On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agencies for the financial year 2022: performance, financial management and control
LIBE-AD-756205
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský
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The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs suggests amendments to the Committee on Budgetary Control for its resolution on the 2022 discharge of EU agencies, focusing on justice and home affairs agencies.¶ It welcomes the Court of Auditors' positive audit results and the agencies' support to Member States after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and calls for adequate resources for the agencies.¶¶ It notes qualified audit opinions for eu-LISA and CEPOL, emphasis of matter paragraphs for eleven agencies, and weaknesses in procurement, budgetary management and control systems.¶¶¶ It calls for action on revolving doors, conflicts of interest, transparency, sustainability, gender balance, diversity, anti-harassment and whistle-blower protection.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the 2022 discharge of EU agencies.¶
Key points
- Welcomes the Court of Auditors' confirmation of the legality and regularity of the 2022 annual accounts of all justice and home affairs agencies.¶
- Welcomes the agencies' support to Member States after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stresses the need for adequate financial and human resources.¶
- Welcomes the EUAA's disclosures on the impact of the Russian war and calls on other JHA agencies to make similar disclosures.¶
- Notes unqualified audit opinions for 39 agencies, but qualified opinions for eu-LISA and CEPOL due to irregular payments.¶
- Notes emphasis of matter paragraphs for eleven agencies, including Eurojust, eu-LISA and Frontex.¶
- Acknowledges weaknesses in public procurement procedures and calls on agencies to improve them.¶
- Emphasizes weaknesses in budgetary management and control systems in 16 agencies and calls for improvements.¶
- Calls on agencies to rely on permanent staff and on the Commission to ensure appropriate human resources allocations.¶
- Urges the Court to include the EDPS annual accounts in its yearly audit.¶
- Calls on the Commission to examine agreements with Schengen associated countries on their contributions to EUAA and Frontex budgets.¶
- Calls for a common legal basis to prevent revolving door and conflict of interest risks, and for agencies to publish declarations of interest.¶
- Calls on agencies to cooperate, avoid duplication, achieve savings, ensure transparency, sustainability, gender balance, diversity, and implement anti-harassment and whistle-blower policies.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Justice and home affairs agencies, which are asked to improve procurement, management, transparency, sustainability, diversity and staff policies.¶¶¶
- The European Commission, which is asked to examine agreements with Schengen associated countries and propose changes on revolving doors.¶¶
- The Court of Auditors, which is urged to audit the EDPS and report on gender balance.¶¶
- Member States, which nominate management board members and are reminded of limited agency competence on gender balance.
Figures and deadlines
- 31 December 2022: end of the financial year audited.¶
- 39 agencies: received unqualified audit opinions on their accounts.¶
- Six irregular payments: found at eu-LISA for hardware, custom development and testing, and software licences.
- Eleven agencies: received emphasis of matter paragraphs.¶
- 24 EU agencies: had shortcomings in public procurement reported in previous years.¶
- 16 EU agencies: had weaknesses in budgetary management and control systems.¶