MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) adopted their compromise amendments on the revision of the regulation on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union, on Thursday 27 April, by 42 votes to 2 with 4 abstentions.
This regulation is the main reference point for the principles and procedures governing the establishment, implementation and control of the EU budget.
The Parliament’s text addresses the Commission’s revision proposal of 16 May 2022 (see EUROPE 12953/24) to align the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and to make improvements in terms of transparency and simplification, as well as in terms of crisis management and the protection of the EU’s financial interests.
The draft report, co-authored by Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, German) and Nils Ušakovs (S&D, Latvian), proposes to further reduce bureaucracy and digitalise the monitoring and control of the EU budget.
It also introduces respect for fundamental rights as a general principle for accessing EU funds.
Other priorities include a stronger role for Parliament in deciding on borrowing and lending activities, better control of trust funds, clear rules in terms of performance and a more practical approach to the application of conflict of interest controls.
The text also establishes a ‘single interoperable system’ that makes it easier to track funds, list beneficiaries and aggregate data to identify the concentration of funds. “We believe that the present system is not sufficient to fulfil the requirements on simplification, on traceability, more transparency and quicker oversight of spending”, Monika Hohlmeier told EUROPE.
The EU Council’s position is now expected before the revision proposal can directly enter the interinstitutional negotiation phase. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)