State of play of negotiations - post 2020 period

On 30 November, the General Affairs Council discussed the legislative package for cohesion policy for the period 2021-2027. The Austrian Presidency overall welcomed the European Commission proposal as a good basis, and is focusing primarily on closing three negotiation “blocks” (out of the 8): Block 1 (programming), Block 2 (enabling conditions, performance framework, mid-term review), and Block 5 (management and control – including related annexes).

Regarding the Interreg architecture, the Council welcomes the new Component 3 for outermost regions, but recommends that maritime Cross-Border Cooperation be re-integrated into Component 1 from the suggested new Component 2B for Maritime cooperation. The Austrian Presidency also suggests moving the new Component 5 (Interregional Innovation Investments) from the ETC regulation to under the ERDF regulation.  Concerning the European Cross Border Mechanism (ECBM), discussions in the Council point to the need to further clarify the treaty base, the respect of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, the administrative burden, and the voluntary nature.

The European Parliament’s REGI committee voted on 3 December on the Interreg Report drafted by the Member of Parliament, Pascal Arimont. The report is scheduled to be discussed during the January plenary session (15/01), with the aim to start the trilogues thereafter. The report calls for an important increase of funding for Interreg to EUR 11.16 bn from the proposed EUR 8.43 bn. In line with Council's approach, the European Parliament also wants maritime and land Cross-Broder Cooperation reintegrated into a single component.

The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion drafted by Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis. The COR opinion calls for an increase to the funding for Interreg and welcomes the new Component 5 for  interregional innovation investments.

The up-coming Romanian presidency will focus on the Interreg and CPR alignment in order to finalize the Austrian Presidency’s work. . By the beginning of the next year, 15 January, the Council will discuss communication obligations for both mainstream and ETC programmes (CPR Block 3  Art. 33-45 (Monitoring, evaluation, communication and visibility) and ETC Regulation Art. 27- 43 (monitoring, evaluation and communication parts of Interreg).