The European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control is expected to recommend to the European Parliament on Monday 28 February that they postpone the granting of discharge to the EU Court of Auditors for the implementation of the 2020 budget until April.
In November 2021, the daily newspaper Libération uncovered dubious practices within this institution and President Klaus-Heiner Lehne had to account for them in front of MEPs (see EUROPE 12843/18).
The compromise amendments (https://aeur.eu/f/ik ) therefore take seriously some of the allegations made in the newspaper. Only the EPP is calling for the Court to be given a clean bill of health on the 2020 budget, while the S&D and Greens/EFA groups, as well as several members of the Renew Europe group, prefer a delay.
One of the compromise amendments stresses that the Court’s code of conduct “prohibits spouses, partners and immediate family from serving in the member’s cabinet”.
According to the amendment, the fact that the President of the Court “shares a flat with two full-time officials of his office is unusual and unwelcome and indicates a close relationship similar to prohibited situations, as it may give the impression of a potential conflict of interest or a breach of the principle of equality of treatment due to an unfair impact on career progression”. The amendment also states that members of the Court should not be allowed to share their residence with members of their cabinet.
The compromise amendment takes note of the recent revision of the Court’s code of conduct, which provides that members shall not enter into rental or subletting agreements with Court staff.
Since the revelations, the Court of Auditors has seen fit to amend its rules. Its members are now obliged to reside in Luxembourg and may not enter into rental, subletting or long-term loan agreements with the Court’s staff. The regulation concerning company cars has been amended. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)