Article 15 of the new regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006) laying down the general provisions for the Structural Funds retains the basic elements of Article 11 of the previous regulation (1260/99) as regards the principle of additionality. The underlying rationale states that EU Structural Funds may not replace the national or equivalent expenditure by a Member State.
The process of assessment will be threefold.
- Ex-ante assessment included in the drafting of the National Strategic Reference Framework;
- Mid-term assessment in 2011;
- Ex-post assessment in 2016.