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REPORT (2023/2135(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee

A-9-2024-0072

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Luke Ming Flanagan

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament grants the Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee discharge for the 2022 budget and sets out its observations in a resolution. The resolution covers the Committee's budgetary and financial management, internal control, human resources, ethics and transparency, digitalisation, buildings, environment, interinstitutional cooperation and communication. It notes the Court of Auditors found no specific issues and an error level below the materiality threshold, and welcomes the Committee's cooperation with the Court of Auditors and other bodies. It asks the Committee to report back on sensitive posts, HR mapping, working conditions, harassment cases, anti-fraud strategy and cybersecurity.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee for the 2022 budget, and sets out observations on budgetary management, internal control, human resources, ethics, digitalisation, buildings, environment, interinstitutional cooperation and communication.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee discharge for the 2022 budget and sets out its observations in the resolution.
  2. The Committee's budget falls under MFF heading 7, which totalled EUR 11,6 billion in 2022; the Committee's budget was 1,31 % of that heading.
  3. The Court of Auditors examined 60 transactions, found 14 with errors, and estimated the error level below the materiality threshold; it identified no specific issues concerning the Committee.
  4. The final adopted budget was EUR 152 451 643, up 5,1 % from 2021; the implementation rate was 96,12 % and the payment execution rate 88,12 %.
  5. The carry-over was EUR 20 162 518, about 13 % of the annual budget; the average payment time was 18 days and electronic invoicing rose to 88,84 %.
  6. Energy costs rose from EUR 726 000 to EUR 3 125 000 between 2021 and 2022; the Committee incurred costs supporting Ukrainian civil society.
  7. The Committee adopted 202 opinions and reports in 2022, attended 345 high-level meetings and organised 116 hearings and 29 conferences.
  8. The Committee had 706 staff at the end of 2022; women were 64,6 % of staff and 59 % of middle managers, but only three of seven senior managers.
  9. Parliament regrets the Committee could not provide burnout data and asks it to report on sensitive posts, HR mapping and working conditions.
  10. Parliament reiterates its call for an external independent investigation into the Committee's human resources procedures on harassment claims.
  11. Parliament regrets the absence of an integrated anti-fraud strategy and asks the Committee to report on cybersecurity preparedness.
  12. The Committee and the Committee of the Regions pooled 470 staff and EUR 55 million in 2022; Parliament calls for expanded cooperation and a possible single administration for joint services.

Who is affected

  • The European Economic and Social Committee and its Secretary-General, who receives discharge for the 2022 budget.
  • The Committee's staff, affected by rules on working conditions, telework, traineeships and ethics training.
  • The Committee's members, affected by rules on allowances, transparency and the code of conduct.
  • The Committee of the Regions, which shares joint services, premises and IT with the Committee.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 11,6 billion: total of MFF heading 7 in 2022.
  • EUR 152 451 643: final adopted budget for the Committee in 2022.
  • 96,12 %: budget implementation rate in 2022.
  • EUR 20 162 518: carry-over of appropriations to 2022.
  • 18 days: average payment time in 2022.
  • EUR 726 000 to EUR 3 125 000: energy costs between 2021 and 2022.
  • EUR 11 712 000: combined IT budget of the Committee and the Committee of the Regions in 2022.
  • EUR 1,5 million: Committee's communication budget in 2022.

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