The Communication "A simplification agenda for the 2014-2020 MFF" published by the Commission brings altogether in one single document the proposed 120 changes to simplify the rules governing EU funding for Small and Medium Enterprises, towns and regions, students, scientists and others.

The European Commission has presented a Communication, "A simplification agenda for the 2014-2020 MFF", which aims to make the life of EU funds' beneficiaries easier by reducing the administrative burden on them. In particular, with this document the Commission brings altogether the proposed 120 changes to simplify the rules governing EU funding for Small and Medium Enterprises, towns and regions, students, scientists and others, which have been issued since the presentation of its proposal for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) last June. Also in June 2011, the European Parliament already asked to increase the MFF.

In order to simplify the access to funding, the Commission proposes some examples such as the purchase of machinery in a vocational school that was financed from the European Regional Development Fund. The same school got a grant for curricula development from the European Social Fund. Even though both investments were needed to introduce a new training programme, the school had to do all the paperwork twice. Under the Commission's proposal, combining money from both funds will be easier; the school will be able to follow one procedure only, allowing it to devote more time to delivering the new training to pupils.

In addition, the current arrangements demand to keep the documents regarding EU co-funded cohesion projects for up to 10 years. For some projects this retention time can reach 15 years. The new rules will cut this time to 5 years. The Commission also proposes a better coordination with national auditors. Projects under 100,000 euro will not be audited more than once at all and bigger projects no more than once a year. In Research it takes on average 350 days to get a grant. The Commission proposes to reduce it by one third (100 days).

The Commission stresses that EU rules are often completed by additional rules at national level. Therefore, efforts at EU level cannot succeed if they are not followed up by similar efforts at national, regional and local levels. That is why the Commission hopes that the legislators in the European Parliament, the Council as well as in Member States will see simplification as crucial.