CHAPTER III

This Chapter applies to ESF+ support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (m). The ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation shall be used only to support the distribution of food and goods that are in conformity with the Union law on consumer product safety. Member States and beneficiaries shall choose the food and/or the basic material assistance on the basis of objective criteria related to the needs of the most deprived persons. The selection criteria for the food, and where appropriate for goods, shall also take into consideration climate-related and environmental aspects, in particular with a view to reduction of food waste and single-use plastics. Where appropriate, the choice of the type of food to be distributed shall be made having considered their contribution to the balanced diet of the most deprived persons. The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly, for example, through vouchers or cards, in electronic or other form, provided that they can be redeemed only against food and/or basic material assistance. Support for the most deprived persons shall be additional to any social benefit that may be provided to end recipients by national social systems or according to national law. The food provided for the most deprived persons may be obtained from the use, processing or sale of the products disposed of in accordance with Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671). , provided that this is economically the most favourable option and does not unduly delay the delivery of food to the most deprived persons. Any amount derived from such a transaction shall be used for the benefit of the most deprived persons, in addition to the amounts already available to the programme. The Commission and Member States shall ensure that aid provided in the framework of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation respects the dignity and prevents stigmatisation of the most deprived persons. Member States shall complement the delivery of food and/or basic material assistance by accompanying measures, such as referrals to competent services, under the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (m), or by promoting the social integration of the most deprived persons under the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l). A priority concerning support contributing to the specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (m), shall set out: the type of support; the main target groups; and a description of the national or regional schemes of support. In the case of programmes limited to support as referred to in paragraph 1 and the related technical assistance, the priority shall also include the criteria for the selection of operations. The food and/or basic material assistance provided to the most deprived persons may be purchased by or on behalf of the beneficiary or made available free of charge to the beneficiary. The food and/or basic material assistance shall be distributed free of charge to the most deprived persons. The eligible costs of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation shall be: the cost of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance, including costs related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the end recipients; where the transport of the food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries distributing them to the end recipients is not covered by point (a), the costs borne by the purchasing body related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the storage depots or the beneficiaries and storage costs at a flat-rate of 1 % of the costs referred to in point (a) or, in duly justified cases, costs actually incurred and paid; the administrative, transport, storage and preparation costs borne by the beneficiaries involved in the distribution of the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived persons at a flat-rate of 7 % of the costs referred to in point (a) or 7 % of the costs of the value of the food disposed of in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013; the cost of collection, transport, storage and distribution of food donations and directly related awareness raising activities; and the costs of accompanying measures undertaken by or on behalf of beneficiaries and declared by the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived persons at a flat- rate of 7 % of the costs referred to in point (a). Costs for the preparation of voucher or card schemes in electronic or other form, and corresponding operating costs are eligible under technical assistance provided they are borne by the managing authority or another public body which is not a beneficiary that distributes the vouchers or cards to end recipients, or provided they are not covered by the costs set out in of paragraph 1, point (c). A reduction of the eligible costs referred to in paragraph 1, point (a) because the body responsible for the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance did not comply with the applicable law, shall not lead to a reduction of the eligible costs set out in points (c) and (e) of that paragraph. The following costs shall not be eligible: interest on debt; purchase of infrastructure; and costs of second-hand goods. Priorities addressing material deprivation shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex III to monitor progress in implementation. Those priorities may also use programme-specific indicators. The reference values of common and programme-specific result indicators shall be established. Managing authorities shall report twice to the Commission the results of a structured survey of the end recipients regarding the support received from the ESF+ and also focusing on their living conditions and the nature of their material deprivation, carried out during the previous year. That survey shall be based on the model which shall be established by the Commission by means of an implementing act. The first such reporting shall take place by 30 June 2025 and the second by 30 June 2028. The Commission shall adopt an implementing act establishing the model to be used for the structured survey of end recipients in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 38(2) in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Article. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 37 to amend the indicators in Annex III where considered to be necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of programmes. Such amendments shall be proportionate taking into account the administrative burden borne by Member States and beneficiaries. Delegated acts in accordance with this paragraph shall not change the methodology for data collection as laid down in Annex III. Audit of operations may cover all stages of their implementation and all levels of the distribution chain, with the sole exception of control of the end recipients, unless a risk assessment establishes a specific risk of irregularity or fraud.

← art_17__para_7__text_1 · All articles · Article 18 →

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