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 Article 14(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013.

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.

Cyprus has submitted methods for defining standard scales of unit costs for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission.

Germany has submitted methods for defining additional standard scales of unit costs for reimbursement by the Commission concerning types of operation not yet covered by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/21953.

France has submitted data for amending the standard scales of unit costs currently set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195.

Sweden submitted data for amending the standard scales of unit costs currently set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195. The Commission accordingly amended the rates set out in Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 for operations supported under priority axis 1 ‘Supply of skills’ of the Operational Programme (Nationellt socialfondsprogram för investering för tillväxt och sysselsättning 2014-2020) (CCI- 2014SE05M9OP001) in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/20164. However, the Commission erred by not also amending the rates set out for priority axes 2 and 3 of the same operational programme. The amounts for these priority axes should also be amended, and the amounts set out for Sweden should be applicable as of the date of entry into force of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2016.

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