The annual EU budget has both a direct and indirect impact on the budgets of local and regional authorities and that's important in helping than to carry out their assigned tasks in times of difficult economic environment and scarce financial resources, states the CoR opinion".

 

Dr Silberg welcomes the creation of a special payment plan as the result of an agreement, however he laments the limited involvement of the CoR in the process.

 

The payment shortage  - underlines the EA Vice-president, will have a damaging effect on beneficiaries, particularly on LRAs who are currently facing many economic and social challenges. Moreover - he added - the difference of euro 10 billion between commitments and payments will not address the structural problem of the backlog of outdrawing claims to be expected at the end of the programming period.