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opinion parliamentary committee draft, 14 November 2024

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission

Document TRAN-PA-765326 · (2024/2019(DEC))

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Gheorghe Falcă

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AI:In short

The Committee on Transport and Tourism gives its opinion on the 2023 budget discharge for the Commission, noting the Court of Auditors' findings and highlighting transport achievements. It welcomes high execution of funds by DG MOVE, effective CINEA work on CEF-T, progress in Horizon Europe transport research, and alignment with Green Deal goals. It also acknowledges support for Ukraine, sanctions work, and the military mobility study.

Position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate these points into its motion for a resolution on discharge for 2023.

Key points

  1. Takes notice of the Court's opinion that 2023 accounts are fair, but regrets the increased error rate from 4.2% to 5.6%, which is material and pervasive.
  2. Welcomes DG MOVE's very high execution of commitment and payment appropriations (100% and 99%), with total payments of EUR 453.58 million, mostly operational.
  3. Commends CINEA's effective implementation of CEF-T, noting the 2023 call made EUR 7 billion available for transport infrastructure projects.
  4. Acknowledges successful completion of two major transport calls under Horizon Europe's Cluster 5 Work Programme, leading to new research and innovation projects.
  5. Welcomes 2023 work focused on sustainability and reducing transport emissions, including conclusion of negotiations on FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation, and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive revision.
  6. Appreciates that supporting Ukraine remained a key priority, with DG MOVE involved in developing transport-related sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
  7. Acknowledges DG MOVE's contribution to preparatory work leading to the European Council decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
  8. Highlights that the Commission and the European External Action Service launched a study on main military mobility corridors for large-scale short-notice movements under the Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0.

Who is affected

  • DG MOVE and CINEA are praised for their execution and implementation, implying continued support.
  • Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus are affected by sanctions and accession negotiations.
  • Military mobility corridors study affects EU defence and transport planning.

Figures and deadlines

  • Error rate increased from 4.2% to 5.6% in 2023 budget expenditure.
  • DG MOVE executed 100% of commitment and 99% of payment appropriations in 2023.
  • Total payments by DG MOVE amounted to EUR 453.58 million, with administrative part less than 0.1%.
  • CEF-T call made EUR 7 billion available for transport infrastructure projects in 2023.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Opinion 8 paragraphs

The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:

1. Takes notice of the opinion of the European Court of Auditors (‘the Court’) that the consolidated accounts of the Union for 2023 present fairly, in all material respects, the Union’s financial position, the results of its operations, its cash flows and the changes in its net assets; regrets that the level of error for the 2023 budget expenditure increased from 4,2 % to 5,6 %, noting that, in line with the Court’s assessment, the errors are both material and pervasive;

2. Welcomes a very high execution of commitment and payment appropriations by DG MOVE in 2023 (respectively, 100 % and 99 %); remarks that its total payments amounted to EUR 453,58 million, the vast majority of them being operational, and the administrative part accounting only for less than 0,1 %;

3. Commends the effective work of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) in implementation of the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport (CEF-T) programme; notes with satisfaction that the CEF-T call published by CINEA in 2023 made EUR 7 billion available for projects targeting new and improved European transport infrastructure;

4. Recalls that 2023 was the third year in the implementation of Horizon Europe programme and acknowledges the successful completion of two major transport calls under the Cluster 5 Work Programme, which led to new transport research and innovation projects;

5. Welcomes the work carried out in 2023, which, in line with European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, focused on sustainability and reducing the transport emissions; points out that 2023 saw the conclusion of the inter-institutional negotiations on several key “Fit for 55” initiatives, including FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation, and revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive;

6. Appreciates that supporting Ukraine remained a key priority for the Commission in 2023; takes notice of the close involvement of DG MOVE in development of the new transport-related sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian regimes; acknowledges its contribution to the preparatory work that resulted in the European Council decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova;

7. Highlights that, in the framework of the ongoing implementation of the Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0, the Commission, along with the European External Action Service (including EU Military Staff), launched the study on the main military mobility corridors for large-scale short-notice movements.