On Tuesday 24 March, MEPs on the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control adopted by 17 votes to 11 the draft own-initiative report by Dick Erixon (ECR, Swedish) on the control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group for the financial year 2024.
All the compromise amendments were adopted.
In this text, which analyses the extension of the Bank’s mandate and its operations in order to verify the level of transparency, control and supervision, MEPs, while noting a stable financial performance in 2024, nevertheless point out that the assessment must be based on concrete economic results, and not just on the volumes committed, as well as an increase in late payments exceeding 90 days, which reached €281.3 million at the end of 2024, or 0.06% of loans.
In addition, the report notes the predominant role of results-based indicators, particularly for the programme to support sustainable investment, innovation and job creation in the EU, InvestEU, 38 operations of which were approved in 2024 with a guarantee of €1.7 billion.
It also calls for administrative simplification to reduce the burden on beneficiaries, without weakening control requirements.
MEPs expressed as well concerns about the Bank’s accountability, citing shortcomings in the external audit and calling for full access to the EIB’s activities by the European Court of Auditors.
The plenary vote is expected at a forthcoming session in Strasbourg.
The text of the report: https://aeur.eu/f/lbg
Compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/lbe; https://aeur.eu/f/lbf (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)