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OPINION (2024/2030(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU agencies for the financial year 2023

EMPL-AD-765075

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 five EU agencies for 2023, covering Eurofound, EU-OSHA, Cedefop, ETF, and ELA. It recommends discharge be granted to their Executive Directors. The opinion notes the European Court of Auditors' positive opinions on the agencies' accounts, except for a qualified opinion on some ELA payments. It makes general comments on resources, procurement, and staff policies. It appreciates the agencies' work and cooperation, calls for better use of their expertise, and asks them to address all outstanding ECA recommendations.

Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs recommends that discharge be granted to the Executive Directors of Eurofound, EU-OSHA, Cedefop, ETF, and ELA for the 2023 financial year.

Key points

  1. Expresses satisfaction that ECA declared the 2023 accounts of Eurofound, EU-OSHA, Cedefop, ETF, and ELA legal and regular, except for a qualified opinion on some ELA payments.
  2. Appreciates the high quality work of the five agencies and their contribution to the European Year of Skills 2023; stresses their importance and added value.
  3. Recalls the need for a long-term HR policy on work-life balance, teleworking, right to disconnect, career development, geographical balance, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
  4. Welcomes the agencies' cooperation and sharing of resources; calls on the Commission to better use their expertise in policy areas, including reports and studies.
  5. Reiterates the need to equip agencies with sufficient staff and material resources; calls on all EU agencies to meet high health and safety standards and ensure annual medical examinations.
  6. Notes ECA observations on shortcomings in public procurement, management, and budgetary management; acknowledges inflation's impact on operational budgets.
  7. Welcomes diversity and inclusiveness policies, encourages better data collection on disability employment, and calls for gender balance at senior management and gender mainstreaming.
  8. For Eurofound: appreciates its work, notes 95% of work programme achieved, positive ECA opinion, and 16.8% carryover rate above the 15% benchmark.
  9. For EU-OSHA: appreciates its OSH work, positive ECA opinion, notes 29% carryover rate, welcomes cost-cutting and the AGM system.
  10. For Cedefop: appreciates its VET work, positive ECA opinion with no observations, notes corrective action on allowances, and welcomes climate neutrality commitment.
  11. For ETF: appreciates its work, positive ECA opinion, notes review of financial solvency methodologies, and Commission recommendation on staff balance.
  12. For ELA: appreciates its work, notes positive ECA opinion with qualified opinion on payments due to irregular expenditure of EUR 1.32 million, and notes high carryover and temporary staff rates.

Who is affected

  • Eurofound, EU-OSHA, Cedefop, ETF, and ELA: their Executive Directors are recommended for discharge for 2023.
  • The agencies must address ECA remarks and implement recommendations; they are also called to improve HR policies and health and safety.
  • The Commission is called on to better use agencies' expertise and ensure adequate resources.

Figures and deadlines

  • 95% of Eurofound's annual work programme achieved, with 36 out of 38 outputs delivered in 2023.
  • Eurofound's carryover rate was 16.8%, above the 15% benchmark; unplanned carry-overs assessed at 4%.
  • EU-OSHA's carryover rate was 29%, above the 15% benchmark.
  • Cedefop had 100% commitment and 98% payment appropriations rates.
  • ELA's irregular expenditure in 2023 amounted to EUR 1.32 million.
  • ELA's carryover rate was 26%, above the 15% benchmark; 19% of Title II appropriations cancelled.
  • ELA's temporary workers proportion was 47% at end of 2023.