On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section X - European External Action Service
AFET-PA-765237
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Michael Gahler
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The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its opinion into the resolution on discharge for the EEAS for 2023, highlighting the EEAS's central role in EU foreign policy and noting audit findings on procurement errors.¶¶¶ It welcomes the Court of Auditors' Special Report on EEAS coordination, notes remaining weaknesses, and calls for implementation of recommendations by 2025.¶ It acknowledges EEAS cost-cutting measures under budgetary constraints in 2023.¶
Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate this opinion into its motion for a resolution, highlighting the EEAS's role and audit findings.¶
Key points
- Highlights the EEAS's central role in conducting EU external policy, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.¶
- Regrets audit findings of quantifiable error in one of 13 payments and six non-quantifiable findings on procurement at EU Delegations.¶
- Welcomes the Special Report's conclusion that EEAS coordination is mostly effective, but notes weaknesses in information management, staffing, and reporting.¶
- Calls on the EEAS to implement the Special Report's recommendations by the 2025 deadline.
- Notes EEAS's commitment to cost-effectiveness despite budgetary constraints, including cuts to mission and representation budgets and freezing maintenance and IT projects.¶