Background note on “Simplification” for the CONT hearing: “Will simplification suggested for the new MFF period bring the necessary balance between more efficient, effective and correct spending of EU funds?”

Briefing 15-06-2021

This note intends to provide general information about simplification as well as to look a bit more in detail on this issue in the framework of Cohesion Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and Research. These three EU policies represent sectors that largely benefit from the financing of the EU budget and have experienced simplification due to the response of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to the requests of final beneficiaries. At the same time, there have been repeated calls from the European Court of Auditors regarding these policies to reduce their complexity and further apply simplification measures, without compromising their functioning and the sound financial management of the EU budget.