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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2176(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753491

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Jozef Mihál

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This is a draft report by the Committee on Budgetary Control on granting discharge to the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking for the 2022 financial year. It proposes decisions on discharge and closure of accounts, and sets out observations on the Joint Undertaking's budget, procurement, staff and controls. The report notes the Court of Auditors found the accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular, and that the Joint Undertaking implemented 100% of commitment appropriations and 79.1% of payment appropriations. It raises concerns about the lack of a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and weaknesses in the reinforced monitoring tool, and calls for improvements.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Interim Executive Director for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the accounts, while setting out observations in the accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. The draft report proposes to grant the Interim Executive Director discharge for the 2022 budget and to approve the closure of the accounts.
  2. It notes the Court of Auditors found the annual accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular.
  3. It notes the adopted budget was EUR 171.4 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 180.8 million in payment appropriations.
  4. It notes 100% of commitment appropriations and 79.1% of payment appropriations were implemented.
  5. It notes the JU fully committed the maximum EU operational contribution of EUR 384.5 million for Horizon 2020, with around EUR 68.2 million remaining to be paid.
  6. It notes private members committed EUR 320.7 million in in-kind contributions to operational activities and EUR 244 million to additional activities, or 123.7% of the minimum target of EUR 456.5 million.
  7. It notes the Commission made cash contributions of EUR 108.9 million for Horizon Europe in 2022 and the JU almost fully used EUR 107.5 million for pre-financing.
  8. It notes the JU conducted an open tender for the Europe's Rail System Pillar with a total awarded amount of EUR 45 million.
  9. It notes 28 posts were filled at the end of 2022 and the establishment plan provides for 29 staff members including 2 Seconded National Experts.
  10. It notes the JU reported a representative error rate of 2.2% and a residual error rate of 1.3% for Horizon 2020 expenditure.
  11. It calls on the JU to implement a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and to develop internal guidance on risk-based monitoring.
  12. It notes the JU developed an action plan to improve beneficiaries' financial reporting.

Who is affected

  • The Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking and its Interim Executive Director, who would receive discharge.
  • The Joint Undertaking's members, including the EU and rail industry partners.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe grants, affected by reporting and control requirements.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 171.4 million in commitment appropriations
  • EUR 180.8 million in payment appropriations
  • 100% of commitment appropriations implemented
  • 79.1% of payment appropriations implemented
  • EUR 384.5 million maximum EU operational contribution for Horizon 2020
  • EUR 68.2 million remains to be paid for Horizon 2020
  • EUR 320.7 million in-kind contributions to operational activities
  • EUR 244 million in-kind contributions to additional activities, 123.7% of the minimum target of EUR 456.5 million

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