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DRAFT OPINION (2025/2156(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU agencies for the financial year 2024

ENVI-PA-779485

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

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The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety gives its opinion on granting discharge for the 2024 budgets of ECHA, EEA and EFSA, welcoming their work and making recommendations. It recommends discharge be granted to the Executive Directors of the three agencies for the financial year 2024.

Committee position. The opinion recommends that discharge be granted to the Executive Directors of the three agencies for the 2024 financial year.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the cooperation between Parliament and the agencies, and their strengthened cooperation under the One Health Approach.
  2. Notes the Court of Auditors declared the agencies' 2024 transactions legal and regular, and welcomes corrective actions taken after 2023 observations.
  3. For ECHA: welcomes its role in new legislation, the implementation of its 2024-2028 strategy, and the organisational review; calls for follow-up and better gender balance.
  4. For ECHA: notes its budget performance (99.5% commitment rate), calls for addressing fee income unpredictability, and notes delivery of 178 of 200 planned outputs.
  5. For ECHA: welcomes transparency efforts like the Chem portal, and encourages continued cooperation with member states and stakeholders.
  6. For EEA: welcomes its scientific outputs and its role in tracking the 8th Environment Action Programme; notes its 100% budget execution rate.
  7. For EEA: acknowledges the Commission evaluation findings, reiterates concern about staff imbalance, and notes the organisational update effective 1 January 2025.
  8. For EFSA: welcomes its contribution to food safety and its engagement with the ENVI Committee.
  9. For EFSA: notes the renewal of scientific panels in 2024, but is concerned that only 550 scientific questions were closed, below the target of 626.
  10. For EFSA: welcomes improved timeliness (89%), but notes feedback on speed; encourages cooperation with stakeholders and addressing talent attraction challenges.
  11. For EFSA: notes the call for a new Executive Director and invites a smooth transition.

Who is affected

  • The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Environment Agency (EEA), and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are subject to the discharge process.
  • ECHA is encouraged to improve gender balance, support SMEs, and continue cooperation with other agencies.
  • EEA is encouraged to maintain its performance and adapt to its increased workload.
  • EFSA is expected to reach its targets and improve its processes.

Figures and deadlines

  • ECHA had a 99.5% commitment rate and 0.5% cancelled payment appropriation rate in 2024.
  • ECHA processed 99.8% of payments within legal deadlines.
  • ECHA delivered 178 outputs out of 200 planned in 2024.
  • EEA's budget execution rate was 100% and delivery rate of key reports was 97% in 2024.
  • EFSA closed 550 scientific questions in 2024, below the target of 626 and below 2023's 660.
  • EFSA's timeliness of adoption increased to 89% in 2024, compared to 85% in the previous year.