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OPINION (2023/2164(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Asylum (before 19.1.2022 the European Asylum Support Office) for the financial year 2022

LIBE-AD-756192

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský

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The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs gives its opinion on the 2022 budget discharge of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), asking the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its suggestions in its resolution. It notes the Court of Auditors found the 2022 accounts legal and regular, welcomes fixes to earlier observations, and asks the Commission and member states for more staff so the EUAA can carry out its new mandate. It wants the EUAA to keep supporting member states and third countries on asylum applications, including interpreters and psychologists for vulnerable applicants, and notes support for people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It notes EUAA work on unaccompanied minors, operational plans in 14 member states, deployment to Moldova, resettlement support, and help to Western Balkan partners. It asks the Commission to examine the unclear agreements with Schengen associated countries on their budget contributions, and calls for full EUAA cooperation with the OLAF investigation into senior management.

Committee position. The committee calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution: it notes the Court's clean opinion, welcomes progress and EUAA operations, and asks for more staff, budget focus on recruitment, examination of agreements with Schengen associated countries, and full cooperation with the OLAF investigation.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the 2022 discharge of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
  2. Notes that the Court of Auditors declared the EUAA's 2022 transactions legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. Welcomes that earlier observations on temporary managers and conflict-of-interest policy were addressed, and that observations on rented premises in Lesbos and Rome will close in 2023.
  4. Welcomes EUAA efforts to implement its new mandate since January 2022 despite insufficient additional staff, and calls on the Commission and member states to allow more staff and reclassification of posts, including for the Fundamental Rights Officer and the Asylum Reserve Pool.
  5. Recalls the EUAA's role in processing international protection applications and training caseworkers, and calls to focus the budget on recruiting staff such as interpreters and psychologists for vulnerable applicants.
  6. Welcomes that almost 4 million persons benefited from temporary protection after the Council mandated the EUAA, Frontex and Europol to support member states facing refugee arrivals following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  7. Notes EUAA support for unaccompanied minors through training, guidance and tools, recalls that 42 000 asylum applications were lodged by unaccompanied minors in EU+ countries in 2022, and appreciates a thematic meeting in Slovenia with 13 countries.
  8. Notes with satisfaction that the EUAA implemented operational plans in 14 member states, deployed personnel to Moldova, and supported EU+ countries in resettling 2,585 persons through 13 selection and 3 pre-departure missions.
  9. Notes EUAA assistance to Western Balkan partner countries through institutional capacity building, training and on-the-job coaching on core asylum procedures.
  10. Notes the Court's observation that agreements with Schengen associated countries on budget contributions are unclear and lead to lower contributions, and calls on the Commission to examine these agreements.
  11. Recalls that OLAF is investigating allegations of misconduct and staff-related irregularities in EUAA senior management, and calls on the EUAA to cooperate fully and report regularly to Parliament on the investigation.

Who is affected

  • The EUAA: faces calls for more staff, budget focus on recruitment, and full cooperation with the OLAF investigation.
  • The Commission and member states: asked to allow additional staff and reclassification of posts, and the Commission to examine agreements with Schengen associated countries.
  • Asylum applicants, including vulnerable groups and unaccompanied minors: the EUAA is asked to support fair examination of applications and protective reception.
  • Member states and third countries: the EUAA is asked to continue support on asylum and migration applications.
  • Schengen associated countries: their budget contributions to the EUAA are affected by unclear agreements.

Figures and deadlines

  • 42 000 asylum applications were lodged by unaccompanied minors in the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (EU+ countries) in 2022.
  • 2,585 persons were resettled by EU+ countries through EUAA support for 13 selection and 3 pre-departure missions.
  • Almost 4 million persons benefited from temporary protection after the Council mandated the EUAA, Frontex and Europol to support member states.
  • EUAA implemented operational plans in 14 Member States, expanding operations to six additional EU countries.
  • A thematic meeting in Slovenia on reception facilities for unaccompanied minors involved 13 countries.