Answer given by Mr Gentiloni on behalf of the European Commission
2.12.2020
Given the unprecedented size and importance of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the need for national ownership of the funded reforms and investments, the Commission proposed to carry out its implementation through the examination procedure under the comitology regulation[1].
The comitology is the way to ensure the oversight of the Member States over the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers conferred on it, notably for the implementation of a spending programme. An involvement of the Parliament under the examination procedure is not foreseen under the comitology regulation[2].
The Commission proposal[3] however provides for an extensive information sharing with the Parliament. The Commission will:
— Transmit the recovery and resilience plans as approved in the implementing acts without undue delay (Article 21);
— Provide an annual report on the implementation of the RRF, including information on the progress of implementation of the recovery and resilience plans (Article 24); and
— Provide evaluation reports (after 4 years and ex-post) (Article 25).
In addition, as far as the RRF financial envelope for grants (which constitutes external assigned revenues in accordance with Article 21 (5) of the Financial Regulation) is concerned, the Commission is subject to the discharge procedure by the Parliament, based on a recommendation from the Council.
The Commission also looks forward to exploring additional avenues to increase the cooperation with the Parliament under the RRF, while being also mindful of the importance of speed in the assessment of Member States’ recovery and resilience plans and the fulfilment of milestones and targets leading to disbursements.
These provisions give the Parliament a clear and unambiguous role to control the actual use of RRF funds and to hold countries and the Commission accountable, while also raising the attention beyond single decisions and procedures to ensure an overarching political endeavour. The Court of Auditors will also have the possibility to carry out audits on the use of the amounts.
The agreement reached at the European Council of 17-21 July 2020[4] ensures that the Commission remains solely responsible for the management of the RRF as far as the disbursement of the funds is concerned, in line with its prerogatives under the Treaty.
- [1] Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/implementing-and-delegated-acts/comitology_en
- [3] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility, COM/2020/408 final, 28.5.2020.
- [4] European Council conclusions, 17-21 July 2020, available at:
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/45109/210720-euco-final-conclusions-en.pdf