New measures for development-oriented governance and implementation – evaluation of the European Structural and Investment Funds and ensuing recommendations (own-initiative opinion)

Key points:

The EESC believes that

• a simple, accessible strategy and objectives and a single, long-term project for Europe are vital (EU 2030-50 strategy);
• the main instrument for stronger central, development-oriented governance should be the European Semester;
• the GDP-based performance indicator should be flanked by an additional, results-based indicator, that reflects sustainability and includes primarily social and environmental factors;
• close coordination and the introduction of an open cooperation method between Member States is necessary;
• legal and financial instruments (in particular the European Structural and Investment Funds as well as the European Fund for Strategic Investment) must be consolidated;
• shared, multilevel implementation is important;
• one of the key elements in long-term development-oriented governance is continuity;
• it is vital to keep the public properly involved;
• the involvement of the economic and social partners and NGOs should be ensured at all levels;
• the establishment of a European Code of Conduct on Partnership is vital;  
• it is necessary to go beyond the partnership rules and specify the minimum requirements that the Member State authorities will have to meet;
• the Member States should be obliged to set up effective funding systems to build partners' capacity;
• the European Commission should establish a financing system that contributes to the operation of European NGO networks.