Resolution (EU) 2022/1792 of the European Parliament of 4 May 2022 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2020
Date: 2022-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Euratom Supply Agency, budgetary discharge, financial year, general budget (EU)








L_2022258EN.01037201.xml










5.10.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 258/372








            RESOLUTION (EU) 2022/1792 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
         
of 4 May 2022
         
with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2020


THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,







—


having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2020,










—


having regard to Rule 100 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A9-0121/2022),











A.


whereas, according to its statement of revenue and expenditure, the final budget of the Euratom Supply Agency (the ‘Agency’) for the financial year 2020 was EUR 230 000, representing an increase of 3,14 % compared to 2019; whereas the entire the Agency’s budget derives from the Union budget;










B.


whereas the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’), in its report on the Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2020 (the ‘Court’s report’), states that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Agency’s annual accounts are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular;





Budget and financial management







1.


Notes with satisfaction that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2020 resulted in a commitment appropriations implementation rate of 99,54 %, representing a decrease of 0,32 % compared to 2019; regrets, however, that the payment appropriation execution rate was 22,33 %, representing a decrease of 18,72 % compared to 2019; whereas the decrease is due to carrying forward outstanding commitments that amounted to EUR 177 578,67, or 78 % of committed amounts in relation to signed IT service contracts that had not been completed at year-end;










2.


Notes that the cancellation rate of budget appropriations carried over from 2019 to 2020 was 7 %, demonstrating unjustified commitments in the previous year; calls on the Agency to carry over budget appropriations only when justified;





Performance







3.


Encourages, regarding follow-up observations from previous years, the Agency to pursue the digitalisation of its services;





Staff policy







4.


Notes that on 31 December 2020, the establishment plan was 94,12 % implemented, with 16 Commission officials appointed out of 17 posts authorised under the Union budget (17 authorised posts in 2019);










5.


Notes that the Agency reported a gender ratio for all staff of 56 % women and 44 % men and that the Agency has an equal opportunities policy in place;





Procurement







6.


Notes that the nuclear observatory and ESA management of information (NOEMI) project will reinforce the Agency’s monitoring capabilities of the nuclear materials and fuel market whilst securely hosting the data of sensitive nuclear contracts; notes that implementation of NOEMI progressed in 2020-2021, with an estimated cost of EUR 355 000; notes that a functional prototype, including the key features, was delivered in June 2020; calls on the Agency to keep the discharge authority informed about the progress of the implementation of the project;





COVID-19 response and business continuity







7.


Notes that the Agency has made efforts to reduce the effect of the pandemic on its staff and stakeholders by taking all necessary steps to continue its core duties and introduced changes in its spending pattern via a budget amendment to reduce expenses on actions negatively affected by the pandemic; notes that the Agency invested in upgrading its core IT application and re-scoped its ongoing tasks and adjusted the approach and timeline to take account of changing circumstances in its new 2021 work programme; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the developments in this regard;










8.


Notes the Agency’s observation that the worldwide lockdown measures have accelerated the deployment of secure digital solutions resulting in an overall increase of the digital knowledge and maturity of stakeholders, supporting the business case for NOEMI;





Internal control







9.


Notes that in 2020 the Agency adopted its internal control framework, designed to provide reasonable assurance in achieving the objectives set in its financial regulation, which comprises effectiveness, efficiency, the economy of operations, the reliability of reporting, the safeguarding of assets and information, the prevention, detection, correction and follow-up of fraud and irregularities, and the adequate management of the legality and regularity of underlying transactions; notes that in January 2020 the Agency performed a full-scale risk assessment workshop covering all areas of agency work, operational and administrative processes; further notes that the Agency reviewed the controls in place and identified areas that required monitoring;





Other comments







10.


Notes, with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the Union, that intense negotiations were held in 2020 with regard to the future partnership of the UK and the Union in the Agency, including in the civil nuclear area; notes that on 24 December 2020 the Union and the UK signed the Euratom Agreement, which provides wide-ranging cooperation on safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, underpinned by commitments by both sides to comply with international non-proliferation obligations, upholding a high level of nuclear safety standards; calls on the Agency to report on developments in this regard;










11.


Calls on the Agency, with regard following up on the discharge authority’s observations in the 2019 discharge, to focus on disseminating the results of its research to the general public, and to reach out to public via the social media and other media outlets;










12.


Refers, for other observations of a cross-cutting nature accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution of 4 May 2022 (1) on the performance, financial management and control of the agencies.







          
      



(1)  Texts adopted, P9_TA(2022)0196.