Absorption of the 2014-2020 NSRF in the EU

Subject: Absorption of the 2014-2020 NSRF in the EU

According to data on the implementation of the 2014-2020 NSRF programme in Greece, no more than 30% or so of the relevant funds have been absorbed. The result of this is that EU funding will never reach Greek businesses, households and the real economy, which is still in a state of severe crisis. The issue pertains to both operational programmes and resources allocated to the Regions, and relates to plans that have been made but not implemented and projects that remain incomplete or problematic.

In view of this, can the Commission say:

1. How have the equivalents to the 2014-2020 NSRF programme been implemented in the other Member States, and what have their absorption rates been, on average?

2. How has the 2014-2020 NSRF been implemented in Greece, and how much of the EU funding earmarked for this purpose been absorbed by Greece?

3. What are the reasons for the delays to, and issues with, the implementation of measures, projects and operational programmes in Greece?

Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission

(7 April 2020)

1. The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Open Data Platform (1) provides detailed information on the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) (2) 2014-2020. The platform is updated on a daily basis. As regards Greece, the financial implementation of ESI Funds amounts to 45% (EU average rate: 39%). These figures include the initial and annual pre-financings, the interim payments as well as the additional 7% annual special pre-financing granted only to Greece in October 2015.

2. On the basis of information provided by the Greek authorities, the rate of projects selection for all ESI Funds programmes represents 84% (EU average: 79%) and the rate of the total expenditure declared by the beneficiaries and certified to the Commission represents 30% (EU average: 37%).

3. Since 2017, the absorption rate of ERDF2 and Cohesion Fund for Greece has been sliding down. The observed implementation delays for these Funds were mainly due to the absence of a sufficient pipeline of new mature projects, insufficient capacity of some beneficiaries and implementing bodies, and delays in tendering procedures and legal and/or administrative proceedings. However, the amount of expenditure declared is progressively increasing and implementation is accelerating.

Regarding EAFRD2, the financial implementation of the Greek Rural Development programme is currently 47%, close to the EU average (53%). Considering the pipeline of projects and future calls, it is very likely that the budget could be fully absorbed by the end of the programming period.

For the EMFF2, the financial implementation of the Greek operational programme (27.1%) is still lagging behind the EU-average absorption rate (36.3%) and the Commission has urged the Greek authorities to take action and improve the implementation pace.

⋅1∙ https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/

⋅2∙ European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund (CF), Youth Employment Initiative, European Agricultural Fund for Rural

Development (EAFRD), European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).