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Discharge 2022: Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking

TA-9-2024-0275 · P9_TA(2024)0275 · PE753.490

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Parliament grants the Executive Director ad interim of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking discharge for the 2022 budget and approves the closure of its 2022 accounts. In its resolution, Parliament notes the Court of Auditors' finding that the 2022 accounts are fairly presented and the underlying transactions legal and regular. It notes the 2022 budget, the state of contributions and commitments under the Seventh Research Framework Programme, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, and the low implementation of the administrative budget. It calls on the Joint Undertaking to close the gap between recognised cash and in-kind contributions by reporting members' legal commitments at year end. It welcomes the Joint Undertaking's risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and ex-post audits, and notes the Court's audit findings on Horizon 2020 payments. It notes that all previous years' observations were closed following corrective actions taken during 2022.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director ad interim of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking discharge for the implementation of the 2022 budget.
  2. Parliament approves the closure of the Joint Undertaking's accounts for the financial year 2022.
  3. Parliament notes the Court of Auditors' finding that the 2022 annual accounts present fairly the financial position and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular.
  4. Parliament welcomes the Joint Undertaking's role in supporting research and innovation in hydrogen technologies in Europe.
  5. Parliament notes the 2022 commitment appropriations of EUR 314,3 million and payment appropriations of EUR 118,3 million, and that the budget size depends on the implementation phase of the multiannual research programmes.
  6. Parliament notes the Court's view that information on members' contributions at programme level is insufficient and welcomes the Joint Undertaking's commitment to address this.
  7. Parliament calls on the Joint Undertaking to address the gap between recognised cash and in-kind contributions by providing information on members' legal commitments at year end.
  8. Parliament notes the contribution and commitment figures for the Seventh Research Framework Programme, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, including the low level of validated private members' in-kind contributions for Horizon 2020.
  9. Parliament notes the low implementation rates for the 2022 administrative budget, which the Joint Undertaking attributed to payment suspensions, postponed procurement and a delayed service framework contract.
  10. Parliament notes the Joint Undertaking's use of interinstitutional procurement, eTendering tools and cooperation with other Joint Undertakings, and its staff of 29 statutory positions plus two Seconded National Experts.
  11. Parliament notes the Court's finding that the selection committee for an audited recruitment did not include a member designated by the staff committee, and that the Joint Undertaking could not establish a staff committee.
  12. Parliament welcomes the Joint Undertaking's risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and ex-post audits, and notes the Court's audit findings of serious errors in two Horizon 2020 payments.

Who is affected

  • The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and its Executive Director ad interim, who receives discharge and must report members' legal commitments.
  • The Joint Undertaking's members: the Union, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research, whose contributions must be disclosed more transparently.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe grants, subject to the Joint Undertaking's ex-ante controls and ex-post audits.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2022 commitment appropriations: EUR 314,3 million, of which EUR 305,8 million operational and EUR 8 million administrative.
  • 2022 payment appropriations: EUR 118,3 million, of which EUR 109,7 million operational and EUR 8,1 million administrative.
  • Seventh Research Framework Programme: EUR 425,8 million (95 %) committed of the maximum EU operational contribution of EUR 450 million.
  • Horizon 2020: maximum Union operational contribution of EUR 646 million fully committed; around EUR 88,5 million (13,7 %) remains to be paid.
  • Horizon 2020 private members' in-kind contributions: EUR 190,5 million for operational activities and EUR 1 039 million (340,6 %) for additional activities against a minimum target of EUR 361 million.
  • Horizon Europe: Commission cash contributions of EUR 80 million in 2022, of which EUR 47 million (59 %) used for pre-financing.
  • First Horizon Europe call for proposals: total value of EUR 300 million; unused payment budget of EUR 33 million transferred to 2023.
  • 2022 administrative budget implementation: 62 % of commitment appropriations and 51 % of payment appropriations.

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