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REPORT (2025/2150(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section X – European External Action Service

A-10-2026-0053

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Pasquale Tridico

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Parliament grants discharge to the High Representative for the EEAS budget for 2024, with observations in the resolution. The resolution notes the EEAS budget of EUR 1,239 billion, a 4.43% increase, and calls for addressing underfunding, improving transparency, and strengthening oversight. It demands a performance audit of the EEAS, cost-benefit analysis of its network, and discontinuation of ineffective activities. It calls for reinforced resources for EU INTCEN, Crisis Response Centre, and FIMI countermeasures, and for modernising delegations. It expresses concern over procurement irregularities in the EU Diplomatic Academy and demands lessons be drawn and documents shared. It calls for terminating the EU-Cuba agreement and for the Court to examine all support to Cuba since 2016.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes to grant discharge to the High Representative for the EEAS budget for 2024, with observations in the resolution.

Key points

  1. Grants discharge to the High Representative for implementing the EEAS budget for 2024.
  2. Notes the EEAS budget of EUR 1,239 billion, a 4.43% increase, and that the implementation rate for payments was 88.4%.
  3. Calls for a comprehensive performance audit of the EEAS and a cost-benefit analysis of its global network, discontinuing ineffective activities.
  4. Calls for strengthened transparency and oversight of the European Peace Facility, with regular reporting to the discharge authority.
  5. Calls for reinforcing EU INTCEN and the Crisis Response Centre with adequate staffing and resources.
  6. Calls for adequate resources for the Strategic Communication and Foresight Division to counter disinformation, including a dedicated budget line for faith-based diplomacy.
  7. Calls for maintaining engagement with Georgia and support for Ukraine, including follow-up on the Peace Formula and Special Tribunal.
  8. Calls for robust monitoring of Union funding in Palestine and Lebanon, and for investigating any misuse of funds.
  9. Calls for strengthening gender equality and Women, Peace, and Security funding, and for developing a more ambitious GAP IV.
  10. Calls for full consultation of local staff representatives in dismissal plans and for viable solutions for local staff security in relocations.
  11. Calls for activating Article 86 of the EU-Cuba agreement and terminating it, and for the Court to examine all support to Cuba since 2016.
  12. Calls for mandatory cybersecurity training for all EEAS staff and for reporting on AI implementation and security vulnerabilities.

Who is affected

  • EEAS staff, including local agents in Union delegations, affected by restructuring and redundancy processes.
  • Union delegations, particularly in the Western Balkans, face centralisation of finance and contract functions and staff reductions.
  • The College of Europe and the EU Diplomatic Academy are subject to an EPPO investigation and external evaluation.
  • Cuba is targeted by a call to terminate the EU-Cuba agreement and review Union support.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 1,239 billion total budget managed by the EEAS in 2024, a 4.43% increase.
  • EUR 880,165,703 final EEAS budget for 2024, an increase of 7.09%.
  • EUR 17 billion ceiling for the European Peace Facility in 2024, up from 12 billion in 2023.
  • EUR 450 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza since October 2023.
  • EUR 1.6 billion multi-annual programme for Palestine for 2025-2027.
  • EUR 1.8 million spent on the EU Diplomatic Academy across 2022–2024.
  • EUR 10 million increase in the 2025 budget for security infrastructure in delegations.

Legal basis: Article 287 and Articles 314(10), 317, 318 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.