Article 27

The Member State shall present a national strategic reference framework which ensures that assistance from the Funds is consistent with the Community strategic guidelines on cohesion, and which identifies the link between Community priorities, on the one hand, and its national reform programme, on the other. Each national strategic reference framework shall constitute a reference instrument for preparing the programming of the Funds. The national strategic reference framework shall apply to the Convergence objective and the Regional competitiveness and employment objective. It may also, if a Member State so decides, apply to the European territorial cooperation objective, without prejudice to the future choices of other Member States concerned. The national strategic reference framework shall contain the following elements: an analysis of development disparities, weaknesses and potential, taking into account trends in the European and world economy; the strategy chosen on the basis of that analysis, including the thematic and territorial priorities. Where appropriate these priorities shall include actions relating to sustainable urban development, the diversification of rural economies and areas dependent on fisheries; the list of operational programmes for the Convergence and Regional competitiveness and employment objectives; a description of how the expenditure for the Convergence and Regional competitiveness and employment objectives will contribute to the European Union priorities of promoting competitiveness and creating jobs, including meeting the objectives of the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005 to 2008) as laid down in Article 9(3). the indicative annual allocation from each Fund by programme; for regions of the Convergence objective only: the action envisaged for reinforcing the Member State's administrative efficiency; the amount of the total annual appropriation provided for under the EAFRD and the EFF; the information required for ex ante verification of compliance with the additionality principle referred to in Article 15; for Member States eligible for the Cohesion Fund under Articles 5(2) and 8(3), information on the mechanisms for ensuring coordination between operational programmes themselves and between these and the EAFRD, the EFF and, where appropriate, the interventions of the EIB and of other existing financial instruments. In addition, the national strategic reference framework may also contain, where relevant, the following elements: the procedure for coordination between Community cohesion policy and the relevant national, sectoral and regional policies of the Member State concerned; for Member States other than those referred to in paragraph 4(g), information on the mechanisms for ensuring coordination between operational programmes themselves and between these and the EAFRD, the EFF and the interventions of the EIB and of other existing financial instruments. The information contained in the national strategic reference framework shall take account of the specific institutional arrangements of each Member State.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.