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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2149(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753517

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 Environment Agency for the 2022 financial year. It proposes to grant the Executive Director discharge and to approve the closure of the accounts, and sets out observations in a resolution. The draft notes the Agency's 2022 budget was EUR 88 173 021, a 35,93 % increase on 2021, with a 100 % commitment implementation rate and an 86,66 % payment execution rate. It finds the Court of Auditors gave reasonable assurance that the accounts are reliable and the transactions legal and regular, and that no procurement issues required corrective action in 2022. It records observations on performance, efficiency gains, staff policy, conflicts of interest, internal control and other matters, and calls on the Agency to report back on its conflict-of-interest policy review and on updating its procedure documentation.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge for the 2022 financial year and approve the closure of the accounts, and sets out observations in an accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Proposes to grant the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge for the 2022 financial year, or to postpone that decision.
  2. Proposes to approve the closure of the Agency's 2022 accounts, or to postpone that closure.
  3. Notes the 2022 budget was EUR 88 173 021, up 35,93 % on 2021, funded by the Union budget and EFTA contribution (63,32 %) and specific agreements (36,67 %).
  4. Notes the Court of Auditors found the accounts reliable and the transactions legal and regular, and that no procurement issues required corrective action in 2022.
  5. Notes a 100 % commitment implementation rate and an 86,66 % payment execution rate, and that a 2021 irregular negotiated procedure contract expired in December 2022 with 2022 payments of EUR 470 660.
  6. Notes the performance framework has five objectives and 17 multiannual KPIs, with 95 % of key reports and assessments and 96 % of core set indicators delivered, both above the 90 % target.
  7. Notes the Agency supported the European Green Deal, the Eighth Environment Action Programme and the European Climate Law, and continued the Eionet Strategy 2021-2030.
  8. Notes the Agency pursued efficiency gains through shared services, joint procurement, Commission systems and activity-based working, and went 'mobile only'.
  9. Notes the establishment plan was 97,33 % implemented on 31 December 2022, with 3 permanent officials and 143 temporary agents out of 150 posts, plus 84 contract agents and 13 seconded national experts.
  10. Notes the lack of gender balance in senior management (6 of 9 men) and encourages the Agency to adopt the 'Charter on diversity and inclusion'.
  11. Notes the Agency's wellbeing measures, including a wellbeing coordinator, a stress monitoring app and up to three psychologist visits, handled anonymously.
  12. Notes no conflicts of interest were identified in 2022, that declarations are published, and calls on the Agency to report back on its review of its conflict-of-interest policy and on updating its procedure documentation.

Who is affected

  • The European Environment Agency and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge and account closure for 2022.
  • The Agency's senior management and management board, whose declarations of interest are published and who are encouraged to adopt the diversity charter.
  • The Agency's staff, affected by recruitment, wellbeing, teleworking and stress monitoring measures.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 88 173 021 — the Agency's final budget for the 2022 financial year.
  • 35,93 % — the increase in the 2022 budget compared to 2021.
  • 63,32 % and 36,67 % — the shares of the budget from the Union budget and EFTA contribution, and from specific agreements.
  • 100 % — the budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations in 2022.
  • 86,66 % — the current year payment appropriations execution rate, an increase of 1,75 % on the previous year.
  • EUR 470 660 — the 2022 payments under a contract that expired in December 2022.
  • 95 % and 96 % — delivery of key reports and assessments, and of core set indicators, against a 90 % target.
  • 97,33 % — implementation of the establishment plan on 31 December 2022, with 3 permanent officials and 143 temporary agents out of 150 posts.

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