2019-2024

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT_PV (2020)0625_1

MINUTES

Thursday 25 June 2020, 13.45 – 15.45

BRUSSELS

The meeting opened at 13.48 on Thursday 25 June 2020, with (Chair) presiding.

1. Adoption of agenda

The draft agenda was adopted in the form shown in these minutes.

2. Chair’s announcements

The Chair drew the attention of Members to the information in the CONT News.

3. Partial renewal of the Members of the Court of Auditors - AT nomination CONT/9/02916 Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (Verts/ALE)  Hearing of Helga Berger, ECA candidate nominated by Austria

The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Helga Berger (ECA Candidate), Mikuláš Peksa, Caterina Chinnici, Olivier Chastel, Lefteris Christoforou, Joachim Kuhs, Daniel Freund

4. Opening of the remote voting procedure

Voting procedure was open from 14h45 to 16h00

PV\1210338EN.docx PE655.693v01-00

EN United in diversityEN Members voted either by secret electronic vote in the meeting room or by using the iVote application

Decision: The Draft Report on the nomination of new ECA Member Helga Berger was adopted by 16 votes in favour, 11 against and 3 abstentions.

* * *

Parallel to the voting session

5. ECA Special Report 13/2019 (Discharge 2019): The ethical frameworks of the audited EU institutions: scope for improvement CONT/9/02677 Rapporteur: Maria Grapini (S&D) DT – PE652.617v01-00  Presentation of the special report by the responsible ECA Member, Mihails Kozlovs

The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Mihails Kozlovs (ECA Member), Maria Grapini, Lefteris Christoforou, Ramona Strugariu, Joachim Kuhs, Daniel Freund, Marco Umberto Moricca (European Commission, DG HR), Dominique Enjolras (European Commission, DG HR), Christian Linder (European Commission, SG)

6. Any other business

None

7. Next meetings  6 July 2020

The meeting ended at 16.10

PE655.693v01-00 2/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN ПРИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/PREZENČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESENHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/ LISTE DE PRÉSENCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELENCO DI PRESENZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELENLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTENDENZA/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/ LISTĂ DE PREZENŢĂ/PREZENČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/NÄRVAROLISTA

Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/Prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*)

Monika Hohlmeier (Chair), Isabel García Muñoz (1st Vice-Chair), Caterina Chinnici, (2nd Vice-Chair)

Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Βουλευτές/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/ Nariai/Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter

Olivier Chastel, Lefteris Christoforou, Ryszard Czarnecki, José Manuel Fernandes, Daniel Freund, Cristian Ghinea, Joachim Kuhs, Claudiu Manda, Sabrina Pignedoli, , Lara Wolters

Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/Supleanţi/Náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter

Maria Grapini, Hannes Heide, , Bogusław Liberadzki, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Mikuláš Peksa, Ramona Strugariu, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel

209 (7)

216 (3)

56 (8) (Точка от дневния ред/Punto del orden del día/Bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/Tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/Σημείο της ημερήσιας διάταξης/Agenda item/Point OJ/Točka dnevnog reda/Punto all'ordine del giorno/Darba kārtības punkts/Darbotvarkės punktas/Napirendi pont/Punt Aġenda/Agendapunt/Punkt porządku dziennego/Ponto OD/Punct de pe ordinea de zi/Bod programu schôdze/Točka UL/Esityslistan kohta/Punkt på föredragningslistan)

PV\1210338EN.docx 3/12 PE655.693v01-00 EN Наблюдатели/Observadores/Pozorovatelé/Observatører/Beobachter/Vaatlejad/Παρατηρητές/Observers/Observateurs/Promatrači/ Osservatori/Novērotāji/Stebėtojai/Megfigyelők/Osservaturi/Waarnemers/Obserwatorzy/Observadores/Observatori/Pozorovatelia/ Opazovalci/Tarkkailijat/Observatörer

По покана на председателя/Por invitación del presidente/Na pozvání předsedy/Efter indbydelse fra formanden/Auf Einladung des Vorsitzenden/Esimehe kutsel/Με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chair/Sur l’invitation du président/ Na poziv predsjednika/Su invito del presidente/Pēc priekšsēdētāja uzaicinājuma/Pirmininkui pakvietus/Az elnök meghívására/ Fuq stedina taċ-'Chairman'/Op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/Na zaproszenie Przewodniczącego/A convite do Presidente/La invitaţia preşedintelui/ Na pozvanie predsedu/Na povabilo predsednika/Puheenjohtajan kutsusta/På ordförandens inbjudan

Съвет/Consejo/Rada/Rådet/Rat/Nõukogu/Συμβούλιο/Council/Conseil/Vijeće/Consiglio/Padome/Taryba/Tanács/Kunsill/Raad/ Conselho/Consiliu/Svet/Neuvosto/Rådet (*)

Комисия/Comisión/Komise/Kommissionen/Kommission/Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*)

Marco Umberto Moricca, Dominique Enjolras, Christian Linder

Други институции и органи/Otras instituciones y organismos/Ostatní orgány a instituce/Andre institutioner og organer/Andere Organe und Einrichtungen/Muud institutsioonid ja organid/Λοιπά θεσμικά όργανα και οργανισμοί/Other institutions and bodies/Autres institutions et organes/Druge institucije i tijela/Altre istituzioni e altri organi/Citas iestādes un struktūras/Kitos institucijos ir įstaigos/ Más intézmények és szervek/Istituzzjonijiet u korpi oħra/Andere instellingen en organen/Inne instytucje i organy/Outras instituições e outros órgãos/Alte instituții și organe/Iné inštitúcie a orgány/Muut toimielimet ja elimet/Andra institutioner och organ

ECA Mihails Kozlovs (ECA Member), Helga Berger (ECA Candidate)

Други участници/Otros participantes/Ostatní účastníci/Endvidere deltog/Andere Teilnehmer/Muud osalejad/Επίσης παρόντες/Other participants/Autres participants/Drugi sudionici/Altri partecipanti/Citi klātesošie/Kiti dalyviai/Más résztvevők/Parteċipanti ohra/Andere aanwezigen/Inni uczestnicy/Outros participantes/Alţi participanţi/Iní účastníci/Drugi udeleženci/Muut osallistujat/Övriga deltagare

PE655.693v01-00 4/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN Секретариат на политическите групи/Secretaría de los Grupos políticos/Sekretariát politických skupin/Gruppernes sekretariat/ Sekretariat der Fraktionen/Fraktsioonide sekretariaat/Γραμματεία των Πολιτικών Ομάδων/Secretariats of political groups/Secrétariat des groupes politiques/Tajništva klubova zastupnika/Segreteria gruppi politici/Politisko grupu sekretariāts/Frakcijų sekretoriai/ Képviselőcsoportok titkársága/Segretarjat gruppi politiċi/Fractiesecretariaten/Sekretariat Grup Politycznych/Secretariado dos grupos políticos/Secretariate grupuri politice/Sekretariát politických skupín/Sekretariat političnih skupin/Poliittisten ryhmien sihteeristöt/ De politiska gruppernas sekretariat

PPE Balazs Szechy, Edyta Tarczynska, S&D Renew Verts/ALE ID Timothée Etchecopar ECR GUE/NGL NI

Кабинет на председателя/Gabinete del Presidente/Kancelář předsedy/Formandens Kabinet/Kabinett des Präsidenten/Presidendi kantselei/Γραφείο του Προέδρου/President's Office/Cabinet du Président/Ured predsjednika/Gabinetto del Presidente/Priekšsēdētāja kabinets/Pirmininko kabinetas/Elnöki hivatal/Kabinett tal-President/Kabinet van de Voorzitter/Gabinet Przewodniczącego/Gabinete do Presidente/Cabinet Preşedinte/Kancelária predsedu/Urad predsednika/Puhemiehen kabinetti/Talmannens kansli

Кабинет на генералния секретар/Gabinete del Secretario General/Kancelář generálního tajemníka/Generalsekretærens Kabinet/ Kabinett des Generalsekretärs/Peasekretäri büroo/Γραφείο του Γενικού Γραμματέα/Secretary-General's Office/Cabinet du Secrétaire général/Ured glavnog tajnika/Gabinetto del Segretario generale/Ģenerālsekretāra kabinets/Generalinio sekretoriaus kabinetas/ Főtitkári hivatal/Kabinett tas-Segretarju Ġenerali/Kabinet van de secretaris-generaal/Gabinet Sekretarza Generalnego/Gabinete do Secretário-Geral/Cabinet Secretar General/Kancelária generálneho tajomníka/Urad generalnega sekretarja/Pääsihteerin kabinetti/ Generalsekreterarens kansli

Генерална дирекция/Dirección General/Generální ředitelství/Generaldirektorat/Generaldirektion/Peadirektoraat/Γενική Διεύθυνση/ Directorate-General/Direction générale/Glavna uprava/Direzione generale/Ģenerāldirektorāts/Generalinis direktoratas/Főigazgatóság/ Direttorat Ġenerali/Directoraten-generaal/Dyrekcja Generalna/Direcção-Geral/Direcţii Generale/Generálne riaditeľstvo/Generalni direktorat/Pääosasto/Generaldirektorat

DG PRES DG IPOL Monika Strasser DG EXPO DG EPRS DG COMM DG PERS DG INLO DG TRAD DG LINC DG FINS DG ITEC DG SAFE

PV\1210338EN.docx 5/12 PE655.693v01-00 EN Правна служба/Servicio Jurídico/Právní služba/Juridisk Tjeneste/Juristischer Dienst/Õigusteenistus/Νομική Υπηρεσία/Legal Service/ Service juridique/Pravna služba/Servizio giuridico/Juridiskais dienests/Teisės tarnyba/Jogi szolgálat/Servizz legali/Juridische Dienst/ Wydział prawny/Serviço Jurídico/Serviciu Juridic/Právny servis/Oikeudellinen yksikkö/Rättstjänsten

Секретариат на комисията/Secretaría de la comisión/Sekretariát výboru/Udvalgssekretariatet/Ausschusssekretariat/Komisjoni sekretariaat/Γραμματεία της επιτροπής/Committee secretariat/Secrétariat de la commission/Tajništvo odbora/Segreteria della commissione/Komitejas sekretariāts/Komiteto sekretoriatas/A bizottság titkársága/Segretarjat tal-kumitat/Commissiesecretariaat/ Sekretariat komisji/Secretariado da comissão/Secretariat comisie/Sekretariat odbora/Valiokunnan sihteeristö/Utskottssekretariatet

Evelyn Waldherr, Cécile Bourgault, Aleksi Hyvatti, Charlotte Kutzenberger, Benoît Lefort, Olivier Sautière;, Paulus Johannes Stander

Сътрудник/Asistente/Asistent/Assistent/Assistenz/Βοηθός/Assistant/Assistente/Palīgs/Padėjėjas/Asszisztens/Asystent/Pomočnik/ Avustaja/Assistenter

Veronika Patyi-Horvath, Kameliya Velcheva

* (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair/Président/Predsjednik/Priekšsēdētājs/ Pirmininkas/Elnök/'Chairman'/Voorzitter/Przewodniczący/Preşedinte/Predseda/Predsednik/Puheenjohtaja/Ordförande (VP) = Заместник-председател/Vicepresidente/Místopředseda/Næstformand/Stellvertretender Vorsitzender/Aseesimees/Αντιπρόεδρος/ Vice-Chair/Potpredsjednik/Vice-Président/Potpredsjednik/Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks/Pirmininko pavaduotojas/Alelnök/ Viċi 'Chairman'/Ondervoorzitter/Wiceprzewodniczący/Vice-Presidente/Vicepreşedinte/Podpredseda/Podpredsednik/ Varapuheenjohtaja/Vice ordförande (M) = Член/Miembro/Člen/Medlem./Mitglied/Parlamendiliige/Βουλευτής/Member/Membre/Član/Membro/Deputāts/Narys/Képviselő/ Membru/Lid/Członek/Membro/Membru/Člen/Poslanec/Jäsen/Ledamot (F) = Длъжностно лице/Funcionario/Úředník/Tjenestemand/Beamter/Ametnik/Υπάλληλος/Official/Fonctionnaire/Dužnosnik/ Funzionario/Ierēdnis/Pareigūnas/Tisztviselő/Uffiċjal/Ambtenaar/Urzędnik/Funcionário/Funcţionar/Úradník/Uradnik/Virkamies/ Tjänsteman

PE655.693v01-00 6/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN ISSUE N°7 - 25 JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER

COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2020 13:45 - 15:45 Remote participation of Members Any Members present in Brussels can attend the meeting in room József Antall (JAN) 2Q2

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The draft agenda and meeting documents are available in the meeting file.

2. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chair draws attention to the following points:

Languages available

FR DE IT EN ES CS and RO.

Webstreaming

The meeting will be webstreamed (points 1 to 3) and can be followed live via the CONT webpage.

PV\1210338EN.docx 7/12 PE655.693v01-00 EN Opening of the remote secret voting procedure

Voting procedure will be open from 14.00 to 15.00

*** REMOTE VOTING TIME ***

All Members taking part will vote via iVote (new application) and send by email the signed ballot paper to the dedicated CONTvote mailbox (instructions on voting procedure and remote participation modailites will be e-mailed to Members).

3. PARTIAL RENEWAL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT OF AUDITORS - AT NOMINATION CONT/9/02916 - 2020/0802(NLE)

Hearing of Helga Berger, candidate nominated by Austria

Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (Greens) Administrator: Olivier Sautière

Shadow Rapporteurs: Lefteris Christoforou (EPP), Caterina Chinnici (S&D), Olivier Chastel (Renew) and Luke Ming Flanaghan (GUE/NGL)

Background

The Members of the European Court of Auditors shall be appointed for a term of six years. In accordance with Article 286(2) of the TFEU the Council, after consulting the European Parliament, shall adopt the list of Members drawn up in accordance with the proposals made by each Member State.

Appointments to the ECA are submitted to Parliament's plenary on the basis of a report from CONT, which takes into account the primary law requirement of Article 286(1) of the TFEU: "the Members of the Court of Auditors shall be chosen from among persons who belong or have belonged in their respective States to external audit bodies or who are especially qualified for this office. Their independence must be beyond doubt.", as well as other considerations.

A. Procedure

According to Rule 129 (1) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, "candidates nominated as Members of the Court of Auditors shall be invited to make a statement before the committee responsible and to answer questions put by members. The committee shall vote on each nomination separately by secret ballot."

I. Questionnaires and statements

In preparation for the hearing, the candidate has been asked to answer the questionnaire prepared by CONT.

II. The hearing

The hearing will take place according to the timetable set out in the draft agenda. The candidate will be invited to make an opening statement (5 minutes) and the remainder of his hearing will be devoted to replies to questions from Members (40 minutes).

III. Evaluation, votes and adoption of draft report

PE655.693v01-00 8/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN Once the hearing has been completed, the committee will hold an evaluation of the candidate and then proceed to vote on the appointment of the candidate in question. Evaluation, votes and adoption of draft report will be in camera.

According to Rule 129 (1), the committee shall vote by secret ballot. The vote will be carried out by means of the remote electronic voting system. In accordance with Rule 192 Members should indicate for a candidate whether they give a favourable opinion, a negative opinion or abstain.

B. The Report

The format of opinions on candidates for membership of the Court of Auditors is defined as follows1: a) each recommendation on each nomination shall be submitted in the form of a report, to be adopted on the basis of a majority of the votes cast, with the report merely indicating the nomination; b) the report shall consist of: i. citations summarising the circumstances of the referral to Parliament; ii. recitals outlining the procedure to the competent committee; iii. operative text which may only consist of a favourable opinion or an unfavourable opinion; c) citations and recitals shall not be put to the vote;

These strict rules on procedures, before the Committee on Budgetary Control and in plenary sitting, adopted by Parliament do not allow any amendments to be tabled to the draft report.

The draft report will be finalised, according to the outcome of the evaluation and the vote in committee. The candidate's curriculum vitæ and the answers to CONT questionnaire or summary shall be annexed to the report.

The report for plenary will state that Parliament delivers either a favourable or a negative opinion on the appointment of the candidate.

The draft report was circulated to Members on 12 June and is available on the CONT website.

CONT Timetable:

Event Body Date Adoption in Plenary Plenary July 2020

4. OPENING OF THE REMOTE VOTING PROCEDURE

Voting procedure will be open from 14h45 to 16h00. All Members taking part in the vote (either present in committee meeting room or via remote participation) will vote by e-mail using the iVote application.

*** END OF REMOTE VOTING TIME***

1 Parliament's resolution of 4 February 2014

PV\1210338EN.docx 9/12 PE655.693v01-00 EN 5. ECA SPECIAL REPORT 13/2019 (DISCHARGE 2019): THE ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS OF THE AUDITED EU INSTITUTIONS: SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT CONT/9/02677

Presentation of the special report by the responsible ECA Member, Mihails Kozlovs

Rapporteur: Maria Grapini (S&D) Administrator: Charlotte Kutzenberger

Shadow Rapporteurs: Lefteris Christoforou (EPP) and Ramona Strugariu (Renew)

Ethical conduct in public affairs means that civil servants and public office holders should serve the public interest, manage public resources properly, and make fair decisions. Overall, the European Parliament, Council and Commission have put in place adequate ethical frameworks duly supported by investigative and sanction mechanisms, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors.

The auditors assessed whether the ethical frameworks of the audited institutions were well established, which covered all levels of staff and Members. A survey took as well place to assess the level of awareness on the ethical frameworks among the staff. However, the auditors did not look at how the ethical frameworks had been implemented at this stage.

This work led to the identification of some weaknesses with regard to overall strategies on ethics; procedures for verifying declarations by staff and Members, which are not sufficiently formalised; gifts and entertainment policies; whistleblowing and post-mandate provisions; etc. The auditors found areas with scope for cross-institutional harmonisation and for more sharing of examples of good practices. For example, outside activities of staff, and declarations on Members’ spouses and partners’ activities.

Finally, the auditors carried out a survey to obtain insights into ethical culture among EU staff. Most staff believe that they can recognise unethical behaviour when they spot it, even though only a minority have received training on ethics. At the same time, the survey showed that some are hesitant about reporting unethical conduct.

In order to better address the challenges identified a number of recommendations have been issued to assist in improving the ethical frameworks; working together to harmonise elements of the ethical frameworks and to share good practices; and improving staff awareness and perception.

The Rapporteur agrees that the audit will help the EU institutions to reduce the risk of unethical behaviour to a minimum. The Rapporteur counts to further strengthen transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body.

PE655.693v01-00 10/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN The ECA special report is available on the CONT website. As a follow-up, a succinct working document with the recommendations of the Rapporteur has been sent to CONT Members and is also available on the meeting documents.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

7. NEXT MEETING

 6 July 2020, 13.45 to 15.45 and 16.45 to 18.45(Brussels)

PAPERLESS PROGRAMME (INTERNAL USERS ONLY) Access CONT committee meeting documents on eMeeting or any CONT committee information on eCommittee

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact the CONT Secretariat or visit the website of the CONT committee

PV\1210338EN.docx 11/12 PE655.693v01-00 EN NEWS FROM POLICY DEPARTMENT - BUDGETARY AFFAIRS

Recent Publications CONT In-depth Analysis “Follow up to the 2009 and 2014 Studies on the Code of Conduct for Commissioners - Improving Effectiveness and Efficiency” In-depth Analysis “Gaps and Errors in the TED database” Study “The European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Strategies for coping with complexity” Study “Effectiveness of cohesion policy: learning from the project characteristics that produce the best results” Study “Aligning the budget with the Performance-Based Budgeting: lessons from Member States” Study “Appointment procedures in the EU institutions” Study “Appointment of the Commission’s Secretary General in 2018” Study “Performance Indicators for Convergence in Regional Development - How reliable are they to ensure Targeted and Result-Oriented spending?” BUDG Briefing “The net operating balances: Variants, emerging numbers and history” Briefing “Why net operating balances are a distorted indicator of a Member State’s benefit from the EU budget” Briefing “The benefits of EU membership are not measured by net operating balances” Briefing “Strategies to overcome the ‘juste retour’ perspective on the EU budget” At A Glance “The net operating balances or the “juste retour” approach” At A Glance “Net operating balances indicator: A distorted indicator of a Member State’s benefit from the EU budget” At A Glance “EU membership benefits: Not measured by net operating balances” At A Glance “How to overcome the “juste retour” obsession” At A Glance “I want my money back’: The history of national rebates” Briefing “EU Own Resources” In-depth Analysis “How the EU Budget Has Developed and Changed in the Last 10 years?” (Available in all languages) In-depth Analysis “The History of the EU Budget” (Available in all languages) At a Glance “The next MFF and Own Resources” Forthcoming Publications BUDG - Study “Documenting climate mainstreaming in the EU budget - making the system more transparent, stringent and comprehensive” - Study “How EU funds tackle economic divide in the European Union” - Study “Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP/PA) in the EU budget 2014-2019” - Study “A Just Transition Fund - How the EU budget can best assist in the necessary transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy"

CONTACTS Policy Department for Budgetary Affairs: [email protected] / Email: Policy Department Webpage

Disclaimer The items contained herein are drafted by the secretariat of the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament and are provided for general information purposes only. The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. This document may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organisations. The secretariat does not necessarily endorse the view(s) expressed on these websites.

PE655.693v01-00 12/12 PV\1210338EN.docx EN