EU: Commission approves 225 reform projects – 17 in Greece

The European Commission has approved 225 projects under the Technical Assistance Instrument (TSI) to support Member States in preparing, designing and implementing reforms that will lead to modern and resilient public administrations, sustainable development strategies and resilient economies, while strengthening their ability to react to current and future crises. Several reform projects are also included in the national recovery and resilience plans.

Cohesion and Reform Commissioner Eliza Ferreira said: “Although we are still recovering from the pandemic, a new crisis erupted in Europe two weeks ago. The Technical Assistance Instrument will continue to support Member States and regions in achieving reforms that can “Improve their resilience, support their development strategies, prepare them for dual, digital and green transitions, and ensure efficient and flexible public administrations.”

Member States’ reforms are supported by the TSI, with a total budget of € 116.8 million for 2022. The TSI is a demand-driven instrument that offers personalized expertise. It is also a flexible tool that can be quickly adapted to the emerging needs of the Member States upon request.

A more targeted support

The projects are largely in line with the Commission’s key priorities: TSI 2022 will continue to support Member States in designing and implementing reforms to the green and digital transition, as well as in improving the operational capacity and efficiency of public their administrations. For example, 36% of requests focus on the objectives of the Green Agreement and 51% on the digital transition. In addition, 57% of the requests for support from the TSI for 2022 are linked to reforms under Member States’ recovery and resilience plans.

TSI’s work program for 2022 also includes some innovations:

Multinational or multi-regional projects: These projects provide technical support to address common challenges in different Member States or regions, focusing on the same priorities. These projects promote mutual learning and the development of common approaches through peer exchanges.

Flagship projects: Designed by the Commission to support reforms, which are largely needed in the various Member States and in line with the EU’s top priorities. wish to design and implement reforms to support building renovation. The flagship project “Implementing the European Guarantee for Children” supports Member States in implementing the Council Recommendation establishing a European Guarantee for Children. Provides technical support for the implementation of actions and policies that prevent and combat child poverty and social exclusion.

50% of the applications are related to emblematic projects, such as tourism, the wave of renovations, gender mainstreaming, public administration and the integration of immigrants, while 30% of the applications are related to multinational or multi-regional projects.

With the second round of the Technical Assistance Instrument, the Commission will support Greece with 17 projects in the areas of digital finance, climate crisis and civil protection, digitization of public administration, climate, policy-making, green taxation, immigration, the integration of migrants, the European guarantee for children, gender mainstreaming, skills matching between education and work, green urban mobility and real estate valuation.

So far, Greece has benefited from 112 projects. This support covers a wide range of policy areas, including public administration, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, financial literacy, inclusive education and health. Particular emphasis was placed on the digitization of public administration, the monitoring and evaluation of public policies and reforms, the equitable transition and the integration of migrants. To date, 51 projects have been successfully completed.

Source: AMPE