E-Cohesion - a Simplification Method within European Union Rules

• Author: Paul Zai, Cristina Nicoleta Caranica
• Pages: 726-734

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives. Proceedings 2015

726

E-Cohesion – a Simplification Method within European Union Rules

Paul Zai1, Cristina Nicoleta Caranica2

Abstract: The e-cohesion is according to European Commission (EC) a set of common rules for simplifying

the accountancy and more precise reporting for European structural funds and European investment funds by

using the digital technologies and public databases for all exchanges of information between the beneficiaries

of pro jects financed with European funds and audit authorities, intermediate bod ies, certifying authorities,

managing autho rities. The budget allocated for investments of the European Union (EU) for period 2014 -

2020 is of approximately a trillion Euros for sustainable growth, new jobs and competitiveness, solidarity and

cohesion for an important role of EU in world. One of the ten points of refor ms related with the cohesion

politics refers to e-cohesion. The article outline the EU and Romania regulations prepared for e -cohesion

target that is established for all EU countries in 2016. The paper is presenting the main opportunities and

limits in the e-cohesion process for the horizon 2014-2020 using as methodology of stud y the computing and

analysis based on the documentation published by EU, Netherlands and Romanian regulators. The study is

also presenting the stage of e-cohesion changes reported by Netherlands and Romania.

Keywords: EU member states; sustainable growth; e-cohesion; digital technologies

JEL Codes: C88; H83; I38; M15

1. Specific Regulation Related to E-cohesion Rules

The “history” of the process of adopting the e-cohesion into European Union (EU) regulations for the

framework 2014-2020 began on 29 June 2011 when the European Commission (EC) presented a

proposal for making the EU funding simpler, more transparent and fairer.

On 8 February 2012, the EC launched the Simplification Agenda for the Multiannual Financial

Framework (MFF) 2014-2020. The Simplification Agenda was built from two parts of simplification:

the reviewed financial regulation and 57 sectorial proposals for specific programs. After consulting with

citizens and stakeholders for designing, the programs were released on 1 January 2013. On 26 February

2013 was released the 2nd Simplification Scoreboard. (European Commission, 2013)

By using the digital technologies is considered by EU to reduce amount of work with 11% and to

reduce the risks in the process of funding. The applications for e-cohesion are considered to permit the

1 Senior Lecturer, PhD, University Babes-Bolyai, Romania, Address: 1 Mihail Kogălniceanu Str., Cluj-Napoca 400084,

Romania, Tel./Fax: (+40)264 43 13 61, E-mail: zai@fspac.ro.

2 PhD Student, Department of Management Information Systems, The University of Economic S tudies, Romania, Address:

Piața Romană 6, Bucharest 010374, Romania, Tel.: (+40)21 319 19 00, Fax: (+40)21 319 19 89, Co rresponding author:

cristina.caranica@gmail.com.