opinion parliamentary committee draft, 14 November 2023
On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
Document CULT-PA-753716 · (2023/2129(DEC))
Committee on Culture and Education · Rapporteur: Romeo Franz
AI:In short
The Committee on Culture and Education sets out its suggestions to the Committee on Budgetary Control on the 2022 budget discharge for the Commission and executive agencies. It welcomes efforts to adapt Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe, and notes new initiatives such as the European Education Area and Culture Moves Europe. It asks the European Court of Auditors to audit possible misuse of EU funds through Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps by networks presenting false projects. It raises concerns about the backloaded Erasmus+ budget, the EACEA's carry-overs and e-Grant IT problems, and urges full anti-fraud strategies and more sustainability work.
Position. The rapporteur proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution: welcoming adaptations and new initiatives, requesting an audit on possible misuse of funds, and pressing the Commission and EACEA on budget profile, carry-overs, IT tools and anti-fraud and sustainability efforts.
Key points
- Welcomes Commission and EACEA efforts to adapt Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe, including higher individual support rates, longer deadlines and project duration, and a voluntary refocusing on Ukraine.
- Notes the launch or roll-out in 2022 of the European Education Area, the MediaInvest blending facility, the Culture Moves Europe mobility scheme and the 2022 European Year of Youth.
- Reiterates concern about the strongly backloaded Erasmus+ budget profile and welcomes the extra EUR 35 million awarded to Erasmus+ in 2022.
- Requests the European Court of Auditors to audit possible misuse of EU funds through Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps by networks of associations presenting false projects.
- Notes the continued frontloading of the Creative Europe budget in 2022 to mitigate the persisting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural and creative sectors.
- Encourages DG EAC and DG CNECT to implement their Anti-Fraud Strategies fully.
- Is concerned that the EACEA's recurrent high rate of carry-overs could point to structural issues in its implementation or budget planning cycles, which the EACEA should address.
- Notes with concern persisting 2022 challenges with e-Grant tools for beneficiaries of EACEA-managed calls and strongly urges the Commission and EACEA to resolve these IT issues.
- Welcomes the EACEA's efforts to implement EMAS and encourages it to further implement a sustainability plan and publish the agency's sustainability report.
Who is affected
- The Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which must address carry-overs, e-Grant IT issues and anti-fraud strategies.
- Beneficiaries of Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe, including those using e-Grant tools.
- The European Court of Auditors, asked to carry out an audit on possible misuse of EU funds.
- DG EAC and DG CNECT, encouraged to implement their Anti-Fraud Strategies fully.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 25 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Suggestions 10 paragraphs
The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:
1.Welcomes the Commission’s and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency’s (EACEA) efforts to adapt Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe to a changing reality, for instance by reviewing upwards individual support rates for grants to safeguard their inclusive character, extending application deadlines and project duration, and a voluntary refocusing of activities on Ukraine;
2.Notes that 2022 saw the launch or further roll-out of important initiatives such as the European Education Area, the MediaInvest blending facility, the new mobility scheme Culture Moves Europe and the 2022 European Year of Youth;
3. Reiterates its concern about the strongly backloaded budget profile of Erasmus+; welcomes the extra EUR 35 million awarded to Erasmus+ in 2022 due to the Parliament’s insistence;
4.Requests the European Court of Auditors to carry out an audit on the possible misuse of EU funds through Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps by networks of associations that present false projects;
5.Notes the continued frontloading of the Creative Europe budget in 2022 for mitigating the persisting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural and creative sectors;
6.Encourages DG EAC and DG CNECT to implement their Anti-Fraud Strategies fully;
7.Is concerned that the EACEA’s recurrent high rate of carry-overs could be indicative of structural issues in its implementation or budget planning cycles, which the EACEA should address;
8.Notes with concern the persisting challenges in 2022 with the e-Grant tools for beneficiaries of calls managed by the EACEA; strongly urges the Commission and EACEA to address these IT issues once and for all to avoid repercussions on target achievement;
9.Welcomes the EACEA’s efforts to implement EMAS and encourages it to increase its efforts by further implementing a sustainability plan and publishing the agency’s sustainability report.