OPINION (2024/2019(DEC))
On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds
DEVE-AD-766830
Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Charles Goerens
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The Committee on Development's opinion on the 2023 EU budget discharge expresses concern over crises, funding gaps, and high error rates, urging the Commission to improve transparency, oversight, and compliance in development spending.¶¶ It calls for better monitoring, including sufficient EU Delegation budgets, and stresses the need for civil society funding, Global Gateway transparency, and addressing issues with the External Action Guarantee and EFSD+.¶¶¶
Key points
- Expresses concern over the SDG financing gap exceeding 4 trillion USD and the growing gap between humanitarian needs and available funding.¶
- Urges the Commission to reduce the high error rate in MFF heading 6 and the 9th, 10th, and 11th EDF, and to adopt innovative oversight measures like third-party monitoring and digital tools.¶
- Asks the Commission to improve transparency and accountability with international organisations, addressing delays in audit document access.¶
- Insists that implementing partners comply with visibility rules.¶
- Calls for improved transparency and monitoring of Global Gateway and Team Europe initiatives, including a centralised public platform, and a level playing field for EU companies.¶
- Calls for sufficient budgetary means for EU Delegations to conduct field visits, concerned about potential cuts in over 30 countries.¶
- Encourages the Commission to strengthen EP involvement and transparency of the EU Trust Fund for Africa, aligning it with EU initiatives.¶
- Calls for adequate and sustained funding for NGOs and civil society, including advocacy, and stresses the importance of their independence.¶
- Urges the Commission to improve data collection on the External Action Guarantee and implement ECA recommendations for transparency and accountability.¶
- Underlines the need to achieve NDICI-GE spending targets for climate, biodiversity, human development, and gender.¶
- Expresses concern over the 2 billion euro reduction in development programmes and urges mitigation strategies.¶
- Stresses the role of local NGOs and partners, and the need to enhance their capacity and access to EU funding.¶
Who is affected
- The Commission and EU Delegations, which must improve oversight and transparency in development spending.¶¶
- International organisations and financial institutions, which must provide complete audit access and comply with rules.¶
- Civil society organisations and NGOs, which should receive sustained funding and maintain independence.¶
- Local NGOs and partners in developing countries, which need enhanced capacity and access to EU funding.¶