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From · opinion parliamentary committee · 2025-01-29 TRAN-AD-765327 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU agencies for the financial year 2023

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To · Plenary report · 2025-09-29 A-10-2025-0169 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2023

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PR_DEC_Agencies2

~~OPINION~~

1. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

~~The Committee on Transport and Tourism 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 budget of European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023

1. Welcomes the ‘clean’ opinion for the 2023 financial year provided by the European Court of Auditors (‘the Court’) in relation to the reliability of the annual accounts as well as the legality and regularity of the revenues and payments underlying the accounts of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA);

(2024/2030(DEC))

2. Takes notice of the high 2023 budget implementation rates in all three Agencies; observes that the overall value of automatic carryovers of voted non-differentiated appropriations in the Agencies was below the 15% benchmark established by the Court;

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023,

3. Notes that following the assessment by DG MOVE, which ensures supervision of the three Agencies, their 2023 performance of the three Agencies was in full alignment with the agreed objectives of the Commission: the regular monitoring and supervision activities did not identify any particular issues that could have a material impact on the assurance, furthermore, the reports from the external and internal auditors did not highlight any major issues that could raise additional concerns for DG MOVE; nevertheless, points out the weaknesses in public procurement and budget management identified by the Court and calls for increased transparency and efficiency in the financial management of the Agencies, stressing the need for effective implementation of the Court's recommendations to eliminate these shortcomings.

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

~~Part I – Discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the financial year 2023~~

– 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,

1. Is pleased to note that the revenue and payments underlying the Agency’s accounts for the year that ended on 31 December 2023 are legal and regular in all material respects; recalls the Court’s 2022 observation concerning the Agency’s public procurement shortcomings, noting with satisfaction that those shortcomings have been addressed in 2023 and that the Court did not identify any non-procurement weaknesses in its control and management or budgetary management systems; with regard to the follow-up of the Court’s previous years’ observations, remarks that at the end of 2023, 3 out of 5 observations remained open;

– having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 17 February 2025 on discharge to be given to the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2023 (05755/2025 – C100024/2025),

2. Takes notice of the adoption of the ReFuelEU Aviation legislation in October 2023 and of the new set of specific tasks that the Agency would be charged with in this framework, including the development of the European Environmental Labelling for Aviation scheme and the reinforced role of the Agency in promoting and measuring the usage of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the associated reductions in CO2 emissions, for example, through the Sustainability Portal and the annual technical report prescribed by Article 13 of the RefuelEU Aviation Regulation; welcomes the Agency’s commitment to environmental protection by setting key milestones related to the ReFuelEU Aviation legislation, aiming at a level playing field for sustainable air transport and SAF uptake; calls for sufficient financial resources and personnel to ensure successful accomplishment of the above-mentioned tasks;

– having regard to its decision of 7 May 2025 postponing the discharge decision for the financial year 2023, and the replies from the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum,

3. Remarks that in 2023, the Drone programme entered the last phase of its regulatory development for Unmanned Aircraft Systems; recalls that the Commission’s Drone Strategy 2.0 actively tasked the Agency with nine flagship actions and that in 2023 all nine were fully or partially achieved, meeting its objectives to deliver a world’s leading regulatory framework for this innovative part of the aviation industry;

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

4. Notes that in 2023, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continued impacting European aviation; points out that the closure of Ukrainian airspace and restrictions on Russian and Belarusian airspace resulted in extended flight routes for most carriers, escalating fuel costs, increased CO2 emissions, and higher airfares for commercial flights; at the same time, denounces the significant increase in GNSS interference, such as GPS jamming and spoofing, observed in 2023, especially in the Baltics, and calls for a coordinated European approach to address this issue; urges EASA to continuously monitor the situation to prevent unsafe conditions and to develop recommendations for Member States to mitigate the risks;

– 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 Article 70 thereof,

5. Notes that in 2023, EASA significantly strengthened its cooperation with military organizations within the scope provided by the EU Action plan on military mobility 2.0 and is now invited to all NATO Aviation Committee meetings; takes notice of the endorsement of the Agency’s Civil Military Cooperation strategy – its long-time priority – supporting its involvement in certification tasks for military aircraft deriving from civilian ones based on the “as civil as possible as military as necessary” concept.

– 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 Article 70 thereof,

~~Part II – Discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for the financial year 2023~~

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 establishing a European Asylum Support Office, in particular Article 36 thereof,

1. Acknowledges that the revenue and payments underlying the Agency’s accounts for the year that ended on 31 December 2023 are legal and regular in all material respects; at the same time, takes notice of the Court’s observation identifying irregularities in the Agency’s management and control systems, noting however that these irregularities did not affect the payments; points out that EMSA took action to address the shortcomings identified;

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/2303 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2021 on the European Union Agency for Asylum and repealing Regulation (EU) No 439/2010, and in particular Article 55 thereof,

2. Notes that in 2023, EMSA continued providing a highly effective assistance in helping to reduce the impact of the maritime transport sector on the environment, including through its involvement in the numerous initiatives related to European Green Deal; takes particular notice of the technical expertise it provided in the context of the review of the Maritime Safety Package; commends the Agency’s support to the Commission and the Member States in the final adoption of the proposals made as a part of the Fit for 55 package, notably on the extension of the Emission Trading System (ETS) to maritime transport and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation; in this context, appreciates its ongoing research into the potential of various alternative fuels and the associated safety considerations arising from the uptake and deployment of sustainable alternative sources of power for ships; welcomes the adaptation of THETIS-MRV to the requirements of the ETS legislation;

– having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/715 of 18 December 2018 on the framework financial regulation for the bodies set up under the TFEU and Euratom Treaty and referred to in Article 70 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and in particular Article 105 thereof,

3. Commends the contribution of EMSA to safety and standardization frameworks at both EU and IMO levels; welcomes the ongoing research into automation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), encompassing the identification of requisite competences for MASS operators and of the associated safety risks; welcomes the proactive role the Agency plays in addressing safety and standardization gaps, including by drafting best practices and guidance that cover both traditional safety concerns and new challenges related to electrical systems, batteries, and the carriage of electric vehicles on ships;

– having regard to Rule 102 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

4. Observes that 2023 was marked by the geopolitical instability, including the continuation of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, and the security threats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, all seriously impacting shipping; in this context, commends the support that EMSA provided to the Commission and the Member States by using its monitoring and surveillance capacities, including its advanced digital tools, to mitigate the impact of this instability on maritime transport; urges the Agency to devise a long-term strategy to address geopolitical shifts, including cooperation with NATO and other international partners, with the aim of bolstering European maritime security; encourages it to continue investing in the development of advanced technologies to enhance its capacity to respond to emerging security threats in the maritime domain and to bolster its resilience to cyber threats; acknowledges EMSA's nine RPAS operations for the Member States and the relevant EU Agencies, including regional Multipurpose Maritime Surveillance, and welcomes the successful Baltic RPAS service, which operated from mid-April to September 2023, covering Estonia, Finland, and Latvia;

– having regard to the second report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A10-0169/2025),

~~5. Underlines the continued significance of EMSA's support to Member States in developing relevant capacity-building initiatives and coordinating training activities.~~

1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2023;

~~Part III – Discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for the financial year 2023~~

2. Sets out its observations in the resolution below;

1. Notes with satisfaction that the revenue and payments underlying ERA’s accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 are legal and regular in all material respects; this notwithstanding, highlights the Court’s observations that identified the weaknesses concerning the Agency’s public procurement, management and control systems as well as various aspects of its budgetary management, and calls ERA to establish clear selection criteria in procurement procedures and to conduct appropriate assessments of abnormally low bids1a; observes that the frequency of the Agency’s late payments in 2023 reached 13% (148 payments out of 1 101); notes that while the total amount of late payment interest was immaterial, the significant frequency is detrimental to the Agency’s reputation; calls on ERA to improve its compliance with the legal time limits for payments, noting that also 14% of invoices were issued late; anticipates that, following the review of Regulation 2018/764, ERA will continue to implement the necessary measures to minimize delays in invoicing; encourages the Agency to introduce more rigorous internal control mechanisms and staff training to reduce the frequency of late payments and improve budget management;

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision, and the resolution forming an integral part of it, to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum, 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. Acknowledges that, in response to the Court’s 2022 observation, ERA’s management has endorsed a policy for classifying and protecting sensitive information to reinforce the implementation of the internal control framework;

2. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

3. Reiterates the paramount importance of establishing an interconnected, efficient, and safe railway network across the Union, stressing the need to enhance the access to and the quality of rail services for all; this notwithstanding, recalls that ERA has the smallest budget of all the transport agencies despite the outstanding environmental performance, which is prioritized by the Commission, and the other benefits of rail transport; commends the Agency’s efforts to reduce the burden on the EU budget by increasing its Fees and Charges activities in 2023, compared to the previous year; highlights the Agency’s continuous efforts to improve its efficiency and budget execution through its Strengthening Plan adopted in 2022, but notes that these efforts cannot fully compensate for its insufficient budget; acknowledges the 9% increase in the Agency’s 2023 budget and calls for ERA to be equipped with sufficient budgetary resources in order to enable it to function as an efficient authority and to effectively fulfil its tasks, particularly with regard to increasing competitiveness, safety and cross-border interoperability;

on the closure of the accounts of European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023

4. Welcomes in particular, that ERA contributes, on technical matters, to the implementation of Union legislation by developing a common approach to safety in the Union rail system and by enhancing the level of interoperability in the Union rail system and the associated data, thus supporting the development of a Trans-European Transport Network, with a specific focus on facilitating the interoperable deployment of European Rail Traffic Management System ERTMS and on the access to data for pushing rail modernisation and digitalisation; welcomes the 2023 results achieved in its role of the EU authority in charge of issuing authorizations for placing railway vehicles on the market, single safety certificates for railway undertakings, and ERTMS trackside approvals, which were the highest since the full implementation of the Technical Pillar of the 4th Railway Package1b; in this context, underlines the need to increase investment in research and innovation to further accelerate the deployment of ERTMS and digitalisation solutions, with the objective to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of rail, by positioning it as one of the most sustainable and safe transport modes, to enhanced regional connectivity, and to the seamless cross-border traffic in the EU.

(2024/2030(DEC))

5. Welcomes ERA’s commitment to the close cooperation with the national authorities acting in the fields of railway safety and interoperability; commends the Agency’s swift response in conducting audits and issuing recommendations in accordance with Article 35(5) of its regulation, following the tragic rail accident near Tempi in Greece; welcomes the Agency’s continued work on safety culture through preparing specific reports and organizing tailored training sessions; regrets the fragmented nature of the current railway safety accident and incident reporting across Europe, which is limited to oversight and lacks an appropriate enabling tool; calls for action to address this gap and provide the necessary funding to rectify this deficiency;

– having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023,

6. Points out that in 2023, ERA successfully addressed the difficulties related to human and budgetary resources as well as a significant increase in both policy and authority tasks; this notwithstanding, regrets that resource-related constrains have continued to impact the Agency’s potential, and the development of the information sharing system in Europe; observes that in 2023, the Agency’s Management Board has endorsed a dedicated paper on Strengthening Operational Safety (SOS) in Europe focusing on two initiatives – the Safety Information Sharing System and the Priority Countries Programme, noting however the absence of an associated legal and financial statement to underpin the potential of boosting operational safety across the EU by these initiatives; calls on the Agency to continue working closely with the Commission and the Member States to unlock this important stream of work in the future;

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

7. Welcomes ERA’s endorsement of the EU Agencies Network (EUAN) Diversity and Inclusion Charter, which promotes the development of a modern, diverse workforce essential for the future of the European rail sector; acknowledges the Agency’s efforts to foster an inclusive and equitable environment, particularly for women pursuing careers in the rail industry, thereby ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender or background, within the European railway sector; encourages continued support for such efforts aimed at fostering a more inclusive, dynamic, and innovative rail workforce.

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

The rapporteur for the opinion 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.

– having regard to its decision of 7 May 2025 postponing the discharge decision for the financial year 2023, and the replies from the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum,

~~INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION~~

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

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 establishing a European Asylum Support Office, in particular Article 36 thereof,

– having regard to Rule 102 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the second report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A10-0169/2025),

1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum, 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

with observations forming an integral part of the decisions on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2023

(2024/2030(DEC))

– having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2023,

– having regard to Rule 102 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the functioning of the Common European Asylum System, the respect and proper implementation and enforcement of the rules and the sustainable and appropriate financial support of the EUAA are essential to ensure the system of shared responsibility and solidarity among the Member States of the European Union;

– having regard to the OLAF Final Report (OC-2022-0717) on the European Union Agency for Asylum finalised in October 2024, and made available in March 2025 to Members of the Committee on Budgetary Control,

– having regard to the letters sent by the Chair of EUAA in March 2025 and the Executive Director of European Union Agency for Asylum in July 2025,

– having regard to the exchange of views with representatives from OLAF, the European Union Agency for Asylum and DG Home on 15 July 2025,

– having regard to the second report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A10-0169/2025),

A. whereas all Union decentralised agencies must be transparent and fully accountable to the citizens of the Union for the funds entrusted to them as Union bodies;

B. whereas the European Union Agency for Asylum, as a Union body entrusted with significant responsibilities and resources, has a corresponding duty to act with the highest standards of transparency, accountability and exemplary conduct, thereby ensuring the trust of Union citizens and institutions;

C. whereas Parliament's role in respect of the budget discharge is specified in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in the Financial Regulation and in the Framework Financial Regulation;

D. whereas OLAF, as the Union’s anti-fraud body, has a duty to provide the European Parliament with timely and adequate access to its findings in order to enable effective discharge scrutiny;

1. Recalls the role of Parliament within the discharge procedure, as governed by the TFEU, the Financial Regulation and its rules of procedure;

2. Recalls that on 7 May 2025 Parliament decided to postpone the decision on the 2023 discharge of the European Union Agency for Asylum (‘the Agency’);

3. Underlines the paramount importance of acting responsibly and transparently in the implementation of the Union budget; insists that any failure to uphold these principles seriously undermines public trust;

The outcome of the investigation of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

4. Notes that OLAF made an anonymised version of its final report on the investigation available to the Members of the Committee on Budgetary Control in March 2025 and to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in July 2025; deplores the delayed access to the investigation, which was granted only in March despite the request made by the rapporteur in December 2024, with OLAF’s reply citing objections from the Management Board of European Union Agency for Asylum; insists that access to the report should have been given to CONT members earlier to guarantee the exercise of their mandate adequately;

5. Is aware that OLAF’s investigations shall be conducted continuously over a period which must be proportionate to the circumstances and complexity of the case; is concerned about the length of OLAF’s investigations as it undermines the ability of the discharge authority to consider their findings efficiently; insists on the crucial role of timely investigations in maintaining effective Parliament oversight; calls on OLAF to review and speed up the procedure of completing and sharing investigations with the Discharge Authority; stresses that such delays undermine the ability of CONT members to effectively exercise their oversight mandate and calls for measures to ensure prompt access to investigation reports in the future;

6. Stresses that protecting the Union budget must remain a core value of sound financial management, which all Union institutions are duty-bound to uphold, including agencies and decentralised bodies that must set a clear example of responsibility and transparency in the use of European public funds; reiterates the need for strengthened coordination and cooperation within the anti-fraud institutional framework, particularly to address the need for faster and more efficient OLAF investigations, thereby aligning these efforts with the broader goal of safeguarding Union finances;

7. Calls on the Agency and OLAF to make an anonymised summary of the OLAF report publicly available, to the extent legally possible, in the interest of transparency and public trust;

8. Takes note that OLAF issued disciplinary and administrative recommendations following the investigation;

9. Observes that, concerning the disciplinary recommendations, the Management Board decided, as a follow-up, not to open disciplinary proceedings and instead issued written recommendations with a warning and requested to the Executive Director concrete proposals by way of corrective actions, and a timetable for their implementation as soon as possible; acknowledges that in line with this request, the Executive Director has submitted to the Management Board the following documents, which include:

– the Recommendations made by the Management Board;

– the current state of affairs in the Agency with regard to each Recommendation; and

– the additional corrective actions to be implemented with the inclusion of a provisional timeline for their implementation; calls on the Management Board to follow up on the recommendations and report back to the discharge authority on their full and timely implementation;

10. Regrets that the Management Board has decided after intense deliberations not to implement OLAF’s disciplinary recommendations, including the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the EUAA Executive Director or any other staff in the Agency, despite OLAF’s significant findings, which appear to be systematic and which undermine trust in the Agency’s leadership; emphasises that this decision raises questions about the Board’s commitment to accountability and responsibility, in line with institutional expectations, and acknowledges the Board’s deliberate choice not to implement the recommendations after reviewing the issues raised; stresses that Parliament will remain particularly attentive to the corrective actions undertaken; expects the Agency to demonstrate exemplary follow-up, high standards, clear responsibility for implementation of corrective measures and full accountability; calls on the Agency to ensure transparent reporting to Parliament by, inter alia, sharing the minutes of Management Board deliberations with Parliament, to strengthen parliamentary oversight;

11. Notes that the Executive Director prepared a “Vision Statement on leadership implementing the changes in EUAA” with corrective actions implemented and corrective actions to be implemented; requests the Agency to inform the discharge authority of the corrective actions implemented and to be implemented, along with deadlines for their completion;

12. Expresses concern that the administrative recommendations addressed the practice of staff evaluations being conducted by heads of sector rather than heads of unit, as well as shortcomings in the management of conflicts of interest within the Agency;

13. Welcomes that starting in 2025, heads of unit will conduct staff evaluations as foreseen in the applicable rules;

14. Strongly deplores the weaknesses in the management of conflicts of interest within the Agency, particularly the flawed handling of complaints by the Management Board against decisions made by the Executive Director; insists that such practices undermine the Agency’s integrity and credibility; calls on the Agency to promptly inform the discharge authority of the corrective actions and organisational changes put in place; stresses that only a robust and exemplary framework for conflict of interest management will be considered acceptable;

15. Notes the recognition by both the Management Board and the Executive Director of the seriousness of the allegations and the issues raised; acknowledges, however, that the Executive Director expressed scepticism, citing extraordinary workload during crises, which cannot be used as justification for dismissing the findings; considers that the recognition must be accompanied by decisive corrective measures, timely implementation, and full accountability to the discharge authority;

16. Notes with concern the repeated failures in governance, including the inability of the Management Board to exercise timely and effective oversight; regrets that several of the irregularities could have been prevented with better internal controls and proactive engagement from the Management Board; insists that this institutional failure must be addressed structurally, not just procedurally;

17. Deplores the issues of poor administration, especially in the area of human resources, with serious irregularities, particularly in appointment and selection procedures in breach of Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants; is aware that during the period from 2019 to 2022, the Agency faced challenging circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive, or the entry into force of the EUAA Regulation with a new mandate, competences, and responsibilities; rejects however any attempt to use such circumstances as justification for non-compliance with binding legislation ; calls the Agency to fully align its recruitment processes with the applicable rules, and insists on the adoption of strict, transparent, and merit-based procedures, accompanied by enforceable guidelines and subject to close oversight by the discharge authority;

18. Welcomes that the practice of appointing managers ad interim has been discontinued as from January 2023;

19. Recalls that one of the core duties of the Management Board is to give general orientation for the Agency’s activities and to ensure that the Agency fullfil its mandate effectively; considers that in order to give general orientation the Management Board needs to be aware and duly informed of applicable legislation to the Agency as well as critical developments in the management of the Agency; deplores the repeated shortcomings in this regard and calls on the Agency to establish efficient, systematic and transparent communication procedures with the Management Board;

20. Calls on the European Commission, who has two seats on the Management Board, to actively support and assist other board members in their understanding of the rules applicable to the Agency, and to identify and disseminate the lessons learnt from this particular case as part of broader prevention efforts; calls on the Agency to report back to the discharge authority on the measures taken to improve communication with the Management Board;

21. Welcomes the suggestion made by the Commission during the exchange of views on the possibility to share Joint Services in certain horizontal areas across the decentralised Agencies, as this would help to better manage processes and make a more efficient use of resources; encourages the Commission to explore this possibility and propose concrete actions in this regard;

22. Calls on the Agency to establish an independent internal ethics function and emphasizes the importance of having robust whistle-blower protection rules in line with Directive (EU) 2019/1937; stresses that internal reporting channels must be confidential, credible and trusted by staff at all levels;

23. Highlights that although some of the events date back to the years 2021, 2022 and earlier, the OLAF investigation was only concluded in 2024; emphasises that it cannot be yet concluded that these issues have been fully resolved; stresses that the Discharge Authority retains the full right to exercise its oversight responsibilities until the situation is entirely remedied and clarified; calls on the Executive Director and the Management Board to recognise and address any structural weaknesses in both the Agency’s human resources management and the Management Board’s oversight functions, and to take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of similar issues and reserves the right to withhold or condition future discharge decisions, should the Agency fail to deliver full structural reform;

24. Notes with particular concern the extremely high staff turnover rates as mentioned in the OLAF report, without the management being able to provide a satisfactory explanation; calls on the Executive Director and the Management Board, and in particular the Commission representatives within it, to put in place systematic exit interviews with all resigning staff, to document the findings comprehensively, and to report to the discharge authority on the results and progress achieved in this regard in the framework of the 2024 discharge procedure;

25. Commends the Agency's staff for their dedication and commitment in executing their tasks despite challenging circumstances; considers essential to foster a positive work environment by promoting good practices at the human resources level and rewarding merit-based performances; urges the Management Board and the Executive Director to ensure that the Agency is a safe and supportive workplace that encourages open communication and empowers individuals to speak up without fear of retaliation; calls on the Agency to ensure that all reports of professional misconduct are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, with appropriate follow-up actions taken to maintain integrity and trust within the organisation;

° °

26. Refers, for other observations, to its resolution of 7 May 2025 with observations forming an integral part of decisions on discharge in respect of the budget of the European Union agencies.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

Nina Gregori, Executive Director of EU Asylum Ageny

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

~~29.1.2025~~

24.9.2025

Result of final vote

Members present for the final vote

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Daniel Attard, Tom Berendsen, Rachel Blom, Nikolina Brnjac, Nina Carberry, Benoit Cassart, Carlo Ciccioli, Anna Maria Cisint, Vivien Costanzo, Johan Danielsson, Valérie Devaux, Siegbert Frank Droese, Gheorghe Falcă, Jens Gieseke, Borja Giménez Larraz, Sérgio Gonçalves, Roman Haider, Sérgio Humberto, Dariusz Joński, François Kalfon, Martine Kemp, Sophia Kircher, Elena Kountoura, Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, Julien Leonardelli, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Alexandra Mehnert, Ştefan Muşoiu, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Philippe Olivier, Matteo Ricci, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Stanislav Stoyanov, Kai Tegethoff, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Kosma Złotowski

Georgios Aftias, Arno Bausemer, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, José Cepeda, Caterina Chinnici, Tamás Deutsch, Dick Erixon, Daniel Freund, Esteban González Pons, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Virginie Joron, Ondřej Knotek, Giuseppe Lupo, Marit Maij, Csaba Molnár, Fidias Panayiotou, Jacek Protas, Julien Sanchez, Jonas Sjöstedt, Carla Tavares, Tomáš Zdechovský

Substitutes present for the final vote

~~Alberico Gambino, Jutta Paulus, Dario Tamburrano, Kris Van Dijck, Ana Vasconcelos~~

Dirk Gotink, Rudi Kennes, Erik Marquardt, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Michal Wiezik

~~Members~~FINAL ~~under~~VOTE ~~Rule~~BY ~~216(7)~~ROLL ~~present~~CALL ~~for~~BY ~~the~~THE ~~final~~COMMITTEE ~~vote~~RESPONSIBLE

~~Elisabeth Grossmann~~

~~FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION~~

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