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DRAFT REPORT (2025/2151(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee

CONT-PR-778063

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Pasquale Tridico

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This draft report proposes granting discharge to the European Economic and Social Committee for the 2024 budget, with observations in a resolution. The resolution notes the Committee's budget implementation, internal controls, HR policies, ethics, digitalisation, buildings, sustainability, interinstitutional cooperation, and communication, with various commendations and requests for updates.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes granting discharge to the European Economic and Social Committee for the 2024 financial year, with observations in a resolution.

Key points

  1. The draft decision grants discharge to the Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee for the 2024 financial year.
  2. The Committee's budget for 2024 was EUR 164,945,524, a 3.90% increase from 2023, with commitment appropriations implemented at 99.21% and payment appropriations at 92.85%.
  3. The Court of Auditors found errors in 16 of 70 sampled transactions but estimated the error level below materiality, with no specific issues concerning the Committee.
  4. The report notes the Council's new decision on daily allowances for members, setting EUR 367 for in-person and EUR 149 for remote attendance, and questions the public understanding of remote allowances.
  5. The Committee's internal control effectiveness dropped from 78% to 66% in 2024, and the report calls for improvements in communication, risk awareness, and document management.
  6. The Committee employed 713 staff at end-2024, with women holding 52% of management positions but only two of seven senior management posts.
  7. The report urges the Committee to consult the European Data Protection Supervisor on collecting burnout data and to keep the discharge authority updated.
  8. The Committee is commended for transparency, including joining the Transparency Register and publishing members' meetings, but a suspected fraud case was referred to EPPO.
  9. The report regrets that the 2026 budget did not include EUR 1,176,000 for a cybersecurity upgrade, making the 10% IT spending target unachievable.
  10. The Committee's cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions yielded savings in IT, infrastructure, printing, and security, and the report calls for expanding cooperation.
  11. The Committee's communication efforts in 2024 included outreach events involving 350,000 citizens and a strong social media presence with over 416,000 interactions.

Who is affected

  • The European Economic and Social Committee and its Secretary-General, who is granted discharge.
  • Committee staff, who face changes in working conditions, training, and cybersecurity responsibilities.
  • Committee members, who receive new daily allowances and must publish meetings.
  • The European Committee of the Regions, as a partner in joint services and projects.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 164,945,524: final adopted budget for 2024, up 3.90% from 2023.
  • 99.21%: implementation rate of commitment appropriations in 2024.
  • EUR 367: daily allowance for in-person meetings; EUR 149 for remote.
  • EUR 13,827,713: carry-over from 2023 to 2024, 8.38% of budget.
  • EUR 1,176,000: amount needed for cybersecurity upgrade, not included in 2026 budget.
  • 713: staff employed at end-2024.
  • 52%: share of management positions held by women.

Legal basis: Article 314(10) and Articles 317, 318 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union