Joint statement on the separate discharge for Joint Undertakings under Article 209 of the Financial Regulation

1. The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission agree that in order for the Joint Undertakings to benefit from simplified financial rules better adapted to their public-private nature, they should be set up under Article 209 of the Financial Regulation. U.K.

However, they also agree that:

• In view of the specific nature and the current status of the Joint Undertakings, and in order to ensure continuity with the 7th Framework Programme, the Joint Undertakings should continue to be subject to a separate discharge to be given by the European Parliament upon recommendation of the Council. For this reason, specific derogations from Article 209 of the Financial Regulation shall be introduced in the constituent acts of the Joint Undertakings to be set up under Horizon 2020 Programme. Those derogations will refer to the separate discharge and will include any additional necessary adaptations.

• In order to allow the Joint Undertakings to benefit immediately from the simplifications introduced in the new financial framework, it is necessary that the Commission delegated regulation of 30 September 2013 on the model financial regulation for PPP bodies under Article 209 of the Financial Regulation enters into force.

2. The European Parliament and the Council take note that the Commission: U.K.

• will ensure that the financial rules of the Joint Undertakings include derogations from the Model Financial Regulation for PPP bodies to reflect the introduction of the separate discharge in their constituent acts;

• intends to propose relevant modifications to Articles 209 and 60(7) of the Financial Regulation in the framework of the future revision of the Financial Regulation.