Skip to content
2024/2019(DEC) Discharge procedure First reading

2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - Commission

Parliament checks how an EU institution or agency spent a past year’s budget and signs it off — or refuses to.

Where it stands: Completed: published in the Official Journal on 8 October 2025 and now EU law.

  1. ✓ Referred to committee 17 September 2024
  2. ✓ Committee work Report adopted 8 April 2025
  3. ✓ Tabled for plenary 23 April 2025
  4. ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 7 May 2025
  5. ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
CONT — Budgetary Control
Rapporteur
Niclas HERBST PPE
Shadow rapporteurs
José CEPEDA S&DTamás DEUTSCH PfEJoachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI ECROlivier CHASTEL RenewDaniel FREUND Verts/ALEPasquale TRIDICO The LeftAlexander JUNGBLUTH ESN
For opinion
ITRE — Industry, Research and Energy JURI — Legal Affairs SANT — Public Health IMCO — Internal Market and Consumer Protection AFET — Foreign Affairs · rapporteur Michael GAHLER PPEECON — Economic and Monetary Affairs SEDE — Security and Defence BUDG — Budgets ENVI — Environment, Climate and Food Safety · rapporteur MEP #257122 S&DDEVE — Development · rapporteur Charles GOERENS RenewINTA — International Trade EMPL — Employment and Social Affairs · rapporteur Romana TOMC PPEPECH — Fisheries FEMM — Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · rapporteur Lina GÁLVEZ S&DAFCO — Constitutional Affairs LIBE — Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · rapporteur Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ PPETRAN — Transport and Tourism · rapporteur Gheorghe FALCĂ PPEREGI — Regional Development · rapporteur Ľubica KARVAŠOVÁ RenewAGRI — Agriculture and Rural Development · rapporteur Veronika VRECIONOVÁ ECRCULT — Culture and Education · rapporteur Nela RIEHL Verts/ALE

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament: Parliament adds new provisions on institutional integrity, foreign interference, and the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and on the 'Rearm EU' initiative and Russia as a State sponsor of terrorism. It adds new paragraphs on transparency of EU funding, including calls for additional resources for the Transparency Register secretariat and for implementing Court of Auditors recommendations on NGOs. It adds a paragraph on an investigation involving the former Commissioner for Justice and calls for cooperation with Belgian authorities. It adds 'anti-Christian' to the list of movements whose views are opposed to EU fundamental values. The other changes are formal or wording: updated titles and citations, expanded abbreviations, corrected punctuation and decimal separators, and rephrased passages. see the changes →

Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The main change is that Parliament postpones discharge decisions for the Commission, agencies, and EDFs for 2023 instead of granting them. The resolution adds strong concerns about error rates, debt, and rule of law, and calls for action plans and stricter controls. The resolution adds new sections on RRF transparency, double funding, and fraud detection, with calls for automated cross-checking and public databases. The resolution adds paragraphs on external action, including IPA III, UNRWA, and Global Gateway, with calls for transparency and conditionality. The other changes are formal or wording updates, such as renumbering and minor rephrasing. see the changes →

Committee opinions: Draft opinion (CULT),Opinion (REGI),Opinion (ENVI),Draft opinion (REGI),Draft opinion (AFET),Draft opinion (EMPL),Opinion (AFET),Draft opinion (LIBE),Opinion (CULT),Opinion (DEVE),Draft opinion (FEMM),Opinion (FEMM),Draft opinion (TRAN),Draft opinion (DEVE),Draft opinion (ENVI),Opinion (TRAN),Opinion (EMPL),Opinion (LIBE)

Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.

Timeline

  1. Outcome
  2. 8 October 2025 Published in the Official Journal

    The act is now EU law.

  3. Plenary stage
  4. Adopted Adopted by a large majority
    For 412 Against 245 Abstained 5

    Final vote at 13:24 · 62% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

    How the vote unfolded · 120 ballots

    adopted rejected lapsed square = amendment circle = part of the text decisive vote Solid = roll call (click for every MEP’s vote); faded = no individual positions

    Show all 120 ballots in voting order
    1. Final vote 13:24 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – Proposal for a decision
    Adopted
    2. Proposals for decisions
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    3. Amendment 53 to paragraph 1 13:24 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 1 – Am 53
    Rejected
    4. Amendment 54, adding text after paragraph 1 13:24 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 1 – Am 54
    Rejected
    5. Amendment 55, adding text after paragraph 1 13:24 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 1 – Am 55
    Rejected
    6. Amendment 56 to paragraph 2 13:24 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 2 – Am 56
    Rejected
    7. Amendment 38, adding text after paragraph 3 13:25 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 3 – Am 38
    Rejected
    8. Amendment 39, adding text after paragraph 3 13:25 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 3 – Am 39
    Rejected
    9. Amendment 57, adding text after paragraph 3 13:25 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 3 – Am 57
    Rejected
    10. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 3
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    11. Amendment 59, adding text after paragraph 3 13:25 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 3 – Am 59
    Rejected
    12. Amendment 60 to paragraph 4 13:25 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 4 – Am 60
    Rejected
    13. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 9
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    14. Separate vote on paragraph 10
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    15. Amendment 4, adding text after paragraph 10 13:26 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 10 – Am 4
    Rejected
    16. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 10
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    17. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 10
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    18. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 10
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    19. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 12
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    20. Amendment 15 to paragraph 13 13:26 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 13 – Am 15
    Rejected
    21. Amendment 5, adding text after paragraph 13 13:26 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 13 – Am 5
    Rejected
    22. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 13
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    23. Amendment 16 to paragraph 15 13:26 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 15 – Am 16
    Rejected
    24. Amendment 17 to paragraph 16 13:27 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 16 – Am 17
    Adopted
    25. Separate vote on paragraph 16
    — no individual positions recorded
    26. Separate vote on paragraph 16
    — no individual positions recorded
    27. Separate vote on paragraph 16
    — no individual positions recorded
    28. Amendment 66, adding text after paragraph 16 13:27 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 16 – Am 66
    Rejected
    29. Amendment 40, adding text after paragraph 16 13:27 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 16 – Am 40
    Rejected
    30. Amendment 1, adding text after paragraph 17 13:27 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 17 – Am 1
    Adopted
    31. Amendment 67, adding text after paragraph 17 13:27 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 17 – Am 67
    Rejected
    32. Amendment 68 to paragraph 18 13:28 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 18 – Am 68
    Rejected
    33. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 18
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    34. Amendment 41, adding text after paragraph 18 13:28 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 18 – Am 41
    Rejected
    35. Amendment 42, adding text after paragraph 18 13:28 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 18 – Am 42
    Rejected
    36. Amendment 43, adding text after paragraph 18 13:28 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 18 – Am 43
    Rejected
    37. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 20
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    38. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 20
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    39. Amendment 18, adding text after paragraph 21 13:29 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 21 – Am 18
    Rejected
    40. Amendment 69, adding text after paragraph 21 13:29 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 21 – Am 69
    Rejected
    41. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 27
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    42. Amendment 49, adding text after paragraph 38 13:29 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 38 – Am 49
    Rejected
    43. Amendment 50, adding text after paragraph 38 13:29 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 38 – Am 50
    Rejected
    44. Amendment 71, adding text after paragraph 38 13:30 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 38 – Am 71
    Rejected
    45. Amendment 19 to paragraph 45 13:30 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 45 – Am 19
    Rejected
    46. Amendment 6, adding text after paragraph 46 13:30 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 46 – Am 6
    Rejected
    47. Amendment 37, adding text after paragraph 46 13:30 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 46 – Am 37
    Adopted
    48. Separate vote on paragraph 49, after point iii
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    49. Separate vote on paragraph 49, after point ix
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    50. Amendment 74 to paragraph 49, after point xii 13:30 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 49, after point xii – Am 74
    Rejected
    51. Separate vote on paragraph 54
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    52. Amendment 21 to paragraph 55 13:31 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 55 – Am 21
    Rejected
    53. Amendment 75, adding text after paragraph 55 13:31 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 55 – Am 75
    Rejected
    54. Amendment 51, adding text after paragraph 57 13:31 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 57 – Am 51
    Rejected
    55. Amendment 44, adding text after paragraph 70 13:31 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 70 – Am 44
    Rejected
    56. Amendment 76 to paragraph 73, after point iii 13:31 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 73, after point iii – Am 76
    Rejected
    57. Amendment 7 to paragraph 74 13:32 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 74 – Am 7
    Adopted
    58. Separate vote on paragraph 88
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    59. Separate vote on paragraph 88
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    60. Separate vote on paragraph 88
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    61. Separate vote on paragraph 88
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    62. Separate vote on paragraph 89
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    63. Separate vote on paragraph 90
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    64. Amendment 22 to paragraph 98 13:32 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 98 – Am 22
    Rejected
    65. Amendment 77 to paragraph 100, after point viii 13:32 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 100, after point viii – Am 77
    Rejected
    66. Separate vote on paragraph 100, point ix
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    67. Separate vote on paragraph 100, after point ix
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    68. Amendment 23 to paragraph 108 13:33 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 108 – Am 23
    Rejected
    69. Amendment 45, adding text after paragraph 108 13:33 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 108 – Am 45
    Rejected
    70. Separate vote on paragraph 117
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    71. Separate vote on paragraph 117
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    72. Amendment 52, adding text after paragraph 124 13:33 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 124 – Am 52
    Rejected
    73. Separate vote on paragraph 130
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    74. Separate vote on paragraph 130
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    75. Separate vote on paragraph 130
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    76. Amendment 24 to paragraph 131 13:34 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 131 – Am 24
    Rejected
    77. Separate vote on paragraph 131
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    78. Separate vote on paragraph 131
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    79. Separate vote on paragraph 131
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    80. Separate vote on paragraph 131
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    81. Separate vote on paragraph 131
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    82. Amendment 25, adding text after paragraph 131 13:34 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 131 – Am 25
    Rejected
    83. Amendment 46, adding text after paragraph 131 13:35 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 131 – Am 46
    Rejected
    84. Amendment 47, adding text after paragraph 131 13:35 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 131 – Am 47
    Rejected
    85. Amendment 79, adding text after paragraph 131 13:35 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 131 – Am 79
    Rejected
    86. Separate vote on paragraph 133
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    87. Separate vote on paragraph 134, point iii
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    88. Separate vote on paragraph 134, after point iii
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    89. Separate vote on paragraph 134, point v
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    90. Separate vote on paragraph 134, after point v
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    91. Amendment 8, adding text after paragraph 143 13:35 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 143 – Am 8
    Adopted
    92. Amendment 27, adding text after paragraph 143 13:36 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 143 – Am 27
    Adopted
    93. Separate vote on paragraph 144, after point iv
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    94. Amendment 48, adding text after paragraph 145 13:36 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 145 – Am 48
    Rejected
    95. Separate vote on paragraph 152
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    96. Separate vote on paragraph 152
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    97. Amendment 30, adding text after paragraph 152 13:36 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 152 – Am 30
    Rejected
    98. Amendment 83, adding text after paragraph 152 13:36 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 152 – Am 83
    Rejected
    99. Separate vote on paragraph 153
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    100. Separate vote on paragraph 154
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    101. Separate vote on paragraph 155
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    102. Separate vote on paragraph 156
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    103. Separate vote on paragraph 170
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    104. Amendment 85 to paragraph 171, after point vi 13:37 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 171, after point vi – Am 85
    Rejected
    105. Amendment 86 to paragraph 171, after point vi 13:37 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 171, after point vi – Am 86
    Rejected
    106. Separate vote on paragraph 172, after point iii
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    107. Amendment 88, adding text after paragraph 179 13:38 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 179 – Am 88
    Rejected
    108. Amendment 91, adding text after paragraph 183 13:38 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 183 – Am 91
    Rejected
    109. Separate vote on paragraph 184
    — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    110. Amendment 32, adding text after paragraph 185 13:38 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 185 – Am 32
    Adopted
    111. Amendment 33, adding text after paragraph 186 13:38 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 186 – Am 33
    Rejected
    112. Separate vote on paragraph 188
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    113. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 224
    electronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    114. Amendment 34, adding text after paragraph 224 13:39 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 224 – Am 34
    Rejected
    115. Amendment 9, adding text after paragraph 236 13:39 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 236 – Am 9
    Rejected
    116. Amendment 35, adding text after paragraph 250 13:39 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 250 – Am 35
    Rejected
    117. Amendment 36, adding text after paragraph 251 13:39 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – After § 251 – Am 36
    Rejected
    118. Amendment 89 to paragraph 252, after point xiii 13:40 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 252, after point xiii – Am 89
    Rejected
    119. Amendment 90 to paragraph 252, after point xv 13:40 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – § 252, after point xv – Am 90
    Rejected
    120. Final vote — text as a whole 13:40 A10-0074/2025 – Niclas Herbst – Motion for a resolution (as a whole)
    Adopted
  5. 23 April 2025 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

  6. Committee stage
  7. 8 April 2025 Committee vote: report adopted

    CONT (Budgetary Control) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  8. 27 February 2025 Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)

    Members of CONT (Budgetary Control) proposed changes to the draft.

  9. 18 February 2025 ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  10. 18 February 2025 FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  11. 18 February 2025 DEVE (Development) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  12. 6 February 2025 LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  13. 30 January 2025 CULT (Culture and Education) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  14. 30 January 2025 AFET (Foreign Affairs) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  15. 29 January 2025 TRAN (Transport and Tourism) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  16. 29 January 2025 Committee opinion adopted

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  17. 28 January 2025 REGI (Regional Development) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  18. 28 January 2025 EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  19. 16 January 2025 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in CONT (Budgetary Control). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

  20. 12 December 2024 Draft opinion from DEVE (Development)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  21. 22 November 2024 Draft opinion from AFET (Foreign Affairs)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  22. 15 November 2024 Draft opinion from CULT (Culture and Education)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  23. 14 November 2024 Draft opinion from FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  24. 14 November 2024 Draft opinion from TRAN (Transport and Tourism)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  25. 13 November 2024 Draft opinion from LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  26. 12 November 2024 Draft opinion from REGI (Regional Development)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  27. 7 November 2024 Draft opinion from ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  28. 24 October 2024 Draft opinion from EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  29. 17 September 2024 Referred to the CONT (Budgetary Control) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy), JURI (Legal Affairs), SANT (Public Health), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), AFET (Foreign Affairs), ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs), SEDE (Security and Defence), BUDG (Budgets), ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), DEVE (Development), INTA (International Trade), EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs), PECH (Fisheries), FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), AFCO (Constitutional Affairs), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs), TRAN (Transport and Tourism), REGI (Regional Development), AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), CULT (Culture and Education) give an opinion.