C 214/130
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
16.6.2023
Thursday 19 January 2023
52.
Welcomes the EIB’s focus on digitisation strategy and information security risk management and cyber-security and the adoption in May 2021 of the EIB Group — Digital Ambition (ICT) Strategy; recalls that cyber-attacks are liable to result in operational, reputational and legal risks; expects the EIB to adopt an action plan encompassing both defence against and recovery from cyber-attacks, with specific deliverables and clear indicators, and to promote a strong cyber-security culture among employees;
53.
Notes that the EIB, the Commission and the ECA renewed the Tripartite Agreement on 11 November 2021; regrets the fact that the revised agreement does not offer the extensive solution which Parliament has called for; welcomes, however, that the new agreement allows for greater access to and improved streamlining of audited EIB documents; reiterates that the ECA is expected to have full access to all information related to EIB operations intended solely for the implementation of EU policies;
54.
Notes that in 2021 the EIB’s complaints mechanism registered 64 new cases (compared with 77 in 2020), processed 107 cases (compared with 137 in 2020) and closed 64 cases (compared with 94 in 2020); encourages the EIB to monitor the complaints mechanism recommendations and to make intensive efforts to reach out to stakeholders to offer tailored events;
55.
Calls on the EIB to ensure that the complaints mechanism is accessible, effective and independent in order to detect and redress any possible human rights violations in EIB-related projects;
56.
Is aware that the Inspectorate General’s Investigations Division (IG/IN) is an internal department which launches enquiries into the types of misconduct defined in the Anti-Fraud Policy in order to provide the EIB Group with relevant facts and recommendations to form the basis of the EIB decision-making process;
57.
Notes that the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact, for the second year in a row, on the competent division of the Inspectorate General in carrying out its activities, resulting in fewer allegations received (174 in 2021 and 183 in 2020), fewer investigative missions carried out (5 in 2021 and 10 in 2020) and fewer recommendations and opinions issued (45 in 2021 and 52 in 2020, compared with a bigger number of cases completed, i.e. 204 in 2021 and 195 in 2020);
58.
Observes that the number of cases where allegations were substantiated following investigation decreased sharply in 2021 (17 cases substantiated out of 67 investigations opened in 2021 and 37 cases substantiated against 91 investigations opened in 2020, which is a decrease from 41 % to 25 %);
59.
Welcomes the signature on 29 October 2021 of the working arrangement between the EIB and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL), which should pave the way towards more effective prevention and detection of risks linked to EIB Group funding;
60.
Welcomes the establishment of a new system for following up and reporting on recommendations and opinions; asks the EIB IG/IN to report to Parliament in more detail about the outcome of its investigations; calls for the EIB IG/IN annual report to cover the financial impacts of the cases it investigates, going beyond the mere narrative of the case studies, in order to provide valuable insight for assessing the protection of financial interests, including the EIB’s evaluation of the financial, operational and reputational risks when deciding whether an investigation to that end is appropriate;
61.
Appreciates the continuous work of the Proactive Integrity Reviews Unit and encourages enhanced cooperation between EIB exclusion and debarment capabilities, the Commission’s Early Detection and Exclusion System and other relevant actors (such as the Irregularities Management System database of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the ARACHNE risk-scoring tool) in order to enhance the fraud prevention and detection activities that are essential to safeguard the Union’s financial interests;
62.
Reminds the EIB that its dual nature (EU body and financial institution) makes its alignment with EU law even more relevant, and that appropriate governance, processes and mechanisms should consistently be designed, implemented and adhered to in line with the Union’s standards and criteria and well integrated with those followed by other Union services with which the EIB interacts frequently;