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OPINION (2023/2158(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2022

TRAN-AD-753750

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Vlad Gheorghe

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The Committee on Transport and Tourism gives its opinion on the 2022 budget discharge of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the Agency's transactions were legal and regular, and proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Executive Director. It notes the Agency executed EUR 86.3 million in commitments (99.80% of the 2022 budget) and EUR 85,15 million in payments (98.42%), with only 0.87% of payment appropriations cancelled. It praises the Agency's work on multilingual communication, its 2020-2024 strategy, maritime surveillance, digitalisation, the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), support for EU sanctions over the Russian war against Ukraine, and maritime safety standards. It flags challenges in recruiting Seconded National Experts (SNE) and notes the EU fleet grew 3.4% over five years against 7% globally.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism proposes that Parliament grant the Agency's Executive Director discharge for the 2022 financial year, and asks the Committee on Budgetary Control to include its suggestions in the discharge resolution.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the discharge resolution.
  2. Welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the Agency's 2022 transactions are legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. Notes EUR 86.3 million in commitments (99.80% of the 2022 budget) and EUR 85,15 million in payments (98.42%), with only 0.87% of payment appropriations cancelled, below the Commission's 5% ceiling.
  4. Applauds the Agency's multilingual communication: its five-year strategy and the European Maritime Environmental and European Maritime Safety Reports are available in all 24 EU languages.
  5. Welcomes the 2020-2024 strategy and the first European Maritime Transport Environmental Report, and underlines the Agency's role in the shift to renewable and low-carbon fuels and in implementing the FuelEU Maritime regulation.
  6. Salutes strengthened surveillance, including satellite and remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) capacities, with RPAS services accumulating 1305 operational days (828 multipurpose, 477 environmental).
  7. Stresses maritime security work and requests continued technical assistance to the Commission during inspections under Regulation 725/2004, noting a significant rise in cybersecurity incidents in the sector.
  8. Calls for digitalisation of the maritime sector through electronic data transmission, simplification and integrated maritime surveillance systems for the Commission and member states.
  9. Welcomes the Agency's leadership in the transitional phase of the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), connecting it to member states' navies via MARSUR or national nodes.
  10. Commends Maritime Support Services for products assisting EU sanctions over the Russian war against Ukraine, including ship-call reporting and a monthly report on Ukraine's impact on maritime traffic and trade.
  11. Salutes the extension of the BC Sustainable Energy Association project to 30 September 2022 to buy anti-pollution equipment for Georgia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, and training for Ukrainian CleanSeaNet (CSN) users.
  12. Notes the EU fleet grew 3.4% in five years against 7% globally, welcomes the Agency's support to the Commission at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and flags difficulties recruiting Seconded National Experts (SNE); proposes discharge.

Who is affected

  • The European Maritime Safety Agency: its 2022 budget implementation is assessed and discharge is proposed.
  • The Agency's Executive Director: Parliament is asked to grant discharge for the 2022 financial year.
  • The Commission and member states: the Agency is asked to keep assisting them on inspections, digitalisation and surveillance.
  • Ukraine and Georgia: anti-pollution equipment and CleanSeaNet (CSN) training are directed to them.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 86.3 million in commitment appropriations, 99.80% of the 2022 budget.
  • EUR 85,15 million in payment appropriations, 98.42% of the 2022 budget.
  • 0.87% of payment appropriations cancelled, below the Commission's 5% ceiling.
  • All 24 EU languages for the Agency's strategy and reports.
  • 1305 operational days for RPAS services, 828 multipurpose and 477 environmental.
  • BC Sustainable Energy Association project extended until 30 September 2022.
  • EU fleet growth of 3.4% over five years, against 7% globally.