Written by Stefano Spinaci (1st edition),

© rukanoga / Adobe Stock

On 28 May 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on a Technical Support Instrument that would provide Member States with technical support to strengthen their institutional and administrative capacity in designing and implementing reforms. In the context of the ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery plan, it would support them to prepare and implement recovery and resilience plans, and make reforms and investments related to the green and digital transitions.

Modelled on an instrument proposed by the Commission in 2018, the Technical Support Instrument would replace the Structural Reform Support Programme that has helped implement over 1 000 reform projects in the Member States since 2017. Under the current Commission proposal, a budget of €864.4 million has been set aside for the instrument over the 2021-2027 period (by contrast, the Structural Reform Support Programme has a budget of €222.8 million for 2017-2020).

The Council of the EU agreed its position on 22 July 2020. At the European Parliament, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) are working jointly on this file under Rule 58 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. On 1 October 2020, the joint committee adopted its final report and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations. The Parliament confirmed the decision in its first October plenary session.

Versions

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Technical Support Instrument
Committee responsible:

Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) (jointly under Rule 58)

 COM(2020) 409
28.5.2020
2020/0103(COD)
Shadow rapporteurs: Othmar Karas (EPP, Austria)

Dragoș Pîslaru (RE, Romania)

Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA, Germany)

 Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)
Next steps expected: Trilogue negotiations

EU Legislation in progress timeline