Sittings · Document
On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2024
Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Monika Hohlmeier
This committee report proposes granting discharge to 31 EU agencies and two other bodies for the 2024 financial year, approving closure of their accounts, and includes a resolution with observations on their budget implementation.¶¶¶ The resolution makes cross-cutting observations on agency performance, calling for improved transparency, cybersecurity, procurement compliance, and human resources management, and makes specific recommendations to individual agencies.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes granting discharge to all 31 agencies and two bodies for the 2024 financial year and approving closure of their accounts, with observations in an accompanying resolution.¶¶¶
Key points
- Parliament grants discharge to the directors of 31 agencies and two bodies for implementing their 2024 budgets and approves closure of their accounts.¶¶¶
- Calls on agencies to publish key documents proactively, adopt minimum transparency standards including internal registers, and strengthen conflict-of-interest controls.¶¶¶
- Urges the Commission to explore synergies, consolidation, and possible mergers of agencies, and to ensure periodic performance reviews with impact assessments.¶¶
- Calls on agencies to reduce structural dependence on external contractors, especially for core IT functions, and to ensure adequate in-house staffing.¶¶
- Calls on agencies to improve gender balance, address high staff turnover, and implement effective complaint mechanisms with protection against retaliation.¶¶¶
- Calls for accelerated implementation of cybersecurity measures, including zero-trust architecture, and regular stress-testing of IT systems.¶¶¶
- Calls on agencies to improve key performance indicators and impact-oriented reporting, and to include cost-benefit analysis in performance frameworks.¶¶
- Urges agencies to systematically introduce break-out clauses in lease contracts to limit financial exposure.¶
- Calls on agencies with recurrent high carry-overs to submit corrective action plans and improve budgetary forecasting.¶¶
- Calls on agencies to strengthen procurement controls, ensure full traceability, and provide training to prevent irregularities.¶¶
- Makes specific recommendations to agencies including EIGE, eu-LISA, Eurojust, CEPOL, Europol, EUAA, ELA, ETF, EUOSHA, EMA, EUDA, ECDC, ERA, EEA, ECHA, EFCA, ACER, BEREC Office, CdT, ENISA, and EIT.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- 31 EU decentralised agencies and two other bodies (EIT and Euratom Supply Agency) receive discharge and must implement the resolution's recommendations.¶
- The Commission is called on to provide guidance, training, and oversight to agencies on procurement, staffing, and performance evaluation.¶¶¶
- Agencies with specific findings, such as eu-LISA, Eurojust, CEPOL, EUAA, ELA, ETF, EUOSHA, EMA, EUDA, ECDC, ERA, EEA, ECHA, EFCA, ACER, BEREC Office, CdT, ENISA, and EIT, must take corrective actions.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 33 decentralised agencies manage over EUR 4,1 billion.¶
- Outstanding loans could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027.¶
- In 2024, agencies employed 11 491 staff, an increase of 8,61 % from 2023.¶
- Staff turnover exceeded 5 % in 16 agencies and 10 % in two.¶
- Budget rose from EUR 3,6 billion in 2023 to EUR 4,1 billion in 2024.¶
- CdT had a negative economic outcome of EUR 5,7 million.¶
- ELA had irregular payments of EUR 2,6 million, 5,7 % of total payment appropriations.¶
- CEPOL cyber-attack affected about 99 000 individuals.¶
Legal basis: Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶¶¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.