Synergies between H2020 and Structural Funds

CZELO

ECA report finds synergies between Horizon 2020 and Structural Funds were not fully exploited.

The 2014-2020 period brought the largest investment in R&I from the EU budget than ever before. The two main funds supporting R&I were the eighth framework programme (FP) for R&I, called Horizon 2020 (H2020), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The total budget allocation for H2020 was €76.4 billion, and the EU funding committed to R&I activities under the ERDF was close to €41 billion. The aim of the newly published report was to assess whether the Commission and the relevant national/regional implementing authorities had taken appropriate measures to establish synergies between Horizon 2020 and the ESIFs. The audit results show that the potential of these synergies was not fully exploited within the previous program period.

The main findings of the audit are:

  • a lack of alignment between regulatory provisions governing Horizon 2020, the ESIF Common Provision Regulation and the related General Block Exemption Regulation under State aid rules. The Commission has taken steps to remedy this in the 2021-2027 period, but it remains to be seen whether the changes will bring the expected impact.
  • The absence of an integrated database for ESIF projects that is interoperable with the Horizon 2020 database made it difficult for the Commission and national/regional authorities to identify and explore possible synergies
  • Even though, the two main DGs involved (DG RTD and DG REGIO) cooperated well when preparing the 2021-2027 regulations, the Commission did not put in place a regular and structured dialogue process involving relevant Commission DGs and national players responsible for designing and implementing the two programmes.
  • The ESIF’s strategic planning documents made few references to synergies with Horizon 2020. In addition, the priorities set out in these strategic documents were often too broad, which made it difficult to focus investments and create synergies.
  • Since there was no system for monitoring synergies, the Commission was not in a position to systematically identify and promote examples of good practice.

The whole report is available at the Court od Auditors website.