Guidelines for submitting development programmes

SUMMARY OF:

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 288/2014 – uniform conditions for presenting information for EU development programmes

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It sets out uniform models for presenting information for operational programmes:
- one for operational programmes under the European Union (EU) investment for growth and jobs goal,
- another for cooperation programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal.
These rules ensure that information provided is consistent, comparable and, where necessary, can be aggregated.
They also ensure that programmes follow the objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

KEY POINTS

The European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund contribute to developing and pursuing EU actions that strengthen its economic, social and territorial cohesion, by following two main goals.

1.
Investment for growth and jobs
Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/435 replaced Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 288/2014 and introduced changes to the models for operational programmes under the investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance under the thematic objective ‘Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy’.

This amendment took account of the possibility to temporarily apply a co-financing rate of 100% to expenditure declared in payment applications during the accounting year starting on 1 July 2020 and ending on 30 June 2021 for one or more priority axes in a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund or the Cohesion Fund.

The model set out in the regulation for presenting information on such programmes sets out the following guidelines:
- funding is mainly provided through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund, such as by means of the youth employment initiative;
- resources are assigned to three categories of EU regions:
  - less developed*,
  - transitional*,
  - more developed*;
- operational programmes are made up of priority axes which may concern more than one category of region and may combine investments from different EU funds;
- how the operational programme contributes to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and to achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion – including a justification of the policy choices, investment priorities and level of financing;
- if a priority axis covers more than one fund, the EU support and that of its national counterpart are broken down by fund with a separate co-financing rate for each fund;
- if a priority axis covers more than one category of region, the EU support and that of its national counterpart are broken down by category of region with a separate co-financing rate for each category;
- the operational programme should:
  - contain specific indicators by specific objective along with common results indicators with set target values;
  - respect certain general principles:
2.
European territorial cooperation (Interreg)
Regulation (EU) 2021/435 also amends Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 288/2014, introducing changes to the models for operational programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal to provide assistance under the thematic objective ‘Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy’.

This amendment takes account of the possibility to temporarily apply a co-financing rate of 100% to expenditure declared in payment applications during the accounting year starting on 1 July 2020 and ending on 30 June 2021 for one or more priority axes in a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund or the Cohesion Fund.

The model set out in the regulation for presenting information on such programmes sets out the following guidelines:
- provides a basis for implementing joint actions and policy exchanges between national, regional and local stakeholders from different EU Member States;
- cooperation may be cross-border, transnational or interregional;
- for the 2021–2027 period, Interreg seeks to encourage the harmonious economic, social and territorial development of the EU as a whole and its neighbourhood, a greener, low-carbon Europe, better cooperation governance and a safer and more secure Europe;
- where outermost EU regions’ programmes combine cross-border and transnational elements, separate priority axes are set out for each of these;
- how the programme contributes to the objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and to achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion – including a justification of policy choices, investment priorities and level of financing;
- includes a description of the approach to territorial development including, where appropriate:
  - community-led approach local development,
  - integrated actions for sustainable urban development;
- contains common and specific programme output indicators, including final targets;
- where outermost regions’ programmes combine allocations for cross-border and transnational cooperation, separate priority axes will be set out for each;
- respects certain general principles:
  - sustainable development,
  - equal opportunities and non-discrimination,
  - equality between men and women.

Cohesion’s actions for refugees in Europe (CARE) – emergency support for people fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/872 amends Implementing Regulation (EU) No 288/2014, making changes both to the model for operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal (Annex I) and to the model for cooperation programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal (Annex II) with regard to cohesion’s actions for refugees in Europe (CARE), adopted under Regulation (EU) 2022/562 – an initiative that allows Member States and regions to provide emergency support to people fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (see summary).

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 23 March 2014.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Cohesion policy 2021–2027 (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Less-developed regions. Regions where gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant is less than 75% of the EU average.

Transitional regions. Regions where GDP per inhabitant is between 75% and 90% of the EU average.

More-developed regions. Regions where GDP per inhabitant is more than 90% of the EU average.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 288/2014 of 25 February 2014 laying down rules pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with regard to the model for operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal and pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal with regard to the model for cooperation programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 87, 22.3.2014, pp. 1–48).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 288/2014 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.