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OPINION (2025/2156(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the EU agencies for the financial year 2024

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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 the discharge for EASA, EMSA, and ERA for 2024, welcoming the Court of Auditors' clean opinions and the agencies' performance. It notes the agencies' high budget implementation rates and encourages them to improve communication of results to the public. For EASA, it highlights achievements in safety, defence cooperation, and sustainability, while noting one irregular payment and encouraging stronger procurement controls. For EMSA, it acknowledges legal and regular accounts, notes a procurement finding, and highlights achievements in ETS, FuelEU, and maritime security. For ERA, it notes legal and regular accounts, high budget execution, but expresses concern over staffing and budget pressures, and welcomes achievements in safety and interoperability.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the motion for a resolution, generally supporting discharge for the three agencies.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the clean opinions from the European Court of Auditors for EASA, EMSA, and ERA for the 2024 financial year.
  2. Highlights the agencies' expanding mandates and consistent performance despite staff and funding constraints.
  3. Notes high budget implementation rates and that automatic carryovers were far below the 15% benchmark.
  4. Notes that DG MOVE's assessment found no material issues in the agencies' 2024 performance.
  5. Encourages the agencies to enhance visibility and effectiveness of communicating results to the public.
  6. For EASA, draws attention to one irregular payment and encourages strengthening ex ante verification and contract management.
  7. For EASA, welcomes measures against GNSS jamming and spoofing, and the first proposal to regulate ground handling.
  8. For EMSA, notes a procurement finding and encourages continued improvement of internal controls.
  9. For EMSA, highlights achievements in EU ETS for maritime, FuelEU Maritime, and maritime security.
  10. For ERA, expresses concern over staffing and budget pressures, noting the lowest EU subsidy among the three agencies.
  11. For ERA, welcomes strong 2024 results in vehicle authorisations, safety certificates, and ERTMS approvals.

Who is affected

  • EASA, EMSA, and ERA are subject to the discharge and encouraged to improve communication and internal controls.
  • EASA is encouraged to strengthen risk identification and procurement procedures.
  • EMSA is encouraged to continue improving internal controls and procurement transparency.
  • ERA is urged to address procurement and contract management shortcomings and IT governance.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15% benchmark for automatic carryovers established by the Court.
  • EASA enrolled 49 new staff members and reached a 97.5% occupancy rate.
  • EASA managed 47 projects with a total value of approximately EUR 109 million.
  • ERA achieved 99.99% of commitment appropriations and 96.68% of payment appropriations executed.
  • ERA reduced average invoice-issuing time from 47 days in 2023 to 22 days in 2024.
  • ERA's work programme achievement rates improved by 5.87% compared with 2023.
  • ERA issued 1,888 vehicle authorisations, 81 Single Safety Certificates, and 14 ERTMS trackside approvals in 2024.