THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006, and in particular Article 8(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
According to Article 4(7) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council the Structural Funds resources for the Investment for growth and jobs goal allocated to the innovative actions in the area of sustainable urban development (hereinafter referred to as ‘innovative actions’) should be implemented by the Commission.
(2)
Article 92(8) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 allows the Commission to implement the resources allocated to innovative actions under indirect management provided for in Article 60 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(3)
It is necessary to establish detailed rules concerning the principles for the management of innovative actions by an entity or a body entrusted with budget implementation tasks pursuant to Article 58(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) No 966/2012.
(4)
It is necessary to establish detailed rules concerning the principles for the selection of innovative actions to be supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In order to ensure that high quality proposals are selected, the procedures and criteria for the selection of innovative actions should be set out, taking account of the territorial diversity of the Union's urban areas.
(5)
The Commission should define the themes for selection of innovative actions to ensure that the calls for proposals address urban issues which will potentially grow in importance for the Union in future years,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: