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OPINION (2023/2183(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2022

DEVE-AD-756271

Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Antoni Comín i Oliveres

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The Committee on Development suggests amendments to Parliament's discharge resolution on the 2022 implementation of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds (EDFs). It asks the Committee on Budgetary Control to include these suggestions in its motion for a resolution. It says remaining EDF projects should focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, and calls for support for local partners, stronger coordination between the Commission, the EEAS and EU delegations, and evaluation of projects. It welcomes the Council's allocation of EUR 600 million from de-committed 10th and 11th EDF projects for food security and economic shock in ACP countries, and encourages member states to re-allocate de-committed EDF funds to urgent needs. It notes the Court of Auditors' finding that the EDF accounts for 2022 were handled in accordance with applicable rules, and that the estimated error rate for EDF payments rose from 4.6% to 7.1% between 2021 and 2022. It calls on the Commission to improve controls, reduce transactional errors and fully implement the Court of Auditors' recommendations, especially on excess clearings.

Committee position. The Committee on Development suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its suggestions into the motion for a resolution on the EDF discharge, focusing on SDG-oriented projects, local partners, coordination, food security funding and improved controls.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate the suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the EDF discharge.
  2. Notes that EDF implementation concerns countries facing climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, the COVID pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine, debt and crises, and insists remaining projects focus on the Sustainable Development Goals.
  3. Highlights the role of local implementing partners, the need to maintain local know-how as EDF projects phase out for use under NDICI-Global Europe, and the need for evaluation, monitoring and reporting of EU projects.
  4. Calls for stronger coordination between the Commission, the EEAS and EU delegations to cooperate with local actors and identify projects meeting development effectiveness objectives.
  5. Notes that local, non-governmental actors are well placed to deliver EU assistance, especially in remote areas, and that stronger engagement with them could accelerate development cooperation.
  6. Welcomes the Council's allocation of EUR 600 million from de-committed 10th and 11th EDF projects for food security and economic shock in ACP countries after Russia's war in Ukraine.
  7. Encourages member states to re-allocate de-committed EDF funds to urgent ACP needs, and stresses complementing funds with measures for small-scale farmers, agroecological practices, sustainable fisheries and school meals.
  8. Recognises the Commission's work on EDF implementation and notes the Court of Auditors considers the 2022 EDF accounts handled in accordance with applicable rules.
  9. Notes that the ECA and DG INTPA use different methodologies for estimating error rates, that the ECA estimates the error level at 7.1% with about half due to excess clearance, and that the error level grew from 4.6% to 7.1% between 2021 and 2022.
  10. Calls on the Commission to improve controls to reduce transactional errors and fully implement the Court of Auditors' recommendations, particularly to avoid excess clearing errors, and welcomes DG INTPA's review of its control strategy.

Who is affected

  • The Committee on Budgetary Control, which is asked to incorporate the suggestions into its motion for a resolution.
  • The Commission, which is asked to improve controls and implement the Court of Auditors' recommendations.
  • Member states, which are encouraged to re-allocate de-committed EDF funds to urgent ACP needs.
  • Local implementing partners and non-governmental actors, whose role and capacity building are highlighted.
  • ACP countries, which face food security and economic shocks and are the target of the EUR 600 million allocation.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 600 million allocated from de-committed 10th and 11th EDF projects for food security and economic shock in ACP countries.
  • 7.1% estimated error level for EDF payment transactions by the Court of Auditors.
  • Error level in transactions grew from 4.6% to 7.1% between 2021 and 2022.