

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is the successor of the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency and implements:

Innovation Fund;
Connecting Europe (transport and energy);
Horizon Europe (climate, energy and mobility);
LIFE (nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, climate change, clean energy transition);
Renewable energy financing mechanism;
Public sector loan facility;
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and various aspects of fisheries policy.

The European Health and Digital Executive Agency is a newly established agency and implements:

EU4Health programme;
Horizon Europe (health);
Single Market Programme (human, animal and plant food safety);
Digital Europe programme;
Connecting Europe Facility (digital);
Horizon Europe (digital, industry and space).

The European Research Executive Agency is the successor of the Research Executive Agency and implements:

Horizon Europe (Marie Skłodowska-Curie activities and research infrastructures);
Horizon Europe (culture, creativity and inclusive society; civil security; food, bio-economy, natural resources, agriculture and environment);
Horizon Europe (widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area, spreading excellence and participation, reforming and enhancing the European R&I system);
Information and promotion of agricultural products;
Research Fund for Coal and Steel research programme;
General administrative and logistical services, in particular: the Central Validation Service (SEDIA), call planning for eGrants programmes and services, expert management.

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency is the successor of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and implements:

Horizon Europe (European Innovation Council and European Innovation Ecosystems);
Interregional Innovation instruments;
Single Market Programme (COSME, internal market, standardisation, consumers).

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency is the successor of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency and implements:

The European Research Council Executive Agency is the successor of the former European Research Council Executive Agency and implements:

Horizon Europe (European Research Council).

The agencies:

are based in Brussels;
have a steering committee and director, and seconded, temporary or contract staff;
report regularly to the Commission which supervises and evaluates their performance;
implement, and register under, the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and may take partparticipate in the Commission’s corporate EMAS registration;
implement their own operating budgets in line with Commission rules.

The Luxembourg-based Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency has been wound up on 1 April 2021. Its responsibilities have been transferred to several of the new Brussels agencies, especially the European Health and Digital Executive Agency established on 16 February 2021.

The decision repeals Implementing Decisions 2013/801/EU (The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency), 2013/771/EU (EU Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), 2013/778/EU (Research Executive Agency), 2013/779/EU (European Research Council Executive Agency), 2013/776/EU (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency) and 2013/770/EU (Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency).

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 April 2021.

BACKGROUND

The Commission delegates powers to the executive agencies to implement EU programmes so that it can concentrate on its own core activities. It retains control and ultimate responsibility over the agencies’ work.

The new responsibilities for the 6 agencies are grouped by policy themes to give them a coherent identity and ensure synergies between different programmes.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/173 of 12 February 2021 establishing the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency, the European Research Executive Agency, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, the European Research Council Executive Agency, and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency and repealing Implementing Decisions 2013/801/EU, 2013/771/EU, 2013/778/EU, 2013/779/EU, 2013/776/EU and 2013/770/EU (OJ L 50, 15.2.2021, pp. 9-28)