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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2173(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753485

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Michal Wiezik

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This is a draft report by the Committee on Budgetary Control on granting discharge to the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking for the 2022 financial year. It proposes to grant discharge and approve the closure of the accounts, and sets out observations on the Joint Undertaking's budget, procurement, staff and controls. The draft notes the Court of Auditors found the 2022 accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular, and that the Joint Undertaking's 2022 budget comprised commitment appropriations of EUR 411.2 million and payment appropriations of EUR 415.3 million. It records Horizon 2020 implementation details, Horizon Europe pre-financing, a low administrative payment implementation rate of 54%, and the Joint Undertaking's procurement and staff situation. It notes audit findings, including a representative error rate of 1.6% and residual error rate of 0.4% for Horizon 2020, weaknesses in reinforced monitoring, and the need to adapt risk assessment under Horizon Europe.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking for the 2022 financial year and approve the closure of the 2022 accounts, while setting out observations on budgetary management, procurement, staff and controls.

Key points

  1. Proposes to grant the Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking discharge for the 2022 financial year and to approve the closure of the 2022 accounts.
  2. Notes the Court of Auditors found the 2022 annual accounts present fairly the Joint Undertaking's financial position and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular.
  3. Notes the 2022 final available budget comprised commitment appropriations of EUR 411.2 million and payment appropriations of EUR 415.3 million.
  4. Notes that recognised contributions differ between EU cash contributions and private members' in-kind contributions, and that the Court considered the gap was addressed suboptimally by not providing information on legal commitments at year end.
  5. Notes that under Horizon 2020 the Joint Undertaking fully committed EUR 1 716 million of the maximum EU operational contribution, with around EUR 70.1 million remaining to be paid, and that private members committed in-kind contributions of EUR 968.3 million and EUR 1 223.1 million.
  6. Notes that for Horizon 2020 the operational payment implementation rate was 78%, and that many projects were delayed or reduced due to COVID-19 and the war of aggression against Ukraine.
  7. Notes that under Horizon Europe the Commission made cash contributions of EUR 178 million and the Joint Undertaking almost fully used the operational contribution of EUR 176 million for pre-financing.
  8. Notes the low administrative payment implementation rate of 54%, attributed to IT and communication services to be paid in 2023 and reduced Commission service costs.
  9. Notes the Joint Undertaking published two open tender procedures in 2022 and signed eleven inter-institutional framework service contracts in communication.
  10. Notes the 2022 establishment plan had 44 statutory staff posts with 40 filled, and that two SNE posts were not filled because the 2023 plan foresees 41 posts and no SNEs.
  11. Notes Horizon 2020 ex-post audits reported a representative error rate of 1.6% and a residual error rate of 0.4%, and that Horizon Europe ex-post audits are expected from 2024.
  12. Agrees with the Court that the Joint Undertaking should ensure reinforced monitoring actions are accompanied by specific control actions and followed up at a pre-defined deadline, and stresses the importance of its risk-based approach under Horizon Europe.

Who is affected

  • The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge and account closure.
  • The Joint Undertaking's members, including the EU and private aviation sector organisations, whose contributions are reported.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe grants, subject to audits and monitoring.

Figures and deadlines

  • Commitment appropriations of EUR 411.2 million for 2022.
  • Payment appropriations of EUR 415.3 million for 2022.
  • EUR 1 716 million of the maximum EU operational contribution committed under Horizon 2020.
  • Around EUR 70.1 million (or 4.1%) remains to be paid for Horizon 2020 projects.
  • Private members' in-kind contributions: EUR 968.3 million to operational activities and EUR 1 223.1 million (101.6% of the EUR 2 154.9 million minimum target) to additional activities.
  • Operational payment implementation rate of 78% for Horizon 2020.
  • Commission cash contributions of EUR 178 million and operational contribution of EUR 176 million used for pre-financing under Horizon Europe.
  • Administrative payment implementation rate of 54%.

Legal basis: Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.