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-PA-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 draft opinion on the 2022 discharge of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), asking the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its suggestions in its resolution.¶ It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the 2022 accounts are legal and regular, and that earlier issues on temporary managers, conflict-of-interest policy and procurement are being addressed.¶¶ It welcomes EUAA's work under its new mandate, its support for temporary protection and unaccompanied minors, and its expanded operations, but calls for more staff and for the Commission to examine the Schengen associated countries' contribution agreements.¶¶¶ It asks that OLAF's investigation into EUAA senior management be thoroughly pursued, that EUAA cooperate fully and report regularly to Parliament.¶
Committee position. The committee welcomes the Court's declaration that EUAA's 2022 accounts are legal and regular, welcomes progress on earlier observations and EUAA's work under its new mandate, calls for more staff and for the Commission to examine contribution agreements, and asks for full cooperation with OLAF and regular reporting to Parliament.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution.¶
- Welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration that the transactions underlying EUAA's 2022 annual accounts are legal and regular in all material respects.¶
- Welcomes that the high number of temporary managers and the outdated conflict-of-interest policy have been addressed, and that procurement observations on Lesbos and Rome premises will close in 2023.¶
- Welcomes EUAA's implementation of its new mandate since January 2022 despite insufficient staff, and calls on the Commission and Member States to allow additional staff and reclassification of posts, especially for the Fundamental Rights Officer, the Asylum Reserve Pool and monitoring.¶
- Welcomes that almost 4 million persons benefited from temporary protection after the Council mandated EUAA, Frontex and Europol to support Member States coping with the refugee influx following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.¶
- Notes with satisfaction EUAA's support for unaccompanied minors in reception, and recalls that 42 000 asylum applications were lodged by unaccompanied minors in 2022.¶
- Notes with satisfaction that EUAA implemented operational plans in 14 Member States, deployed personnel to Moldova, and supported 2,585 persons through 13 selection and 3 pre-departure missions.¶
- Notes the Court's observation that EU-Schengen associated countries agreements on contributions to EUAA's budget are unclear, leading to lower contributions by those countries and overstated EU contributions; calls on the Commission to examine these agreements.¶
- Recalls OLAF's ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct and staff-related irregularities in EUAA's senior management, requests thorough checks, welcomes EUAA's commitment to cooperate, and calls for full cooperation and regular reporting to Parliament.¶
Who is affected
- EUAA: faces calls for more staff, full cooperation with OLAF and regular reporting to Parliament.¶¶
- European Commission and Member States: asked to allow additional staff and reclassification of posts, and to examine contribution agreements.¶
- Schengen associated countries: their contributions to EUAA's budget are affected by unclear agreements.
- Unaccompanied minors: benefit from EUAA's training, guidance and tools in reception.¶