The Committee of the Regions launched a quick online survey to assess the emerging problem of reduced levels of national co-financing available for projects and programmes under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). 

 

According to the 6th Cohesion Report of the European Commission, budget cuts carried out in a majority of Member States to pursue fiscal consolidation have led to an overall 18% reduction of co-financing of Cohesion Policy programmes. Regions and cities carry out almost two thirds of all public investments, and in many cases rely substantially on ESIF to fund them.

 

 

The CoR Bureau, in its Turin Declaration, has called for the exemption of national co-financing of cohesion policy programmes from the ceilings of the Stability and Growth Pact. Difficulties to provide the required co-financing for programmes and projects might affect cohesion policy expenditure in towns and regions. As a consequence, it might hinder the pursuit of the thematic objectives of the ESIF, which are in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy for growth and jobs.