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Most EU funding is not paid directly by the European Commission but via the
national and regional authorities of the Member States. This is the case for
payments under the Common Agricultural Policy and most payments under the
structural policy financial instruments (European Regional Development Fund,
European Social Fund, European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and
Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance), which make up, in money terms,
the great bulk of EU funding.
The Commission pays direct grants to beneficiaries (public or private
legally constituted bodies - universities, businesses, interest groups, NGOs -
and, in some exceptional cases, individuals) in pursuance of other common
policies in such fields as research and development, education, training, the
environment, consumer protection, and information. It also pays direct grants
in pursuance of EU external policies.
All EU funding is channelled towards precise objectives and priorities under
the various common policies, which, in turn, are based on the Treaties. Grants
are awarded on the basis of specific EU legislation, a thorough competitive
process.
In March 2007 the European Union adopted new financial
rules to better use EU funds between 2007-2013. The new rules simplify
access to funding and reduce administrative procedures to a strict minimum. For
the first time the names of the beneficiaries of all EU funds are being made
public.
The Financial Regulation also requires all grants awarded to beneficiaries
in the course of a financial year to be published each year, including the
names and addresses of the beneficiaries and the relevant amounts awarded.
Further information on grants is available at: http://europa.eu/grants/index_en.htm
or from your local Europe Direct Information Centre.
Information on how Ireland has benefited from EU Structural funding is
available on the website of the National
Development Plan or on the website of the Directorate
General for Regional Policy.
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.jpg "Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn's website")
