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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2133(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, Section V – Court of Auditors

CONT-PR-753481

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Luke Ming Flanagan

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on granting the Secretary-General of the Court of Auditors discharge for the 2022 budget. It proposes a decision on discharge and sets out Parliament's observations in a resolution. The draft notes the Court's 2022 budget of EUR 162 141 175, its 98,50 % implementation rate, 26 budget transfers and the external auditor's clean findings. It covers staff numbers, gender balance, teleworking, sick leave and burnout, and welcomes the Court's ethics, anti-harassment and diversity measures. It addresses cybersecurity, digitalisation, buildings, environmental sustainability, interinstitutional cooperation and communication, and asks the Court to act on several points.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant or postpone discharge to the Secretary-General of the Court of Auditors for the 2022 budget, and sets out observations in a resolution covering budgetary management, staff, ethics, digitalisation, buildings, environment and interinstitutional cooperation.

Key points

  1. Grants or postpones discharge to the Secretary-General of the Court of Auditors for the 2022 budget, and sets out observations in a resolution.
  2. Notes the Court's 2022 budget of EUR 162 141 175, up 5,5 % from EUR 153 721 727 in 2021, with 90 % for members and staff.
  3. Notes 26 budget transfers totalling EUR 3,4 million (2,1 % of appropriations) and a 98,50 % implementation rate.
  4. Calls on the Court to examine more administrative transactions for all institutions, and welcomes a planned special report on administrative expenditure.
  5. Notes the external auditor found resources used for their intended purpose and no specific issues.
  6. Notes the Court had 921 staff at end-2022, with 52,9 % women overall but 38 % women in AD 13-16 grades, and welcomes teleworking arrangements.
  7. Notes with concern 11 622 sick leave days in 2022 (up 54 % from 7 524 in 2021) and seven burnout cases, and encourages the Court to keep focus on this.
  8. Welcomes the revised code of conduct, the respectful workplace policy, the Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, and the updated whistleblowing rules.
  9. Continues to reject the Court's decision not to join the EU Transparency Register and reiterates its call for the Court to join.
  10. Welcomes the 2022-2024 cybersecurity plan, notes no serious cyberattacks in 2022, and encourages vigilance and engagement with interinstitutional bodies.
  11. Welcomes reductions since 2014 in electricity (34,5 %), heating (22,2 %), paper (83,5 %), water (45,3 %), greenhouse gas emissions (29,5 %) and waste (33,7 %).
  12. Regrets the Court has not engaged in open-source social media platforms and encourages use of EU Voice and EU Video.

Who is affected

  • The Court of Auditors and its Secretary-General, who would receive discharge for the 2022 budget.
  • Court staff, affected by observations on staffing, teleworking, sick leave, burnout and diversity.
  • The European Investment Bank, which Parliament says should be audited by the Court and granted discharge by Parliament.
  • OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor's Office, with which the Court cooperates and to which it forwarded suspected fraud cases.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 11,6 billion: MFF heading 7 'European public administration' in 2022, 5,9 % of the total Union budget.
  • EUR 0,2 billion: the Court's 2022 budget, 1,4 % of total administrative expenditure.
  • 60 transactions: sample examined under Administration in 2022, same as 2021.
  • EUR 162 141 175: the Court's overall 2022 budget, up 5,5 % from EUR 153 721 727 in 2021.
  • EUR 3,4 million (2,1 % of appropriations): total of 26 budget transfers in 2022.
  • 98,50 %: the Court's 2022 budgetary implementation rate.
  • EUR 2 452 000 in 2022, down 18 % from EUR 2 988 000 in 2021: the Court's general mission budget.
  • 11 622 sick leave days in 2022, up 54 % from 7 524 in 2021.

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