http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eur/2017/2016

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2016

of 29 August 2017

amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 on supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund, regarding the definition of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission to Member States

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/20061, and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

With a view to simplifying the use of the European Social Fund ‘ESF’ and reducing the administrative burden for beneficiaries, it is appropriate to increase the scope of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums available for reimbursement to Member States. The standard scales of unit costs and lump sums for reimbursement to Member States should be established on the basis of data submitted by Member States or published by Eurostat and on the basis of methods commonly agreed, including the methods set out in Article 67(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council2 and Articles 14(2) and 14(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013.

(2)

Taking into account the significant disparities between Member States regarding the level of costs for a particular type of operation, the definition and amounts of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums may differ according to the type of operation and the Member State concerned in order to reflect their specificities.

(3)

Austria, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania have submitted methods for defining standard scales of unit costs for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission, while the Netherlands has submitted a method for defining a lump sum.

(4)

Further to the submission by the Czech Republic, Malta, Italy, and Slovakia of methods concerning types of operation not yet covered by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195, additional standard scales of unit costs should be defined for reimbursement of expenditure to these Member States for these types of operation.

(5)

The standard scales of unit costs for Sweden currently set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195, with the exception of those relating to participant's allowances, have been amended on the basis of a method submitted by Sweden.

(6)

Taking into account the objective of expanding the possibilities for Member States to seek reimbursement from the Commission on the basis of standard scales of unit costs or lump sums, the Commission has defined unit costs and amounts for each Member State on the basis of data published by Eurostat for operations in the area of education.

(7)

Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: