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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2180(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753500

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Michal Wiezik

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on discharge for the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking's 2022 budget. It proposes granting discharge and closing the accounts, and sets out observations on financial management, procurement, staff and controls. The draft notes the Court of Auditors found the accounts fair and transactions legal, but flags missing disclosure of members' contributions and weaknesses in reinforced monitoring. It asks the Joint Undertaking to disclose contribution information, set a time-scheduled action plan for old projects, and issue internal guidance on risk-based monitoring.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Acting 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 proposes granting the Acting Executive Director discharge for the 2022 budget and approving the closure of the 2022 accounts.
  2. It notes the Court found the 2022 accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular.
  3. It notes with concern that the JU did not disclose members' contributions at programme level, including Participating States' contributions.
  4. It notes that most private members' in-kind contributions remain to be validated (EUR 1 172.5 million).
  5. It notes the JU fully committed the maximum EU operational contribution of EUR 1 169.7 million for Horizon 2020 grant agreements.
  6. It echoes the Court's call for a time-scheduled action plan to finalise projects approved under previous multiannual financial frameworks.
  7. It notes low implementation of the administrative payment budget (63%) and of operational payment appropriations for Horizon 2020 (74%).
  8. It notes the JU ran very few procurement procedures in 2022, mainly for low-value contracts, and none for operational activities.
  9. It notes the JU employed 25 statutory staff at the end of 2022, with 8 nationalities, and launched six external recruitment procedures.
  10. It notes the Court found no errors or control weaknesses in sampled Horizon 2020 payments at beneficiary level.
  11. It agrees the JU should develop internal guidance on risk-based monitoring and use of the COMPASS risk management module.
  12. It agrees the JU should ensure reinforced monitoring actions have specific control actions and are followed up by a pre-defined deadline.

Who is affected

  • The Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking and its Acting Executive Director, who would receive discharge.
  • The Joint Undertaking's members, including the EU, Participating States and three industry associations.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects, affected by payment delays and controls.

Figures and deadlines

  • Total available commitment appropriations in 2022: EUR 261.4 million.
  • Total available payment appropriations in 2022: EUR 222.2 million.
  • Budget implementation: 100% for commitment appropriations and 55% for payment appropriations.
  • Private members' in-kind contributions remaining to be validated: EUR 1 172.5 million.
  • Maximum EU operational contribution for Horizon 2020 grant agreements: EUR 1 169.7 million.
  • Estimated private members' potential final in-kind contributions for Horizon 2020: EUR 1 579 million, or 97.6% of the minimum target of EUR 1 617.5 million.
  • Validated industry in-kind contributions at end of 2022: EUR 406.5 million, or 25% of the target.
  • Participating States' signed contractual commitments: EUR 1 106.2 million, or 95% of the target; declared financial contributions: EUR 495.3 million.

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