EUfonder

EUfonder is a term used to describe a hypothetical European Union funding body proposed to consolidate the administration of EU-wide grants and subsidies. The core aim is to simplify access to funding, reduce fragmentation across programs, and align support with EU priorities such as research excellence, regional development, climate action, and social inclusion.

Structure and governance: It would be governed by a board appointed by member states, with an executive director reporting to a supervisory committee made up of representatives from the European Commission and national authorities. The body would coordinate with existing EU funds and operate through centralized funding windows, calls for proposals, and blended financing instruments.

Funding programs: EUfonder would administer multi-fund programs, streamlining calls that cover research and development, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure. It would manage grants, subsidies, loans, and guarantees, and support cross-border consortia and public-private partnerships.

Eligibility and process: Applicants would include public authorities, universities and research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises, and non-profit organizations from the EU and associated countries. Calls would be open to cross-border teams, with standard evaluation on impact, technical merit, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Co-financing requirements and compliance would apply, with emphasis on transparency.

Evaluation and oversight: Projects would undergo ex-ante and ex-post evaluations, audits, and performance reporting. Results would be published in an open-data framework to enable learning and scrutiny, while privacy and data protection would be maintained.

Status and reception: As a hypothetical concept used in policy discussions, EUfonder illustrates potential benefits and risks of centralizing EU funding. Proponents point to efficiency and coherence; critics warn of administrative bottlenecks and increased political influence.