What changed

OPINION

1. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section I – European Parliament

1. Welcomes the actions taken on the fight against disinformation and information manipulation by the structures of the Parliament responsible for communication with citizens and countering disinformation such as the European Parliament Liaison Offices; points out that one of the most powerful tools against disinformation is positive, factual communication about Parliament’s work; commends the high use of the appropriations committed by EPLOs in 2023;

(2024/2020(DEC))

2. Acknowledges the initiatives launched by the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations in various areas of importance in the electoral context as part of the general common effort to help the European Union to get ready for the European elections 2024, like the European Campaign Action Plan;

The European Parliament,

3. Notes with concern that the Authority reported that it is facing constrained human resources; highlights that this issue was expected to become even more pressing in the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections and due to the necessary administrative implementation of any new tasks that would arise for the Authority from the ongoing negotiations on a recast of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014;

– having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023,

4. Takes note of the Parliament’s comprehensive actions related to the initiation, creation and implementation of the transparency and integrity reform as well as the EP 2024 reform process; calls to evaluate these measures regarding their effectiveness and proportionality; recognises that a budget reinforcement was required in the course of 2023 to cover Parliament's contribution to the IT overhaul of the (interinstitutional) Transparency Register web platform;

– having regard to the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2023 (COM(2024)0272 – C100068/2024),

5. Expresses concerns regarding several aspects of the Agreement establishing an interinstitutional body for ethical standards for members of institutions and advisory bodies referred to in Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union, including that the Council is outside the scope of the substance of the Agreement, the placement of the secretariat of the body at the Commission and definition risks associated with using the term ethics; considers that no work of the body should commence and no funding should be provided by Parliament until all provisions of the Agreement have been incorporated into Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

– having regard to the report on budgetary and financial management for the financial year 2023, Section I – European Parliament,

– having regard to the Internal Auditor’s annual report for the financial year 2023,

– having regard to the Court of Auditors’ annual report on the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2023, together with the institutions’ replies,

– 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 2023 pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Article 314(10) and Article 318 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, and in particular Articles 260, 261 and 262 thereof,

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, and in particular Articles 266, 267 and 268 thereof,

– having regard to the Bureau decision of 10 December 2018 on the Internal Rules on the implementation of the European Parliament’s budget, and in particular Article 34 thereof,

– having regard to Rule 102 and Rule 106(3) of, and Annex V to, its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A10-0062/2025),

A. whereas the President adopted Parliament’s accounts for the financial year 2023 on 19 June 2024;

B. whereas the Secretary-General, as the principal authorising officer by delegation, certified, on 18 June 2024, his reasonable assurance that the resources assigned for Parliament’s budget have been used for their intended purpose, in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and that control procedures established give the necessary guarantees concerning the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions;

C. whereas the Court of Auditors stated in its audit that, in its specific assessment of administrative and other expenditure in 2023, it did not identify any serious weaknesses in the annual activity reports of the institutions and bodies it examined as required by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046;

1. Grants its President discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Parliament for the financial year 2023;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to 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).

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

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she 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

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE