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DRAFT REPORT (2024/2029(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for the financial year 2023

CONT-PR-764989

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský

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This draft report concerns granting discharge to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) for the 2023 budget. It proposes granting or postponing discharge and closing accounts, with observations on budget, management, and operations. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' positive opinion on accounts and legality of transactions, notes budget implementation improvements, and raises concerns about resources, IT autonomy, and cooperation with member states.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes granting discharge to the EPPO Administrative Director for 2023 and approving closure of accounts, with observations in a resolution.

Key points

  1. Proposes granting discharge to the EPPO Administrative Director for 2023, or postponing the decision, and approving closure of accounts, or postponing it.
  2. Welcomes the Court of Auditors' positive opinion on the reliability of accounts and legality of transactions for 2023.
  3. Notes the EPPO's final budget for 2023 was EUR 65.9 million, with a 99.6% implementation rate, and no budget returned.
  4. Calls on the Commission to review the EPPO budgetary framework and consider additional resources for growing complex cases, independent of Regulation revision.
  5. Urges member states to comply with reporting obligations and calls on the Commission to address conflicts of competence, including possible Court of Justice referrals.
  6. Notes increased crime reports, investigations, and damages, and calls for better monitoring and follow-up, including recovery of funds to the EU budget.
  7. Expresses concern about rising RRF-related investigations and calls for close cooperation among EPPO, Commission, and OLAF to protect the EU budget.
  8. Calls on the Commission to address EDP social security gaps and proposes solutions at the revision of Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.
  9. Deplores the Commission's decision to discontinue IT services, calls for continued support until EPPO has its own reliable system, and asks for gradual transition.
  10. Calls for enhanced cooperation with OLAF, Europol, and national authorities, and welcomes Poland and Sweden's participation.
  11. Urges constructive dialogue with Irish authorities to improve cooperation and calls for non-participating member states to join the EPPO.

Who is affected

  • The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and its Administrative Director, who is subject to discharge.
  • Member states, particularly those participating in the EPPO, must comply with reporting and cooperation obligations.
  • The Commission is called upon to review budgetary frameworks, support IT transition, and address legal gaps.
  • European Delegated Prosecutors (EDPs) and staff, affected by social security gaps and recruitment issues.
  • Non-participating member states, including Ireland, are urged to cooperate or join the EPPO.

Figures and deadlines

  • Final budget for 2023: EUR 65.9 million, increased by 14.7% from 2022's EUR 51.2 million.
  • Budget implementation rate: 99.6% in 2023, compared to 98.1% in 2022.
  • Crime reports: 4,187 in 2023, up from 3,318 in 2022.
  • Estimated damages: EUR 19.27 billion in 2023, compared to EUR 14.1 billion in 2022.
  • Indictments: 139 in 2023, compared to 87 in 2022.
  • Freezing orders: EUR 1.5 billion in 2023, compared to EUR 359.1 million in 2022.
  • RRF-related investigations: 233 at end of 2023, compared to 15 at end of 2022.

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