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Discharge 2024: EU general budget - European Council and Council

TA-10-2026-0127 · P10_TA(2026)0127 · PE778.049

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Parliament postpones its decision on granting discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council for the 2024 budget and sets out observations in a resolution. The resolution regrets the Council's continued refusal to cooperate in the discharge procedure, which prevents Parliament from exercising democratic scrutiny. It calls on the Council to resume negotiations, improve transparency, and implement recommendations from the Ombudsman and the Court of Justice. It also addresses budgetary management, human resources, ethics, digitalisation, buildings, environment, and interinstitutional cooperation.

Key points

  1. Postpones discharge decision for the Council's 2024 budget implementation.
  2. Regrets that since 2009 the Council has refused to cooperate in the discharge procedure, preventing informed decisions.
  3. Notes the Council did not answer Parliament's questionnaire or participate in the hearing of 6 November 2025.
  4. Calls on the Council to resume negotiations at the highest level and to follow up on Parliament's recommendations.
  5. Demands full transparency in Council decision-making and implementation of Ombudsman recommendations and CJEU rulings.
  6. Calls for the Council's budget to be separated from the European Council's, with distinct budget lines.
  7. Notes the Council's 2024 budget was EUR 676,881,123, up 4.47% from 2023.
  8. Calls for publication of annual breakdown of travel and representation expenses of senior officials.
  9. Calls for full disclosure of consultancy contracts exceeding EUR 50,000.
  10. Regrets lack of transparency on gender and geographical distribution of staff; calls for information.
  11. Calls for binding rules on corporate sponsorship for Council presidencies and an end to such sponsorship.
  12. Calls for Treaty revision to give Parliament explicit competence to grant discharge to all institutions individually.

Who is affected

  • The Council and its General Secretariat, which must cooperate with Parliament and improve transparency.
  • The European Council, whose budget and activities are subject to scrutiny.
  • Rotating Council presidencies, which are urged to stop using corporate sponsorship.
  • Member States holding the presidency, which must comply with Union values.
  • Senior officials of the Council, who must disclose meetings with interest groups.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 13.3 billion for MFF heading 7 in 2023, 6.9% of total Union budget.
  • Council budget approximately EUR 0.7 billion, 5.26% of total administrative expenditure.
  • 70 transactions examined by the Court of Auditors; 16 contained errors.
  • 103 questions in Parliament's questionnaire to the Council.
  • Council budget for 2024: EUR 676,881,123, increase of 4.47%.
  • Implementation rate of commitment appropriations: 96.40% in 2024.
  • EUR 24 million in appropriations cancelled at end of 2024.
  • Average payment time increased from 13 to 15 days from 2023 to 2025.

Legal basis: Article 319 TFEU, Article 314(10) TFEU, Articles 317, 318 TFEU