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OPINION (COM(2025)0548 – C10-0174/2025 – 2025/0223(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response, and repealing Decision No 1313/2013/EU (Union Civil Protection Mechanism)

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Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Jonas Sjöstedt

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The Committee on Budgetary Control gives its opinion on the proposed regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response. It proposes amendments to strengthen accountability, traceability and sound financial management. The amendments add definitions of Union added value, final recipient and unique identifier, and require measurable expected results and indicators in work programmes. They close the loophole in Article 11(5) so the same costs, or the same underlying activity, output, result or milestone, cannot be financed twice or lead to overcompensation. Financing not linked to costs and simplified cost options are made subject to prior justification, verifiable payment conditions, record-keeping and proportionate corrective consequences. The opinion inserts a horizontal provision on protection of the Union's financial interests, with audit, control and investigation rights for the Commission, the Court of Auditors, OLAF and, where applicable, the EPPO. It requires annual reporting to Parliament and the Council on financial implementation, exceptional procedures, support covering up to 100% of costs, and errors, irregularities, recoveries and anti-double-funding controls.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes amendments to the proposed regulation to strengthen accountability, traceability and sound financial management, without altering its policy architecture. It focuses on financing not linked to costs, simplified cost options, double funding, measurable objectives, visibility on the financial envelope, and audit rights in third countries.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur supports strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism but says flexibility must not weaken accountability, traceability or sound financial management.
  2. The amendments introduce definitions of Union added value, final recipient and unique identifier, and require specific and measurable expected results and indicators.
  3. Work programmes must set out indicative allocations, funding modalities, verification arrangements, expected results and indicators with baselines and target values.
  4. The same costs, or the same underlying activity, output, result or milestone, cannot be financed twice, and combined Union support cannot exceed total eligible costs or lead to overcompensation.
  5. A unique identifier and a horizontal overview of Union financial support are required to enable complementarity checks and prevent double funding across programmes.
  6. Financing not linked to costs and simplified cost options require prior justification, verifiable payment conditions, record-keeping and proportionate corrective consequences including suspension, reduction or recovery.
  7. Carried-over appropriations must remain separately identifiable and traceable in budget implementation, accounting and reporting.
  8. A horizontal provision requires equivalent audit, control and investigation rights for the Commission, the Court of Auditors, OLAF and, where applicable, the EPPO.
  9. The Commission must report annually to Parliament and the Council on financial implementation, exceptional procedures, support covering up to 100% of costs, and errors, irregularities, recoveries and anti-double-funding controls.
  10. Transparency on beneficiaries, contractors and other recipients is improved, and integrity screening and beneficial-ownership transparency are reinforced for grants to private entities or support under indirect management.
  11. Security considerations may not be used to deprive Parliament or the Union's audit and investigative bodies of information needed to exercise their prerogatives.
  12. Member States must transmit risk assessments to the Commission at least once every 3 years, and the Commission must produce a cross-sectoral disaster risk report at least once every 3 years.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must transmit risk assessments to the Commission at least once every 3 years and report on follow-up to recommendations.
  • The Commission: must ensure traceability, audit rights, annual reporting and protection of the Union's financial interests.
  • Beneficiaries, contractors and final recipients: must declare all Union contributions and provide beneficial-ownership information on request.
  • Third countries: must grant audit, control and investigation rights to the Commission, the Court of Auditors, OLAF and, where applicable, the EPPO.

Figures and deadlines

  • Member States must transmit risk assessments to the Commission at least once every 3 years.
  • The Commission must produce a cross-sectoral disaster risk report at least once every 3 years.
  • Member States must make available a summary of risk assessments by 31 December 2028.
  • Union support to response may cover up to 100% of the costs only where duly justified.
  • The Commission must transmit an annual report to Parliament and the Council by 30 June each year.
  • Carried-over appropriations may be committed and paid up to 31 December of the following year.
  • The transitional period for prolonging national aerial fire-fighting means is until 2034.
  • New aerial fire-fighting means financed under rescEU are expected to become progressively available starting in 2028.