A programme amendment is an adjustment of the programme document that changes the allocation between priorities, adds or removes measures, adjusts indicators, or responds to new circumstances. The proposal is prepared by the managing authority, discussed by the monitoring committee, and approved by the European Commission, a process that takes months. It is significant for applicants for two reasons. First, while an amendment is being prepared, the announcement of calls in the affected areas is usually suspended and the timetable is pushed back. Second, an approved amendment can reveal where support is being shifted to and which areas will be strengthened in the next period. Draft amendments are usually published for consultation, so they can be monitored even before their approval. For larger investment plans, it is therefore worth monitoring not only the schedule of calls but also upcoming revisions of the programme.
See also: Mid-term review, Monitoring Committee, Programme financial plan.
