On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound)
EMPL-AD-752901
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Romana Tomc
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The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs gives its opinion on granting discharge for Eurofound's 2022 budget. It notes the Court of Auditors found the accounts legal and regular, welcomes the Foundation's work and cooperation, and recommends that discharge be granted to its Executive Director.¶¶¶ It notes the 2022 budget of EUR 26 million was executed by 100%, regrets the impact of high inflation, and flags weaknesses in procurement and the traineeship programme that the Foundation has corrected.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs recommends that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution, and that discharge be granted to the Executive Director of the Foundation for the 2022 financial year.¶¶
Key points
- Expresses satisfaction that the Court of Auditors declared the Foundation's 2022 transactions legal and regular and its financial position fairly represented.¶
- Values the Foundation's work providing evidence-based expertise for social, employment and work-related policies, and welcomes its programme on working conditions, industrial relations, employment and living.¶
- Believes the Foundation can play a crucial role in analysing the rise in telework and hybrid work and its impact on work-life balance and working conditions.
- Notes the 2022 budget was EUR 26 million, executed by 100%, and highlights the need for adequate human and financial resources to fulfil its mandate.¶
- Regrets that high inflation in 2022 forced a shift of resources from the operational budget to staff costs, and acknowledges targeted savings allowed delivery of the work programme.¶
- Stresses the importance of high-quality data from the Foundation's monitoring tools, especially its Europe-wide surveys, for evidence-based policymaking.¶
- Appreciates the Foundation's cooperation with other EU agencies, including Cedefop, EU-OSHA, ETF, EIGE, FRA, EEA and ECDC, to strengthen synergies and avoid overlaps.¶
- Appreciates close working relationships with international organisations such as the ILO, with which a new Framework agreement was signed in 2022, and the OECD.¶
- Appreciates the Foundation's collaboration with the Commission's Joint Research Centre on digitalisation, new forms of work and structural change in the labour market.¶
- Takes note of weaknesses in the procurement procedure for networking services due to unclear selection and award criteria, and welcomes the corrected tender templates.¶
- Regrets weaknesses in the 2022 traineeship programme that led to EUR 3 330 less being paid to 16 trainees, welcomes the corrections and updated 2023 rules.¶
- Commends the Foundation for its corporate plan to improve energy efficiency and climate neutrality, and recommends granting discharge to its Executive Director for 2022.¶¶
Who is affected
- Eurofound, the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions: its 2022 budget implementation is assessed and discharge is recommended.¶¶
- The Executive Director of the Foundation: discharge is recommended to be granted for the 2022 financial year.
- 16 trainees affected by underpayment in 2022: they received EUR 3 330 less than due, later corrected.¶
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 26 million: the Foundation's budget for the 2022 financial year.¶
- EUR 27 million: the Foundation's budget for the 2021 financial year.
- 100%: execution rate of the Foundation's 2022 budget.
- 31 December 2022: date as at which the Foundation's financial position is fairly represented.¶
- EUR 3 330: amount less than due paid to 16 affected trainees.¶
- 16: number of trainees affected by underpayment.
- October 2022: month from which adjustment payments were made to trainees.