2022 discharge: European Labour Authority (ELA)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Labour Authority in respect of the implementation of the Authority’s budget for the financial year 2022 and approve the closure of the Authority’s accounts.

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 477 votes to 50, with 65 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations set out 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 34 689 842, representing an increase of 43.23 % compared to 2021. The Authority gained financial autonomy in May 2021, and the start-up period is set to continue until 2024, both its staff and budget are expected to progressively increase throughout this period.

Budgetary and financial management

This is the Authority's second discharge report. It is still in its early stages and should achieve full operational status in 2024.

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation of current year commitment appropriations rate of 96.52 %, representing an increase of 0.72 % compared to 2021 and that the current year payment appropriations execution rate was 34.93 %, representing an increase of 4.56 % compared to 2021.

The Authority has accumulated substantial amounts of carry-over.

Other observations

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

In particular, it noted that:

- in 2022, the Authority, for the first time, presented a work programme within a multiannual framework (the single programming document for 2022–2024 and continued to improve its programming documents;

- the Authority has successfully implemented the road transport action framework and the related #Road2FairTransport campaign and executed 33 concerted and joint inspections with the participation of 25 Member States and assisted a roadside demonstration inspection;

- noting with concern the significant reductions in the job registration rate and the employer registration rate of the European employment services (EURES) portal (– 77 % and – 37 %, respectively, compared with 2021 due to the introduction of the EU Login requirements, the Authority is called on to simplify the process in cooperation with the Commission;

- on 31 December 2022, the establishment plan was 86 % implemented, with 49 temporary agents appointed out of 57 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;

- the Authority should further improve its public procurement procedures, ensuring full compliance with the applicable rules, so that they achieve the best possible value for public resources;

- substantial work needs to be carried out to strengthen its internal control mechanisms.