European Parliament 2014-2019
Committee on Budgetary Control
CONT_PV(2018)0425_1
MINUTES Meeting of 25 April 2018, 9.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.30 BRUSSELS
The meeting opened at 9.03 on Wednesday, 25 April 2018, with Ingeborg Gräßle (Chair) presiding.
1. Adoption of agenda CONT_OJ 621002v01-00
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.
*** Electronic vote ***
3. The situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 17 May 2017) CONT/8/11653 2017/2131(INL) Rapporteur Ingeborg Gräßle (PPE) PA – PE615.392v02-00 for the AM – PE620.785v02-00 opinion: Responsible: LIBE – Judith Sargentini (Verts/ALE) PR – PE620.837v01-00 Opinions: CONT, CULT, AFCO, FEMM Adoption of draft opinion
38 amendments were tabled to the draft opinion:
Adopted: AM:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10,COMP1 (covering AM 11 and 12), 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, COMP2 (covering AM 28, 29, 30 and 31), 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38
Rejected: AM 3, 13, 16, 18, 23, 26, 35
Withdrawn: AM 8, 9, 14
PV\1151985EN.docx PE621.058v01-00
EN United in diversity EN The following spoke: Ingeborg Grässle
*** End of electronic vote ***
4. CONT mission to Albania (7-9 May 2018) CONT/8/12806 Exchange of views in preparation for the upcoming mission
The following spoke: Ingeborg Grässle, Derek Vaughan, Gerogi Pirinski; Georg Ziegler (DG NEAR).
5. ECA Special Report 6/2018 (Discharge 2017): Free Movement of Workers – the fundamental freedom ensured but better targeting of EU funds would aid worker mobility CONT/8/12352 Rapporteur: Inés Ayala Sender (S&D) Short presentation of the special report by ECA Member responsible, Geroge Pufan
The following spoke: George Pufan (ECA Member), Ingeborg Grässle, Georgi Pirinski (on behalf of Inés Ayala-Sender), Martina Dlabajova, Arndt Kohn, Richard Ashworth, Denis Genton, ( DG EMPL).
6. Exchange of views with Oleksandr Danylyuk, Ukranian Minister of Finance CONT/8/12807
The following spoke: Oleksandr Danylyuk, Ingeborg Grässle, Joachim Zeller, Derek Vaughan, Catalin Ivan, Katarina Mathernova (DG NEAR).
7. ECA Special Report 7/2018 (Discharge 2017): EU pre-accession assistance to Turkey: Only limited results so far CONT/8/12451 Rapporteur: Claudia Schmidt (PPE) Short presentation of the special report by ECA Member responsible, Bettina Jakobsen
The following spoke: Bettina Jakobsen (ECA Member), Claudia Schmidt, Katarina Mathernova (DG NEAR).
In camera
8. New perspectives of managing the agricultural expenditures CONT/8/12808 Exchange of views with Jerzy Bogdan Plewa, Director General of DG AGRI
* * *
25 April 2018, 15.00 – 18.30
9. The impact of EU cohesion policy on Northern Ireland CONT/8/11296 PE621.058v01-00 2/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN 2017/2225(INI) Rapporteur Derek Vaughan (S&D) PA – PE620.996v01-00 for the opinion: Responsible: REGI – Derek Vaughan (S&D) PR – PE620.793v01-00 Opinions: CONT Consideration of draft opinion Deadline for tabling amendments:30 April 2018, 14.00
The following spoke: Derek Vaughan, Joachim Zeller, Luke Ming Flanaghan, Carmen Gonzalez Hernandez (DG RDT).
10. European Court of Auditors’ Briefing Paper: A contribution to simplification of EU research programme beyond Horizon 2020 CONT/8/12809 Rapporteur: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) Presentation by ECA Member responsible, Alex Brenninkmeijer
The following spoke: Derek Vaughan, Alex Brenninkmeijer (ECA member), Martina Dlabajova, Tomas Zdechovskỳ, Ingeborg Grässle, Wolfgang Burtscher (DG RDT).
11. General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019 - all sections CONT/8/12648 2018/2046(BUD) Rapporteur Joachim Zeller (PPE) for the opinion: Responsible: BUDG – Daniele Viotti (S&D) Paul Rübig (PPE) Opinions: AFET, DEVE, INTA, CONT, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI Exchange of views with BUDG rapporteur for Budget 2019, Daniele Viotti
The following spoke: Ingeborg Gräessle, Daniele Viotti, Tomas Zdechovski, Derek Vaughan, Joachim Zeller, Johan Ureel (DG BUDG).
12. ECA Special Report 9/2018 (Discharge 2017): Public Private Partnerships in the EU: Widespread shortcomings and limited benefits CONT/8/12584 Rapporteur: Bogusław Liberadzki (S&D) Short presentation of the special report by ECA Member responsible, Oscar Herics
The following spoke: Oscar Herics (ECA Member), Ingeborg Grässle, and Boguslaw Liberadski, Gil Tertre (EC Sec Gen)
13. ECA Special Report 5/2018 (Discharge 2017): Renewable energy for sustainable rural development: significant potential synergies, but mostly unrealised CONT/8/12369 Rapporteur: Karin Kadenbach (S&D) Presentation of the special report by ECA Member responsible, Samo Jereb and PV\1151985EN.docx 3/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN consideration of working document
The following spoke: Derek Vaughan, Samo Jereb (ECA Member), Karin Kadenbach, Tomas Zdechovski, Luke Ming Flanaghan, Josefine Loriz Hoffmann (DG AGRI).
14. Any other business
None.
15. Next meetings 14 May 2018, 15.00 – 18.30 (Brussels) 15 May 2018, 9.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 – 18.30 (Brussels)
In camera
16. Coordinators’ meeting
The summary of coordinators’ recommendations are annexed to these minutes.
The Chair closed the meeting at 18:37.
PE621.058v01-00 4/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN Results of roll-call votes
Contents
3. The situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 17 May 2017) - CONT/8/11653...... 6 3.1. Final vote...... 6
Key to symbols: + : in favour - : against 0 : abstention
PV\1151985EN.docx 5/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN 3. The situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 17 May 2017) - CONT/8/11653
3.1. Final vote
12 +
ALDE Martina Dlabajová
GUE/NGL Luke Ming Flanagan
PPE Richard Ashworth, Ingeborg Gräßle, Julia Pitera, Petri Sarvamaa, Tomáš Zdechovský
S&D Zigmantas Balčytis, Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Péter Niedermüller, Georgi Pirinski, Tiemo Wölken
0 -
2 0
EFDD Marco Valli
PPE Andrea Bocskor
PE621.058v01-00 6/30 PV\1151985EN.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/DELTAGARLISTA
Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/Prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*)
Ingeborg Gräßle (Chair), Derek Vaughan (1st Vice-Chair), Martina Dlabajová (3rd Vice-Chair), Cătălin Sorin Ivan (4th Vice-Chair)
Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Μέλη/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/Nariai/ Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter
Zigmantas Balčytis, Luke Ming Flanagan, Arndt Kohn, Bogusław Liberadzki, Georgi Pirinski, Petri Sarvamaa, Claudia Schmidt, Marco Valli, Tomáš Zdechovský, Joachim Zeller, Dennis de Jong
Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/Supleanţi/Náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter
Richard Ashworth, Karin Kadenbach, Péter Niedermüller, Andrey Novakov, Julia Pitera
200 (2)
Costas Mavrides, Demetris Papadakis, Daniele Viotti, Tiemo Wölken
206 (3)
53 (8) (Точка от дневния ред/Punto del orden del día/Bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/Tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/Ημερήσια Διάταξη Σημείο/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/Föredragningslista punkt) Oleksandr Danylyuk, Ukranian Minister of Finance 6
PV\1151985EN.docx 7/30 PE621.058v01-00 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(wo)man/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/Euroopa Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*)
Jerzy Bogdan Plewa (DG AGRI), Josefine Loriz hoffmann (DG AGRI), Gil Tertre (EC Sec Gen), Rosa Aldea Busquets (DG BUDG), Tina Svendstrup (DG BUDG),), Johan Ureel (DG BUDG), Denis Genton (DG EMPL), Kornelia Kozovska (DG EMPL), Georg Ziegler (DG NEAR), Katarina Mathernova (DG NEAR), Carmen Gonzalez Hernandez (DG RDT), Wolfgang Burtscher (DG RDT)
Други институции/Otras instituciones/Ostatní orgány a instituce/Andre institutioner/Andere Organe/Muud institutsioonid/ Άλλα θεσμικά όργανα/Other institutions/Autres institutions/Druge institucije/Altre istituzioni/Citas iestādes/Kitos institucijos/ Más intézmények/Istituzzjonijiet oħra/Andere instellingen/Inne instytucje/Outras Instituições/Alte instituţii/Iné inštitúcie/Muut toimielimet/Andra institutioner/organ
ECA George Pufan (Member), Bettina Jakobsen (Member), Alex Brenninkmeijer (Member), Oscar Herics (Member), Samo Jereb (Member)
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
PE621.058v01-00 8/30 PV\1151985EN.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/Secr. dos grupos políticos/Secretariate grupuri politice/Sekretariát politických skupín/Sekretariat političnih skupin/Poliittisten ryhmien sihteeristöt/ Gruppernas sekretariat
PPE Balazs Szechy, Sabina Van der Lande S&D Susanne Reither ECR Kamila Wrzesinska ALDE Orsolya Balogh, Suvi Leinonen GUE/NGL Elisa Reschini Verts/ALE Robert Godina EFDD Barbara Gatto ENF NI
Кабинет на председателя/Gabinete del Presidente/Kancelář předsedy/Formandens Kabinet/Kabinett des Präsidenten/Presidendi kantselei/Γραφείο 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 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 DG EXPO DG EPRS DG COMM DG PERS DG INLO DG TRAD DG INTE DG FINS DG ITEC DG SAFE
PV\1151985EN.docx 9/30 PE621.058v01-00 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 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, Michal Czaplicki, Christian Ehlers, Philippe Godts, Tereza Pinto de Rezende, Olivier Sautière, Hrvoje Svetic
Сътрудник/Asistente/Asistent/Assistent/Assistenz/Βοηθός/Assistant/Assistente/Palīgs/Padėjėjas/Asszisztens/Asystent/Pomočnik/ Avustaja/Assistenter
Veronika Patyi-Horvath
* (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair(wo)man/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(wo)man/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/Μέλος/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
PE621.058v01-00 10/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN European Parliament 2014 - 2019
Committee on Budgetary Control - The Secretariat -
COORDINATORS' MEETING
Wednesday, 25 April 2018
15.00-16.00
Brussels, Meeting room ASP 3G3
Summary of Recommendations
Items for decision
A. Public hearing on State aids & EU funding (25 June 2018)
Coordinators received the draft programme as proposed by the rapporteur, Ms Ayala Sender (S&D).
Decision: Coordinators approved the draft programme including the experts to be invited. (Annex I)
B. Studies, workshops - 2nd half of 2018
Coordinators received the list of proposals submitted by political groups for workshops and studies in the 2nd half of 2018.
Decision: Coordinators decided to request the following studies and workshops for the 2nd half of 2018:
Studies: 1. Shaky starting point for the European Public Prosecutor's Office – How will EPPO overcome its structural challenges? The study would point out - and consider possible solutions to overcome - the challenges for EPPO's effective operation in the protection PV\1151985EN.docx 11/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN of lawful use of EU funds. The study would evaluate the deficiencies on the effectiveness of the Office's powers and structure, as constructed in the framework of enhanced cooperation. The study could provide views on the rights and responsibilities of those Member States not taking part in EPPO, and consider the overlapping characteristics and possible synergies between EPPO and the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF. It could also evaluate the judicial aspects of its competences, such as the supranational protection of the rights of suspected persons etc., and map the Office's position in the sphere of other judicial actors in Europe.
2. Update on Transparency of funding for NGOs financed from the EU budget, update of the 2016 study (figures, EC rules and conditions) and a new sub-chapter on NGO- financing from the EU-Trust funds and Turkey facility, with view to the Special Report of the Court on NGOs in autumn 3. Key Performance Indicators for Convergence in Regional Development – how reliable are they to ensure targeted and result-oriented spending 4. Cooperation of national tax and customs authorities to prevent customs and VAT fraud - (including VAT fraud carousel) for the protection of EU Financial interests (two proposals merged) 5. Appointment procedures in the EU institutions (linked to the Selmayr case and management and senior management positions) 6. Public Procurement Procedures of the EU - national and supranational 7. Added Value in cohesion policy / deepening of EU integration 8. Update of CONT study on Expert Groups
Workshops: 1. EU MS declaration (in the annual EU member state declaration, the cabinets of a certain Member States publicly account for the way in which EU funds received by the MS have been spent in their respective country. This procedure is already implemented (and very successful) in the Netherlands for instance). 2. Integrated territorial investments as an effective tool of Cohesion policy (CONT perspective - simplification, less regulation, effectiveness) 3. Is the latest CAP reform increasing the competitiveness of the sector? Ex-ante analysis.
Coordinators also decided to deal with the following topic in ordinary CONT committee meeting time:
Controlling the implementation of EU money in due time – Concrete steps towards n+1 Discharge. The exchange of views could bring together all relevant parties to discuss the acceleration of the Discharge procedure. The Members, as well as representatives from the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors and the decentralized EU Agencies, could present their views on the procedure and discuss the possibilities and challenges in the making, and in the possible results, of its acceleration. This inter-institutional exchange of views could effectively help all stakeholders understand each other's willingness and limitations, and possibly result
PE621.058v01-00 12/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN in concrete actions by all actors, as they all play a definitive role in the procedure of making the democratic scrutiny of EU spending more timely.
PV\1151985EN.docx 13/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN C. Inter-parliamentary meeting with meetings with national parliaments
On 22 January 2018, CONT coordinators approved to participate in a conference in the framework of the EP support programme for parliaments of Western Balkans and Turkey: “Sound management of EU funds: the EP budgetary control powers”. The conference should provide members of the participating national parliaments with the opportunity to learn about the role of the MEPs in monitoring EU funds and could help them to replicate EP’s best practices in this field in their own parliaments.
In the framework of the conference organised by CONT in cooperation with DG EXPO (Pre-accession actions unit) invitation has been addressed to national parliamentarians from Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo and Turkey. Each national parliament will be represented by up to 4 MPs.
Additionally, it was recommended that an invitation could be addressed to national parliamentarians from EU member neighbouring countries: Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Thereby, CONT could create synergies by raising this event to an inter-parliamentary meeting with national parliaments from EU Member States.
The conference could be linked to the public hearing on “Performance and visibility of EU funded projects in the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy with a special focus on the cross-border cooperation between Western Balkan countries” which is scheduled to take place during the 11-12 July 2018 committee meeting.
Decision: Coordinators approved the organisation of the event during the 11-12 July 2018 committee meeting and the invitation of national parliamentarians from the above mentioned countries.
D. Follow-up to the exchange of views with EIB on Volkswagen loan case
Following the exchange of views held in committee on 26 March 2018 with EIB’s representatives, coordinators were informed that complementary information should be requested from OLAF and the EIB, inter alia the final report of the OLAF’s investigation, information on possible other EIB loans to other car manufacturers as well as documentation on the reimbursements of the EUR 400 million loan by VW.
Decision: Coordinators mandated the Chair to request the aforementioned documentation from OLAF and the EIB.
PE621.058v01-00 14/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN E. CONT mission to Albania (7-9 May 2018)
Initially the three day mission was approved to visit Albania and FYROM, however a written procedure was launched among coordinators on 19 April 2018 and was approved the following day in order to visit Albania only, and thereby avoiding time lost on travel between the two countries.
Coordinators received the draft programme of the mission.
Decision: Coordinators approved the proposed draft programme, the Chair invited political groups to nominate further participants to the mission in order to use the full quota of 7 participating members.
F. Structured Dialogue on the Commission Work Programme 2018-2019
Coordinators received a letter from Mrs Wikström to all committee Chairs inviting them to give priorities to be included in the forthcoming Commission Work Programme.
Decision: Coordinators decided to add the Revision of the OLAF Regulation in view of the entry into force of the EPPO as a legislative priority of CONT.
G. Requests from other committees with regard to planned CONT Public Hearings:
1. AGRI Committee: "Leader experiences - lessons learned" AGRI requested that the above hearing is organised jointly with AGRI. 2. IMCO Committee: “Combatting customs fraud” IMCO contested CONT’s request for the hearing, but approved to organise it jointly with CONT. Decision: Coordinators decided to organise both hearings jointly as requested by AGRI and IMCO committees respectively.
PV\1151985EN.docx 15/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN H. Request for CONT opinions to INI reports
Coordinators were invited to consider to request authorisation to draft CONT opinions to the following INI reports: 1. AFCO INI report on State of the debate on the Future of Europe 2. AFCO INI report on Implementation of the legal provisions and the Joint Statement ensuring the parliamentary scrutiny over decentralised agencies 3. AFCO INI report on Implementation of the Treaty provisions on Parliament’s power of political control over the Commission
Decision: Coordinators decided to draft CONT opinions to these AFCO own initiative reports. Political groups are invited to nominate rapporteurs as follows: State of the debate on the Future of Europe - Sector 2 - EPP
Implementation of the legal provisions and the Joint Statement ensuring the parliamentary scrutiny over decentralised agencies - Sector 11 - GUE
Implementation of the Treaty provisions on Parliament’s power of political control over the Commission - Sector 2 - EPP
I. Follow-up of the appointment of the new Secretary General of the European Commission
a) Proposal by Commissioner Oettinger for a Round table on the selection of senior management staff
By letter of 16 April 2018, Commissioner Oettinger reconfirmed in writing his engagement he took towards CONT to organise a round table with other institutions on the selection of senior management staff.
By letter of 24 April 2018, JURI contested CONT competence to participate in such a round table on the grounds that JURI has exclusive competence to deal with the Staff Regulations.
Decision: Coordinators decided to send a letter to the CoP requesting to clarify the participation in the announced round-table, expressing the wish to have JURI associated to CONT’s participation.
PE621.058v01-00 16/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN b) Entitlements for former commissioners
Following the publication of an article in a German newspaper1 it was proposed to send a letter from CONT Chair, Ms Gräßle to Commissioner Oettinger regarding the entitlements for former commissioners. Decision: Coordinators approved the proposed draft letter.
J. Joint BUDG/CONT/AFET/DEVE hearing on 'The flow of external EU migration-related EU funding in Heading 4 ’ - 19 June 2018
Coordinators received the draft programme of the joint hearing which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, 19 June 2018, PM in a BUDG meeting slot. The draft programme includes suggestions for the organisation and individuals to invite as speakers.
Coordinators’ were informed that parallel consultation procedures on this draft were ongoing within the BUDG, AFET and DEVE committees.
Decision: Coordinators approved the proposed draft programme.
K. CONT Opinion on the AGRI INI - Future of food and farming - 2018/2037(INI) - COM(2017)0713
Due to the fact that AGRI committee intends to vote on the above mentioned INI report on 17 May 2018 coordinators approved on 19 March 2018 that - due to the lack of time - CONT would adopt an opinion in the form of a letter from the Chair according to Article 53.1.of the EP Rules of Procedure.
Coordinators received the draft letter prior to the meeting.
Decision: Coordinators agreed in principle with the proposed draft letter, a deadline for any comments or request for modification was set by Wednesday, 2 May 2018, 12.00. If no comments are received by this deadline the draft letter will be deemed approved and will be sent to AGRI committee.
1 http://plus.faz.net/faz-plus/politik/2018-04-18/0ac91415c0a299a3b8aaf2b68c7920ec?GEPC=s9
PV\1151985EN.docx 17/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN L. LIBE reports on Europol - opinions referred to CONT
The below opinions were referred to CONT:
Proposal to open negotiations on the recommendation, by the Commission, for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the European Union and
the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Algerian competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the Arab Republic of Egypt on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Egyptian competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the Lebanese Republic on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Lebanese competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the Kingdom of Morocco on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Moroccan competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
Tunisia on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Tunisian competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the State of Israel on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Israeli competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the Republic of Turkey on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Turkish competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Jordanian competent authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism
Decision: Coordinators decided not to give an opinion to these reports.
PE621.058v01-00 18/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN Items for information M. Preparation of the next inter-institutional exchange of views on OLAF matters
Parliament, Council and Commission met on 10 April 2018, at administrative level, to prepare the next inter-institutional dialogue on OLAF matters, which will take place on 24 September 2018 from 15 h to 17 h, with an option to continue to 17.30 h. The Commission, who will host this years' meeting suggested the following points for the agenda: • Investigative priorities • Reports and opinions from OLAF and the Supervisory Committee (annual report, opinions on specific issues etc.) • Relationship with EPPO • Judicial and financial follow-up to OLAF recommendations
The CONT secretariat observed that the Commission proposal for the revision of the OLAF regulation could be discussed. Council AND Commission were sceptical.
The Commission suggested to hear the new OLAF-Director about his projects for the future development of OLAF. The CONT secretariat expressed doubts about a simple presentation as all institutions will have met and discussed with the new OLAF Director by September.
The Commission will circulate a first draft agenda before 11 June.
The representatives agreed to meet again on 27 June, unless open questions could be settled by mail.
N. Petitions received for information
Cecilia Wikstrom, Chair of the Committee on Petitions has sent the following two petitions to CONT committee for information:
Petition No 1030/2017 by Ismael Antonio Lopez Perez (Spanish) on the misuse of ERDF funds in fire-fighting operations in Galicia
Petition No 1059/2017 by Pietro Varlese (Italian) on age and gender limits in Italian public financing
The letter of Ms Wikstrom, as well as the two petitions were annexed to the coordinators’ note for information, no further action of CONT is required.
O. Documents received since last coordinators’ meeting - Annex II
P. Time and date of next Coordinators' meeting:
15 May 2018
PV\1151985EN.docx 19/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN ISSUE N° 13 WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 09.00 - 12.30 and 15.00 - 18.30 Room: Altiero Spinelli (3G-3)
1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The draft agenda was e-mailed to Members on 20 April 2018 and is in the file for the meeting.
Corrigendum: in the previous version of CONT News circulated, the agenda items 4 and 5 were in the wrong order, the correct order is: Item 4: Albania, Item 5: Labour mobility.
The following changes in schedule were made to the agenda of 25 April PM:
15.00-16.00 Item 16 - Coordinators' meeting (instead of 17.30-18.30) 17.15-17.45 Item 9 - Consideration of draft opinion to REGI on The impact of EU cohesion policy on Northern Ireland, Rapporteur: Vaughan (instead of 15.00-15.30) 17.45-18.30 Item 10 - Presentation of ECA Briefing Paper: A contribution to simplification of EU research programme beyond Horizon 2020, ECA member: Brenninkmeijer, CONT rapporteur: Dlabajova (ALDE) (instead of 15.30-16.00) All other items and their provisional timing remain unchanged.
2. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chair draws attention to the following points:
Languages available
FR, DE, IT, NL, EN, EL, ES, FI, CS, ET, HU, LT, PL, SL, BG, and RO.
Webstreaming
The CONT meeting is webstreamed on the Europarl website. Please be aware that each time a speaker activates the microphone to make an intervention, the camera will be automatically directed to the speaker.
PE621.058v01-00 20/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 09.00 - 11.30 PUBLIC MEETING
*** ELECTRONIC VOTING ***
3. THE SITUATION IN HUNGARY (PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION OF 17 MAY 2017) CONT/8/11653 Adoption of draft opinion
Rapporteur: Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP) Administrators: Michal Czaplicki Main Committee: LIBE
Shadow Rapporteurs: Cătălin Sorin Ivan (S&D), Nedzhmi Ali (ALDE), Denis de Jong (GUE/NGL)
The LIBE Committee is drafting a resolution on the situation in Hungary on the basis of Rule 45, 52 and RoP. As CONT has organised a delegation to Hungary in September 2017, which was followed by discussions on various EU funded projects based on the investigations of OLAF and problems highlighted by the European Commission, the committee decided to draft an opinion to this resolution and nominated Ms Gräßle as the rapporteur. The draft opinion was discussed in CONT on 27 March 2018.
The draft opinion highlights the number of investigations carried out by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) between 2013 and 2016 in relation to Hungary (41 cases), which is the second highest in the Union. Additionally, 85% of the investigations were concluded with judicial and financial recommendations. The rapporteur believes that the current level of corruption, and the lack of transparency and accountability on public finances, affects Union funds in Hungary. She considers that this might represent a breach of values referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and warrants the launch of the procedure under Article 7(1) TEU. The rapporteur further notes with concern that the share of contracts awarded after public procurement procedures that received only a single bid remains very high (36%), which is the second highest number in the Union.
There were 38 amendments received by the deadline of 5 April 2018. The draft opinion and the amendments are available in all languages on the CONT website.
The final voting list was sent to the Members on 23 April 2018.
CONT Timetable:
Event Body Date Adoption in LIBE LIBE June 2018 (TBC) Adoption in Plenary Plenary September 2018 (TBC)
*** END OF ELECTRONIC VOTING ***
PV\1151985EN.docx 21/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN 4. CONT MISSION TO ALBANIA (7-9 MAY 2018) CONT/8/12806
Exchange of views in preparation for the upcoming mission
Rapporteur: Derek Vaughan (S&D) Administrator: Michal Czaplicki
The Committee decided to initially send a delegation to Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). However, the coordinators, on 20 April 2018, decided to reduce the scope of the mission to Albania only in order to reduce the travel time between the two countries. The draft program of the mission has been adopted accordingly.
The mission will take place from 7 to 9 May 2018. The objective of the mission is to scrutinize the management of EU funds. In contrast to the stagnation of the accession negotiations with other candidate countries in the Western Balkans, the accession negotiations with Albania have just been launched.
The exchange of views will take place in the presence of representatives from the Commission services involved.
Members will find the latest version of the draft programme on the CONT website.
5. ECA SPECIAL REPORT 06/2018 (2017 DISCHARGE): FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERS – THE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM ENSURED BUT BETTER TARGETING OF EU FUNDS WOULD AID WORKER MOBILITY CONT/8/12352
Short Presentation the Special Report by the ECA member responsible, George Pufan
Rapporteur: Inés Ayala Sender (S&D) Administrator: Tereza Pinto De Rezende
Shadow Rapporteurs: José Ignacio Salafranca Sáchez- Neyra (EPP), Martina Dlabajová (ALDE), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)
The free movement of workers is one of the four fundamental freedoms of the Union. This year it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Court of Auditors decided to assess how the Commission ensures that freedom and the effectiveness of EU actions are facilitating labour mobility.
The Commission and five Member States with the largest inflows of non-national workers and the largest outflows of workers to other countries were audited (Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom).
The Court found that there is room for improvement in the way the Commission informs EU workers about their rights. The obstacles to moving and working in another country still remain despite actions to address those obstacles. Member States operate at different levels with regards to data on skills and labour imbalances. The extent to which the European Social Fund (ESF) is used to support labour mobility is unknown and its complementarity with the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme is still a challenge. Finally, the European Network of Social Services (EURES) continues facing challenges related to staffing, information in the portal, measuring and monitoring the placement of job seekers.
PE621.058v01-00 22/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN The Court recommends that the Commission and the Member States address those shortcomings in a way that the EU funding allocated to labour mobility offers true value for money.
The ECA Special report is available on the CONT website.
As a follow-up, a succinct working document with the recommendations of the rapporteur will be sent to CONT Members. The rapporteur’s conclusion will form part of the Commission’s discharge report.
6. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH THE UKRAINIAN MINISTER OF FINANCE CONT/8/12807
Exchange of views with Oleksandr Danylyuk, Ukrainian Minister of Finance
In May 2016 the Committee organised a mission to Ukraine. The aim of the mission was to verify:
how EU money has been spent and what added value it brought; if the EU expertise helped tame corruption and brought the spill over effect of EU standards to Ukraine; if the EU financial aid in its direct neighbourhood helped stabilising the country; if the Eastern Partnership project improved the quality of the civil service in Ukraine.
In the mission report, the Budgetary Control Committee stated that:
despite progress achieved since 2014, several long-term issues remain: the risk of backsliding, for example, in public procurement exemptions and budgetary transparency; overall, as stated by the ECA in its special report on Ukraine, (32/2016) EU assistance to Ukraine has been partially effective in supporting the transformation of the country into a well-governed state in the area of public finance management and the fight against corruption. The assistance was also only partially effective in producing tangible and sustainable results; the Commission, however, believes that even though the EU assistance was partially effective, important structural reforms in nearly all areas covered by the audit have been triggered or supported by EU programmes;
As a follow-up to this mission, the Committee is meeting with the Ukrainian Minister of Finance Mr Oleksandr Danyliuk, his curriculum vitae is available on the CONT website.
Mr Danyliuk contributed to the anti-corruption agenda of the government, in particular, by drafting and pushing forward the bills to set up the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption and introduction of e-declarations to be filled in by Ukrainian officials. He launched reform of the State Fiscal Service and customs service to eliminate inefficiencies and corruption in these agencies, which also simplifies tax administration and improves business climate. He made VAT administration transparent, in particular, by launching transparent online VAT-refund register which includes automatic risk system which blocks potentially fake VAT refund requests and prevents embezzlement of state budget funds. The Minister also introduced three-year budget planning which makes budget policy more predictable, better planned and more effective.
PV\1151985EN.docx 23/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN 7. ECA SPECIAL REPORT 07/2018 (2017 DISCHARGE): EU PRE-ACCESSION ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY: ONLY LIMITED RESULTS SO FAR CONT/8/12451 Short Presentation of the Special Report by the ECA Member responsible, Bettina Jakobsen
Rapporteur: Claudia Schmidt (EPP) Administrator: Michal Czaplicki
Shadow Rapporteurs: Nedzhmi Ali (ALDE), Denis de Jong (GUE/NGL)
EU financial assistance planned for Turkey from 2007 until 2020 through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) amounts to over 9 billion euros. The ECA objective was to assess the design and effectiveness of the IPA to Turkey, the purpose of which is to align the candidate country with the EU acquis and strengthen its administrative capacity.
The ECA concluded that the IPA objectives were well designed by the Commission, in particular because it properly identified the requirements necessary to progress towards EU accession and made conclusive sector approach assessments. In practice, however, the IPA funds spent insufficiently addressed some fundamental needs in the rule of law and governance sectors, where some critical reforms are overdue. In areas where there was more political will, such as customs, employment and taxation, IPA I projects have contributed to aligning Turkey with the acquis and strengthening its administrative capacity. However, the sustainability of these results is at risk because of the difficulties in spending the available IPA funds and backsliding on reforms. The ECA therefore considers that the IPA’s effectiveness was only limited.
The ECA Special report is available on the CONT website.
As a follow-up, a succinct working document with the recommendations of the rapporteur will be sent to CONT Members. The rapporteur’s conclusion will form part of the Commission’s discharge report.
WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 11.30 - 12.30 IN CAMERA
8. NEW PERSPECTIVES OF MANAGING THE AGRICULTURAL EXPENDITURES CONT/8/12808
Exchange of views with Jerzy Bogdan Plewa, Director General of the DG AGRI
CONT members will have the opportunity to exchange views with the Director General of the European Commission DG AGRI as to new approaches of financial management of the future CAP and in particular as to the delivery model(s)
PE621.058v01-00 24/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 15.00 - 16.00 IN CAMERA
16. COORDINATORS MEETING
Meeting held in Camera
WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 16.00 - 18.30 PUBLIC MEETING
11. GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2019 - ALL SECTIONS CONT/8/12648
Exchange of views with BUDG rapporteur for Budget 2019, Daniele Viotti
As usual, the General Rapporteur for the next EU budget, will visit the parliamentary committees in order to exchange views on their priorities.
On 25 April CONT will have the opportunity to debate with the General Rapporteur, Mr Viotti, on its main concerns as expressed in the last resolutions on the discharge for 2016 and in the framework of the Guidelines for the budget 2019 adopted by the plenary on 9 March 2018. The European Parliament stated in particular that the 2019 EU budget should reinforce all the relevant instruments for tackling youth unemployment, especially in EU regions that are lagging economically, paying particular attention to the improvement of entrepreneurial and professional skills and mobility, recognition of qualifications at all levels of education and vocational training, and support to growth, competitiveness, job creation, investments in infrastructure, innovation, research and SMEs; stresses that youth unemployment, which has a high social impact, is one of the greatest challenges at European level.
PV\1151985EN.docx 25/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN 12. ECA SPECIAL REPORT 09/2018 (2017 DISCHARGE): PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE EU: WIDESPREAD SHORTCOMINGS AND LIMITED BENEFITS CONT/8/12584
Short presentation of the Special Report by the ECA Member responsible, Oskar Herics
Rapporteur: Bogusław Liberadzki (S&D) Administrator: Michal Czaplicki
Shadow Rapporteurs: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE), Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)
Although the Commission’s policy has been encouraging the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for some years (e.g. the Europe 2020 strategy) as a potentially effective means of delivering projects, during the 2000-2014 period just 84 PPPs, with a total project cost of 29.2 billion euro, received 5.6 billion euro in funding from the EU. Structural and Cohesion Fund grants were the main EU source of funding, followed by financial instruments - often in cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The ECA examined 12 EU co-financed PPPs in France, Greece, Ireland and Spain in the fields of road transport and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The visited Member States account for around 70 % of the total project cost (29.2 billion euro) of EU-supported PPPs. The ECA assessed whether the audited projects were able to exploit the benefits PPPs and were expected to deliver, whether they were based on sound analyses and suitable approaches and whether the overall institutional and legal frameworks within the visited Member States were adequate for the successful implementation of PPPs.
The ECA concluded that:
PPPs allowed public authorities to procure large-scale infrastructures through a single procedure, but they increased the risk of insufficient competition and thus putting contracting authorities in a weaker negotiating position; procuring PPPs typically requires negotiating on aspects that are usually not part of traditional procurement and therefore takes up more time than traditional projects. One third of the 12 audited projects were, with their procurement duration of 5-6.5 years, affected by considerable delays; similarly to traditional projects, also the majority of the audited PPPs were subject to considerable inefficiencies in the form of delays during construction and major cost increases; the large scope, the high cost and the long duration of typical infrastructure PPPs require particular diligence; for most of the audited projects, the PPP option was chosen without any prior comparative analysis of alternative options, such as Public Sector Comparator, thus failing to demonstrate that it was the one maximising value-for-money and protecting the public interest by ensuring a level playing field between PPPs and a traditional procurement; the risk allocation between public and private partners was often inappropriate, incoherent and ineffective, while high remuneration rates (up to 14 %) on the private partner’s risk capital did not always reflect the risks borne.
The ECA Special report is available on the CONT website.
As a follow-up, a succinct working document with the recommendations from the rapporteur will be sent to CONT Members. The rapporteur’s conclusion will form part of the Commission’s discharge report.
PE621.058v01-00 26/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN 13. ECA SPECIAL REPORT 05/2018 (2017 DISCHARGE): RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT: SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL SYNERGIES, BUT MOSTLY UNREALISED CONT/8/12369
Exchange of views on the Special Report in the presence of the ECA Member responsible, Samo Jereb
Rapporteur: Karin Kadenbach (S&D) Administrator: Philippe Godts
Shadow Rapporteurs: Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP), Nedzhmi Ali (ALDE), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)
Using more renewable energy is crucial if the EU is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in order to comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Increasing the use of renewable energy could also reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy, thus contributing to the security of its energy supply. Several EU and national funding programmes are available to incentivise the production and use of renewable energy, one source of the EU funds being the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The audit of the European Court of Auditors examined the link between renewable energy and rural development. The Court assessed whether the EU policy framework used to spend funds earmarked for rural development had been designed and implemented in a way that facilitated both renewable energy deployment and sustainable rural development.
The Court concludes that there are potential synergies between renewable energy policy and EAFRD with a view to facilitate sustainable rural development but, as yet, these synergies remain mostly unrealised.
Neither the current nor the proposed sustainability framework for bioenergy (referring to the production and use of biomass) provide an adequate basis for protecting rural areas sufficiently against identified environmental and socio-economic risks nor for maximising their potential for further sustainable development.
The specific funding available for rural development can play a role in achieving the EU and national renewable energy targets, but this should be complementary to the sustainable development of the EU’s rural areas. However, the Commission has not provided sufficient clarification or guidance in this regard nor how the EAFRD should complement the existing EU and national funding schemes. Furthermore, the Commission has no comprehensive information on the EAFRD expenditure for renewable energy in the 2007-2013 rural programming period, and how it fits into the overall EU spend on renewable energy. The Court considered most of the projects visited successful, because of their positive economic and environmental impact on rural development. However, weaknesses in the Member States’ selection procedures also resulted in the funding of projects that had an economic benefit for the project owners, but had little further impact on rural areas.
On the basis of these findings, the Court makes several recommendations that will be discussed during CONT meeting.
The ECA Special report is available on the CONT website. A working document with the recommendations from the rapporteur will be circulated soon. The rapporteur’s conclusion will form part of the Commission’s discharge report.
9. THE IMPACT OF EU COHESION POLICY ON NORTHERN IRELAND PV\1151985EN.docx 27/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN CONT/8/11296
Consideration of draft opinion
Rapporteur: Derek Vaughan (S&D) Administrator: Christian Ehlers Main Committee: REGI
Shadow Rapporteurs: Brian Hayes (EPP), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL)
The rapporteur, who participated at a recent fact-finding mission to Northern Ireland in March, arrived at the conclusion that it would be in the interest of the United Kingdom and European Union to continue financing the Northern Ireland Peace Programme and the “INTERREG V-A programme Northern Ireland-Ireland and Scotland” with the view to supporting a peaceful and prosperous development of these regions in question. The draft opinion is available on the CONT website.
CONT Timetable: Event Body Date Deadline for tabling AMs: CONT 30 April 2018 14.00 Adoption in REGI REGI 20 June 2018 Adoption in Plenary Plenary September 2018
10. ECA BRIEFING PAPER: A CONTRIBUTION TO SIMPLIFICATION OF EU RESEARCH PROGRAMME BEYOND HORIZON 2020 CONT/8/12809
Presentation of the Briefing paper by ECA Member responsible, Alex Brenninkmeijer
Rapporteur: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) Administrator: Christian Ehlers
Shadow Rapporteurs: Tomas Zdechovsky (EPP)
The European Parliament and the Council asked the European Court of Auditors (ECA) for input for the preliminary legislative discussion on the successor of Horizon 2020 (“FP9”). This briefing paper focussed on the issue of simplifying the European Union’s research Framework Programmes. The Court’s analysis showed that simplification is complicated and the Court identified several proposals to bring focus to the discussion on FP9 that is currently taking place.
The Court makes the following proposals: 1) a reasonable timespan between adoption and implementation of legal acts; 2) the use of lump sum and prizes; 3) the use of guidelines as non-binding rules; 4) the acceptance of beneficiaries’ accounting practices; and 5) the recognition of good project proposals under Horizon 2020 in other programmes via a one-stop-shop approach.
The briefing paper is not an audit report. The Court is currently conducting a performance audit on “simplification in Horizon 2020”. The special report will be published in late 2018. The briefing paper is available on the CONT website.
14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
15. NEXT MEETINGS PE621.058v01-00 28/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN 14 May 2018, 15.00 – 18.30 (Brussels) 15 May 2018, 9.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 - 18.30(Brussels))
WATCH LIVE Watch the CONT committee meeting live on the EP website or on Europarl TV
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\1151985EN.docx 29/30 PE621.058v01-00 EN NEWS FROM POLICY DEPARTMENT - BUDGETARY AFFAIRS FORTHCOMING EVENTS
BUDG Hearing “The EU budget and the Paris climate agreement” - 24 April 2018- 14h00/17h30 - JAN6Q2
CONT Hearing “State aid and EU funding - Are they compatible?” - 25 June 2018 – meeting room TBC
CONT Workshop on “Efficient use of EU funding in the Baltic Sea: State of play in the combat against eutrophication” - 15 May 2018 PM- JAN6Q2
Joint Hearing BUDG/CONT/LIBE - Assessing the flow of EU Migration funding within the Union - 16 May 2018 14h30/18h30- JAN6Q2 CONT Workshop on “How to better combat the fraud? Follow up of the Commission’s anti-corruption sharing programme” - 20 June 2018 10h00/12h00 - ASP1G3
CONT Workshop on “Has the Single European Sky initiative provided more efficiency for European Air traffic Management - is SESAR delivering results” – 4 June 2018 - meeting room TBC POLICY DEPARMENT PUBLICATIONS Recent publications CONT Study - Transitional Allowances for former EU office holders - too few conditions? Study “10 years cooperation and verification Mechanism (Bulgaria and Romania) - Analyse of the Reports: evaluation and achievements”
CONT/BUDG Study “Oversight and Management of the EU Trust Funds” - not available online
Forthcoming publications: BUDG - Study “Potential revenue from the extension of charging fees by EU Agencies” - April 2018
CONTACTS Email: [email protected] Webpage: http://www.poldepnet.ep.parl.union.eu/poldept/cms/cache/offonce/poldepnet/poldep_d/poldepd_presentation Disclaimer The items contained herein are drafted by the secretariat 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 organizations. The secretariat does not necessarily endorse the view(s) expressed on.
PE621.058v01-00 30/30 PV\1151985EN.docx EN