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REPORT (2024/2026(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VII – Committee of the Regions

A-10-2025-0046

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński

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The European Parliament grants discharge to the Secretary-General of the Committee of the Regions for the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2023, and sets out observations in the accompanying resolution. The resolution notes the Committee's budget implementation, expresses concerns about increased travel and interpretation costs, and calls for improvements in cost-efficiency, transparency, and gender balance. It welcomes the Committee's progress in digitalisation, internal control, and interinstitutional cooperation, and urges further action on anti-fraud strategy, conflict-of-interest prevention, and cooperation with Parliament and the Commission.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Committee of the Regions for the 2023 financial year, with observations in the accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants discharge to the Secretary-General of the Committee of the Regions for the 2023 budget implementation.
  2. The Committee's final adopted budget for 2023 was EUR 116,675,392, with commitment appropriations execution at 99.9% and payment appropriations at 91.20%.
  3. Parliament notes with concern the increase in travel and meeting allowances paid to members, rising from EUR 6.6 million in 2022 to EUR 8 million in 2023, and calls for a cost-efficiency strategy.
  4. Parliament observes with concern an increase in interpreting services appropriations of approximately 19% and asks the Committee to explain the reasons.
  5. Parliament notes the increase in staff to 559 at end of 2023 and expresses concern about reliance on contract and temporary agents, urging measures to ensure long-term stability.
  6. Parliament regrets the lack of gender parity in leadership positions but acknowledges progress, recommending measures to enhance female participation in management.
  7. Parliament notes with concern 18 cases of burnout in 2023 and stresses the need to address root causes and foster a healthier work environment.
  8. Parliament urges the Committee to introduce a mandatory cooling-off period for outgoing members and to publish recusal decisions to enhance conflict-of-interest prevention.
  9. Parliament notes the Committee's commitment to adopt an anti-fraud strategy in 2025 and encourages regular anti-fraud trainings.
  10. Parliament calls on the Committee to accelerate digital transformation, including full implementation of electronic workflows and e-signatures by 2026.
  11. Parliament welcomes interinstitutional cooperation with the EESC and calls for exploring a single administration for joint services.
  12. Parliament calls for deeper cooperation with Parliament and the Commission, including a structured annual dialogue on key legislative files.

Who is affected

  • The Committee of the Regions and its Secretary-General are granted discharge and subject to recommendations on budget, staff, and ethics.
  • Committee members and staff are affected by calls for cost-efficiency in travel, gender balance measures, and anti-fraud training.
  • The European Economic and Social Committee is affected by calls for deeper cooperation and potential single administration for joint services.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 116,675,392: final adopted budget of the Committee in 2023.
  • 99.9%: commitment appropriations execution rate in 2023.
  • EUR 8 million: travel and meeting allowances paid to members in 2023.
  • 559: total staff at end of 2023.
  • 18: cases of burnout reported in 2023.
  • 2025: year by which the Committee commits to adopt an anti-fraud strategy.
  • 2026: deadline for full implementation of electronic workflows and e-signatures.

Legal basis: Article 314(10) and Articles 317, 318 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union