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OPINION (2024/2031(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU joint undertakings for the financial year 2023

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Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Gheorghe Falcă

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The Committee on Transport and Tourism gives its opinion on granting discharge to three EU joint undertakings for 2023, welcoming the Court of Auditors' clean opinions and noting observations on outdated business continuity plans. It details budget execution, cash surpluses, and implementation rates for CAJU, SESAR 3 JU, and EU-Rail, and calls for improvements in planning and reporting. It highlights achievements in research and innovation, including joint calls, new members, and progress on the European ATM Master Plan and DAC Delivery Programme.

Committee position. The committee proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate these observations into its motion for a resolution, effectively supporting discharge for the three JUs while calling for improvements.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the clean opinions from the European Court of Auditors for the 2023 accounts of CAJU, SESAR 3 JU, and EU-Rail.
  2. Notes the Court's observations on outdated business continuity and disaster recovery plans and welcomes measures taken to update them regularly.
  3. Welcomes 2023 activities on calls and grants, including the first cross-joint undertaking call between EU-Rail and SESAR 3 JU for an integrated air and rail network.
  4. Takes note of back-office arrangements signed by the three JUs in 2023 for efficiency in shared areas like HR, accounting, ICT, and procurement.
  5. For CAJU: notes reduced commitment budget (EUR 269 million) and increased payment budget (EUR 468.4 million), with a cash surplus of EUR 237 million due to over-requesting funds.
  6. For CAJU: notes outstanding payments of about EUR 41 million and unvalidated in-kind contributions; implementation rate for Horizon Europe payments fell to 51%.
  7. For CAJU: notes 20 projects from first call kicked off in January 2023, committing 40% of funding (EUR 736 million); second call led to 8 grants of about EUR 137 million.
  8. For CAJU: notes 20 new Associated Members from 12 countries joined in December 2023, bringing total members to 59.
  9. For SESAR 3 JU: notes reduced commitment budget (EUR 111.2 million) and increased payment budget (EUR 241.5 million); Eurocontrol committed only 70% of its target.
  10. For SESAR 3 JU: regrets lack of a policy on sensitive functions and calls for regular updates to business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
  11. For EU-Rail: notes reduced budgets (EUR 102.6 million commitment, EUR 120.3 million payment) and calls for action to improve implementation rate and accounting reporting.
  12. For EU-Rail: welcomes cooperation with the European Union Agency for Railways and progress on the System and Innovation Pillars, including the Deployment Group.

Who is affected

  • Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU): faces calls to improve cash planning and define future financial needs.
  • SESAR 3 JU: must update business continuity and disaster recovery plans and adopt a policy on sensitive functions.
  • EU-Rail: must improve implementation rate for operational payments and accounting reporting.
  • Private stakeholders: can become Associated Members of CAJU through open calls.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 269 million: CAJU's 2023 commitment budget, down from EUR 411.2 million in 2022.
  • EUR 468.4 million: CAJU's 2023 payment budget, up from EUR 415.3 million in 2022.
  • EUR 237 million: CAJU's cash surplus at end of 2023.
  • EUR 111.2 million: SESAR 3 JU's 2023 commitment budget, down from EUR 158.8 million in 2022.
  • EUR 241.5 million: SESAR 3 JU's 2023 payment budget, up from EUR 146.9 million in 2022.
  • EUR 102.6 million and EUR 120.3 million: EU-Rail's 2023 commitment and payment budgets, down from EUR 171.4 million and EUR 180.8 million in 2022.
  • EUR 736 million: 40% of Clean Aviation programme funding committed by first call projects.
  • EUR 137 million: maximum amount for 8 grant agreements from CAJU's second call.