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Discharge 2022: European Border and Coast Guard Agency

TA-9-2024-0255 · P9_TA(2024)0255 · PE753.543

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Parliament grants the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency discharge for the 2022 budget and approves the closure of the Agency's 2022 accounts. In its resolution, Parliament sets out observations on the Agency's budget, performance, staff, procurement, transparency and internal control. It calls on the Agency to fully implement pending recommendations from scrutiny bodies, address fundamental rights concerns and cooperate with OLAF investigations. It raises concerns about low payment execution, rising carry-overs, procurement weaknesses, gender imbalance and delays in processing public access requests.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director discharge for the implementation of the Agency's 2022 budget and approves the closure of the Agency's 2022 accounts.
  2. It calls on the Agency to fully implement its action plan and all pending recommendations from the Frontex Scrutiny Working Group, the Management Board working group, the Fundamental Rights Officer, the Ombudsman, the Court and OLAF.
  3. It expresses concern about outstanding legal cases and criticism of the Agency's involvement in human rights violations, and calls for full cooperation with the Ombudsman investigation.
  4. It notes the 2022 budget of EUR 693 122 859, a commitment execution rate of 99,40 %, a payment execution rate of 50,25 % and rising carry-overs of EUR 240,4 million.
  5. It notes the Court's emphasis of matter on the accounting system and on the understatement of Schengen associated countries' contributions by EUR 3,2 million, and calls for a review of the calculation methodology.
  6. It commends the Agency's response to the war in Ukraine, including the activation of a crisis mechanism, the Status Agreement with Moldova and the deployment of about 500 standing corps officers.
  7. It notes operational results in 2022, including approximately 49 000 incidents, 26 000 apprehended irregular migrants, 700 smugglers arrested and 24 850 non-EU nationals returned by air.
  8. It expresses concern about reports suggesting the Agency's involvement in human rights violations, including alleged facilitation of pushbacks and sharing of migrants' coordinates with Libyan actors.
  9. It welcomes progress on EUROSUR, ETIAS and the Fundamental Rights Action Plan, but regrets delays in implementing some activities and calls for swift progress.
  10. It is deeply concerned about gender imbalance at senior and middle management and in the Management Board, and calls on the Agency to address this in future recruitments.
  11. It notes procurement weaknesses, including an irregular contract increase from EUR 79 000 to EUR 502 900 and risks of overcharging for travel services, and calls for stronger internal controls.
  12. It deplores the Agency's failure to accept the Ombudsman's recommendation on public access to documents and calls for swifter and more transparent handling of requests.

Who is affected

  • The European Border and Coast Guard Agency and its Executive Director, who receive discharge and must implement the recommendations.
  • The Agency's management and staff, including on recruitment, gender balance, harassment and standby duty.
  • The Commission and member states, asked to ensure gender balance in Management Board nominations and to deploy Liaison Officers.
  • Schengen associated countries, whose contributions to the Agency's budget are understated by EUR 3,2 million.
  • Third countries and partners involved in the Agency's external activities, including return and cooperation agreements.

Figures and deadlines

  • Final budget for 2022: EUR 693 122 859, an increase of 29,50 % compared to 2021.
  • Budget implementation rate of commitment appropriations: 99,40 %, an increase of 4,70 % compared to 2021.
  • Payment appropriations execution rate: 50,25 %, a decrease of 0,17 % compared to 2021.
  • C8 funds (automatic carry-over): EUR 240,4 million in 2022, compared to EUR 159,4 million in 2021 and EUR 102 million in 2020.
  • Understatement of Schengen associated countries' contribution: EUR 3,2 million in 2022.
  • Contract value increase from EUR 79 000 to EUR 502 900 via four amendments; irregular payments of EUR 384 000.
  • Return by air of 24 850 non-EU nationals, an increase of 35 % compared to 2021.
  • Serious incident reports increased from 62 in 2021 to 72 in 2022; complaints increased from 27 in 2021 to 69 in 2022.

Legal basis: Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.