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OPINION (2024/2030(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU agencies for the financial year 2023

PECH-AD-765281

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Giuseppe Lupo

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The Committee on Fisheries gives its opinion on discharge for the 2023 budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency, asking the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its points in the discharge resolution. It notes the Court of Auditors' report, welcomes the Agency's explanations on irregularities in framework contracts and carry-overs, and proposes that discharge be granted to the Agency's Executive Director for 2023. It reviews the Agency's budget of EUR 30,1 million, its 98% work programme implementation and 99,9% commitment implementation, and its 44 993 inspections with suspected infringements in at least 4230. It calls for resources matching the Agency's growing tasks, support for Member States on forced labour infringements, more cooperation with other agencies, and progress on gender parity and transparency.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes that discharge be granted to the Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the 2023 budget, and asks the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its points in the discharge resolution.

Key points

  1. Takes note of the Court of Auditors' report on the Agency's 2023 accounts, the Agency's annual activity report and the Administrative Board's assessment.
  2. Notes with concern the Court's observations on irregularities in the use of framework contracts and repeated carry-overs, and welcomes the Agency's explanations and commitment to address them.
  3. Notes the Agency received a EUR 30,1 million Union contribution in 2023, an increase of 2.58% on 2022, and that its budget and staff are among the lowest of Union agencies while its activities increased.
  4. Acknowledges 98% implementation of the annual work programme in 2023, with 99,9% budget implementation in commitments and 74,8% in payments.
  5. Welcomes increased seaborne Offshore Patrol activities and Aerial Surveillance, with chartering expenses for Offshore Patrol Vessels up 105% and Aerial Surveillance chartering up eight-fold.
  6. Notes the PESCAO project concluded with total revenue of EUR 3,6 million since 2018, and stresses the importance of the Agency joining similar projects, including on the reformed Fisheries Control Framework.
  7. Stresses that Member States are primarily responsible for fisheries control, that the revised Fisheries Control Regulation will increase the Agency's supportive workload, and that its financial and human resources must be adequate to avoid pressure on staff.
  8. Calls on the Agency to help Member States monitor and identify serious infringements linked to Article 90(2), point (p) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 on forced labour, and to train inspectors on these infringements.
  9. Notes 44 993 inspections in 2023 with suspected infringements in at least 4230, a 5% decrease in inspections and an 18% decrease in inspections with suspected infringements compared with 2022.
  10. Highlights the Agency's role in Ocean Diplomacy and in encouraging increased and harmonised application of EU control systems against illegal fishing, and in capacity-building and training for third countries.
  11. Welcomes cooperation with FRONTEX and EMSA under Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2019/473, calls for more cooperation with the EEA and ESA, and welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding with the EEA including a marine litter pilot project.
  12. Notes the establishment plan was 96% fulfilled on 31 December 2023 with 74 of 77 temporary agents appointed, staff expenses up EUR 1,4 million, and calls for progress on gender parity and balanced geographical representation and for public sharing of information on meetings with stakeholders.

Who is affected

  • The European Fisheries Control Agency: its 2023 budget implementation is reviewed and discharge is proposed for its Executive Director.
  • Member States: the Agency is asked to support their monitoring of serious infringements on forced labour and their fisheries control work.
  • The Agency's staff: calls for adequate resources, gender parity at management level and balanced geographical representation.
  • Third countries: the Agency offers capacity-building and training and works with them on fisheries control.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 30,1 million: the Agency's contribution under the general budget of the Union in 2023.
  • 2.58 %: increase in the Agency's Union contribution in 2023 compared with 2022.
  • 98 %: implementation of the annual work programme in 2023, compared to 95,4% in 2022.
  • 99,9 %: overall budget implementation in terms of commitments in 2023.
  • 74,8 %: overall budget implementation in terms of payments in 2023.
  • 105 %: increase in expenses for chartering Offshore Patrol Vessels.
  • EUR 3,6 million: total revenue from the PESCAO project since 2018.
  • 44 993 inspections in 2023, with suspected infringements in at least 4230; 5% fewer inspections and 18% fewer inspections with suspected infringements than in 2022.