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OPINION (2023/2155(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Labour Authority

EMPL-AD-752904

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Romana Tomc

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The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs gives its opinion on discharge for the European Labour Authority's 2022 budget, recommending that discharge be granted to its Executive Director. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' clean declaration on the 2022 accounts and the Authority's response to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It raises concerns over high carry-overs, procurement weaknesses, control gaps on allowances, and the high share of temporary staff, and asks for improvements. It calls for adequate resources, conversion of 15 SNE posts into temporary agent posts, better health and safety, a corporate plan on energy efficiency, and regular reporting to Parliament.

Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs recommends that discharge be granted to the Executive Director of the European Labour Authority for the 2022 budget, while asking the Authority to fix carry-overs, procurement, allowance controls, staffing and health and safety.

Key points

  1. The committee calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the discharge resolution.
  2. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the Authority's 2022 transactions are legal and regular and its financial position at 31 December 2022 is fairly represented.
  3. It notes the 2022 budget of EUR 54 million, executed by 97%, but flags high carry-overs to 2023 as contrary to annuality and possibly a structural issue.
  4. It welcomes the Authority's prompt information and enforcement work helping member states protect people fleeing the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine from undeclared work and exploitation.
  5. It appreciates the Authority's work on labour mobility, social security coordination, EURES and its four working groups on Information, Inspections, Mediation and undeclared work.
  6. It notes temporary workers were 58% of staff at end-2022, the highest among EU decentralised agencies, and repeats its call to convert 15 SNE posts into temporary agent posts.
  7. It looks forward to the Commission's 2024 evaluation of the Authority and notes the Commission may propose legislation to review its scope.
  8. It asks the Authority to improve procurement procedures, comply with financial rules, achieve value for money and use the social clause in the EU Public Procurement Directive.
  9. It regrets the Court's finding of systematic weaknesses in management and control of daily and monthly allowances to SNEs and national liaison officers, and welcomes the strengthened controls from 2023.
  10. It stresses staff need human resources support and calls on the Authority to ensure workplace health and safety, training and information on access to health systems.
  11. It notes the Authority has not yet established a corporate plan to improve energy efficiency and climate neutrality of its operations.
  12. It encourages the Authority to cooperate actively with other agencies and report regularly to Parliament on progress, and recommends granting discharge to its Executive Director for 2022.

Who is affected

  • The European Labour Authority: faces calls to improve procurement, controls, staffing and health and safety.
  • The Authority's Executive Director: would receive discharge for the 2022 budget.
  • The Committee on Budgetary Control: asked to incorporate these suggestions into its discharge resolution.
  • Member states: supported by the Authority in protecting people fleeing Ukraine and enforcing labour mobility rules.
  • The Commission: to evaluate the Authority in 2024 and possibly propose legislation on its scope.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 54 million: the Authority's budget for 2022.
  • EUR 31 million: the Authority's budget for 2021.
  • 97%: execution rate of the 2022 budget.
  • 95,8%: execution rate of the 2021 budget.
  • 58%: proportion of temporary workers at the Authority at the end of 2022.
  • 15: number of SNE posts the committee wants converted into temporary agent posts.
  • more than 100%: amount by which a tender's financial offer exceeded the maximum budget.
  • 31 December 2022: date as at which the Authority's financial position is fairly represented.