What changed

2. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

2. European Parliament decision of 11 April 2024 on the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2022 (2023/2169(DEC))

on the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2022

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 Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2022 (2023/2169(DEC))

with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2022

2. Notes a low implementation rate (85 %) of the funds (C8) carried over from 2021 to 2022, leading to an unused amount of EUR 3,8 million of appropriations; notes with concern that appropriations related to the current budget carried forward from 2022 to 2023 are at a relatively high level of 17 % or EUR 32,5 million; observes further an increasing trend in the last years (2020 to 2022) with regard to the Agency’s surplus (budget result) at the end of the financial year, whereas for 2022, such surplus was EUR 10,3 million, more than the double of the same figure in 2021 (EUR 5,1 million); notes that, according to the the Agency’s 2022 Consolidated Annual Activity Report (CAAR) and the Agency’s report with follow-up to Parliament’s discharge decision on the implementation of the Agency’s budget for 2021, the Agency assessed the root causes of the high levels of surplus at the end of the financial year and the carry-forward budgetary implementation performance; notes in this sense that the Agency also prepared an action plan; calls on the Agency to keep the discharge authority informed on the progress made in this regard;

9. Notes with appreciation from the Agency’s replies to Parliament’s written questions the Agency’s extended measures and practices to increase efficiency and gains in the areas of core business ICT solutions (in-sourcing instead of outsourcing), digitalisation of HR services (e-recruitment, e-training), and tools for the monitoring of budgetary implementation, vacancy rate, contractual ceilings in procurement procedures and environmental indicators, among other; commends the Agency for implementing the Public Procurement Management Tool, as well as for sharing procurement procedures with other agencies;

29. 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.