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DRAFT OPINION (2023/2168(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) for the financial year 2022

LIBE-PA-756199

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 discharge for Eurojust's 2022 budget, asking the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its suggestions in its resolution. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration that Eurojust's 2022 transactions were legal and regular, but notes an ongoing observation from 2020 on a vehicle-leasing framework contract that led to a 59 281 EUR irregular payment. It welcomes Eurojust's growing casework, its support for joint investigation teams, arrest warrants and investigation orders, and its role in seizing criminal assets and drugs. It welcomes the extension of Eurojust's mandate to preserve and analyse evidence of core international crimes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, its digitalisation efforts, and its cooperation with other EU agencies and over 60 countries.

Committee position. The committee calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the discharge of Eurojust's 2022 budget, welcoming the Court's declaration and Eurojust's operational results while noting an ongoing observation on an irregular payment.

Key points

  1. The committee calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution on Eurojust's 2022 discharge.
  2. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration that Eurojust's 2022 transactions were legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. It notes an ongoing observation from 2020 on a framework contract with a single company for vehicle leasing, which resulted in a 59 281 EUR irregular payment.
  4. It welcomes the 14% increase in Eurojust's casework in 2022, with 528 Coordination Meetings, 22 Coordination Centres, support for 265 Joint Investigation Teams, 1 262 European Arrest Warrants and 5 415 European Investigation Orders.
  5. It notes that cases in 2022 involved more than triple the number of victims compared to 2021.
  6. It appreciates Eurojust's transnational cooperation, which contributed to over 4 000 arrests, the seizure or freezing of criminal assets worth almost EUR 3 billion and the seizure of drugs worth almost EUR 12 billion.
  7. It welcomes the extension of Eurojust's mandate to preserve, analyse and store evidence of core international crimes and the creation of a judicial database for such evidence.
  8. It welcomes Eurojust's efforts to support the digitalisation of justice and the implementation of the new Eurojust Case Management System.
  9. It welcomes Eurojust's cooperation with other JHA agencies and stakeholders, including 14 cases with the European Public Prosecutor's Office and work with OLAF, Europol, EDPS, eu-LISA and the European Judicial Network.
  10. It notes that cases referred to the European Judicial Network reached 44 in 2021 and welcomes the increase in Eurojust contact points to over 60 countries.

Who is affected

  • Eurojust, the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, whose 2022 budget implementation is assessed.
  • The Committee on Budgetary Control, which is asked to include these suggestions in its discharge resolution.
  • Judicial authorities and actors in the criminal justice chain that cooperate through Eurojust.
  • Other EU agencies and bodies: EPPO, OLAF, Europol, EDPS, eu-LISA and the European Judicial Network.

Figures and deadlines

  • 59 281 EUR irregular payment from a vehicle-leasing framework contract.
  • 14% increase in Eurojust casework in 2022.
  • 528 Coordination Meetings and 22 Coordination Centres organised in 2022.
  • 265 Joint Investigation Teams supported, 1 262 European Arrest Warrants facilitated and 5 415 European Investigation Orders enabled.
  • More than 4 000 suspects arrested, criminal assets worth almost EUR 3 billion seized or frozen, and drugs worth almost EUR 12 billion seized.
  • 14 cases opened involving the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
  • 44 cases referred to the European Judicial Network in 2021.
  • Eurojust contact points increased to over 60 countries.