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opinion parliamentary committee draft, 20 November 2023

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2022

Document LIBE-PA-756203 · (2023/2172(DEC))

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský

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The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the discharge resolution on Frontex's 2022 budget. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration that Frontex's 2022 transactions were legal and regular, and Frontex's 99.4% budget implementation. It appreciates Frontex's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including about 500 standing corps officers deployed along the eastern border and a EUR 12 million grant agreement with Ukraine's State Border Guard Service. It notes Frontex's budget growth, welcomes its 2022 managerial changes, and welcomes the recruitment of 22 additional Fundamental Rights Monitors, exceeding the 40 required by Article 110(6) of the Regulation. It welcomes Frontex's transparency measures, including a new reporting dashboard, and encourages continued invitations to Parliament observers and provision of supporting documents.

Position. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration, Frontex's budget implementation and its response to the war in Ukraine, and welcomes its managerial changes, fundamental rights monitors and transparency measures.

Key points

  1. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into its motion for a resolution.
  2. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' declaration that the transactions underlying Frontex's 2022 annual accounts are legal and regular in all material respects.
  3. It appreciates Frontex's support to member states after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including about 500 standing corps officers along the eastern border and a EUR 12 million grant agreement with Ukraine's State Border Guard Service.
  4. It notes Frontex is the largest EU agency, with EU contributions of EUR 788 million in 2023 and EUR 704 million in 2022, and says efforts on human and material resources must continue.
  5. It welcomes Frontex's implementation of 99.4% of its 2022 budget, showing efficient internal controls and improved budget management.
  6. It welcomes Frontex's 2022 managerial changes, including a new fundamental rights officer, a new chair of its Management Board, three new deputy executive directors and a new executive director, and its steps to improve management culture and staff well-being.
  7. It notes with satisfaction the external recruitment of 22 additional Fundamental Rights Monitors, exceeding the 40 required by Article 110(6) of the Regulation, and the Fundamental Rights Office's 1 183 deployment days in 50 countries and participation in 37 return missions.
  8. It welcomes Frontex's transparency measures, including a new reporting dashboard for Parliament and the Council, and encourages continued invitations to Parliament observers and provision of all supporting documents.

Who is affected

  • Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency: its 2022 budget implementation is assessed and its management, fundamental rights and transparency measures are welcomed.
  • Member states: they received Frontex support, including about 500 standing corps officers along the eastern border.
  • Ukraine: its State Border Guard Service signed a EUR 12 million grant agreement with Frontex to support Ukrainian border officers.
  • The Committee on Budgetary Control: it is asked to incorporate the suggestions into its motion for a resolution.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 12 million: grant agreement between Frontex and Ukraine's State Border Guard Service.
  • EUR 788 million: EU contribution to Frontex in 2023.
  • EUR 704 million: EU contribution to Frontex in 2022.
  • 99.4%: Frontex's implementation of its 2022 budget.
  • 22: additional Fundamental Rights Monitors externally recruited.
  • 40: Fundamental Rights Monitors required by Article 110(6) of the Regulation.
  • 1 183: deployment days conducted by the Fundamental Rights Office.
  • 50: countries visited by the Fundamental Rights Office.

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Full text

Suggestions 8 paragraphs

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs 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 fact that the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’) has declared the transactions underlying the annual accounts of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) for the financial year 2022 to be legal and regular in all material respects;

2.Appreciates the Frontex’s prompt response and support provided to Member States to deal with the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine particularly the vital role of Frontex against the instrumentalisation of migrants by the Belarussian and Russian regimes; welcomes the deployment of about 500 standing corps officers working along the eastern border from Finland to Romania, including more than 350 officers working at the EU-Ukraine borders and the signature of a grant agreement worth EUR 12 million between Frontex and the State Border Guard Service to support Ukrainian border officers in performing their duties;

3.Notes that Frontex is the largest EU agency which received more significant budget increases in the last years, in line with its new responsibilities; recalls that EU contributed EUR 788 million in 2023 in comparison to EUR 704 million in 2022; recalls that Frontex has been strengthened in terms of staff and technical equipment with its new mandate in 2019; notes that in view of the complex geopolitical situation highlighted by unprovoked Russian aggression in Ukraine, the importance of Frontex in supporting Member States increased significantly and efforts must continue in terms of human and material resources;

4.Welcomes that Frontex implemented 99,4% of its 2022 budget demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls put in place and the significant improvements made in the budget management;

5.Welcomes that in 2022 the Frontex went through significant managerial changes, including a new fundamental rights officer (FRO), a new chair of its Management Board, three new deputy executive directors and a new executive director; further welcomes steps taken by Frontex to undergo a transition process and to improve the management culture and promote staff well-being;

6.Notes with satisfaction that in order to improve accountability, regularity, and legality of all Frontex activities additional 22 Fundamental Rights Monitors (FROMs) were externally recruited, exceeding the obligation of 40 FROMs required by Article 110(6) of the Regulation; welcomes that the Fundamental Rights Office conducted 1 183 deployment days visiting 50 countries which is a substantial increase in comparison to the previous year; further appreciates that the monitors took place in in 37 return missions contributing to the full compliance of the activities with the legal framework in place;

7.Welcomes Frontex’ measures on transparency and scrutiny, namely providing Parliament and the Council with an overview of its activities through a new reporting tool called the ‘dashboard’; encourages the chairpersons of the Management Board to continue inviting Parliament observers to its meetings and to consider extending the invitations to all agenda items, including in camera points, and to continue providing all supporting documents without exception and, if deemed necessary, in a confidential manner;