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DRAFT OPINION (2024/2030(DEC))

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

TRAN-PA-765327

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 EU agencies for 2023, covering EASA, EMSA, and ERA. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' clean opinions and notes high budget implementation rates. It addresses specific observations for each agency, including procurement issues, geopolitical impacts on shipping, and late payments by ERA, and calls for improvements where needed.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its opinion into the motion for a resolution, covering all three agencies.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the clean opinion from the European Court of Auditors for EASA, EMSA, and ERA for the 2023 financial year.
  2. Notes high budget implementation rates in all three agencies and that automatic carryovers were below the 15% benchmark.
  3. Notes that the 2023 performance of the agencies was fully aligned with Commission objectives, with no major issues from auditors.
  4. For EASA, notes the Court's observation on procurement shortcomings, but no other weaknesses; 3 out of 5 previous observations remained open at end of 2023.
  5. Takes note of EASA's new tasks under ReFuelEU Aviation, including developing the European Environmental Labelling for Aviation scheme and promoting sustainable aviation fuels.
  6. For EMSA, notes irregularities in management and control systems that did not affect payments, and that EMSA took action to address them.
  7. Commends EMSA's support to the Commission and Member States during geopolitical instability, using monitoring and surveillance capacities to mitigate impacts on shipping.
  8. For ERA, notes weaknesses in procurement, management, control, and budgetary management; calls on ERA to improve compliance with legal time limits for payments.
  9. Welcomes ERA's contribution to rail safety and interoperability, including ERTMS deployment and data access, and emphasizes its role in increasing rail competitiveness.

Who is affected

  • EASA, EMSA, and ERA are subject to discharge procedures and must address observations from the Court.
  • The Commission and Member States benefit from EMSA's support during geopolitical crises.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15% benchmark for automatic carryovers
  • 3 out of 5 observations remained open at EASA
  • 13% late payments frequency (148 out of 1,101) at ERA