On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds
LIBE-PA-765283
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský
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The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Budgetary Control Committee to include its opinion in the discharge resolution for the 2023 EU budget, covering migration funds, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, rule of law, access to documents, and spyware.¶ It welcomes progress in national programmes but notes concerns about undeclared funds, calls for adequate funding for the New Pact, expresses concerns about irregular migration and rule of law assessments, and urges action on document access and spyware.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its opinion into the discharge resolution, highlighting concerns and calls for action.¶
Key points
- Notes with concern that 18% of AMIF funds and 25% of ISF funds for 2014-2020 remain undeclared despite the June 2024 deadline.¶
- Welcomes the Commission's proposal to increase ceilings of Headings 4 and 6 and stresses the need for adequate funding for the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, calling for full implementation by Summer 2026.¶
- Calls on the Commission to increase transparency and accountability of home affairs funds in third countries and to support search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean in line with international and Union law.¶
- Expresses concern that the annual rule of law report risks trivialising serious breaches and reiterates regret over the Commission's decision on Hungary's Charter condition, which enabled claims of up to approximately EUR 10.2 billion.¶
- Calls for steps towards an EU mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, and for more precise and qualitative rule of law assessments based on real evidence.
- Urges the Commission to address delays in granting access to documents, in line with Parliament's recommendations.¶
- Regrets the Commission's lack of enforcement and legislative follow-up on Parliament's recommendations regarding Pegasus and spyware, and calls for an action plan to prevent abuse.¶
Who is affected
- Member States and Union agencies implementing migration and asylum funds and the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.¶¶
- The Commission, which is called on to monitor implementation, increase transparency, and take action on rule of law and spyware.¶¶
- Hungarian authorities, who were enabled to claim reimbursements of up to approximately EUR 10.2 billion.