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Discharge 2022: EU general budget - European Parliament

TA-9-2024-0229 · P9_TA(2024)0229 · PE753.634

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Parliament grants its President discharge for the implementation of Parliament's 2022 budget and sets out observations in an accompanying resolution. It reviews Parliament's spending of EUR 2 161 million, the Court of Auditors' findings, the Internal Auditor's report and follow-up to the 2021 discharge. It examines each Directorate-General's budget and management, and horizontal issues including harassment, whistleblowing, the Voluntary Pension Fund and contracts awarded. It calls for stronger transparency, integrity and security rules, including on the transparency register, foreign interference and Members' conduct.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants its President discharge for the 2022 budget and sets out observations in the resolution.
  2. Parliament's final 2022 appropriations totalled EUR 2 161 million, 19,55% of Heading 7, a 4,76% increase on 2021.
  3. The Court of Auditors found the level of error in 'European public administration' spending not material and recommended stronger guidance on budget implementation by political groups and compliance with procurement rules.
  4. The Internal Auditor reported that 38 of 92 open actions were closed and 29 were overdue by more than 12 months; Parliament calls for the remaining actions to be closed without delay.
  5. Parliament calls on the Bureau to publish each internal audit report one year after finalisation and to give the Committee on Budgetary Control confidential access.
  6. Parliament calls for mandatory security and integrity training for Members and staff, stricter scrutiny of events and external guests, and an urgent investigation into allegations of Russian influence.
  7. Parliament calls for comprehensive financial pre-screening of entities in the transparency register, disclosure of all funding sources, and revision of registration guidelines.
  8. Parliament calls for automatic roll-call votes on final votes except secret ballots and more roll-call votes per part-session.
  9. Parliament proposes minimum 35% of parliamentary assistance budget for APAs, with caps of 25% for service providers, 25% for local assistants and 15% for trainees.
  10. Parliament calls for stronger rules on revolving doors for Members and civil servants, and stricter rules for trips paid by foreign countries and entities.
  11. Parliament welcomes the Bureau's amendments to the Voluntary Pension Fund rules, which aim to reduce future pension obligations from EUR 362,7 million to an estimated EUR 139 million.
  12. Parliament notes that 194 contracts were awarded in 2022 worth EUR 410 million, down from 221 contracts worth EUR 1 016 million in 2021.

Who is affected

  • Members of the European Parliament: new transparency, conduct and travel rules, and possible financial sanctions for breaches.
  • Accredited parliamentary assistants: revised employment rules, mission allowances and possible participation in internal competitions.
  • Political groups: responsible for managing appropriations under Parliament's internal rules and subject to stronger guidance.
  • Interest representatives: mandatory registration in the transparency register and disclosure of funding sources.
  • European political parties and foundations: compliance with funding rules monitored by the Authority.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 2 161 million: Parliament's final appropriations for 2022.
  • 19,55%: Parliament's share of Heading 7 of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
  • 4,76%: increase compared to the 2021 budget.
  • EUR 16 417 325: estimated COVID-19-related surplus transferred out of certain budget lines.
  • 10,4%: annual inflation in the Union at the end of 2022.
  • EUR 10,5 million: energy consumption savings from May 2022 until October 2023.
  • EUR 379 million: actuarial deficit of the Voluntary Pension Fund on 31 December 2021.
  • EUR 15 000: threshold above which publication of contracts awarded is required.

Legal basis: Articles 314(10) and 318 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.