On Tuesday 23 March, in plenary session, the members of the European Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control recommended postponing until April the decision granting discharge for implementation of the 2019 budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
The MEPs voted in favour of postponing the discharge of Frontex’s expenditure in 2019 (by 22 votes to 3, with 5 abstentions) (see EUROPE 12679/15).
They highlighted the Agency’s vital role “at the heart of the Union’s efforts to maintain an area for freedom, security and justice”. They also believe that Frontex is the Union’s main solidary mechanism in this area.
However, they condemned the delays in the recruitment process for human rights monitors, the significant gender imbalance, the reported cases of harassment and the practice of meeting with lobbyists’ representatives who are not listed in the EU’s transparency register.
The MEPs expect clarifications on cases where the Agency is allegedly complicit in human rights violations (Frontex’s involvement in pushbacks of migrants) and requested greater involvement by the ‘European Parliament Frontex Scrutiny Working Group’ in investigating these allegations. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)