Parlament Ewropew2019-2024

Kumitat għall-Kontroll tal-Baġit

CONT_PV(2020)1130_1

MINUTI

Laqgħa tat-Tnejn, 30 ta' Novembru 2020,

13.45 – 14.45 u 15.15 – 16.45 u 17.15 – 18.45

It-Tlieta, l-1 ta' Diċembru 2020, 9.00 – 12.00

BRUSSELL

Sala: Laqgħa remota permezz ta' Interactio (József Antall 4Q1)

Il-laqgħa bdiet fis-13.46 u kienet preseduta minn Tomáš Zdechovský.

It-30 ta' Novembru 2020, 13.45 – 14.45

1. Adozzjoni tal-aġenda

Deċiżjoni: L-abbozz ta' aġenda ġie adottat fil-forma li tidher f'dawn il-minuti.

2. Avviżi tal-President

Il-President ġibdet l-attenzjoni tal-Membri għall-informazzjoni f'CONT News.

Bil-magħluq

3. Is-sitwazzjoni attwali rigward ir-Rapporti tal-Awditjar tal-Kummissjoni dwar il-kunflitt ta' interess tal-Prim Ministru ĊekCONT/9/04650 Skambju ta' fehmiet mar-rappreżentanti tal-Kummissjoni

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Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Tomáš Zdechovský, Michael Erhart (Kummissjoni Ewropea, DĠ BUDG), Franck Sébert (Kummissjoni Ewropea, DĠ REGIO), Christina Borchmann (Kummissjoni Ewropea, DĠ AGRI), Lara Wolters, Ramona Strugariu, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Mikuláš Peksa, Maria Grapini, Michèle Rivasi, Ondřej Knotek.

Il-laqgħa ġiet aġġornata fit-15.14

* * *

Il-laqgħa tkompliet fl-15.31 u kienet preseduta minn Monika Hohlmeier (President).

It-30 ta' Novembru 2020, 15.15 – 16.45

4. Kwittanza 2019: Baġit ġenerali tal-UE - Il-Kummissjoni EwropeaCONT/9/03689

2020/2140(DEC) COM(2020)0288[01] – C9-0220/2020

Rapporteur:Joachim Kuhs (ID)

Responsabbli:CONT

Opinjonijiet:AFET, DEVE, INTA, BUDG, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI

Skambju ta' fehmiet ma' Janusz Wojciechowski, il-Kummissarju responsabbli għall-Agrikoltura, fil-preżenza ta' Nikolaos Milionis, membru tal-QEA li qiegħed jirrapporta.

Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Monika Hohlmeier, Nikolaos Milionis (QEA), Kummissarju Janusz Wojciechowski, Joachim Kuhs, Markus Pieper, Tsvetelina Penkova, Olivier Chastel, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Tomáš Zdechovský.

Il-laqgħa ġiet aġġornata fil-16.50

* * *

Il-laqgħa tkompliet fil-17.22 u kienet preseduta minn Monika Hohlmeier (President).

It-30 ta' Novembru 2020, 17.15 – 18.45

5. Kwittanza 2019: Baġit ġenerali tal-UE - Il-Kummissjoni EwropeaCONT/9/03689

2020/2140(DEC) COM(2020)0288[01] – C9-0220/2020

Rapporteur:

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Joachim Kuhs (ID)Responsabbli:

CONTOpinjonijiet:

AFET, DEVE, INTA, BUDG, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI

Skambju ta' fehmiet ma' Ylva Johansson, il-Kummissarju responsabbli għall-Affarijiet Interni, fil-preżenza ta' Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, membru tal-QEA li qiegħed jirrapporta.

Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Monika Hohlmeier, Baudilio Tomé Muguruza (QEA), Commissiner Ylva Johansson, Joachim Kuhs, Markus Pieper, Tsvetelina Penkova, Olivier Chastel, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, David Lega, Caterina Chinnici, Beate Gminder (Kummissjoni Ewropea, DĠ HOME).

Il-laqgħa ntemmet fis-18.34.

* * *

Il-laqgħa bdiet fid-9.07 u kienet preseduta minn Monika Hohlmeier (President).

L-1 ta' Diċembru 2020, 9.00 – 10.30

6. Kwittanza 2019: Baġit ġenerali tal-UE - Il-Kummissjoni EwropeaCONT/9/03689

2020/2140(DEC) COM(2020)0288[01] – C9-0220/2020

Rapporteur:Joachim Kuhs (ID)

Responsabbli:CONT

Opinjonijiet:AFET, DEVE, INTA, BUDG, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI

Skambju ta' fehmiet ma' Elisa Ferreira, il-Kummissarju responsabbli għall-Koeżjoni u r-Riformi, fil-preżenza ta' Tony Murphy, membru tal-QEA li qiegħed jirrapporta.

Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Monika Hohlmeier, Tony Murphy (QEA), Kummissarju Elisa Ferreira, Joachim Kuhs, Markus Pieper, Tsvetelina Penkova, Olivier Chastel, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Katalin Cseh, Isabel García Muñoz.

L-1 ta' Diċembru 2020, 10.30 – 12.00

7. Kwittanza 2019: Baġit ġenerali tal-UE - Il-Kummissjoni EwropeaCONT/9/03689

2020/2140(DEC) COM(2020)0288[01] – C9-0220/2020

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Rapporteur:Joachim Kuhs (ID)

Responsabbli:CONT

Opinjonijiet:AFET, DEVE, INTA, BUDG, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI

Skambju ta' fehmiet ma' Jutta Urpilainen, il-Kummissarju responsabbli għas-Sħubijiiet Internazzjonali, fil-preżenza ta' Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, membru tal-QEA li qiegħed jirrapporta.

Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Monika Hohlmeier, Baudilio Tomé Muguruza (QEA), Kummissarju Jutta Urpilainen, Joachim Kuhs, Markus Pieper, Tsvetelina Penkova, Olivier Chastel, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Katalin Cseh, Petri Sarvamaa, Isabel García Muñoz.

8. Kwittanza 2019: Baġit Ġenerali tal-UE - It-8, id-9, l-10 u l-11-il FEŻCONT/9/03947

2020/2190(DEC) COM(2020)0290 – C9-0270/2020

Rapporteur:Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR)

Responsabbli:CONT

Opinjonijiet:DEVE, BUDG

Skambju ta' fehmiet ma' Jutta Urpilainen, Kummissarju responsabbli għas-Sħubijiet Internazzjonali, fil-preżenza ta' Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, membru tal-QEA li qiegħed jirrapporta, u Luca Lazzaroli, Direttur Ġenerali, Viċi Kap tal-Operazzjonijiet, Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment.

Tkellmu dawn li ġejjin: Monika Hohlmeier, Baudilio Tomé Muguruza (QEA), Kummissarju Jutta Urpilainen, Ryszard Czarnecki, José Manuel Fernandes, Tsvetelina Penkova, Michèle Rivasi, Katalin Cseh.

9. Kwistjonijiet varji

10. Laqgħat li jmiss Is-7 ta' Diċembru 2020, 14.00 – 16.00 u 16.45 – 18.45 (Brussell)

Il-laqgħa ntemmet fin-12.28

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РИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/PREZENČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESENHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/

LISTE DE PRÉSENCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELENCO DI PRESENZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELENLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTENDENZA/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/

LISTĂ DE PREZENŢĂ/PREZENČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/NÄRVAROLISTA

Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/Prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*)

Monika Hohlmeier, Caterina Chinnici , Tamás Deutsch, Martina Dlabajová, Isabel García Muñoz ,

Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Βουλευτές/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/ Nariai/Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter

Matteo Adinolfi, Olivier Chastel, Lefteris Christoforou, Ryszard Czarnecki, José Manuel Fernandes, Daniel Freund, Joachim Kuhs, Tsvetelina Penkova, , Markus Pieper, Sabrina Pignedoli, Michèle Rivasi , Petri Sarvamaa, Angelika Winzig, Lara Wolters, Tomáš Zdechovský

Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/Supleanţi/Náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter

Katalin Cseh, Maria Grapini, Hannes Heide, David Lega, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Jan Olbrycht, Mikuláš Peksa, Elzbieta Rafalska, Ramona Strugariu, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

209 (7)

216 (3)

Ondrej KNOTEK

56 (8) (Точка от дневния ред/Punto del orden del día/Bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/Tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/Σημείο της ημερήσιας διάταξης/Agenda item/Point OJ/Točka dnevnog reda/Punto all'ordine del giorno/Darba kārtības punkts/Darbotvarkės punktas/Napirendi pont/Punt Aġenda/Agendapunt/Punkt porządku dziennego/Ponto OD/Punct de pe ordinea de zi/Bod programu schôdze/Točka UL/Esityslistan kohta/Punkt på föredragningslistan)

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Наблюдатели/Observadores/Pozorovatelé/Observatører/Beobachter/Vaatlejad/Παρατηρητές/Observers/Observateurs/Promatrači/ Osservatori/Novērotāji/Stebėtojai/Megfigyelők/Osservaturi/Waarnemers/Obserwatorzy/Observadores/Observatori/Pozorovatelia/ Opazovalci/Tarkkailijat/Observatörer

По покана на председателя/Por invitación del presidente/Na pozvání předsedy/Efter indbydelse fra formanden/Auf Einladung des Vorsitzenden/Esimehe kutsel/Με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chair/Sur l’invitation du président/ Na poziv predsjednika/Su invito del presidente/Pēc priekšsēdētāja uzaicinājuma/Pirmininkui pakvietus/Az elnök meghívására/ Fuq stedina taċ-'Chairman'/Op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/Na zaproszenie Przewodniczącego/A convite do Presidente/La invitaţia preşedintelui/ Na pozvanie predsedu/Na povabilo predsednika/Puheenjohtajan kutsusta/På ordförandens inbjudan

Съвет/Consejo/Rada/Rådet/Rat/Nõukogu/Συμβούλιο/Council/Conseil/Vijeće/Consiglio/Padome/Taryba/Tanács/Kunsill/Raad/ Conselho/Consiliu/Svet/Neuvosto/Rådet (*)

Комисия/Comisión/Komise/Kommissionen/Kommission/Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*)

Christina Borchmann (DG AGRI), Wolfgang Burtscher (DG AGRI), Michael Erhart (DG BUDG), Beate Gminder (DG HOME), Franck Sébert (DG REGIO)

Други институции и органи/Otras instituciones y organismos/Ostatní orgány a instituce/Andre institutioner og organer/Andere Organe und Einrichtungen/Muud institutsioonid ja organid/Λοιπά θεσμικά όργανα και οργανισμοί/Other institutions and bodies/Autres institutions et organes/Druge institucije i tijela/Altre istituzioni e altri organi/Citas iestādes un struktūras/Kitos institucijos ir įstaigos/ Más intézmények és szervek/Istituzzjonijiet u korpi oħra/Andere instellingen en organen/Inne instytucje i organy/Outras instituições e outros órgãos/Alte instituții și organe/Iné inštitúcie a orgány/Muut toimielimet ja elimet/Andra institutioner och organ

ECA Nikolaos Milionis, Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, Tony Murphy

Други участници/Otros participantes/Ostatní účastníci/Endvidere deltog/Andere Teilnehmer/Muud osalejad/Επίσης παρόντες/Other participants/Autres participants/Drugi sudionici/Altri partecipanti/Citi klātesošie/Kiti dalyviai/Más résztvevők/Parteċipanti ohra/Andere aanwezigen/Inni uczestnicy/Outros participantes/Alţi participanţi/Iní účastníci/Drugi udeleženci/Muut osallistujat/Övriga deltagare

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Секретариат на политическите групи/Secretaría de los Grupos políticos/Sekretariát politických skupin/Gruppernes sekretariat/ Sekretariat der Fraktionen/Fraktsioonide sekretariaat/Γραμματεία των Πολιτικών Ομάδων/Secretariats of political groups/Secrétariat des groupes politiques/Tajništva klubova zastupnika/Segreteria gruppi politici/Politisko grupu sekretariāts/Frakcijų sekretoriai/ Képviselőcsoportok titkársága/Segretarjat gruppi politiċi/Fractiesecretariaten/Sekretariat Grup Politycznych/Secretariado dos grupos políticos/Secretariate grupuri politice/Sekretariát politických skupín/Sekretariat političnih skupin/Poliittisten ryhmien sihteeristöt/ De politiska gruppernas sekretariat

PPE

S&D

Renew

ID

Verts/ALE

ECR

GUE/NGL

NI

Кабинет на председателя/Gabinete del Presidente/Kancelář předsedy/Formandens Kabinet/Kabinett des Präsidenten/Presidendi kantselei/Γραφείο του Προέδρου/President's Office/Cabinet du Président/Ured predsjednika/Gabinetto del Presidente/Priekšsēdētāja kabinets/Pirmininko kabinetas/Elnöki hivatal/Kabinett tal-President/Kabinet van de Voorzitter/Gabinet Przewodniczącego/Gabinete do Presidente/Cabinet Preşedinte/Kancelária predsedu/Urad predsednika/Puhemiehen kabinetti/Talmannens kansli

Кабинет на генералния секретар/Gabinete del Secretario General/Kancelář generálního tajemníka/Generalsekretærens Kabinet/ Kabinett des Generalsekretärs/Peasekretäri büroo/Γραφείο του Γενικού Γραμματέα/Secretary-General's Office/Cabinet du Secrétaire général/Ured glavnog tajnika/Gabinetto del Segretario generale/Ģenerālsekretāra kabinets/Generalinio sekretoriaus kabinetas/ Főtitkári hivatal/Kabinett tas-Segretarju Ġenerali/Kabinet van de secretaris-generaal/Gabinet Sekretarza Generalnego/Gabinete do Secretário-Geral/Cabinet Secretar General/Kancelária generálneho tajomníka/Urad generalnega sekretarja/Pääsihteerin kabinetti/ Generalsekreterarens kansli

Генерална дирекция/Dirección General/Generální ředitelství/Generaldirektorat/Generaldirektion/Peadirektoraat/Γενική Διεύθυνση/ Directorate-General/Direction générale/Glavna uprava/Direzione generale/Ģenerāldirektorāts/Generalinis direktoratas/Főigazgatóság/ Direttorat Ġenerali/Directoraten-generaal/Dyrekcja Generalna/Direcção-Geral/Direcţii Generale/Generálne riaditeľstvo/Generalni direktorat/Pääosasto/Generaldirektorat

DG PRES

DG IPOL

DG EXPO

DG EPRS

DG COMM

DG PERS

DG INLO

DG TRAD

DG LINC

DG FINS

DG ITEC

DG SAFE

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Правна служба/Servicio Jurídico/Právní služba/Juridisk Tjeneste/Juristischer Dienst/Õigusteenistus/Νομική Υπηρεσία/Legal Service/ Service juridique/Pravna služba/Servizio giuridico/Juridiskais dienests/Teisės tarnyba/Jogi szolgálat/Servizz legali/Juridische Dienst/ Wydział prawny/Serviço Jurídico/Serviciu Juridic/Právny servis/Oikeudellinen yksikkö/Rättstjänsten

Секретариат на комисията/Secretaría de la comisión/Sekretariát výboru/Udvalgssekretariatet/Ausschusssekretariat/Komisjoni sekretariaat/Γραμματεία της επιτροπής/Committee secretariat/Secrétariat de la commission/Tajništvo odbora/Segreteria della commissione/Komitejas sekretariāts/Komiteto sekretoriatas/A bizottság titkársága/Segretarjat tal-kumitat/Commissiesecretariaat/ Sekretariat komisji/Secretariado da comissão/Secretariat comisie/Sekretariat odbora/Valiokunnan sihteeristö/Utskottssekretariatet

Evelyn Waldherr

Сътрудник/Asistente/Asistent/Assistent/Assistenz/Βοηθός/Assistant/Assistente/Palīgs/Padėjėjas/Asszisztens/Asystent/Pomočnik/ Avustaja/Assistenter

Kameliya Velcheva

* (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair/Président/Predsjednik/Priekšsēdētājs/ Pirmininkas/Elnök/'Chairman'/Voorzitter/Przewodniczący/Preşedinte/Predseda/Predsednik/Puheenjohtaja/Ordförande

(VP) = Заместник-председател/Vicepresidente/Místopředseda/Næstformand/Stellvertretender Vorsitzender/Aseesimees/Αντιπρόεδρος/ Vice-Chair/Potpredsjednik/Vice-Président/Potpredsjednik/Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks/Pirmininko pavaduotojas/Alelnök/ Viċi 'Chairman'/Ondervoorzitter/Wiceprzewodniczący/Vice-Presidente/Vicepreşedinte/Podpredseda/Podpredsednik/ Varapuheenjohtaja/Vice ordförande

(M) = Член/Miembro/Člen/Medlem./Mitglied/Parlamendiliige/Βουλευτής/Member/Membre/Član/Membro/Deputāts/Narys/Képviselő/ Membru/Lid/Członek/Membro/Membru/Člen/Poslanec/Jäsen/Ledamot

(F) = Длъжностно лице/Funcionario/Úředník/Tjenestemand/Beamter/Ametnik/Υπάλληλος/Official/Fonctionnaire/Dužnosnik/ Funzionario/Ierēdnis/Pareigūnas/Tisztviselő/Uffiċjal/Ambtenaar/Urzędnik/Funcionário/Funcţionar/Úradník/Uradnik/Virkamies/ Tjänsteman

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ISSUE N°16 - 30 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2020

NEWSLETTER

Monday, 30 November, 13:45 - 14:45

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The draft agenda and meeting documents are available in the meeting file.

2. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chair draws attention to the following points:

Languages available

FR DE IT EN ES CS HU PL RO

Webstreaming

The meeting will be webstreamed and can be followed live via the CONT webpage.

Adoption of Coordinators’ recommendations:

The summaries of Coordinators' recommendations were circulated to the Members as follows:

- Summary of recommendations of the coordinators meeting of 10 November was circulated on 26 November 2020

If no objections are received before the end of the meeting, these recommendations will be deemed approved.

IN CAMERA

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COMMITTEE MEETINGMONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2020

13:45 to 14:45 and 15:15 to 16:45 and 17:15 to 18:45TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2020

9:00 to 12:00Remote participation of Members

Room: Fully remote meeting with Interactio (József Antall (JAN) 4Q1)

3. STATE OF PLAY ON THE COMMISSION'S AUDIT REPORTS ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST OF THE CZECH PRIME MINISTERCONT/9/04650

Exchange of views with Commission representatives

Administrator: Kaare Barslev

Members of CONT will receive an update on the state of play on the Commission's audit reports on conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister, Mr Andrej Babis from Commission services.

The meeting will be suspended until 15.15

15:15 - 16:45

4. 2019 DISCHARGE: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - EUROPEAN COMMISSIONCONT/9/03689 - 2020/2140(DEC)

Discharge hearing with Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner responsible for Agriculture, in the presence of reporting ECA Member Nikolaos Milionis

Rapporteur: Joachim Kuhs (ID) Administrators: Aleksi Hyvätti / Kaare Barslev

Shadow Rapporteurs: Markus Pieper (EPP), Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Olivier Chastel (RE), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)

The transactions subject to audit by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in chapter 7 "Natural Resources" of its Annual Report 2019 represent EUR 59.5 Billion or approximately 37.4%:

European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF): market related expenditure and direct payments: EUR 43.8 Billion;

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European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): EUR 14.2 Billion; European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and others EUR 1.5 Billion.

The ECA estimates the level of error for "Natural Resources" as a whole to be 1.9% (direct support: below 2%; rural development and market support: above 2 %).

The documents of particular relevance for the exchange of views as regards the 2018 Commission discharge are:

The ECA's 2018 Annual Report, Chapters 1, 2 and 6. The ECA's 2019 Annual Report on the performance of the EU budget – status at the

end of 2019, chapters 1 and 4; The Commission's follow-up report COM (2020) 311 final The respective Annual Activity Report of the Director General.

These documents are available on the CONT website.

In accordance with the timetable for the discharge procedure, the written questions for this meeting were sent to the Commission on 19 November 2020 and emailed to Members on 20 November 2020. The answers from the Commission are expected on 26 November 2020 and the CONT secretariat will forward them immediately.

It is proposed that the hearing with the Commissioner Wojciechowski shall proceed as follows:

Introduction by the reporting ECA Member Nikolaos Milionis, who will present the findings of the respective chapters of the Annual Report 2019 and the Annual Report on performance;

Commissioner Wojciechowski will reply to this introduction; CONT Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will put questions to the Commissioner

and the Court followed by answers (the ping-pong system); Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court; Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur.

CONT Timetable

Event Body DateExchange of views CONT 22-23 February 2021Deadline for amendments CONT 2 March 2021Vote CONT 22-23 March 2021Adoption of report Plenary April 2021

The meeting will be suspended until 17.15

17:15 - 18:45

5. 2019 DISCHARGE: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - EUROPEAN COMMISSIONCONT/9/03689 - 2020/2140(DEC)

Discharge hearing with Ylva Johansson, Commissioner responsible for Home Affairs, in the presence of reporting ECA Member Baudilio Tomé Muguruza

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Rapporteur: Joachim Kuhs (ID) Administrators: Aleksi Hyvätti / Kaare Barslev

Shadow Rapporteurs: Markus Pieper (EPP), Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Olivier Chastel (RE), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)

The transactions subject to audit by the European Court of Auditors in the section concerning migration and security of Chapter 7 "Security and Citizenship" of its Annual Report 2018 represent EUR 2,3 billion excluding decentralised agencies, or approximately 1,4% of the EU budget. In the Annual Report on the performance of the EU budget – status at the end of 2019, Security and Citizenship is handled in chapter 5.

Most of the expenditure for migration and security is from two funds: the Asylum Migration and Integration fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF). The management of most AMIF and ISF funds is shared between the Member States and the Commission. The objective of AMIF is to contribute to the effective management of migration flows and to bring about a common EU approach to asylum and immigration. The ISF aims to achieve a high level of security in the EU. It has two instruments:  ISF Borders and Visa and ISF Police.

The audit scope for this MFF heading does not allow for a quantified conclusion on the level of error.

The documents of particular relevance for the exchange of views as regards the 2019 Commission discharge are:

The ECA's 2019 Annual Report, chapters 1 and 8; The ECA's 2019 Annual Report on the performance of the EU budget – status at the

end of 2019, chapters 1 and 5; The Commission's follow-up report COM (2020) 311 final; The respective Annual Activity Report of the Director General.

These documents are available on the CONT website.

In accordance with the timetable for the discharge procedure, the written questions for this meeting were sent to the Commission on 19 November 2020 and emailed to Members on 20 November 2020. The Commission’s answers are expected on 26 November and the CONT secretariat will forward them immediately.

It is proposed that the hearing with the Commissioner Johansson shall proceed as follows:

Introduction by the reporting ECA Member Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, who will present the findings of the respective chapters of the Annual Report 2019 and the Annual Report on performance;

Commissioner Johansson will reply to this introduction; CONT Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will put questions to the Commissioner

and the Court followed by answers (the ping-pong system); Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court; Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur.

CONT Timetable

Event Body Date

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Exchange of views CONT 22-23 February 2021Deadline for amendments CONT 2 March 2021Vote CONT 22-23 March 2021Adoption of report Plenary April 2021

Suspension of meeting until 16h45

1 December 2020, 9.00 – 10.30

6. 2019 DISCHARGE: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - EUROPEAN COMMISSIONCONT/9/03689 - 2020/2140(DEC)

Discharge hearing with Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner responsible for Cohesion and Reforms, in the presence of reporting ECA Member Tony Murphy

Rapporteur: Joachim Kuhs (ID) Administrators: Aleksi Hyvätti / Kaare Barslev

Shadow Rapporteurs: Markus Pieper (EPP), Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Olivier Chastel (RE), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)

On 1 December 2020, the CONT Committee will hold a hearing with Commissioner Ferreira in the context of the discharge procedure for the Commission for financial year 2019.

Regional policy is part of Chapter 5 in the European Court of Auditors' Annual Report entitled "Economic, social and territorial cohesion – MFF heading 1b". The main policy instrument under this policy field is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Commission's Directorate-General on Regional and Urban Policy, DG REGIO, implements EU funds under the field of regional policy, which represents almost a quarter of the total EU budget, and is a major source of public investments in many Member States. DG REGIO's expenditure is implemented mainly in shared management. DG REGIO had two reservations in its Annual Activity Report for 2019, concerning namely: 67 programmes in the 2014-2020 programming period; and 9 ERDF/CF and one IPA-CBC programmes (all non-financial) in the 2007-2013 programming period.

In 2019, the Court examined the following aspects for ‘Economic, social and territorial cohesion’:

a sample of 236 transactions, statistically representative of the full range of spending under MFF sub-heading 1b. The sample consisted of 223 transactions for which expenditure had been certified in assurance and closure packages (including 220 which had been previously checked by an audit authority), as well as eight financial instruments and five CEF projects directly managed by the Commission;

the work done by audit authorities to validate the information contained in the 24 assurance/closure packages concerned by the 220 transactions they had previously checked;

the Commission’s work to review and validate the residual error rates reported in

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assurance packages for 2014-2020, and its audit work on regularity aspects of those packages;

the regularity information given in the annual activity reports of DG REGIO and DG EMPL, and its inclusion in the Commission’s Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR).

For 2019, the Court quantified the estimated level of error at 4.4% for this policy field. In DG REGIO's calculations, the estimated average error rate at payment for the 2019 relevant expenditure for all management modes was between 2.4% and 3.5%.

For 2019, the Court also looked more closely into the performance of MFF heading 1b, particularly on the objectives of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, and found multiple deficiencies with regard to the performance of these programmes.

Six years into the 2014-2020 period, the implementation of regional policy programmes have progressed, with EUR 324.6 billion allocated to projects in Member States by December 2019. However, the absorption of European Structural Investment (ESI) funds by Member States has remained slower than planned. This has contributed to a further increase in outstanding commitments for the ESI funds.

The discharge hearing will be based on information provided in public documents, such as the Court of Auditors' 2019 Annual Report, and their new Annual Report on Performance of the EU budget, as well as the Commission's Integrated Financial and Reporting package, and the 2019 Annual Activity Report of DG REGIO. All the relevant documents can be found on the CONT website.

In accordance with the timetable for the discharge procedure, the written questions for this meeting were sent to the Commission on 19 November 2020 and emailed to Members on 20 November 2020. The Commission’s answers are expected on 26 November and the CONT secretariat will forward them immediately.

It is proposed that the hearing with Commissioner Ferreira proceeds as follows:

Introduction by the reporting Member of the European Court of Auditors, Tony Murphy, who will present the findings of the respective chapters of the Annual Report 2019, and the Report on the performance of the EU budget;

Commissioner Ferreira will reply to this introduction; CONT Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will put questions to the Commissioner

and the Court followed by answers (the ping-pong system); Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court; Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur.

CONT Timetable

Event Body DateExchange of views CONT 22-23 February 2021Deadline for amendments CONT 2 March 2021Vote CONT 22-23 March 2021Adoption of report Plenary April 2021

10:30 - 12:00

7. 2019 DISCHARGE: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - EUROPEAN COMMISSIONCONT/9/03689 - 2020/2140(DEC)

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Discharge hearing with Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner responsible for International Partnerships, in the presence of reporting ECA Member Baudilio Tomé Muguruza

Rapporteur: Joachim Kuhs (ID) Administrators: Aleksi Hyvätti / Kaare Barslev

Shadow Rapporteurs: Markus Pieper (EPP), Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Olivier Chastel (RE), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)

On 1 December 2020, the CONT Committee will hold a hearing with Commissioner Urpilainen in the context of the discharge procedure for the Commission for financial year 2019.

International partnerships are part of Chapter 8 in the European Court of Auditors' Annual Report entitled "Global Europe – MFF heading 4". This MFF heading covers expenditure on all external actions (foreign policy) funded by the EU general budget. The main Commission Directorates-General involved in implementing the budget are the DG for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), the DG for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the DG for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). Commissioner Urpilainen is the responsible Commissioner for DG DEVCO.

In 2019, the Court examined the following aspects for ‘Global Europe’:

a sample of 68 transactions, plus seven transactions from the residual error rate (RER) studies, adjusted to compensate for their methodological limitations. The Court sampled 22 DG NEAR, 25 DG DEVCO, 10 DG ECHO and 11 other transactions. For the part of the population covered by DG NEAR’s and DG DEVCO’s 2019 RER studies (10 %), the Court included 7 further transactions in their sample;

the regularity information given in the annual activity reports of DG NEAR and DG DEVCO and its inclusion in the Commission’s Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR).

This sample of transactions contributed to the Court's overall statement of assurance, but was not statistically representative for the spending under MFF heading 4 ‘Global Europe’. Therefore, the Court has not estimated an error rate for this MFF heading. The Court's examination of transactions and systems nevertheless highlighted some specific areas where there is scope for improvement. In addition, as part of their 2019 statement of assurance work, the Court reviewed the performance of DCI and ENI projects, finding some room for improvements also with regard to their performance.

The hearing will be based on information provided in public documents, such as the Court of Auditors' 2019 Annual Report, and their new Annual Report on Performance of the EU budget, as well as the Commission's Integrated Financial and Reporting package, and the 2019 Annual Activity Report of DG DEVCO.

In accordance with the timetable for the discharge procedure, the written questions for this meeting were sent to the Commission on 19 November 2020 and emailed to Members on 20 November 2020. The Commission’s answers are expected on 26 November and the CONT secretariat will forward them immediately.

All the relevant documents can be found on the CONT website.

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It is proposed that the hearing with Commissioner Urpilainen proceeds as follows:

Introduction by the reporting Member of the European Court of Auditors, Baudilio Tomé Muguruza, who will present the findings of the respective chapters of the Annual Report 2019, and the Report on the performance of the EU budget;

Commissioner Urpilainen will reply to this introduction; CONT Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will put questions to the Commissioner

and the Court followed by answers (the ping-pong system); Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court; Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur.

CONT Timetable

Event Body DateExchange of views CONT 22-23 February 2021Deadline for amendments CONT 2 March 2021Vote CONT 22-23 March 2021Adoption of report Plenary April 2021

8. DISCHARGE 2019: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - 8TH, 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS (EDFS)CONT/9/03947 - 2020/2190(DEC)

Discharge hearing with Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner responsible for International Partnerships, in the presence of reporting ECA Member Baudilio Tomé Muguruza and Luca Lazzaroli, Director General, Deputy Head of Operations, European Investment Bank

Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR)Administrator: Olivier Sautière

Shadow Rapporteurs: José Manuel Fernandes (EPP), Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Olivier Chastel (RE), Michèle Rivasi (Greens), Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL)

The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for providing European Union aid for development cooperation to the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and Overseas Countries and Territories.

The EDFs are funded by the Member States, governed by their own financial regulations and managed outside the framework of the EU general budget.

The partnership agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 for a period of 20 years is the current framework governing the EU’s relations with ACP countries and OCTs.

For 2019, the total value of expenditure subject to audit was EUR 3,4 billion.

According to the findings of the ECA 2019 Annual Report related to the activities funded by

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the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs, the expenditure for the financial year 2019 is materially affected by error and the testing of transactions produced an estimated overall level of error of 3,5% (5,2% in 2018).

The ECA issued an adverse opinion on the legality and regularity of expenditure.

For the first time, the ECA extended its audit approach by introducing a chapter on performance aspects and identified cases where the efficiency and effectiveness of projects had been compromised.

The documents are published on the CONT website and of particular relevance for the hearing as regards the 2019 EDF discharge are:

- The ECA’s 2019 Annual Report on the activities funded by the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs;- The 2019 Annual Activity Report for DG DEVCO;- The annual accounts of the EDF 2019.

It is proposed that the exchange of views shall proceed as follows:

Introduction by the Member of the European Court of Auditors, Mr Baudilio Tomé Muguruza who will present the findings of the ECA Annual Report 2019;

Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen will briefly reply to this introduction and present 2019 main achievements in the area of EDF’s cooperation aid;

CONT Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will put questions to the Commissioner and/or the Court and the EIB followed by answers (the ping-pong system);

Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court and the EIB; Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur.

CONT Timetable

Event Body DateExchange of views CONT 22-23 February 2021Deadline for amendments CONT 2 March 2021Vote CONT 22-23 March 2021Adoption of report Plenary April 2021

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

10. NEXT MEETINGS

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7 December 2020 (Brussels/remote) 13.45-15.45 / 16.45-18.45

PAPERLESS PROGRAMME (INTERNAL USERS ONLY)Access CONT committee meeting documents on eMeeting or any CONT committee information

on eCommittee

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONContact the CONT Secretariat or visit the website of the CONT committee

Recent Publications CONT

Briefing “Open Plan Offices - The new ways of working. The advantages and disadvantages of open office space”Briefing “Gender equality in the college of the European Court of Auditors”At a Glance “Nominations for Members of the European Court of Auditors”

BUDG

Briefing “EU Gender budgeting: where do we stand? ”Study “Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP/PA) in the EU budget 2014-2019”Briefing “Next Generation EU - Where are assigned revenue? Which impact in 2021? ”Study “How EU funds tackle economic divide in the European Union” (Available in DE, ES, FR, IT, PL, RO)Study “Documenting climate mainstreaming in the EU budget - making the system more transparent, stringent and comprehensive”Briefing “Assigned revenue in the Recovery Plan - The frog that wishes to be as big as the ox?”Study “A Just Transition Fund - How the EU budget can best assist in the necessary transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy" (Available in DE, ES, FR, IT, PL)Briefing “The net operating balances: Variants, emerging numbers and history ” (Available in DA, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, SV) Briefing “Why net operating balances are a distorted indicator of a Member State’s benefit from the EU budget” (Available in DA, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, SV)Briefing “The benefits of EU membership are not measured by net operating balances” (Available in DA, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, SV)

Forthcoming Publications

CONT- Study ‘The largest 50 beneficiaries in each EU Member State of CAP and cohesion funds’- Study ‘MEP’s pension rights before and after the Members Statute in 2009’- Briefing ‘Special advisers to the European Commission’- Documentation workshop ‘Open spaces at EU institutions versus traditional work spaces: justification, evolution, evaluation and results’

Forthcoming Events

CONT Study presentation on “Horizon 2020: Geographical balance of beneficiaries”

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NEWS FROM POLICY DEPARTMENT - BUDGETARY AFFAIRS

The European Parliament has concluded a new framework contract on external expertise in the field of budgetary affairs, mainly for the BUDG and CONT committees. Following on a public call for tenders, seven bids have been received, checked and evaluated. Service contracts for the years 2020-24 have been signed with the following consultancies and think-tanks: AEGIS, a network of academics from different universities, the main partners from Spain, Germany and Italy;Blomeyer & Sanz Ltd., based in Spain, leading a group of institutes from Austria, Czechia, Germany, Italy and Poland;

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a research think-tank from Brussels, with partners from Belgium, France, Latvia and UK;Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services LLP (CSES), a consultancy from UK and Ireland;Deloitte Belgium, an audit company;European Economic Research Ltd. (Europe-Economics), a consultancy from UK;Mr Ivailo KALFIN, a former MEP and former Minister in Bulgaria, with some associated experts.For more information see the publication of the procurement outcome: https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:215928-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML or contact the Policy Department: poldep-budg@europarl.europa.eu CONTACTSPolicy Department for Budgetary Affairspoldep-budg@ep.europa.euPolicy Department Webpage

DisclaimerThe items contained herein are drafted by the Secretariat of the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament and are provided for general information purposes only. The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. This document may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organisations. The Secretariat does not necessarily endorse the view(s) expressed on these websites.

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