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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2147(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753515

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on discharge for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's 2022 budget. It proposes granting the Director discharge and approving the closure of the accounts, with observations in a resolution. The draft notes the Centre's 2022 budget was EUR 99 872 000, a decrease of 40,59% from 2021 due to changes in HERA grants, and that the Court of Auditors gave a qualified opinion on payments because VAT was wrongly included as an eligible cost in grant agreements. It records the Centre delivered 89% of planned outputs, handled three simultaneous public health emergencies (COVID-19, Mpox and hepatitis of unknown origin in children), and responded to the influx of refugees from Ukraine. The draft also covers staff numbers and gender balance, conflict-of-interest declarations, internal control improvements, and environmental and procurement measures.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant the Director of the Centre discharge for the 2022 financial year and approve the closure of the Centre's 2022 accounts, with observations set out in a resolution.

Key points

  1. Proposes granting the Director of the Centre discharge for the 2022 financial year and approving the closure of the Centre's 2022 accounts.
  2. Notes the Centre's final 2022 budget was EUR 99 872 000, a decrease of 40,59% from 2021 due to changes in HERA grants, and that it derives mainly from the Union budget.
  3. Highlights the Court's qualified opinion on payments because three of four audited grant agreements included VAT of EUR 0,6 million (8,1%) as eligible costs, though beneficiaries acted as public authorities and VAT is not eligible under Article 186(4)(c) of the Financial Regulation.
  4. Notes the estimated non-compliant expenditure represents 2,8% of total 2022 payment appropriations, exceeding the materiality threshold.
  5. Notes the budget implementation rate for current year commitment appropriations was 98,86% (up 0,49% from 2021) and the payment execution rate was 73,61% (up 9,53%).
  6. Notes the Centre delivered 89% of planned outputs, with 8% postponed and 3% delayed or cancelled, mostly due to the amended legal text of its mandate adopted in November 2022.
  7. Notes the Centre maintained its public health emergency plan for the third year, downgraded from Level 2 to Level 1 in June, and supported three simultaneous emergencies (COVID-19, Mpox, hepatitis of unknown origin in children).
  8. Notes the Centre worked with authorities of the five countries surrounding Ukraine, deploying experts to Poland and Romania to assist displaced populations.
  9. Welcomes efficiency gains from automating four administrative processes and implementing a new electronic workflows platform.
  10. Notes that on 31 December 2022 the establishment plan had 215 temporary agents, plus 112 contract agents and 5 seconded national experts; overall staff was 60% women and 40% men.
  11. Notes the Centre applied its independence policy, with all Management Board and Advisory Forum members and the Director and Heads of Unit submitting valid declarations, and 99% of external experts doing so; no actual conflict of interest was reported in 2022.
  12. Notes internal control improvements in 2022, including an improved Control Strategy, Information Asset Catalogue and internal communications policy; welcomes the Centre's aim to be EMAS registered in 2023 and its planned CO2 offsetting project.

Who is affected

  • The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and its Director, who would receive discharge and account closure.
  • The Centre's staff and management, whose 2022 budget implementation, staff policy and conflict-of-interest rules are assessed.
  • Grant beneficiaries that are public authorities, which included non-eligible VAT in eligible costs.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 99 872 000 — final budget of the Centre for 2022.
  • 40,59 % — decrease in the Centre's 2022 budget compared to 2021.
  • EUR 7,9 million — total value of four grant agreements audited by the Court.
  • EUR 0,6 million (8,1 %) — VAT included among eligible costs in three grant agreements.
  • 2,8 % — estimated non-compliant expenditure as share of total 2022 payment appropriations.
  • 98,86 % — budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations in 2022.
  • 73,61 % — current year payment appropriations execution rate in 2022.
  • 89 % — share of outputs delivered from the Single Programming Document 2022–2024.

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