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From · Plenary report · 2024-03-19 A-9-2024-0132 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022
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To · Adopted text · 2024-04-11 TA-9-2024-0267 Discharge 2022: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
+7 added · −30 removed · 7 modified paragraphs

PR_DEC_Agencies

P9_TA(2024)0267

1. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

Discharge 2022: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022

Committee on Budgetary Control

(2023/2154(DEC))

PE753.522

1. European Parliament decision of 11 April 2024 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022 (2023/2154(DEC))

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 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 Institute in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2022 (00000/2024(06180/2024 – C90000/2024),C90092/2024),

– 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 Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), 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 Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022 (2023/2154(DEC))

on the closure of the accounts of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022

(2023/2154(DEC))

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 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 Institute in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2022 (00000/2024(06180/2024 – C90000/2024),C90092/2024),

– 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 Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), 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 Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022 (2023/2154(DEC))

with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2022

(2023/2154(DEC))

– having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (the ‘Institute’) for the financial year 2022,

16. Raises concerns about the geographical balance within the Institute’s senior and middle management having only one managerial staff from Central-Eastern Europe; insists that improvements have to be made; asks the Institute to report back on this to the discharge authority;

17. Welcomes the Institute’s initiatives to strengthstrengthen the importance of gender balance like Girls Go Circular programme, at school level, and Supernovas, promoting the women entrepreneurship and leadership; notes furthermore that the Institute adopted the EUAN Charter on Diversity & Inclusion in 2023, confirming its commitment to securing equal opportunities at every step of the career and empowering working environment where diversity is regarded as a source of innovation, enrichment, and creativity and where inclusion is promoted by managers and all members of staff;

1818. Observes that the Institute had implemented most of the SYSPER modules in 2022 and will be continued in 2023; notes that the Institute has adopted the European Union Agencies Network Charter on Diversity and Inclusion showing its commitment to secure equal opportunities and empower working environment; further notes that the Institute has established several measures to improve their staff’s well-being at work and work-life -balance, covering, inter alia, public transport costs, enrolment of their children in international kindergartens, flexible and hybrid working conditions;

19. Notes that under the training map programme, which was developed to the need of the Institute and its staff to improve the general performance, the Institute continued to offer trainings for its members of staff online, including ethics and integrity, prevention of harassment, data protection, effectiveness in hybrid meetings, IT security awareness, and security training;

Procurement

29. Takes note of the fact that for three audited administrative payments amounting to EUR 337 116, the Institute authorised the budgetary commitments only after the related legal commitments were signed; emphasises that this is not an isolated incident, as the Court has previously observed a similar issue in its 2021 report; recalls that this goes against Article 73(2) of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/715(Framework2019/715 (Framework Financial Regulation); observes from the Institute’s reply that will take additional measures to ensure full compliance with that provision, namely dedicated staff information sessions, update of the procedures in place and strengthening of related internal controls; urges the Institute to take immediate action and to implement measures to ensure that all financial transactions are in compliance with the Framework Financial Regulation;

Internal control

30. Notes that the Institute concluded the transition of the internal audit capability function to a KIC’s monitoring and supervision function adopted by the Board’s Decision 12/2022 with date effect on 1 April 2022; acknowledges that the internal auditing function is now performed by Commission’s internal audit service (IAS); observes that additionally, the role of the internal control coordinator was strengthened, with tasks including coordinating internal control activities and reporting at the Institute, implementing audit recommendations, coordinating audits, liaising with external auditing bodies, and contributing to financial and operational management in areas such as procurement, contract implementation, payments, and reporting;

3131. Notes that the IAS started preparations in 2022 for the 2023-2025 strategic internal audit plan of the Institute; notes furthermore that the IAS commenced an audit, concluded in 2023, on the management of experts in the Institute to assess the effectiveness of the internal control system for expert management processes, including selection, contracting, and payment in the Institute;

32. Points out that an important recommendation issued by IAS from the 2021 human resources management audit, focusing on the appraisal and reclassification exercise, was significantly delayed by 15 months; notes that the risks identified included potential delays and ineffectiveness in the exercise, the possibility of incorrectly justified management decisions leading to challenges in review procedures or before the Court, staff dissatisfaction and demotivation, is concerned about the Joint Reclassification Committee not fulfilling its role, and the overall loss of credibility for the reclassification exercise and review mechanism, leading to members of staff demotivation; calls on the Institute to take proactive measures to address any potential delays and ineffectiveness in the appraisal and reclassification exercise and to report back to the discharge authority on the progress in this matter;

° °

39. 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:

22

1

0

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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