Regulation (EU) 2017/825 is amended as follows:
(1)
Article 4 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 4
General objective
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming and strengthening institutions, governance, public administration, and economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges, with a view to enhancing cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation, investment and social inclusion and to contributing to real convergence in the Union, which may also prepare for participation in the euro area, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient, effective and transparent use of the Union funds.’;
(2)
the following Article is inserted:
‘Article 5a
Support for preparation for euro area membership
With a view to pursuing the objectives set out in Articles 4 and 5, and within the eligible actions referred to in Article 6, the Programme may finance actions and activities also in support of reforms that may help Members States in their preparation to join the euro area.’;
(3)
Article 10 is amended as follows:
(a)
paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:
‘1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme is set at EUR 222 800 000 in current prices.’;
(b)
in paragraph 2, the following sentence is added:
‘Expenses may also cover the costs of other supporting activities, such as quality control and monitoring of support projects on the ground.’;
(4)
in Article 16(2) the following point is added:
‘(f)
implementation of support measures.’.