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Questions and Answers on the Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) proposal

European Commission

Questions and answers
8 March 2022
Brussels

Why did you propose CARE and what are the changes to the existing rules?

Given the urgency to address the situation of people who are fleeing Ukraine as a result of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine, today's proposal on Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) intends to provide additional flexibility in cohesion policy funding to support Member States hosting people fleeing from the war in Ukraine.

What are the main changes introduced by the CARE proposal?

CARE introduces four main changes to cohesion policy rules to maximise the speed and ease with which Member States can help people fleeing Ukraine, while continuing to support regions' recovery:

• To ease national budgetary pressures, the possibility of 100% EU co-financing for 2014-2020 cohesion policy funding will be extended for the accounting year 2021-2022;
• Member States and regions will have the possibility to use resources from either the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) or the European Social Fund (ESF) for any type of measures to support people fleeing Ukraine. Thanks to this flexibility either fund will be able to support projects even if these would normally be funded by the other one;
• Member State spending on all actions helping people fleeing Ukraine will be eligible for EU support retroactively as of the start date of the Russian invasion (24 February 2022);
• The reporting and the programme modifications will be simplified.

Which actions for people fleeing the war in Ukraine can be supported under Cohesion policy funding and FEAD programmes?

Today's proposal concerns the 2014-2020 cohesion policy and FEAD programmes.

Cohesion policy funds can support emergency measures such as building reception centres or shelters for refugees and actions in areas like mobile hospitals, sanitation and water supply.

Moreover, such funding can provide immediate support in the areas of employment, education and social inclusion. This includes training, language courses, counselling, coaching, psychological assistance, legal support, and access to services such as childcare, healthcare and social services.

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports measures to provide basic material assistance to the most deprived, including food, clothing and other essential items for personal use.

Can Member States use REACT-EU money for measures for people fleeing the war?

Member States can already programme, or re-programme parts of the resources of Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU). A significant part of the €10 billion from the 2022 REACT-EU is available to Member States to support projects to assist people fleeing Ukraine in line with the overall aim of post-pandemic recovery, without the need for legislative changes. REACT-EU resources already profit from 100% co-financing and a very flexible implementation. Finally, resources under REACT-EU can also be used by Member States to increase the allocation for programmes supported by the FEAD to provide basic material assistance.

How can Member States use the 100% co-financing possibility, do they still need to propose an amendment to their operation programmes?

The possibility to use the 100% co-financing for the ERDF, ESF, CF and FEAD will not need a Commission decision. Thanks to the simplification of the procedures now introduced, Member States only need to notify the Commission.

Will third country nationals fleeing from the war in Ukraine be able to benefit from support measures under cohesion funding?

Yes. Persons affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including third country nationals, will be able to benefit from support measures under cohesion funding.