2022 discharge: European Banking Authority (EBA)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Banking Authority (EBA) for the financial year 2022 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.

Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurance that the Authority's annual accounts for the financial year 2022 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 527 votes to 40, with 33 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations contained in the resolution on the performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

Authority’s financial statements

The Authority's final budget for the financial year 2022 was EUR 50 315 014. The Authority is primarily financed by a contribution from the Union (EUR 18 685 999), and contributions from national supervisory authorities of the Member States and observers (EUR 31 629 015).

Budgetary and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations of 99.56 %, representing an increase of 1.05 % compared to 2021. The rate of execution of current year payment appropriations was 87 %, representing an increase of 3 % compared to 2021.

Other observations

Parliament also made a number of observations concerning performance, staff policy and public procurement.

In particular, it noted that:

- the Authority executed 95 % of the approximately 250 tasks set out in its work programme, including 15 % of tasks which had to be added to the work in the course of the year;

- in the context of Russia’s unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, the Authority placed a significant focus on assessing the risks for banks and the financial sector, and took action to monitor that sector. It also focused on efforts contributing to the application and enforcement of imposed sanctions and, on a level which is more immediately relevant for people affected by that conflict;

- on 31 December 2022, the establishment plan was 98.14 % implemented, with 159 temporary agents appointed out of 162 temporary agent posts authorised under the Union budget (the same number of authorised posts as in 2021);

- the Authority streamlined the ethics process, in particular through the introduction of an electronic workflow system including a closer and more efficient assessment of notifications regarding potential conflicts of interest of departing staff and notifications of post-employment activities;

- the guidelines on whistleblowing, encompassing anti-corruption guidelines, have been incorporated into the course material of the Authority’s training programmes focusing on ethics and integrity;

- since the 2020 financial year, the Court has raised new procurement-related observations every year for four agencies, including the Authority;

- the Authority should ensure full compliance with the applicable procurement rules to achieve the best possible value for money.