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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2164(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Asylum (before 19.1.2022 the European Asylum Support Office) for the financial year 2022

CONT-PR-753532

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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This draft report by the Committee on Budgetary Control concerns discharge for the European Union Agency for Asylum's 2022 budget. It proposes granting discharge and closing the accounts, and sets out observations on budget management, performance, staff, procurement, conflicts of interest and internal control. The Agency's 2022 budget was EUR 186 842 192, up 12,46% from 2021. Budget implementation was 96,23% for commitments and 89,55% for payments, with a 15% cancellation rate of funds carried over from 2021. The report notes the Agency's expanded tasks under Regulation (EU) 2021/2303 and its response to the war in Ukraine, including operations in 14 member states and support for temporary protection. It calls on the Commission to address unclear Schengen associated countries' contribution arrangements, and on the Agency to cooperate with OLAF, speed up corrective actions, and keep the discharge authority informed on harassment and management recruitment cases.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Executive Director for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the accounts, while setting out observations on budget management, performance, staff, procurement, conflicts of interest and internal control.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director discharge for the Agency's 2022 budget and approves the closure of the accounts.
  2. The Agency's final 2022 budget was EUR 186 842 192, an increase of 12,46% compared to 2021, mainly from the Union budget.
  3. Budget implementation was 96,23% for commitment appropriations and 89,55% for payment appropriations; the cancellation rate of funds carried over from 2021 was 15%, above the Agency's target of less than 10%.
  4. The Management Board adopted two budgetary amendments in 2022, including an additional subsidy of EUR 12 million in commitments and EUR 6 million in payments for Ukraine-related tasks, later reduced by EUR 12 million in payments.
  5. The Court found that Schengen associated countries' contributions were around EUR 0,7 million (7%) lower due to a flawed calculation formula; Parliament calls on the Commission to address this in negotiations.
  6. The Agency met 204 annual targets: 48% exceeded, 26% achieved, 10% nearly achieved, 12% delayed and 4% not applicable.
  7. The Agency made progress on its new mandate, including establishing the Consultative Forum, an asylum reserve pool of 360 experts, recruiting a Fundamental Rights Officer, and developing a complaints mechanism.
  8. The Agency expanded operations to six additional member states, assisted with the Temporary Protection Directive, deployed personnel to Moldova, and produced country of origin information and trainings reaching 13 000 participants.
  9. The Agency increased the share of resources for operational activities to 79,13% in 2022, up from 72,14% in 2021 and 68,68% in 2020.
  10. The establishment plan was 90% executed with 333 temporary agents out of 371 authorised posts; turnover rose from 4,1% in 2021 to 8,2% in 2022.
  11. The Agency received three harassment cases in 2022; two were rejected and one led to an administrative inquiry. Parliament calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority of the outcome.
  12. Parliament calls on the Agency to cooperate with OLAF's ongoing investigation, address open corrective actions, and inform the discharge authority on progress.

Who is affected

  • The European Union Agency for Asylum, which must implement the observations and report back on various issues.
  • The Commission, which is asked to address Schengen associated countries' contribution arrangements and reflect the Agency's operational needs in future establishment plans.
  • Schengen associated countries, whose contributions to the Agency's budget are found to be underpaid by around EUR 0,7 million due to a flawed formula.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 186 842 192: the Agency's final budget for 2022.
  • 12,46%: increase in the Agency's budget compared to 2021.
  • EUR 6 million: total value of the IPA III Western Balkans contribution agreement signed in June 2022, with an implementation period of 47 months.
  • 96,23%: budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations in 2022.
  • 89,55%: current year payment appropriations execution rate in 2022.
  • 15%: cancellation rate of funds carried over from 2021 to 2022.
  • EUR 12 million in commitments and EUR 6 million in payments: additional subsidy requested from the Commission for Ukraine-related tasks.
  • EUR 0,7 million (7%): underpayments by Schengen associated countries due to a flawed calculation formula.

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