CATANZARO «The cumulative value of certified expenditure has gone from approximately 1,524 billion euros (as of 30 June 2023) to approximately 1,730 billion euros (equal to 77.8% of the program budget)». This is what we read in theinformation from the Calabria Region on the implementation status of the Por 2014-2020 which will be on the agenda of the Supervisory Committee on Wednesday in the Citadel: under the lens, in addition to the new programming of community funds, there will also be the programming of the 2014-2020 cycle, which comes to an end this year.
The information
In the information – attached at the end of the article – the Region takes a “snapshot” of the progress of the 2014-2020 programming but also the spending forecasts for the closure of the cycle. «The current financial plan, which followed the final reprogramming, approved in October by the European Commission provides – we read further – a total budget of 2.223 billion, broken down as follows: 1,839.4 billion in favor of the eleven Axes co-financed by the ERDF (including the new Axis 15 Safe); 383.8 million in favor of the five axes co-financed by the ESF (including the new Axis 16 Safe). Based on the data extracted from the local information system (Siurp), the main financial parameters of the Program record the following values: admitted cost of the selected operations, 138.5%; public commitments, 113.8%; certified expenses, 77.8%. Between the two funds, the ERDF is the one that records the most significant values both in terms of the admitted cost of the selected operations (142.3%) and the commitments undertaken (116.2%). As regards, however, the cumulative value of certified expenses, as of 31 December 2023, the ESF, with approximately 82%, records a higher value than that recorded by the Axes co-financed by the ERDF, equal to 77%… A separate discussion – explains the Region in the information – deserves the new “Safe” Axis which was included in the Program during the final reprogramming: the degree of progress of the expenditure, currently equal to zero, could see a significant increase as a result of the expenses attributable to the public notice “Safe Aid to businesses for the high energy costs”, on which first level controls are underway, for an amount equal to over 50 million. Once these checks have been completed, these expenses may become part of the fourth interim payment application of the final accounting period (2023-2024)”.
Certified expenses as of December 31, 2023
In the information to the Supervisory Committee the Region then observes: «The final accounting period (2023-2024) opened on 1 July 2023.)… In the last three months of last year, the Certifying Authority validated and subsequently transmitted to the European Commission two requests for intermediate payment: a) as part of the first, transmitted on 12 October 2023, new expenses were included for approximately 96 million euros; b) new expenditure of over €110 million was included in the second interim payment application, submitted on 29 December 2023. As a result of the aforementioned payment requests, the cumulative value of certified expenditure went from approximately 1,524 billion euros (as of 30 June 2023) to approximately 1,730 billion euros (equal to 77.8% of the program budget). Compared to the value of the new expenses included in the payment request mentioned above, additional expenses of approximately 180 million euros have been registered in the system and initiated for checks”.
Spending forecasts
In the next six months – the Region then recalls – «they will be prepared two further requests for interim payment which the Certification Authority will send to the European Commission in compliance with the deadlines indicated below: the first by July 31, 2024; the second by October 31, 2024. Compliance with these deadlines will allow us to avoid the repercussions that may arise from the 1% ceiling introduced by the aforementioned “Step” regulation and to include all further expected expenses, estimated at over 300 million euros”. The Region’s objective is then to pursue the community spending target to avoid incurring automatic disengagement (N+3 rule): «In order to achieve the community spending target and guarantee the regular closure of the program – it is written in the information – further expenses for 101.8 million euros will have to be registered on the Siurp and sent for checks from the ERDF and a further 44.5 million euros for the ESF. The ESF spending gap depends on the fact that on Axis 16 the certified expenditure and that to be controlled is still zero. This gap will completely close following the census on the Siurp of the expenses relating to the Safe “vulnerable families” which will ensure the contribution of new expenses for an amount equal to 60 million euros. For the ERDF, however, it is necessary for the additional expenses that the beneficiaries declared to have incurred by 31 December 2023 to be registered in the system. Among the main sectors involved the following are worth mentioning: healthcare, 83 million euros; Environment, 32 million; Urban Strategies, 20 million; Energy, 16 million; Incentives for businesses, 14 million. Even in this case, as for the ESF, those relating to the expenditure will be able to contribute to the process of forming the expenditure Safe “vulnerable families” which will ensure the contribution of new expenses for an amount equal to 20/30 million. And finally, on the basis of the forecasts transmitted by the regional departments involved in the program management process… further expenses estimated at over 300 million euros will have to be registered on the SIURP and sent for checks”. (B.C)
Corriere della Calabria is also on WhatsApp. Enough click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated
