2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council
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.
- ✓ Referred to committee 17 September 2024
- ✓ Committee work Report adopted 24 September 2025
- ✓ Tabled for plenary 26 September 2025
- ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 22 October 2025
- ✓ 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
- Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI ECR
- Shadow rapporteurs
- Andrey KOVATCHEV PPECsaba MOLNÁR S&DVirginie JORON PfEGerben-Jan GERBRANDY RenewDamian BOESELAGER Verts/ALEPasquale TRIDICO The LeftAlexander JUNGBLUTH ESN
- For opinion
- JURI — Legal Affairs LIBE — Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs CULT — Culture and Education SEDE — Security and Defence BUDG — Budgets FEMM — Women’s Rights and Gender Equality AFCO — Constitutional Affairs · rapporteur Sven SIMON PPEECON — Economic and Monetary Affairs REGI — Regional Development IMCO — Internal Market and Consumer Protection DEVE — Development AGRI — Agriculture and Rural Development INTA — International Trade ENVI — Environment, Climate and Food Safety EMPL — Employment and Social Affairs PECH — Fisheries SANT — Public Health ITRE — Industry, Research and Energy AFET — Foreign Affairs TRAN — Transport and Tourism
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
Tabled for plenary → Tabled for plenary: The main change is that Parliament now refuses discharge to the Council instead of postponing the decision. The resolution adds new paragraphs expressing regret and frustration over the Council's non-cooperation, including specific references to the questionnaire and hearing. It also updates the reference to the Ombudsman's findings, shifting from general criticism to a specific strategic inquiry. Other changes are formal or wording adjustments, such as fixing a typo and rephrasing time references. see the changes →
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The decision changes from refusing discharge to postponing it, and the resolution adds new sections on budget, management, and other topics. The resolution now includes performance-based budgeting and replaces the Ombudsman reference with a general transparency requirement. The other changes are formal or wording updates, such as rephrasing durations and clarifying the Secretariat's name. see the changes →
Committee draft → Committee draft: The main change is that Parliament now refuses discharge to the Council for 2023, instead of granting or postponing it. The resolution is restructured to focus on the Council's non-cooperation, omitting detailed budget figures and administrative observations. Adds a recital on the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration and drops a reference to performance-based budgeting. Other changes are wording adjustments, such as 'almost twenty years' and 'since 2009'. see the changes →
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (AFCO),Opinion (AFCO)
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
- Plenary stage
- 22 October 2025 Plenary voteAdopted Adopted by a large majorityFor 441 Against 125 Abstained 73
Final vote — text as a whole at 14:58 · 69% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →
Show all 11 ballots in voting order
1. Final vote Proposal for a decisionAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded2. Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 15 14:53 A10-0167/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 15 – Am 3Rejected3. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 15Rejectedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recordedAdoptedNot put to a vote, because an earlier vote already settled the matter.Not put to a vote, because an earlier vote already settled the matter.7. Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 1 14:54 A10-0167/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 16 – Am 2/1Adopted8. Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 2 14:54 A10-0167/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 16 – Am 2/2Adopted9. Separate vote on paragraph 17AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted11. Final vote — text as a whole 14:58 A10-0167/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – Motion for a resolution (as a whole)Adopted - 14 October – 15 October 2025 4 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
- Outcome
- 8 October 2025 Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
- Plenary stage
- 26 September 2025 Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
- Committee stage
- 24 September 2025 Committee vote: report adopted
CONT (Budgetary Control) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
- 10 September 2025 Amendments tabled in committee
Members of CONT (Budgetary Control) proposed changes to the draft.
- 12 August 2025 Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in CONT (Budgetary Control). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
- Plenary stage
- 7 May 2025 Plenary voteAdopted Adopted by an overwhelming majorityFor 588 Against 62 Abstained 16
Final vote at 13:41 · 88% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →
Show all 14 ballots in voting order
Adopted2. Separate vote on paragraph 5RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded3. Separate vote on paragraph 18RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected5. Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 20 13:41 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 20 – Am 2Rejected6. Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 22 13:41 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 22 – Am 3Rejected7. Amendment 5, adding text after paragraph 22 13:41 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 22 – Am 5Rejected8. Amendment 7, adding text after paragraph 23 13:42 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 23 – Am 7Rejected9. Separate vote on paragraph 24AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded10. Separate vote on paragraph 41RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded11. Separate vote on paragraph 42RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted13. Amendment 8, adding text after paragraph 57 13:42 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – After § 57 – Am 8Rejected14. Final vote — text as a whole 13:42 A10-0052/2025 – Joachim Stanisław Brudziński – Motion for a resolution (as a whole)Adopted - 6 May 2025 Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 6 May 2025 📄 Council / Commission text C10-0067/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0068/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0069/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0070/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0071/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0072/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0073/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0074/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0075/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0076/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0077/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0078/2024📄 Council / Commission text C10-0079/2024📄 Report A10-0046/2025📄 Report A10-0047/2025📄 Report A10-0050/2025📄 Report A10-0051/2025📄 Report A10-0052/2025📄 Report A10-0053/2025📄 Report A10-0054/2025📄 Report A10-0055/2025📄 Report A10-0056/2025📄 Report A10-0062/2025📄 Report A10-0065/2025📄 Report A10-0069/2025📄 Report A10-0074/2025 - 30 April 2025 12 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
- 1 April 2025 Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
- Committee stage
- 18 March 2025 Committee vote: report adopted
CONT (Budgetary Control) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
- 11 February 2025 Amendments tabled in committee
Members of CONT (Budgetary Control) proposed changes to the draft.
- 29 January 2025 AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
- 16 January 2025 Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in CONT (Budgetary Control). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
- 18 November 2024 Draft opinion from AFCO (Constitutional Affairs)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
- 17 September 2024 Referred to the CONT (Budgetary Control) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; JURI (Legal Affairs), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs), CULT (Culture and Education), SEDE (Security and Defence), BUDG (Budgets), FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), AFCO (Constitutional Affairs), ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs), REGI (Regional Development), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), DEVE (Development), AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), INTA (International Trade), ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs), PECH (Fisheries), SANT (Public Health), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy), AFET (Foreign Affairs), TRAN (Transport and Tourism) give an opinion.