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EU Parl Watch

Changes between two versions

What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

From · plenary report· 16 Dec 2025

A-10-2025-0268

on the choice of performance indicators for audit and budgetary control in the context of financing measures to support the implementation of future European competitiveness

To · adopted text· 22 Jan 2026

TA-10-2026-0021

Choice of performance indicators for audit and budgetary control in the context of financing measures to support the implementation of future European competitiveness

AI:What changed, in short

Changes the emphasis on competitiveness measures to prioritize economic results while allowing broader societal effects to be considered.2 Removes the requirement to report on social and environmental footprint of projects.3 Refines simplification for SMEs to focus on reducing red tape and administrative costs.4 Adds a call for a 'one in, two out' principle to cut regulatory burden.5 The other change is formal: decimal separators are updated.1

4 changes of substance · 1 formal · 0 of wording only

Written by AI from the two texts only · read the changes before relying on it · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Changes to the text itself, in document order. Cover page, citations and punctuation-only edits are left out; they are under “Every difference”.

Changes of substance · 4

Change 2 Substance

AI summary:Rewords paragraph 2 to emphasize that competitiveness measures can contribute to broader societal benefits, but the performance framework should primarily provide economic results and measurable policy outcomes, taking into account broader societal effects where relevant.

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Changed:2. Stresses that measures to enhance competitiveness shouldcan becontribute accompaniedto bybroader actionssocietal tobenefits, promoteprovided socialthat cohesion,those someasures thatremain economicfocused progresson translatesproductivity, intogrowth broaderand societaljob benefits;creation; insists that any overarching performance framework for the EU budget should primarily provide aeconomic balancedresults assessmentand coveringmeasurable bothpolicy economicoutcomes, resultswhile andtaking socialinto impact;account, where relevant, broader societal effects, without undermining the principles of efficiency and effectiveness;

Change 3 Substance

AI summary:Drops the requirement that data include comprehensive information on the social and environmental footprint of projects financed.

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Changed:12. Insists that indicator data and methodologies be made publicly available in real time through an interoperable monitoring, reporting and audit system, thereby increasing transparency and ensuring traceability down to project and final beneficiary level; recalls the importance of ‘final beneficiary transparency’ for EU funds; stresses that EU funding, including that under indirect management, must be transparent and should allow for effective auditing and prevention of double funding; insists further that this data should include comprehensive information regarding the social and environmental footprint of the projects financed;

Change 4 Substance

AI summary:Changes paragraph 35 to focus simplification on reducing unnecessary red tape and administrative costs for SMEs, while ensuring a proportionate and efficient regulatory framework.

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Changed:35. Considers that in order to accelerate both the green and digital transitions, particular attention should be paid to innovative SMEs for which simplification is critical; stresses that simplification should notfocus leadon toreducing deregulationunnecessary red tape and administrative costs for SMEs; emphasises that simplification must be carried out inwhile ensuring a wayproportionate thatand guaranteesefficient regulatory framework, guaranteeing regulatory certainty as well as proper impact assessment; suggests that progress in reducing the administrative burden could be measured with indicators such as the number of projects approved and the number of projects concluded annually with SMEs, the decrease in the rate of appeals or disputes related to application procedures and the reduction in time required to access EU funding, from application to disbursement;

Change 5 Substance

AI summary:Adds a new paragraph calling for a 'one in, two out' principle to reduce regulatory burden, requiring new costs to be offset by twice the amount in reductions.

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Added:36. Calls on the Commission to further step up efforts to reduce regulatory burden and to ensure that EU legislation is proportionate, evidence-based and delivers clear added value for citizens and businesses; considers the current ‘one in, one out’ approach to be insufficient in this regard; calls, therefore, for the application of a ‘one in, two out’ principle, whereby the introduction of any new costs through regulatory obligations is offset by reductions in regulatory costs stemming from other EU legislation by at least twice the equivalent amount, with the objective of achieving a net reduction in the regulatory burden, while treating separately the burden on companies and public administration.

1 formal change: legal basis, citations, references, corrections

Change 1 Formal

AI summary:Replaces decimal commas with decimal points in the percentage figures.

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Changed:F. whereas the Draghi report has cautioned that the EU’s declining competitiveness, exacerbated by the increasingly unstable geopolitical environment, together with the succession of crises it has faced in recent years, poses an existential threat to the Union; whereas the report estimates that the EU needs to mobilise additional public and private investment equivalent to 4.4-4.74,4-4,7 % of EU GDP – approximately EUR 750-800 billion annually between 2025 and 2030 – to close the investment gap;