Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/1127 of 28 May 2018 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 on supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund, regarding the definition of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission to Member States

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) With a view to simplifying the use of the European Social Fund ‘ESF’ and reducing the administrative burden for beneficiaries, it is appropriate to increase the scope of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums available for reimbursement to Member States. The standard scales of unit costs and lump sums for reimbursement to Member States should be established on the basis of data submitted by Member States or published by Eurostat and on the basis of methods commonly agreed, including the methods set out in Article 67(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and Article 14(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013.

(2) Taking into account the significant disparities between Member States regarding the level of costs for a particular type of operation, the definition and amounts of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums may differ according to the type of operation and the Member State concerned in order to reflect their specificities.

(3) Croatia, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdon have submitted methods for defining standard scales of unit costs for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission.

(4) France, the Czech Republic, Malta, Slovakia and Cyprus have submitted methods for either amending existing standard scales of unit costs, or defining additional standard scales of unit costs for reimbursement by the Commission concerning types of operation not yet covered by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 (3).

(5) For the SSUCs relating to operations supporting education and applicable to all Member States except Greece and Denmark, the categories of costs coverd by the SSUCs, and the amounts to be paid where the course does not last one full academic year or in case of part-time participation, should be clarified.

(6) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is amended as follows:

(1) Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex I to this Regulation.

(2) Annex III to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Regulation.

(3) Annex V to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex III to this Regulation.

(4) Annex VII to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex IV to this Regulation.

(5) Annex XIV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex V to this Regulation.

(6) Annex XV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 is replaced by the text in Annex VI to this Regulation.

(7) The text in Annex VII to this Regulation is added as Annex XVI to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195.

(8) The text in Annex VIII to this Regulation is added as Annex XVII to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195.

(9) The text in Annex IX to this Regulation is added as Annex XVIII to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195.

(10) The text in Annex X to this Regulation is added as Annex XIX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 28 May 2018.

For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 470.

(2) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320).

(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2195 of 9 July 2015 on supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund, regarding the definition of standard scales of unit costs and lump sums for reimbursement of expenditure by the Commission to Member States (OJ L 313, 28.11.2015, p. 22).