On the 2022 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Parliament

PA_NonLeg

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Legal Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:

1. Points out that budgetary, administrative and staff related decisions taken by Parliament’s governing bodies have a cross-cutting impact on the administration, thus affecting the implementation phase, for example, services other than those initially envisaged; stresses in that regard the importance of the financial statements and budgetary impact of the proposals made by the competent Parliament's governing bodies in order to guarantee good administration in the institution;

2. Welcomes the creation of a Bureau ad-hoc Working Group to carry out a thorough overhaul of the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (IMMS) while striking a balance between the freedom of the exercise of the mandate, the reputational risks to Parliament and managerial ethics, following the announcement by the President on 21 November 2022; highlights that the amendment of the IMMS is, aimed at increasing transparency, accountability and sound financial management of funds made available to Members, bearing also in mind the principle of the independence of the parliamentary mandate and the importance to avoid creating unnecessary administrative burdens for Parliament, its Members and their offices;

3. Notes that the actuarial deficit of the Voluntary Pension Fund (VPF) on 31 December 2021 amounted to EUR 379 million (compared to EUR 371,4 million on 31 December 2020); welcomes the amendments made by Parliament’s Bureau to Article 76 of the IMMS in relation to the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Scheme, which entered into force on 1 July 2023, and which aim at reducing future pension obligations from EUR 362.7 million to estimated EUR 139 million, and the actuarial deficit of the Fund from EUR 310 million to estimated EUR 86 million;

4. Is concerned about the high number of allegations of misuse and misappropriation of parliamentary assistance expenses; calls the Parliament and its administration to pay attention to the correct application of the Statute of Members and its implementing measures and to systematically investigate and follow up all cases of misuse and misappropriation;

5. Welcomes any initiative of the Bureau to consult with the Committee for Legal Affairs about such measures touching upon the Members’ Statute in order to rapidly reach the adjustment goals in the most efficient manner.

ANNEX: LIST OF ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR THE OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

29.11.2023

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

19

0

3

Members present for the final vote

Pascal Arimont, Geoffroy Didier, Ibán García Del Blanco, Virginie Joron, Pierre Karleskind, Sergey Lagodinsky, Gilles Lebreton, Karen Melchior, Sabrina Pignedoli, Jiří Pospíšil, Raffaele Stancanelli, Adrián Vázquez Lázara, Axel Voss, Marion Walsmann, Tiemo Wölken, Javier Zarzalejos

Substitutes present for the final vote

Daniel Buda, Pascal Durand, Heidi Hautala

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

Sylvie Guillaume, Pedro Marques, Anne-Sophie Pelletier

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

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