Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2175 of 5 August 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the definition of unit costs and establishment of amounts for financing not linked to costs for certain operations facilitating the integration of young persons into the labour market, education and society in the framework of the ‘Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve’ (ALMA) initiative
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2175of 5 August 2022supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the definition of unit costs and establishment of amounts for financing not linked to costs for certain operations facilitating the integration of young persons into the labour market, education and society in the framework of the Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve (ALMA) initiativeTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa PolicyOJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, and in particular Articles 94(4) and 95(4) thereof,Whereas:(1)With a view to simplifying the use of the ESF+ and reducing the administrative burden for beneficiaries, it is appropriate to define certain unit costs and establish amounts for financing not linked to costs available for reimbursement of the Union contribution to programmes.(2)The unit costs for reimbursement to Member States should be established on the basis of a fair, equitable and verifiable calculation method based on historical or statistical data, as referred to in Article 94(2) second subparagraph points (a) to (d) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.(3)In the setting of the amounts for Union-level financing not linked to costs it should be ensured that the principles of sound financial management, in particular that the resources employed are adequate for the investments undertaken, as well as the prohibition of double funding are respected.(4)Reaffirming the commitments made under the European Pillar of Social Rights to tackle inequalities and create equal opportunities, it is appropriate to facilitate and create incentives for the implementation of operations that provide active support to employment and education for disadvantaged young persons.(5)In the framework of the implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee, along with the 2022 Year of Youth initiative, and having regard to Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/402 concerning an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisisCommission Recommendation (EU) 2021/402 of 4 March 2021 on an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE) (OJ L 80, 8.3.2021, p. 1)., the Commission launched the Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve (ALMA) initiativehttps://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1549&langId=en, which aims to foster young persons’s integration into the labour market, education, and society.(6)It is appropriate to define unit costs and establish amounts for financing not linked to costs for programmes or priorities that support ALMA. It should be possible to use these unit costs and amounts for financing not linked to costs for operations supporting the integration of disadvantaged young persons into the labour market, education, and society.(7)Such operations should include a tailor-made preparation phase in the home Member State of the participant, an accompanied stay abroad with a placement in an enterprise or institution in another Member State, and continued support upon return.(8)There are significant disparities between Member States regarding the level of costs for this type of operation. In line with the principle of sound financial management, the amounts established by the Commission should reflect the specificities of each Member State.(9)Furthermore, in order to create an incentive for Member States to support actions for these disadvantaged young persons in any other Member States, including those where the costs for living are higher, it is appropriate to define a top-up amount to be paid to programmes for the duration of the stay in a different Member State reflecting a higher level of costs incurred in some Member States.(10)It is also appropriate to establish an additional top-up to encourage Member States to provide for allowances to participants where this is needed to ensure a decent standard of living of the disadvantaged young persons in those Member States. This could be the case where the participant is not entitled to social security benefits in their home Member State. It should be for the managing authority to assess such a need and decide if such an allowance is to be granted to participants.(11)Additionally, it is justified to define a top-up amount that would be applied for successful participation. This amount would be paid to Member States to compensate for their additional efforts undertaken.(12)In order to ensure that the unit costs remain an appropriate proxy for the costs actually incurred and that the amounts for financing not linked to costs remain adequate for the investment undertaken throughout the programming period, an appropriate adjustment method should be provided for.HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: