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OPINION (2023/2129(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, section III - Commission

DEVE-AD-756272

Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Antoni Comín i Oliveres

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The Committee on Development gives its opinion to the Committee on Budgetary Control on the 2022 EU budget discharge, asking it to include its suggestions in its resolution. It raises concerns about the record humanitarian funding gap, the stretched Global Europe instrument (NDICI-GE) and the depletion of its cushion, and calls for Parliament to be notified and involved before the cushion is used. It welcomes the Global Gateway strategy but wants more transparency, assessment and alignment with partner countries' needs and the Sustainable Development Goals. It asks the Commission to speed up spending targets on climate, biodiversity, gender and education, and to improve controls, act on European Court of Auditors recommendations and protect human rights in EU-funded projects.

Committee position. The Committee on Development asks the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the 2022 discharge, covering concerns on the NDICI-GE cushion, Global Gateway, spending targets, local partners, ODA, human rights and controls.

Key points

  1. The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the 2022 discharge.
  2. It is alarmed by the rising number of crises, the highest-ever humanitarian funding gap and growing inequalities, worsened by Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and worried that the NDICI-GE is stretched to its limits.
  3. It calls on member states to ensure the cushion is mobilised only for purposes within its intended scope.
  4. It welcomes the Global Gateway strategy and calls for more transparency, accountability and regular assessments, for Parliament's involvement beyond observer status, and for projects to contribute to NDICI-GE development objectives and the SDGs.
  5. It underlines the need to speed up progress on NDICI-GE spending targets for human development, gender, biodiversity and climate, and calls for concrete actions on how the 30% climate and 10% biodiversity targets for 2026 and 2027 will be met.
  6. It recalls the commitment to dedicate at least 10% of the EU's development portfolio to quality education and calls on the Commission to continue this and involve local actors.
  7. It insists the Commission notify Parliament before mobilising the cushion, take its observations into account, and preserve the cushion's purpose of responding to unforeseen crises; it welcomes the proposed Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027.
  8. It stresses the role of local NGOs and partners, invites the Commission to provide training and improve funding procedures, and to prioritise local organisations.
  9. It stresses the role of official development assistance, notes the EU and its member states provide approximately 43% of total ODA from OECD donors in 2021, recalls the 93% ODA-compliance obligation, and advocates a cautious approach to blending and public-private partnerships.
  10. It calls for ex ante assessments of human rights risks in EU programmes, especially tourism, biodiversity, refugee and diaspora projects, and asks the Commission to ensure EU funding is not linked to transnational repression.
  11. It calls on the Commission and member states to suspend or modulate EU funding programmes that directly or indirectly contribute to human rights violations, particularly regarding Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
  12. It calls on the Commission to improve controls, reduce transactional errors, act on unimplemented ECA recommendations and find eligible projects; it welcomes ECA findings and Special Report 14/2023 and expects the Commission to act on its recommendations.

Who is affected

  • The Committee on Budgetary Control, which is asked to incorporate the suggestions into its discharge resolution.
  • The Commission, which is asked to improve controls, notify Parliament on the cushion, and act on ECA recommendations.
  • Member states, which are called on to ensure the cushion is used only within its intended scope and to suspend or modulate funding linked to human rights violations.
  • Local NGOs, small local organisations and partners, which should receive training, better funding access and priority.
  • Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, whose rights to self-determination, land, assembly and free, prior and informed consent are highlighted.

Figures and deadlines

  • 30% climate target for 2026 and 2027 under the NDICI-GE.
  • 10% biodiversity target for 2026 and 2027 under the NDICI-GE.
  • approximately 80% of SDG targets undermined by loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
  • at least 10% of the EU's development portfolio to support access to quality education.
  • EUR 501 million mobilised in 2022 from the NDICI-GE cushion for bilateral assistance for Ukraine.
  • approximately 43% of total ODA provided by all OECD ODA donors to developing countries in 2021.
  • 93% of NDICI-GE funding to be compliant with ODA criteria.

Legal basis: Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (Policy Coherence for Development).