In most cases, EU grants are reimbursements of a share of the actual costs incurred by the beneficiary, which implies time consuming paperwork both for the beneficiary, who must itemise all expenditure, and the Commission, which then has to check the project not only against the delivery of the results, but also against eligibility of all the costs claimed.
Seni hüvitati ELi toetustega enamikul juhtudel teatav osa abisaaja tegelikest kuludest, mis põhjustab aeganõudvat paberimajandust nii abisaajale, kes peab kõigist kuludest üksikasjalikult aru andma, kui ka komisjonile, kes peab projekti puhul hindama mitte üksnes tulemusi, vaid ka kõigi hüvitamiseks esitatud kulude abikõlblikkust.