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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2177(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753492

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Michal Wiezik

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This draft report by the Committee on Budgetary Control proposes granting discharge to the Executive Director of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking for the 2022 budget and approving the closure of its 2022 accounts. It notes the Court of Auditors found the accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular, but flags medium risks in recruitment, procurement, budget management and programme implementation. It raises concerns over low budget implementation, insufficient disclosure of members' contributions, and the risk that private members will miss their Horizon 2020 contribution target. It calls on the Joint Undertaking to set up a time-scheduled action plan, monitor private members' contributions annually, and adopt a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls.

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

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director discharge for the 2022 budget and approves the closure of the 2022 accounts, with observations in a resolution.
  2. The Court found the 2022 accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. The Court rated the risk to legality and regularity of recruitment as medium, due to the need to recruit many staff quickly.
  4. The Court rated the risk to operational contract expenditure as medium because of complex procurement for high-value contracts.
  5. The Court rated the risk to budget management as medium due to weaknesses in budget planning and monitoring and the lengthy supercomputer acquisition process.
  6. The report notes with concern low 2022 implementation: 79% of operational commitment and 24% of operational payment appropriations, and 45% and 37% of administrative commitment and payment appropriations.
  7. The Court rated the risk to programme implementation as medium because private members may not reach minimum contribution targets by the end of Horizon 2020.
  8. The report agrees the Joint Undertaking should set a time-scheduled action plan to finish projects approved under previous multiannual financial frameworks.
  9. It is concerned that the Court found information on members' contributions at programme level insufficient and that the 2022 accounts did not disclose legal commitments at year end.
  10. It notes private members had committed only EUR 11 million in in-kind contributions for Horizon 2020, far below the EUR 420 million minimum target.
  11. It agrees the Joint Undertaking should monitor private members' individual contribution achievements annually under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework.
  12. It calls for a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and internal guidance on risk-based monitoring using the COMPASS risk management module.

Who is affected

  • The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge and must address the observations.
  • The Joint Undertaking's private members, who risk missing their Horizon 2020 contribution target.
  • The Participating States, whose contributions and commitments are reported.

Figures and deadlines

  • Available payment budget for 2022: EUR 629.9 million (EUR 348.2 million in 2021).
  • Available committed budget for 2022: EUR 1 374.5 billion (EUR 753.4 million in 2021).
  • 2022 operational commitment and payment appropriations implemented at 79% and 24% (2% and 47% in 2021).
  • 2022 administrative commitment and payment appropriations implemented at 45% and 37%.
  • Maximum EU operational contribution of EUR 526 million fully committed, of which around EUR 266.3 million (or 50.6%) remains to be paid.
  • Participating States signed contractual commitments of EUR 447.3 million and declared financial contributions of EUR 124.8 million plus EUR 38 million in-kind.
  • Private members committed and reported EUR 11 million (or 2.6%) in in-kind contributions, against a minimum target of EUR 420 million.
  • Under the new founding Regulation, projects amounting to EUR 7 billion, with EUR 3 billion from Participating States and EUR 900 million from private members.

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