European parliament adopts simplified rules for investing in all EU regions

The European Parliament has adopted simplified 2021-2027 common rules for investing in all EU regions and opposed suspension of EU regional funding dependent on national economic targets. Parliament approved a resolution requesting the European Commission to continue to finance up to 85% of support projects approved by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for less developed regions, and up to 65% in so-called transition regions.

Maltese MEP Alfred Sant, voting in favour of this Resolution, criticised the European Commission which in contrast had proposed much lower targets.

“The Commission proposal is unfair. More than that, it puts in peril the reputation for surety of finalisation and payment that approved projects by EU Funds have acquired.”

Dr Sant said that on the Commission’s basis, many projects would not be getting EU funding.

“Equally important: this Parliament has rejected the macroeconomic conditionalities set by the Commission. On their basis, countries with governments which are found to be at fault under eurozone rules would face cancellation of their funds for approved projects. Thus, beneficiaries of projects including regional authorities would be punished for decisions taken by national governments.”

“The Maltese MEP, whilst voting in favour of this Resolution, voted against amendments including the European Investment Bank in the programming aspects of the projects which will increase administrative costs and further financial burdens on the programming of funds.

The resolution was adopted with 460 votes in favour, 170 against and 47 abstentions.

Maltese Version- IL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW JAPPROVA REGOLI GĦAL INVESTIMENT

Il-Parlament Ewropew addotta regoli simplifikati għas-sena 2021-2027 għall-investimenti fir-reġjuni tal-UE u oppona s-sospensjoni tal-fondi għal reġjuni li jiddependu mill-miri ekonomiċi ta’ pajjiżhom. Il-Parlament approva riżoluzzjoni li titlob lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea tkompli tiffinanzja sa 85% ta’ proġetti approvati mill-Fond Ewropew tal-Iżvilupp Reġjonali, il-Fond Ewropew Soċjali, il-Fond tal-Koeżjoni u l-Fond Ewropew Marittimu u tas-Sajd għal reġjuni anqas żviluppati u sa 65% għal dawk li jissejħu reġjuni transizzjonali.

L-MEP Malti Alfred Sant ivvota favur din ir-riżoluzzjoni u ikkritika lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea li qed tipproponi tnaqqis f’dawn il-miri.

“Il-proposta tal-Kummissjoni mhix ġusta. Aktar minn hekk tpoġġi f’periklu l-fondi għall-proġetti diġa` approvati.”

Dr Sant qal li bir-raġunament tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea ħafna proġetti ma jingħatawx fondi tal-UE.

“Aktar importanti minn hekk : Dan il-Parlament ċaħad il-kundizzjonijiet makro-ekonomiċi tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Skont il-Kummissjoni, għandhom jiġu kanċellati l-fondi ta’ pajjiżi bi gvernijiet bi problemi mar-regoli taż-żona ewro. B’hekk proġetti ta’ awtoritajiet reġjonali ibatu minħabba deċiżjonijiet tal-gvernijiet nazzjonali. Dan mhux ġust.’

Alfred Sant, waqt li ivvota favur ir-Riżoluzzjoni, ivvota kontra emendi fir-riżoluzzjoni li jinkludu s-sehem tal-‘European Investment Bank’ fl-aspetti tal-programmar tal-proġetti għax dawn iżidu l-ispejjeż amministrattivi u jġibu piżijiet finanzjarji ġodda.

Ir-Riżoluzzjoni għaddiet b’460 vot favur, 170 kontra u 47 astensjoni.