2022 discharge: European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum (before 19.1.2022 the European Asylum Support Office) for the financial year 2022 in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2022 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2022 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 473 votes to 126, with 2 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.

Agency’s financial statements

The final budget of the European Union Agency for Asylum for the financial year 2022 was EUR 186 842 192, representing an increase of 12.46 % compared to 2021.

Budgetary and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations of 96.23 %, representing a slight decrease of 0.44 % compared to 2021 (96.67 %). Payment appropriations execution rate was at 89.55 %, representing a decrease of 1.36 % compared to the previous year 2021 (90.91 %). Parliament noted with concern a relatively high cancellation rate (15 %) of funds carried over from 2021 to 2022, thus missing the Agency’s annual target rate of less than 10 %.

In 2022, the Agency conducted a mid-year review of its 2022 budget which determined the Agency to ask the Commission for an additional subsidy of EUR 12 million in commitments and EUR 6 million in payments to address the additional tasks stemming from the humanitarian crisis instigated by the illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There is a lack of clarity and different interpretations regarding the contributions of Schengen associated countries to the Agency’s budget leading to contributions. This issue should be addressed.

Other comments

Parliament also made a series of observations concerning performance and staff policy.

In particular, it noted that:

- the Agency’s performance was measured against 204 annual targets, of which 48 % were exceeded, 26 % achieved, 10 % nearly achieved, 12 % delayed and 4 % not applicable;

- the Agency faced new tasks and multiple challenges due to the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine. It expanded its operations to six additional Member States, leading to operational plans in a total of 14 Member States;

- on 31 December 2022, the establishment plan was 90 % executed (87 % in 2021), with 333 temporary agents appointed out of 371 temporary agents posts authorised under the Union budget (compared to 366 authorised posts in 2021);

- concern was raised about the internal management and procedures of the Agency given that in 2022 OLAF launched one investigation into the management and staffing policies, allegedly involving nepotism and also an investigation relating to lack of observance of human rights;

- the Agency should continue providing support to Member States and third countries in dealing with asylum and migration applications;

- the budget should be focused on further staff recruitment if needed to help Member States to ensure fair and just examination of the asylum applications for international protection, especially of interpreters and psychologists for applicants that belong to vulnerable groups.