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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2144(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753510

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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This is a draft report by the Committee on Budgetary Control on granting discharge to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the 2022 financial year. It proposes a decision to grant or postpone discharge to CEPOL's Executive Director, a decision on closing CEPOL's 2022 accounts, and a resolution with observations. The observations cover budget and financial management, performance, efficiency, staff policy, procurement, conflicts of interest, internal control and other matters. The report notes the Court of Auditors' qualified opinion on the legality and regularity of payments due to irregular payments totalling EUR 4,2 million.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant discharge to CEPOL's Executive Director and approve the closure of CEPOL's 2022 accounts, or postpone those decisions, and sets out observations in a resolution covering budget, performance, staff, procurement, transparency and internal control.

Key points

  1. The draft proposes to grant or postpone discharge to CEPOL's Executive Director for the 2022 budget, and to approve or postpone closure of CEPOL's 2022 accounts.
  2. CEPOL's final 2022 budget was EUR 28 295 362, a decrease of 5,82 % from 2021; the budget implementation rate was 100 % and the payment execution rate was 84,66 %.
  3. The Court of Auditors gave a qualified opinion on payments, identifying irregular payments of EUR 4,2 million, including EUR 4,1 million under two framework contracts and EUR 152 655 under an educational editorial services contract.
  4. The report commends CEPOL for a 100 % implementation rate of its 2022 work programme, with 418 training activities implemented versus 417 planned, and a 97 % customer satisfaction rate.
  5. CEPOL's 2022 trainings were attended by 43 838 participants, compared to 27 800 planned; the report notes that insufficient resources meant demand could only be met by increasing online learning.
  6. The report notes CEPOL's cooperation with other Justice and Home Affairs agencies, its chairing of the JHA Agencies Network in 2022, and its agreement with the EMCDDA to provide tenancy on its LEEd learning platform.
  7. The report regrets that CEPOL lacks a system to monitor gains and savings, and notes it has no corporate plan for energy efficiency and climate neutrality and has not started EMAS certification.
  8. On staff, the establishment plan was 79 % implemented with 26 temporary agents out of 33 authorised; staff turnover was 11,8 % in 2022, and the report reiterates a call on the Commission to revise the correction coefficient.
  9. The report welcomes CEPOL's gender balance in 2022 and its new decision on objectives-based management, which grants the right to disconnect and more flexibility on working time and teleworking.
  10. On procurement, the report notes the Court's observation on 359 payments of EUR 4,1 million made by staff without delegated authority, and CEPOL's corrective measures; it also notes an open 2021 observation on unequal treatment of bidders.
  11. The report notes CEPOL's transparency measures, including publication of declarations of interests and CVs of management board members and senior management, and improvements to its public register of documents.
  12. On internal control, the report notes CEPOL's assessment that its system is effective, calls for addressing shortcomings in 'Control activities' and 'Information and communication', and notes 46 exceptions raised in 2022 worth EUR 51 697.

Who is affected

  • CEPOL and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge or have the decision postponed.
  • CEPOL's staff, affected by staff policy observations on turnover, correction coefficient and working conditions.
  • CEPOL's procurement processes and contractors, affected by observations on irregular payments and corrective measures.
  • The Commission, called on to revise the correction coefficient for CEPOL's host city.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 28 295 362 — CEPOL's final budget for 2022.
  • 5,82 % — decrease in CEPOL's 2022 budget compared to 2021.
  • EUR 4,2 million — total irregular payments identified by the Court of Auditors.
  • EUR 4,1 million — irregular payments under two framework contracts (359 payments).
  • EUR 152 655 — payments under a framework contract that could not be reconciled with services provided.
  • 13,5 % — irregular payments as a share of payment appropriations available in 2022.
  • 11,8 % — CEPOL's staff turnover rate in 2022.
  • EUR 51 697 — value of 46 exceptions raised in 2022.

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