Page 16 - ePaper
P. 16
Plan, the overall amount of investment on innovation mobilised by the EU budget in the
next years will be higher than with Horizon 2020 only.

Finally, the means in the Guarantee Fund will be phased in over time and the payments will
be significantly back-loaded. This means that the spending scheduled for Horizon 2020 in
2015-2016 will not be affected.


32. Where is the money taken from? How much is it?

The redeployment of €2.7 billion from Horizon 2020 to the EFSI Guarantee Fund represents
3.5% of the total Horizon 2020 financial envelope for 2014-2020. Horizon 2020 remains a
high priority during the period 2014-2020. After this redeployment, the Horizon 2020
th
financial envelope is still 49% higher than the one of the 7 Framework Programme 2007-
2013.

Once the EFSI Regulation and the consequent budgetary adjustments are adopted by the
European Parliament and Council, those €2.7 billion will constitute a provision in the EFSI
Guarantee Fund. This money will be blocked in the Guarantee Fund and can only be used to
pay possible guarantee calls by the EIB.


33. Why is money taken from the excellent and successful European Research

Council? Is the Commission against research?
Excellence in research and the European Research Council (ERC) is a top priority for the
Union. This is reflected in the ERC's budget for 2014-2020.
The ERC budget in 2014-2020 will still represent an increase of over 70% compared to the
2007-2013 ERC budget (increase of 71.4% in nominal terms, 58% in real terms / €12,873.6
billion against €7,510 billion).

The level of ERC budget redeployment is lower (1.7%, representing €221.2 million) than
redeployment from the global Horizon2020 budget (3.5%).


34. Why is money taken from innovation but not from other policies like

agriculture?
In 2013, after difficult negotiations, the EU adopted a €1 trillion multi-annual financial
framework (MFF) for 2014-2020.

The MFF is divided into headings (e.g. competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture, external
action). A transfer of funds between headings requires a change to the MFF that can only be
decided by unanimity among Member States. Such a change would necessitate a complex
and time-consuming negotiation, the outcome of which would be uncertain.


35. Can the debt and risk financing instruments in the EFSI be combined with
structural funds?

Structural funds can be used by Member States to invest alongside the EFSI in eligible
projects. Member States and regional authorities are also invited to use EU funds at their
disposal as effectively as possible in support of investment, by focusing on key areas and
maximising the multiplier effect of every euro invested. This implies an increased use of



16
   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21