On the 2022 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Parliament
JURI-PA-753632
Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Heidi Hautala
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The Committee on Legal Affairs sets out suggestions for the Committee on Budgetary Control to include in its motion for a resolution on the 2022 discharge of Parliament's budget.¶ It stresses that Parliament's governing bodies should show the financial and budgetary impact of their decisions, and backs the 10 May 2023 resolution to amend the Implementing Measures for the Members' Statute.¶¶ It notes the Voluntary Pension Fund's actuarial deficit of EUR 379 million at 31 December 2021 and welcomes the Bureau's amendments to Article 76 of the Implementing Measures, in force since 1 July 2023, to cut future pension obligations and the deficit.¶¶ It welcomes Bureau initiatives to consult the Committee on Legal Affairs on measures touching the Members' Statute.¶
Committee position. The Committee on Legal Affairs proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its suggestions into the discharge resolution, covering the budgetary impact of governing body decisions, amendments to the Members' Statute, and the Voluntary Pension Fund's deficit and adjustment.¶¶¶
Key points
- The Committee on Legal Affairs asks the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the discharge resolution.¶
- It points out that budgetary, administrative and staff decisions by Parliament's governing bodies affect the administration and the implementation phase.¶
- It stresses the importance of financial statements and budgetary impact assessments for proposals from Parliament's governing bodies to guarantee good administration.
- It highlights Parliament's 10 May 2023 recommendations to amend the Implementing Measures for the Members' Statute to increase transparency, accountability and sound financial management of funds for Members.¶
- It notes the need to respect the independence of the parliamentary mandate and to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens for Parliament, its Members and their offices.
- It is concerned that the Voluntary Pension Fund's actuarial deficit was EUR 379 million on 31 December 2021, against EUR 371.3 million on 31 December 2020.¶
- It agrees with Parliament's 10 May 2023 call to adjust the modalities of the fund.
- It welcomes the Bureau's amendments to Article 76 of the Implementing Measures on the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Scheme, in force since 1 July 2023.¶
- Those amendments aim to reduce future pension obligations from EUR 362.7 million to an estimated EUR 139 million and the fund's actuarial deficit from EUR 310 million to an estimated EUR 86 million.
- It welcomes any Bureau initiative to consult the Committee on Legal Affairs on measures touching the Members' Statute, to reach the adjustment goals efficiently.¶
Who is affected
- Parliament's governing bodies, which should show the financial and budgetary impact of their decisions.¶
- Members of Parliament and their offices, for whom unnecessary administrative burdens should be avoided.¶
- The Voluntary Pension Fund and its members, affected by the actuarial deficit and the adjusted pension scheme.¶¶
- The Committee on Budgetary Control, which is asked to include the suggestions in its discharge resolution.¶
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 379 million: the Voluntary Pension Fund's actuarial deficit on 31 December 2021.¶
- EUR 371.3 million: the actuarial deficit on 31 December 2020.
- 1 July 2023: entry into force of the Bureau's amendments to Article 76 of the Implementing Measures.¶
- EUR 362.7 million: future pension obligations before the amendments.
- EUR 139 million: estimated future pension obligations after the amendments.
- EUR 310 million: the fund's actuarial deficit before the amendments.
- EUR 86 million: estimated actuarial deficit after the amendments.