20/10/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 20 October, the European Parliament endorsed, each time by a large majority, the position of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) on the refusal to grant discharge to both the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Council of the EU for their 2018 expenditure (see EUROPE 12573/14). We cannot grant discharge “if we see no improvement“, said Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP, Czech Republic), rapporteur on this matter, in a statement. A report by the anti-fraud office OLAF reported a case of harassment to the EESC which did not lead to specific measures such as a reform of the European entity's code of conduct. As far as the Council is concerned, the refusal of discharge has been going on since 2011. “The deadlock situation must be resolved once and for all!”, according to Mr Zdechovský. (MB)