In the context of the debate on proposed measures for Cohesion Policy simplification, the potential impact of reducing the ‘gold-plating’ phenomenon requires special attention. This article will assess the level of existing over-regulation in ESI Funds implementation in Romania, presenting some case studies in which a high level of over-regulation has been identified. It analyses the regulatory framework and the main irregularities caused by the gold-plating phenomenon within the Competitiveness Operational Programme in the period 2014-2020. The second part of the article analyses the impact that measures such as a ‘single set of indicators’ or ‘simplified cost options’ can have on reducing the level of over-regulation and, at the same time, reducing the error rate and the level of financial corrections.