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Adopted text

Discharge 2022: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking

TA-9-2024-0276 · P9_TA(2024)0276 · PE753.491

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Parliament grants discharge to the Executive Director ad interim of the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking for the 2022 budget and approves the closure of its 2022 accounts. In its resolution, Parliament notes the Court of Auditors' finding that the accounts are fairly presented and the underlying transactions legal and regular. It welcomes the Joint Undertaking's start and its role in an integrated EU railway network, and notes the 2022 budget and implementation rates. It calls on the Joint Undertaking to close the gap between cash and in-kind contributions, to adopt a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls, and to improve gender balance.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Executive Director ad interim discharge for the implementation of the 2022 budget and approves the closure of the 2022 accounts.
  2. It notes the Court's finding that the annual accounts present fairly the financial position at 31 December 2022 and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular.
  3. It welcomes the Joint Undertaking's start at the end of 2021 and its role in delivering an integrated EU railway network for passengers and cargo.
  4. It notes the adopted 2022 budget of EUR 171,4 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 180,8 million in payment appropriations, and 100% implementation of commitment appropriations.
  5. It 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.
  6. It notes that private members legally committed EUR 320,7 million in in-kind contributions to operational activities and EUR 244 million to additional activities, or 123,7% of the minimum target of EUR 456,5 million.
  7. It stresses the importance of a sustainable, resilient, zero-emission rail system and calls for increased support for research and innovation to deliver an integrated European railway network.
  8. It notes that the Joint Undertaking complied with procurement principles and that an open tender for the System Pillar was awarded EUR 45 million in total.
  9. It notes that 28 posts were filled at the end of 2022 and that improvements are still expected on gender balance at management board and other levels.
  10. It notes a representative error rate of 2,2% and a residual error rate of 1,3% for Horizon 2020 expenditure, and that Horizon Europe ex-post audits are expected from 2024.
  11. It calls on the Joint Undertaking to implement a structured risk-based approach to ex-ante controls and to develop internal practical guidance on risk-based monitoring.
  12. It calls on the Joint Undertaking to address weaknesses in the reinforced monitoring tool and to ensure control actions target identified risks and are followed up by deadlines.

Who is affected

  • Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking: receives discharge, must address observations on contributions, risk-based controls and gender balance.
  • Executive Director ad interim: granted discharge and receives the decision and resolution.
  • Private members of the Joint Undertaking: their in-kind contributions and legal commitments are reported and scrutinised.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe grants: subject to ex-ante controls and audits.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 171,4 million in commitment appropriations for the 2022 budget.
  • EUR 180,8 million in payment appropriations for the 2022 budget.
  • 100% of commitment appropriations implemented; payment appropriations implemented up to 79,1% of active funds.
  • EUR 41,1 million under Title 5 - Unused appropriations not required in current year.
  • EUR 384,5 million maximum EU operational contribution for Horizon 2020 fully committed; around EUR 68,2 million (or 18%) remains to be paid.
  • Private members committed EUR 320,7 million in in-kind contributions to operational activities and EUR 244 million to additional activities, or 123,7% of the minimum target of EUR 456,5 million.
  • EUR 108,9 million in Commission cash contributions for Horizon Europe in 2022; EUR 107,5 million operational contribution used for pre-financing.
  • EUR 45 million total awarded for the System Pillar open tender: EUR 4 million to lot 1, EUR 37 million to lot 2, EUR 4 million to lot 3.

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