ABSTRACT
Having argued for clearer objectives and greater resources, the Commission turns to the question of how best to operate the revised funds. This should be based on three related concepts: complementarity, partnership and programming. The first, in accordance with the ‘subsidiarity’ principle, means that Community effort should complement national measures. Partnership implies co-operation at all levels, from the planning of operations through the various stages of implementation to the assessment of results. For their part, the Commission must make efforts to ensure simplification and ‘transparency’ (providing technical assistance where needed), whilst the recipient partners on their part must make good use of the framework of preparation, monitoring and assessment. Programming means that Community action is given appropriate depth and width and, through multi-annual operations, will be able to respond to changing problems. It is envisaged that aid to programmes will gradually replace assistance to small projects and allow the Community to take a coherent overall medium-term view of economic and social needs.
