For the 2021-2027 programming period, Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) and Financing Not Linked to Costs (FNLC) have been put forward as key to reduce administrative burden and costs for beneficiaries and managing bodies while maintaining a high level of assurance of legality and regularity. Estimates suggest a reduction of total administrative costs by 20-25% if these options are applied consequently (COM(2018) 375 final, 2018, p. 5).

Empirical evidence however suggests that 2021-2027 Interreg IPA programmes do not use any FNLC. Moreover, SCOs are used nearly exclusively at the so-called lower level, i.e. not making use of the upper level options provided by Article 94 of the CPR.

On 23 January 2024 from 9h30 to 11h30 CET, the European Commission (Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy) will organise an online workshop about Simplified Cost Options (SCO) in Practice in Interreg IPA Programmes. It addresses Interreg stakeholders dealing with simplification.

You can click here to register!