Date: 2020-05-19Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/669 of 18 May 2020 amending Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU as regards entrusting the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency with the implementation of the Innovation Fund
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision amends Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU to entrust the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (the Agency) with implementing parts of the Innovation Fund. This decision aims to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in managing the Innovation Fund. It enters into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Delegation of Innovation Fund Implementation:**
* The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (the Agency) is entrusted with the implementation of parts of the Innovation Fund.
* **Amendment to Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU:**
* Article 3.1 of Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU is amended to include the Innovation Fund in the list of Union programs managed by the Agency.
* The Agency will now implement parts of the Connecting Europe Facility, Part III Societal Challenges of the Horizon 2020 Specific Programme, and the Innovation Fund.
* **Justification for the Decision:**
* Delegating management of parts of the Innovation Fund to the Agency will contribute to achieving the objectives of the fund more efficiently.
* It is expected to result in cost savings of approximately EUR 30.5 million between 2020 and 2030 compared to in-house management.
* Synergies between the Innovation Fund and other Union programs managed by the Agency are expected to increase.
* **Entry into Force:**
* This Decision enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
* **Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (the Agency):**
* *Impact:* The Agency's responsibilities are expanded to include implementation of parts of the Innovation Fund, in addition to existing programs like the Connecting Europe Facility and Horizon 2020.
* *Action Required:* The Agency needs to prepare to manage and implement parts of the Innovation Fund according to the relevant regulations and guidelines.
* **European Commission:**
* *Impact:* The Commission delegates implementation tasks related to the Innovation Fund to the Agency, resulting in a shift of responsibilities and oversight.
* *Action Required:* The Commission must oversee the Agency's implementation of the Innovation Fund and ensure alignment with the fund's objectives.
* **Beneficiaries of the Innovation Fund:**
* *Impact:* Beneficiaries may experience increased proximity to Union funding and potentially more efficient management of the Innovation Fund.
* *Action Required:* Beneficiaries should familiarize themselves with any changes in the application and management processes related to the Innovation Fund due to the Agency's involvement.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Commission: An executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day affairs.
Innovation Fund: A fund established to support innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes.
Innovation and Networks Executive Agency: An executive agency entrusted with the management of certain parts of Union programmes, including the Connecting Europe Facility and the Horizon 2020.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining the scope of EU authority and the decision-making processes.
Council Regulation EC No 58/2003: Council Regulation laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes.
Directive 2003/87/EC: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community.
Connecting Europe Facility: A Union programme aimed at supporting investments in trans-European networks in the sectors of transport, energy and digital telecommunications infrastructure.
L 156/20 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 19.5.2020
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2020/669
of 18 May 2020
amending Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU as regards entrusting the Innovation and Networks
Executive Agency with the implementation of the Innovation Fund
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies
to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes(1) and in particular Article 3(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) establishes the Innovation Fund to support
innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes, and to help stimulate the construction/creation and operation
of projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO , as well as of innovative
2
renewable energy and energy storage technologies.
(2) In accordance with Article 16(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856(3), the Innovation Fund is to
be implemented in direct management or indirect management. Article 17 of that Regulation states that the
Commission may decide to designate an implementing body to carry out certain implementation tasks, and in the
case of direct management, those tasks must be delegated to an executive agency.
(3) Commission Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU(4) established the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency
('the Agency') and entrusted it with the management of certain parts of Union programmes, including the
Connecting Europe Facility and the Horizon 2020 in the field of energy.
(4) The cost-benefit analysis carried out in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 demonstrated that
delegating the management of parts of the Innovation Fund to the Agency would contribute to achieving the
objectives of the Innovation Fund more efficiently. Entrusting the Agency with the implementation of parts of the
Innovation Fund would result in cost savings of about EUR 30,5 million over the period 2020 to 2030 when
compared to the in-house management cost, increase efficiency and flexibility in the management of the Innovation
Fund, provide significant synergies between the Innovation Fund and other Union programmes managed by the
Agency and increase proximity to the beneficiaries as well as visibility of Union funding.
(5) It is therefore appropriate to entrust the Agency with the management and implementation of parts of the
Innovation Fund.
(1) OJ L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 1.
(2) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas
emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856 of 26 February 2019 supplementing Directive 2003/87/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council with regard to the operation of the Innovation Fund (OJ L 140, 28.5.2019, p. 6).
(4) Commission Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU of 23 December 2013 establishing the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency
and repealing Decision 2007/60/EC as amended by Decision 2008/593/EC (OJ L 352, 24.12.2013, p. 65).19.5.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 156/21
(6) Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) The measures provided for by this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Executive
Agencies,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Amendment to Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU
Article 3(1) of Implementing Decision 2013/801/EU is replaced by the following:
‘1. The Agency is hereby entrusted with the implementation of parts of the following Union programmes:
(a) Connecting Europe Facility;
(b) Part III Societal Challenges of the Horizon 2020 Specific Programme;
(c) the Innovation Fund established under Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council (*).
_____________
(*) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for
greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC
(OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).’.
Article 2
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
Done at Brussels, 18 May 2020.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN