On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
TRAN-AD-753718
Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Petar Vitanov
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The Committee on Transport and Tourism gives its opinion to the Committee on Budgetary Control on the 2022 EU budget discharge, covering the Commission and executive agencies. It proposes granting discharge and lists findings and requests on transport and tourism spending.¶¶ It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the 2022 accounts are fairly presented, but regrets the error rate rose from 3 % to 4.2 %, mainly in 'Cohesion, resilience and values'.¶ It asks the Commission and member states to improve use and control of Recovery and Resilience Facility funds, to give advisory support to national authorities managing several funds at once, and to keep a high CEF Transport budget for the TEN-T network.¶¶¶ It calls for revision of the rail, combined transport and road regulatory framework, simpler cross-border infrastructure procedures, and completion of the core TEN-T network by 2030.¶¶¶ It urges the Commission to defend free movement for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens and to end delays to their Schengen accession, and welcomes support for Ukraine and Moldova through the Solidarity Lanes and military mobility funding.¶¶¶ It repeats Parliament's request for a new tourism budget line and a new EU tourism strategy, and proposes granting discharge for the 2022 budget in the fields of Transport and Tourism.¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution, and proposes to grant the Commission and its executive agencies discharge for the 2022 budget in the fields of Transport and Tourism.¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the EU's 2022 consolidated accounts present fairly the EU's financial position, but regrets the error rate rose from 3 % to 4.2 %, mainly in 'Cohesion, resilience and values'.¶
- Notes that 2022 budget implementation was affected by late adoption of the MFF Regulation, high inflation, higher NGEU interest payments and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.¶
- Notes the final commitment appropriations of EUR 182.2 bln. above the MFF ceiling of EUR 179.8 bln., made possible by special instruments such as the Flexibility Instrument and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.¶
- Calls on the Commission and member states to improve use of Recovery and Resilience Facility funding and national plans, and on the Commission to give national authorities extra advisory support for managing several funds at once.¶¶
- Regrets the fall in CEF Transport 2022 funding for European transport infrastructure projects, notes the extra EUR 6 bln. of EU co-funding, and insists on a sufficiently high CEF Transport budget line for the TEN-T network.¶
- Welcomes three Horizon Europe transport calls in 2022 for EUR 122 mln., EUR 253 mln. and EUR 91 mln., and stresses that mobility is a right of European citizens and must be available and affordable for all.¶¶
- Calls for revision of the regulatory framework for rail, combined transport and road-only transport, and for simpler, faster and harmonised digital and regulatory processes for cross-border infrastructure projects.¶¶
- Stresses the importance of finalising the core TEN-T network by 2030, asks the Commission for clear guidelines on market studies and terminal development plans, and wants a target implementation date within 12 months after entry into force of the new TEN-T regulation.¶
- Insists on not delaying the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area, and urges the Commission to defend the free movement rights of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens.¶¶
- Welcomes the amended TEN-T Regulation proposal extending four European Transport Corridors to Ukraine and Moldova, the EUR 1 bln. pooled for the Solidarity Lanes, and three CEF grant agreements worth almost EUR 45 mln. for Moldova-Romania connections.¶
- Welcomes the Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0, the almost EUR 1 bln. of CEF funds awarded to dual-use infrastructure, and calls on the Commission to increase the military mobility budget line beyond the Flexibility Instrument.¶¶¶
- Reiterates Parliament's request for a new tourism budget line and calls on the Commission to develop a new tourism strategy and a roadmap for smart and sustainable tourism backed by budgetary means.¶¶
Who is affected
- The Commission and its executive agencies, for which discharge for the 2022 budget is proposed.¶
- EU member states, which are asked to improve use of RRF funds and receive advisory support on managing several funds.¶¶
- Romania and Bulgaria, whose citizens face delays and costs until Schengen accession for road transport.¶¶
- Ukraine and Moldova, supported through Solidarity Lanes, extended transport corridors and CEF grants.¶
- The tourism sector, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, for which a new budget line and strategy are requested.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- Error level for budget expenditure rose from 3 % to 4.2 %.¶
- Final commitment appropriations of EUR 182.2 bln. above the MFF ceiling of EUR 179.8 bln.¶
- Maximum EUR 21.1 bln. in 2018 prices for the 7-year MFF.
- Extra EUR 6 bln. of EU co-funding under CEF Transport 2022 calls.¶
- Horizon Europe transport calls of EUR 122 mln., EUR 253 mln. and EUR 91 mln.¶
- Identity checks raise trade costs for goods by approximately 0.4 % to 0.9 % of the value of trade at every Schengen border; trade costs for the entire Schengen area amount to EUR 6.513 bln. per year.¶
- EUR 1 bln. pooled for the Solidarity Lanes; three CEF grant agreements worth almost EUR 45 mln.¶
- Eurocontrol funds: EUR 46.5 mln. donation to Ukraine and Moldova and EUR 46.1 mln. loan to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.¶