As coordinator for European Funding Activities in my City I made the experience, that the combination between ESIF and other programs like EFRE is possibile in theory, but because of differnent rules und guidelines still not very useful in the everyday grass roots work. Maybe you can adress this problem by streamlining the guidelines from all programs for 2020+.

Furthermore I would suggest to simplify the programs themselves before you simplify the access. Over the years they have grown in so many directions with highly specialiced topics that they are simply not practical anymore for outsiders or "newbies". They should be reduced to adress simple clear target groups or target areas (work, infrastructure, knowledge etc.). Transversly through all programs I would define topics based on defined global megatrends like digitalization, urbanization, migration, social equality etc. In this way you could find the right combination you wish to adress. Such a framework would be even more simple to be digitalized as e-government tool.

A simple framework like that would make the programs more flexible in the everyday work and furthermore better for all, because people would not look out for the funding first and then initiate projects in the second step, but define good projects first and then look for european funding. Not only the quality of the projects would be improved, but the access would be easier for all - the best ideas would win and used as best practice for all Europeans.

Arturo de la VegaWirtschaftsförderung DortmundFachreferent Europäische StrukturpolitikTöllnerstr. 9-11 | 44122 DortmundTelefon: +49(0)231/50-29242 | Fax: +49(0)231/50-23717arturo.delavega@stadtdo.de | www.wirtschaftsfoerderung-dortmund.de