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REPORT (2023/2149(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2022

A-9-2024-0130

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control proposes granting discharge to the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency for the 2022 budget and approving the closure of the Agency's 2022 accounts. The accompanying resolution notes the Agency's 2022 budget of EUR 88 173 021, a 100% commitment implementation rate and an 86,66% payment execution rate. It welcomes the Agency's work on the European Green Deal, the 8th Environment Action Programme and the European Climate Law, and its new tasks such as the European Scientific Advisory Board for Climate Change. It raises concerns on gender balance in senior management, the absence of managerial staff from central and eastern Europe, and the imbalance between permanent and contract posts, and asks the Agency to report back on several points.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the Agency's 2022 accounts, and sets out its observations in the accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge for the implementation of the Agency's 2022 budget.
  2. Parliament approves the closure of the Agency's accounts for the financial year 2022.
  3. The Agency's final 2022 budget was EUR 88 173 021, an increase of 35,93% on 2021, funded from the Union budget and the EFTA contribution (63,32%) and specific agreements (36,67%).
  4. The Court of Auditors found the Agency's annual accounts reliable and the underlying transactions legal and regular, and reported no procurement issues requiring corrective action in 2022.
  5. Budget implementation reached 100% of current-year commitment appropriations and 86,66% of payment appropriations, an increase of 1,75% on 2021.
  6. The Agency's performance framework has five objectives and 17 multiannual key performance indicators; delivery of key reports and assessments reached 95% and updated core set indicators 96%, both above the 90% target.
  7. The Agency supported the European Green Deal, the 8th Environment Action Programme and the European Climate Law, launched the European Scientific Advisory Board for Climate Change, and set up a new European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems for 2023-2026.
  8. The Agency pursues efficiency gains through shared services and joint procurement with the Commission, other Union agencies and the EU Agencies Network, uses Commission systems, and has gone 'mobile only'.
  9. Parliament asks the Agency to step up action against cyberattacks or infiltration attempts, particularly those originating from Russia or China, and to take security measures for information processed online.
  10. On 31 December 2022 the establishment plan was 97,33% implemented, with three permanent officials and 143 temporary agents out of 150 authorised posts, plus 84 contract agents and 13 seconded national experts.
  11. Parliament regrets that six of nine senior management members (67%) are men, notes no managerial staff from central and eastern Europe, and asks the Agency to ensure gender balance and report back on geographical balance.
  12. Parliament notes the Agency's wellbeing measures, its policy against harassment with no cases reported in 2022, and calls on it to review staffing policy and report back on updating procedures and its conflict-of-interest policy.

Who is affected

  • The European Environment Agency and its Executive Director, who receive discharge and must report back on gender balance, geographical balance, staffing and updated procedures.
  • The Agency's staff, affected by staffing policy, wellbeing measures, stress monitoring and harassment prevention.
  • The Agency's senior management and management board members, who must provide declarations of interest published on the Agency website.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 88 173 021 — the Agency's final budget for the financial year 2022.
  • 35,93 % — the increase in the Agency's 2022 budget compared to 2021.
  • 63,32 % — the share of the Agency's budget from the Union budget and the EFTA contribution.
  • 36,67 % — the share of the Agency's budget from contributions under specific agreements.
  • 100 % — the budget implementation rate of current-year commitment appropriations in 2022.
  • 86,66 % — the current-year payment appropriations execution rate, an increase of 1,75 % compared to 2021.
  • EUR 470 660 — the 2022 payments under a framework contract amended by negotiated procedure without prior publication.
  • 97,33 % — the implementation of the establishment plan on 31 December 2022, with 150 posts authorised under the Union budget.

Legal basis: Articles 287 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.