Keeping Europe together: synergies between investment and grant schemes

In light of the upcoming mid-term review of the EU budget and EU policies, the European Parliament has adopted a Resolution on synergies between Horizon 2020, European Structural and Investment Funds, and other European support schemes. EPP Group co-authors Lambert van Nistelrooij and Christian Ehler presented the scale of the challenges ahead, ranging from delivering on Europe’s cohesion objectives and building on the successful Juncker investment plan.

Rich regions profit, whereas others are stagnating. Lambert van Nistelrooij MEP

Looking at the state of play, the statistics are clear: 90% of the Horizon 2020 investments go to the old Member States, whereas for the European Structural and Investment Funds, 80% of the investments end up in the new Member States. “Different funds, different regions, so it seems. Rich regions profit, whereas others are stagnating. Europe stands for balanced development and strong territorial cohesion. We need to adjust this to keep Europe together”, said the EPP Group Spokesman on Regional Affairs, Lambert van Nistelrooij MEP.

We need to find a way of using the available money more efficiently. Christian Ehler MEP

The European Commission will come forward with proposals for the mid-term review next year. “Synergies between the European Structural and Investment Funds and Horizon 2020 will be one of the main issues during the upcoming mid-term review and the future FP9. We need to find a way of using the available money more efficiently and maximise the impact of investments. The European Parliament already laid the groundwork for the creation of synergies and this issue must now be intensified”, said Christian Ehler MEP.

The EPP Group Members are particularly asking the Commission for a coordinated approach on innovation policy in the mid-term review. “Before we spend money, our businesses need to earn money. That’s why we invest in open innovation in all of Europe, to support the growth potential of our economies. The ESI funds have €60 billion to do just that!” van Nistelrooij concluded.