Sittings · Document
Report (2025/2145(DEC)) 2026-04-22
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
22.4.2026 A100085/1
Amendment 1
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7. Stresses that transparency is not an abstract governance principle but a core element of an effective control environment; underlines that incomplete documentation, inconsistent registration practices or reliance on informal communication channels directly weaken audit trails and hinder the discharge authority’s capacity to assess legality, regularity and sound financial management; in that regard regrets that there have been numerous examples over the last years where the Commission failed to live up to reasonable standards of transparency and takes note of case T-36/232 , Stevi and The New York Times v Commission; recalls that under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 text messages sent or received by Union officials will only be qualified as documents if they concern Union policy or decisions; emphasises that the Commission should ensure transparency practices meet high governance standards to guarantee that the discharge authority can fully assess legality, regularity, and sound financial management of the Union budget; notes the importance of timely responses to access-to-documents requests; encourages the Commission to strengthen its procedures to ensure that oversight bodies can fully assess legality, regularity and sound financial management; considers that failures to ensure proper documentation and transparency at senior leadership level risk undermining public trust, institutional accountability and the credibility of the Commission as guardian of the Treaties; calls on the Commission leadership to ensure full compliance with transparency obligations, proper registration of all work-related communications, including at the level of the President and Members of the College, and to strengthen internal procedures and accountability mechanisms in order to prevent similar shortcomings in the future; | 7. Stresses that transparency is not an abstract governance principle but a core element of an effective control environment; underlines that incomplete documentation, inconsistent registration practices or reliance on informal communication channels directly weaken audit trails and hinder the discharge authority’s capacity to assess legality, regularity and sound financial management; in that regard regrets that there have been numerous examples over the last years where the Commission failed to live up to reasonable standards of transparency for example with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the LIFE programme and takes note of case T-36/232 , Stevi and The New York Times v Commission; recalls that under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 text messages sent or received by Union officials will only be qualified as documents if they concern Union policy or decisions; emphasises that the Commission should ensure transparency practices meet high governance standards to guarantee that the discharge authority can fully assess legality, regularity, and sound financial management of the Union budget; notes the importance of timely responses to access-to-documents requests; encourages the Commission to strengthen its procedures to ensure that oversight bodies can fully assess legality, regularity and sound financial management; considers that failures to ensure proper documentation and transparency at senior leadership level risk undermining public trust, institutional accountability and the credibility of the Commission as guardian of the Treaties; calls on the Commission leadership to ensure full compliance with transparency obligations, proper registration of all work-related communications, including at the level of the President and Members of the College, and to strengthen internal procedures and accountability mechanisms in order to prevent similar shortcomings in the future; |
| __________________ | __________________ |
| 2 Stevi, New York Times v Commission, T-36/23, ECLI:EU:T:2025:483, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62023TJ0036. | 2 Stevi, New York Times v Commission, T-36/23, ECLI:EU:T:2025:483, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62023TJ0036. |
Or. en
22.4.2026 A100085/2
Amendment 2
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13. Recalls that the Commission’s 2024 review of NGO grant agreements found no breaches of the law; nevertheless, underlines that any recipient of Union funding, including NGOs, should be subject to robust, proportionate and risk-based scrutiny and transparency requirements, in line with legal provisions and sound financial management; stresses that budgetary control, safeguards and transparency requirements must be applied in a neutral, proportionate and evidence-based way, ensuring that transparency and oversight apply effectively across all categories of beneficiaries and that the scrutiny is risk-based; emphasises that the lack of transparency undermines trust in the discharge process and that effective scrutiny requires the application of equivalent standards to all beneficiaries; takes note of the Court’s findings in its special report 11/2025 ‘Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs’; | 13. Recalls that the Commission’s 2024 review of NGO grant agreements found reputational risk for the EU; nevertheless, underlines that any recipient of Union funding, including NGOs, should be subject to robust, proportionate and risk-based scrutiny and transparency requirements, in line with legal provisions and sound financial management; stresses that budgetary control, safeguards and transparency requirements must be applied in a neutral, proportionate and evidence-based way, ensuring that transparency and oversight apply effectively across all categories of beneficiaries and that the scrutiny is risk-based; emphasises that the lack of transparency undermines trust in the discharge process and that effective scrutiny requires the application of equivalent standards to all beneficiaries; takes note of the Court’s findings in its special report 11/2025 ‘Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs’; |
Or. en
22.4.2026 A100085/3
Amendment 3
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Notes that, under the Treaties, civil society organisations are legitimate beneficiaries of Union funding and frequently support the attainment of Union objectives; stresses that budgetary control, safeguards and transparency requirements must be applied in a neutral, proportionate and evidence-based way, with due regard for legal certainty; highlights that selective transparency can undermine confidence in the discharge process, and that effective scrutiny requires the consistent application of comparable standards to all beneficiaries; takes note of the Scrutiny Working Group established within Parliament in this regard; | 14. Notes that, under the Treaties, civil society organisations are legitimate beneficiaries of Union funding as long as they respect the “Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy” (Ares(2024)3320196) and frequently support the attainment of Union objectives; stresses that budgetary control, safeguards and transparency requirements must be applied in a neutral, proportionate and evidence-based way, with due regard for legal certainty; we welcome the Scrutiny Working Group established within Parliament in this regard; |
Or. en
22.4.2026 A100085/4
Amendment 4
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 30. Stresses the importance of ensuring that public authorities effectively recover amounts unduly lost through fraud, evasion, irregularities and administrative fragmentation, as an essential element of protecting public finances; calls on the Commission to enhance transparency by publishing clear, annual information on recoveries, financial corrections and confiscations linked to Union spending and enforcement cooperation, presented in a coherent and accessible manner that supports accountability while avoiding an unnecessary administrative burden; | 30. Stresses the importance of ensuring that public authorities effectively recover amounts unduly lost through fraud, evasion, irregularities, failure to respect the Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy and administrative fragmentation, as an essential element of protecting public finances; calls on the Commission to enhance transparency by publishing clear, annual information on recoveries, financial corrections and confiscations linked to Union spending and enforcement cooperation, presented in a coherent and accessible manner that supports accountability while avoiding an unnecessary administrative burden; |
Or. en
22.4.2026 A100085/5
Amendment 5
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 157
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 157. Recognises the importance of the LIFE programme, the Union’s only standalone programme for the environment and climate action, in supporting nature conservation, circular economy initiatives, climate action and the clean energy transition, and more broadly in promoting sustainable development across the Union; recalls that the provisions of the LIFE Regulation, including Article 11(6), provide that operating grants may support the functioning of non-profit making entities active in the development, implementation and enforcement of Union legislation and policy; stresses, however, that such operating grants must be implemented in strict compliance with Union legal, financial and transparency requirements; stresses, furthermore, the importance of clear safeguards to ensure that Union funds are used exclusively for the objectives defined in the programme; notes that operating grants allocated to NGOs under the LIFE Programme represent approximately 1 % of the programme’s total budget; calls on the Commission to ensure robust monitoring, full accountability and transparency in the use of the Union funds, including advocacy activities; | 157. Recognises the importance of the LIFE programme, the Union’s only standalone programme for the environment and climate action, in supporting nature conservation, circular economy initiatives, climate action and the clean energy transition, and more broadly in promoting sustainable development across the Union; recalls that the provisions of the LIFE Regulation, including Article 11(6), provide that operating grants may support the functioning of non-profit making entities active in the development, implementation and enforcement of Union legislation and policy; stresses, however, that such operating grants must be implemented in strict compliance with Union legal, financial and transparency requirements and the Commission April 2025 Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy; stresses, furthermore, the importance of clear safeguards to ensure that Union funds are used exclusively for the objectives defined in the programme and a clawback mechanism for the failure to respect the above mentioned Guidance; notes that operating grants allocated to NGOs under the LIFE Programme represent approximately 1 % of the programme’s total budget; calls on the Commission to ensure robust monitoring, full accountability and transparency in the use of the Union funds, including advocacy activities; |
Or. en
22.4.2026 A100085/6
Amendment 6
Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A100085/2026
Daniel Freund
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission
(2025/2145(DEC))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 158
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 158. Takes note of concerns raised by certain MEPs regarding the use of LIFE operating and action grants by certain beneficiaries, such as civil society organisations and companies; stresses the importance of full transparency with regard to both beneficiaries and the activities financed, continued monitoring and, where necessary, further clarification of the safeguards in place to ensure that Union funds are used exclusively for the objectives defined in the programme; | 158. Takes note of concerns raised by certain MEPs regarding the use of LIFE operating and action grants by certain beneficiaries, such as civil society organisations and companies; stresses the importance of full transparency with regard to both direct and indirect beneficiaries and the activities financed, continued monitoring and, where necessary, further clarification of the safeguards in place to ensure that Union funds are used exclusively for the objectives defined in the programme; |
Or. en