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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 and executive agencies

ENVI-AD-754665

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Pascal Canfin

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The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety gives its opinion on the 2022 budget discharge for the Commission and executive agencies. It is satisfied with overall spending on environment, climate, health and food safety, and says discharge can be granted despite caveats. It asks for adequate funding and staff for the relevant agencies and Directorates-General, better climate and biodiversity tracking, and stronger transparency and conflict-of-interest rules for the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). It raises concerns about the EU Emissions Trading System registry, agricultural funding for climate action, HERA's use of the EU4Health budget, and vaccine procurement transparency.

Committee position. The committee is satisfied with the Commission's overall implementation and considers that discharge can be granted for 2022, despite caveats on environment, climate, public health and food safety spending, provided sufficient guarantees are given that the shortfalls will be remedied.

Key points

  1. The committee is satisfied with the Commission's overall implementation of the 2022 budget headings for environment, climate action, public health and food safety.
  2. It is satisfied with the five decentralised agencies under its remit and stresses that adequate funding and staffing must be guaranteed for them and for the relevant Commission Directorates-General.
  3. It calls on the Commission to ensure sufficient staff capacity in DG Environment, DG Sante, DG Clima and the environmental team of its Legal Service to enforce environmental legislation.
  4. It notes DG Environment's 2022 budget of EUR 567 million in commitments and EUR 470 million in payments, 511 staff and implementation rates above 99%, but a rise in late payments to 3,93%.
  5. It notes DG Climate Action managed EUR 33,80 million under the climate action title and had 310 staff, and considers that number should grow.
  6. It notes that 34,8% of the 2022 EU budget went to climate action, and urges the Commission to separate climate mitigation and adaptation in its tracking methodology after the Court found reported spending overstated by at least EUR 72 billion.
  7. It calls for proper scrutiny of climate and biodiversity spending, an annual report on each budget item's contribution, and reporting on whether items fail the 'do no significant harm' criterion.
  8. It regrets the Court's finding that EU agricultural funding for climate action has not reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and repeats concern about security risks in the EU Emissions Trading System registry.
  9. It notes DG Health and Food Safety's 2022 budget of EUR 644,20 million, 791 staff, higher implementation rates and a residual error rate of 0,7%, and recognises its work on the European Health Union and related strategies.
  10. It notes HERA's increased operations and payments of EUR 438 million, but is concerned about overlap with DG SANTE and the ECDC and calls for added value and no duplication.
  11. It regrets that financing HERA relied heavily on EU4Health, cutting its budget by more than half, and deplores that the Commission breached the agreed funding ceilings in the EU4Health Regulation.
  12. It calls for strong transparency and conflict-of-interest rules for HERA, notes missing anti-fraud procedures, and urges full transparency and availability of COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics purchase agreements.

Who is affected

  • The Commission, which must ensure staff capacity, improve climate and biodiversity tracking, and provide reports and transparency.
  • Five decentralised agencies in environment, climate, health and food safety, which need adequate funding and staffing.
  • DG Environment, DG Climate Action and DG Health and Food Safety, whose budgets, staff and implementation are reviewed.
  • HERA, which faces calls for transparency, conflict-of-interest rules and a review of its structure by 2025.
  • The EU Emissions Trading System registry, whose security risks are flagged.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 567 million in commitment appropriations for DG Environment in 2022.
  • EUR 470 million in payment appropriations for DG Environment in 2022.
  • 511 members of staff in DG Environment.
  • 3,93% of DG Environment payments exceeded legal deadlines in 2022, compared to 1,51% in 2021.
  • EUR 33,80 million managed by DG Climate Action under the climate action title in 2022.
  • EUR 2 897,4 million available for the innovation fund.
  • 34,8% of the EU budget in 2022 dedicated to climate action.
  • EUR 72 billion overstatement of climate spending reported by the Court.