The European Commission, through the introduction of ex ante conditionality, intends to ensure uniform regulatory, administrative and organisational conditions in the various Member States in order to achieve the objectives of rural development policy.
The aim of the principle is to transfer and manage the resources made available by the Community budget to a Member State following (ex-ante) assessment of certain requirements and requirements.
There are three different levels of cross-compliance to be respected:
- macroeconomic"; (art. 21 of Regulation no. 1303/2013), aimed at complying with the stability pact and which may involve, on the part of the Commission, a request for revision of the Partnership Contract or programmes, but also the suspension of payments in the event of non-compliance on the part of the Member State;
- “general"; (Annex IV of Regulation no. 1303/2013 and art. 10 of Regulation no. 1305/2013), aimed at ensuring compliance with certain common principles of the European Union and/or Community programming (anti-discrimination, gender equality, disability, compliance with regulations on public procurement, state aid, environmental impact assessment, statistical systems and monitoring);
- “Thematic"; issues related to the strategic priorities of the Feasr (Annex IV of Regulation no. 1305/2013), aimed at ensuring compliance with certain elements closely related to the achievement of the objectives of rural development and/or the operation of certain specific measures.
The reference standards are:
