The European Parliament have published a study by John Bachtler and Carlos Mendez providing a 'Review and Assessment of Simplification Measures in Cohesion Policy 2007-2013'.
The study was commissioned by the Parliament's DG for Internal Policies to inform the Regional Development Committee (REGIO) in assessing the recent simplification measures introduced by the Commission to accelerate Structural Funds spending and rationalise administration, as well their thinking on the future of Cohesion policy.
Simplification has been an ongoing feature of Cohesion policy reform debates since 1988, and the most recent simplification exercise responds to the economic crisis and involves measures for speeding up programme implementation.
The study by John Bachtler and Carlos Mendez found that these measures have been at least partially effective, with some programmes playing a major role in dealing with the crisis, through accelerated spending or special instruments. The longer term focus of attention is on how the current, administratively complex management and control system can be simplified while maintaining assurance on the regularity of spending.
Review and Assessment of Simplification Measures in Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, by John Bachtler and Carlos Mendez, Directorate-General for Internal Policies, European Parliament, Brussels, September 2010.