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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2151(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753519

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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This draft report proposes that Parliament grant the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the Authority's 2022 accounts. It sets out observations on the Authority's budget and financial management, performance, efficiency, staff policy, conflicts of interest and transparency, and other matters. The observations note the Court of Auditors' assurance that the accounts are reliable and the transactions legal and regular, and that no procurement or internal control issues required corrective action. They call on the Authority to intensify efforts to close the gender gap in senior and managerial positions and to continue promoting a healthy work-life balance among staff.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the Authority's 2022 accounts, with observations set out in the accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament would grant the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge for the implementation of the Authority's 2022 budget, or postpone that decision.
  2. Parliament would approve the closure of the Authority's 2022 accounts, or postpone that decision.
  3. The Authority's final 2022 budget was EUR 149 841 816,93, up 15,99 % on 2021, and derives mainly from the Union budget.
  4. The Court of Auditors obtained reasonable assurance that the Authority's annual accounts are reliable and the underlying transactions legal and regular.
  5. No procurement or internal control issues requiring corrective action were reported for 2022, and no corrective actions from previous years' audits remain outstanding.
  6. Budget implementation reached a current-year commitment appropriation rate of 99,95 % and a payment appropriations execution rate of 89,77 %.
  7. The Authority's integrated performance framework, with key performance indicators, reached an overall rate of 96 % against its targets.
  8. The Authority finalised 586 scientific questions out of a target of 701 under Objective 1, broadly matching new incoming questions so the stock of open questions did not increase.
  9. The Authority launched the Strategy 2027, held the 'ONE Conference - Health, Environment, Society', ran an African Swine Fever campaign with eighteen Member States and contributed to the EU Chemicals Strategy.
  10. On 31 December 2022 the establishment plan was 95,55 % implemented, with 5 officials and 382 temporary agents appointed out of 405 authorised posts, plus 170 contract agents and 14 seconded national experts.
  11. Gender balance was achieved overall (335 of 557, 60,1 %, women) and on the management board (37 of 70, 52,9 %, women), but men held 63 % of senior and management positions; Parliament calls for efforts to close this gap.
  12. The Authority identified and managed seven conflicts of interest among external experts, preventing them from participating in scientific activity, and plans a new post-employment standard procedure by Q1 2024.

Who is affected

  • The European Food Safety Authority and its Executive Director, who would receive discharge and account closure for 2022.
  • The Authority's staff, including its management, on whom gender balance, work-life balance and post-employment rules bear.
  • External experts and Management Board members, who must declare conflicts of interest and post-mandate activities.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 149 841 816,93 — the Authority's final budget for the financial year 2022.
  • 15,99 % — the increase in the Authority's 2022 budget compared to 2021.
  • 99,95 % — the current-year commitment appropriation implementation rate for 2022.
  • 89,77 % — the current-year payment appropriations execution rate for 2022.
  • 96 % — the overall performance rate against the targets in the Performance Framework.
  • 586 of 701 — scientific questions finalised under Objective 1.
  • 95,55 % — implementation of the establishment plan on 31 December 2022.
  • 335 of 557 (60,1 %) women in overall staff; 37 of 70 (52,9 %) women on the management board; 63 % men and 37 % women in senior and management positions.

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