The investment ratios of the five European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) in the European Union have increased significantly over the past two years, from 28% of the total budget in 2018 to 56% at the end of 2020, according to a report released today by the Commission.
This significant increase in spending in 2020 shows that despite the exceptional situation of the coronavirus crisis, more structural funds were used to support investments in Europe’s regions. This is partly due to the flexibility of the cohesion policy rules introduced by the Coronavirus Crisis Investment Initiatives (CRII and CRII +), which have allowed Member States to redirect undrawn funds and use them for much-needed spending. In this way, more than € 22 billion have been spent in support of healthcare, SMEs, employment and disadvantaged groups in almost all Member States. There was also the possibility of a co-financing rate of 100%.
Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said: „There is ample evidence that ESI Funds have been used effectively in many areas to support beneficiaries in the public and private sectors, as well as individuals. Whether in climate protection, in research and innovation or in the area of inclusive growth: the EU added value is considerable.“
Cohesion Policy and Reform Commissioner Elisa Ferreira added: „Cohesion policy is delivering results. The numbers speak for themselves: the higher spending is a sign of solidarity in the EU. Our unprecedented response to the COVID-19 crisis is helping millions of people in Europe get back on their feet and participate in economic and social recovery.“
The investments from the ESI funds flow into the real economy. To date, 1.6 million companies have received support for expansion, innovation and new product launches. By the end of 2019, 184,000 new jobs were created. In total, more than 13 million investment projects across Europe have been selected for EU funding.
The report published today is the fifth biennial overview of the implementation of the national and regional programs and is based on the annual program reports received in September 2020. The results of the evaluation of the ESI Fund programs are summarized in an accompanying report.
The Open Data Platform of the ESI Funds was also updated today and now contains the results of the ESI Fund programs achieved by the end of 2019.
The press release and related downloads can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/de/newsroom/news/2021/04/28-04-2021-european-structural-and-investment-funds-spending-doubled-in-2019-2020
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