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DRAFT OPINION (2024/2031(DEC))

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

TRAN-PA-765328

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 the 2023 budget of three joint undertakings: Clean Aviation, SESAR 3, and Europe's Rail. It welcomes the clean audit opinion and notes observations on business continuity plans, back-office arrangements, budget changes, and implementation rates.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its observations into the motion for a resolution, generally supporting discharge while noting issues.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the clean opinion from the European Court of Auditors on the 2023 accounts of the Clean Aviation, SESAR 3, and Europe's Rail joint undertakings.
  2. Notes the Court's observations on outdated business continuity and disaster recovery plans, and welcomes measures taken to update them regularly.
  3. Takes note of back-office arrangements signed in 2023 for collaboration with other joint undertakings in areas like human resources, accounting, ICT, and procurement.
  4. Notes CAJU's reduced commitment budget of EUR 269 million and increased payment budget of EUR 468.4 million in 2023, covering interim payments and pre-financing.
  5. Observes that CAJU still had to pay about EUR 41 million for unfinished projects and validate in-kind contributions of EUR 244.3 million and EUR 153.4 million.
  6. Notes CAJU's operational payment implementation rate fell to 51% and that it requested EUR 178 million in additional contributions, leading to a EUR 237 million cash surplus.
  7. Notes SESAR 3 JU's reduced commitment budget of EUR 111.2 million and increased payment budget of EUR 241.5 million in 2023.
  8. Highlights that Eurocontrol committed only 70% of its contribution target, preventing full implementation, and that EUR 36.8 million in payments were outstanding.
  9. Notes SESAR 3 JU still lacked a policy on managing sensitive functions to prevent corruption, as of end 2023.
  10. Notes EU Rail's reduced 2023 budgets: EUR 102.6 million for commitments and EUR 120.3 million for payments.
  11. Observes EU Rail had about EUR 40.5 million in outstanding payments and needed to validate in-kind contributions of EUR 44.7 million.
  12. Remarks that EU Rail's Horizon 2020 implementation rate rose to 67% but remained below expectations, with postponed payments and reduced claims lowering needs by about EUR 4.1 million.

Who is affected

  • Clean Aviation, SESAR 3, and Europe's Rail joint undertakings are subject to the discharge process and must address audit observations.
  • Eurocontrol is noted for committing only 70% of its contribution target, affecting SESAR 3 JU's funding.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 269 million commitment budget for CAJU in 2023, down from EUR 411.2 million in 2022.
  • EUR 468.4 million payment budget for CAJU in 2023, up from EUR 415.3 million in 2022.
  • EUR 41 million (2.4%) outstanding payments for CAJU at end 2023.
  • EUR 244.3 million in-kind contributions to operational activities and EUR 153.4 million to additional activities for CAJU.
  • 51% implementation rate for CAJU's 2023 operational payment appropriations.
  • EUR 178 million additional EU contributions requested by CAJU, resulting in EUR 237 million cash surplus.
  • EUR 111.2 million commitment budget for SESAR 3 JU in 2023, down from EUR 158.8 million.
  • EUR 241.5 million payment budget for SESAR 3 JU in 2023, up from EUR 146.9 million.