Skip to content
DRAFT REPORT (2023/2181(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Single European Sky ATM Research 3 Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753502

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Michal Wiezik

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This draft report asks Parliament to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking for the 2022 budget and to approve the closure of its 2022 accounts. It notes the Court of Auditors found the 2022 accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular, with a 2022 budget of EUR 146.9 million in payments and EUR 158.8 million in commitments. It records progress on Horizon 2020 and the start of the Digital European Sky programme, with 48 of 127 proposals selected for EUR 350 million. It agrees with the Court that SESAR should improve its risk-based ex-ante controls, use the reinforced monitoring tool properly, and adapt to new risks under Horizon Europe.

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 the accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament would grant the Executive Director discharge for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the 2022 accounts.
  2. The Court found the 2022 annual accounts fair and the underlying transactions legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. The 2022 available budget was EUR 146.9 million in payment appropriations and EUR 158.8 million in commitment appropriations.
  4. The Digital European Sky programme started in 2022; 48 of 127 project proposals were selected, for a total investment of EUR 350 million.
  5. Under Horizon 2020, the JU fully committed the maximum EU operational contribution of EUR 555.8 million; around EUR 65.7 million remains to be paid.
  6. Private members committed their entire in-kind contributions of EUR 280 million, reporting EUR 278.5 million; Eurocontrol committed EUR 467 million, reporting EUR 313.6 million.
  7. The 2022 operational budget implementation rate was 54%, down from 93% in 2021, due to rising costs and delivery problems; most Horizon 2020 projects were prolonged.
  8. For Horizon 2020, the JU reported a representative error rate of 2.4% and a residual error rate of 1.8%; Horizon Europe ex-post audits are expected from 2024.
  9. The Court found the JU lacked a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and that its risk monitoring excluded beneficiaries never ex-post audited and newcomers.
  10. Parliament agrees SESAR should enhance its risk monitoring, ensure reinforced monitoring actions have specific control actions and deadlines, and adapt its risk-based approach to Horizon Europe.
  11. The JU decided to move some operational procurement dates to the first quarter of 2023; its 2022 staff plan allows 37 temporary agents, one contract agent and two seconded national experts.
  12. The vacancy rate at the end of 2022 was 8.1%; 59% of the 37 staff were female and 41% male, with 15 nationalities represented.

Who is affected

  • The SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge and account closure.
  • The JU's members: the EU, Eurocontrol and more than 50 aviation organisations.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe grants, including SMEs and newcomers.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 146.9 million in 2022 payment appropriations (EUR 69.9 million in 2021).
  • EUR 158.8 million in 2022 commitment appropriations (EUR 34.8 million in 2021).
  • EUR 350 million total investment for 48 selected projects out of 127 proposals.
  • EUR 555.8 million maximum EU operational contribution under Horizon 2020; around EUR 65.7 million (11.8%) remains to be paid.
  • EUR 280 million private members' in-kind contributions target; EUR 278.5 million (99.5%) reported.
  • EUR 467 million Eurocontrol operational contributions target; EUR 313.6 million (67%) reported.
  • 54% operational budget implementation rate in 2022 (93% in 2021).
  • 8.1% vacancy rate at end 2022; 37 temporary agent positions; each departure increases the rate by 2.7%.

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