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From · Plenary report · 2024-03-12 A-9-2024-0097 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022
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To · Adopted text · 2024-04-11 TA-9-2024-0263 Discharge 2022: European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
+7 added · −30 removed · 8 modified paragraphs

PR_DEC_Agencies

P9_TA(2024)0263

1. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

Discharge 2022: European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022

Committee on Budgetary Control

(2023/2153(DEC))

PE753.521

1. European Parliament decision of 11 April 2024 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022 (2023/2153(DEC))

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022,

– having regard to the statement of assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2022, pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 22 February 2024 on discharge to be given to the Authority in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2022 (00000/2024(06180/2024 – C90000/2024),C90091/2024),

– having regard to Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision, and the resolution forming an integral part of it, to the Executive Director of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, and to arrange for their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

2. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

2. European Parliament decision of 11 April 2024 on the closure of the accounts of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022 (2023/2153(DEC))

on the closure of the accounts of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022

(2023/2153(DEC))

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022,

– having regard to the statement of assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2022, pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 22 February 2024 on discharge to be given to the Authority in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2022 (00000/2024(06180/2024 – C90000/2024),C90091/2024),

– having regard to Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Executive Director of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, and to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

3. European Parliament resolution of 11 April 2024 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022 (2023/2153(DEC))

with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022

(2023/2153(DEC))

– having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2022,

Efficiency and gains

8. Notes that the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) coordinate, share and support each other in many areas, both in core business and support areas; welcomes the fact that the ESAs joined forces on strategic initiatives such as software application development, network infrastructure and IT consultancy by, for example, sharing the same suppliers; notes in that context that the Authority’s Cloud Strategy, which was approved in 2022, was developed by the Authority together with the two other ESAs, other Union Institutions and the national competent authorities (NCAs) and aims to delivermoredeliver more autonomous, automated and self-service products to serve the Authority’s experts and NCAs;

9. Commends the Authority for its investment in and allocation of staff for projects in the area of digital transformation, to reach new levels of efficiency by automatisingautomatizing and streamlining business processes and improving the time-to-market and the collaboration within and across functions, among others; welcomes in this context the Authority’s projects carried out in 2022 focussing on improving data analysis capabilities to achieve the goal of turning the Authority into a fully digital, data-driven organisation;

10. Observes that as regards day-to-day business practices, the Authority has implemented a range of measures to enhance cost-efficiency, such as hybrid working, desk-sharing, as well as modern video conferencing solutions that have prompted the reduction of business travel; notes that in order to preserve institutional knowledge, expertise and efficiency in executing core tasks, the Authority further enhanced its integrated Talent Management System that allows for strategically aligned HR processes, better sourcing of candidates and more leveraged learning and development; invites the Authority to provide the discharge authority with data and figures regarding the impact of that system;

Staff policy

12. Notes that, on 31 December 2022, 99 %, thesamethe same as in 2021, of the establishment plan was completed, with 137 temporary agents appointed out of 138 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget ;budget; notes that, in addition, 36 contract agents and 24 seconded national experts were employed by the Authority in 2022;

13. Notes the Authority’s gender breakdown reported for 2022 with 15 men (65,20 %) and 8 women (34,80 %) in middle and senior management positions and in its Management Board, and 104 men (53,60 %) and 90 women (46,40 %) in its overall staff; recalls the importance of ensuring gender balance and calls on the Authority to take that into consideration with regard to the future recruitment of staff and appointments within its senior and middle management;

14. Welcomes the fact that in 2022 the Authority continued the implementation of the diversity and inclusion strategy (adopted in 2021) and its detailed action plan in line with the EUAN Charter on Diversity through initiatives that cover cross-cutting measures such as collaborating with other institutions, attracting and selecting a more diverse workforce, preventing discrimination, harassment, conscious and unconscious bias, and monitoring diversity and inclusion related data; notes that in 2022, one case of alleged harassment was reported, but the case was closed without further actions since, upon preliminary assessment, no prima faciaefacie evidence was found;

15. Welcomes the fact that the Authority is devoted to fostering and providing a diverse and inclusive work environment that is also attuned to the needs of persons with disabilities; notes in that context that in 2022 the Authority’s internal disability coordinator and ambassador was nominated to further strengthen and focus the attention on that particular area, a dedicated survey of staff and management was carried out and awareness-raising actions were taken;

17. Notes the observation in the Court’s report that the Authority made payments totalling EUR 25 607 after the end of a contract through which the Authority procured telecommunication services for mobile phone communication for a period of four years (2017-2021); notes the Court’s conclusion that those payments were irregular; notes further the Court’s observation that an amendment to that contract, signed in April 2022, was made in breach of point 1.1 of Annex I of the Financial Regulation;

18. Recalls from the Court’s annual report on Union agencies for 2021 the observation on an amount of EUR 288 125 irregularly paid by the Authority with regard to the rental contract for its premises; notes in that context from the Authority’s report on measures taken in light of the discharge authority’s recommendations (discharge 2021) the Authority’s position that disregarding the contractual obligations would have had a negative legal and reputational effect on the Authority; notes from the Court’s report that the status of that observation remains open; calls on the Authority to make all the necessary efforts when launching the procurement procedure for a new lease contract to prevent any conflict between the obligations imposed by the rental agreement and the relevant provisions oftheof the Financial Regulation;

Prevention and management of conflicts of interest and transparency

° °

30. Refers, for other observations of a cross-cutting nature accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution of [...]11 April 2024 on the performance, financial management and control of the agencies.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

4.3.2024

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

21

0

2

Members present for the final vote

Dominique Bilde, Gilles Boyer, Olivier Chastel, Caterina Chinnici, Ilana Cicurel, Carlos Coelho, Daniel Freund, Isabel García Muñoz, Monika Hohlmeier, Joachim Kuhs, Markus Pieper, Petri Sarvamaa, François Thiollet

Substitutes present for the final vote

Katalin Cseh, Bas Eickhout, Hannes Heide, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Sabrina Pignedoli, Wolfram Pirchner

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

Malin Björk, Michael Gahler, César Luena, Miguel Urbán Crespo

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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