TSI - How it works - Reforms and Investments

About the TSI

The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) is the EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU countries to design and implement economic and social reforms. The support is demand driven and does not require co-financing from EU countries. It is an important pillar of the EU’s initiative to help Member States mitigate the economic and social consequences of the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis.

The TSI can be used to tackle the challenges posed when implementing reforms. It can take the form of funding for:

strategic and legal advice
studies
training
expert visits on the ground.

It can cover all phases of the reform process. From preparation and design to development and implementation of the reforms.

The technical support is provided in a wide range of policy areas, including but not limited to climate action, digital transition and health. Member States can also request support to prepare, amend, implement and revise their national recovery and resilience plans under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Aside from helping EU countries recover from the pandemic, the TSI helps them improve the quality of public services and boost sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The TSI is the successor programme of the Structural Reform Support Programme (2017-2020) and builds on its experience in building capacity in Member States. The European Commission's Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) manages the TSI.

TSI support for reforms

starts with a request for support from an EU Member State
is tailor-made to address the country's needs
provides a unique combination of expertise from the European Commission, EU Member States’ national administrations, international organisations and/or the private sector
strengthens the capacity of an EU Member State to carry out reforms
requires no co-financing

Types of support

EU Member States can request technical support under the TSI to:

implement resilience-enhancing reforms in the context of EU economic governance, such as those arising from country-specific recommendations under the European Semester and by virtue of implementing EU law
prepare, amend, implement and revise national recovery and resilience plans under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
implement economic adjustment programmes
implement reforms undertaken at their own initiative

Budget

€864 million for the period 2021-2027 (in current prices)

How does it work?

An EU Member State wishing to receive technical support submits a request to the Commission, via a national Coordinating Authority. This request must be submitted by 31 October of each year.

TSI 2026 Call

Since 2022, the Flagship technical support projects have been selected on the basis that they are largely needed across Member States and are linked to top EU priorities the Member States are in the process of implementing.

Support may be provided directly through the Commission’s in-house expertise or with other providers of technical support:

experts from EU Member States' national administrations (TAIEX)
international organisations
private firms and consultancies
individual experts from the private sector

TAIEX-TSI Peer 2 Peer is an instrument managed in cooperation with the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) to implement part of the TSI. The instrument allows experts from national administrations to exchange expertise through expert field visits, study visits and workshops. TAIEX funding is only available for projects selected under the TSI.