CONT-PV-2019-09-04-1 EN.Pdf

European Parliament 2019-2024

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT_PV(2019)0904_1

MINUTES Meeting of 4 September 2019, 14.30-18.30 BRUSSELS

The meeting opened at 14.40 on Wednesday, 4 September 2019, with Monika Hohlmeier (Chair) presiding.

1. Adoption of agenda

The agenda was adopted as shown in these minutes.

2. Chair’s announcements

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

3. Approval of minutes of meetings

 10 July 2019 PV – PE639.881v01-00  24 July 2019 PV – PE639.880v01-00

The minutes were approved

In camera

4. Discharge 2017: European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

CONT/9/00379 2018/2208(DEC) COM(2018)0521[41] – C8-0359/2018 Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa (PPE) AM – PE641.112v02-00 Responsible: CONT  Hearing with Ms Nina Gregori, Executive Director of EASO (LIBE committee associated)

PV\1189921EN.docx PE641.373v01-00

EN United in diversityEN The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Nina Gregori, Petri Sarvamaa, Lara Wolters,Ramona Strugariu, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Maria Grapini, Domènec Ruiz Devesa

* * *

5. Discharge 2017: European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

CONT/9/00379 2018/2208(DEC) COM(2018)0521[41] – C8-0359/2018 Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa (PPE) AM – PE641.112v02-00 Responsible: CONT  Consideration of draft report  Deadline for tabling amendments: 9 September 2019, 16.00

The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Petri Sarvamaa, Lara Wolters, Lara Wolters, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, Joachim Kuhs, Joachim Kuhs, Beate Gminder (European Commission, DG HOME)

6. Discharge 2017: General budget of the EU - Council and European Council

CONT/9/00359 2018/2168(DEC) COM(2018)0521[03] – C8-0320/2018 Rapporteur: Isabel García Muñoz (S&D) AM – PE641.114v01-00 Responsible: CONT  Consideration of draft report

The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Isabel García Muñoz, Angelika Winzig, Olivier Chastel, Mikuláš Peksa, Joachim Kuhs.

7. General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 - all sections CONT/9/00544 2019/2028(BUD) 11734/2019 – C9-0119/2019 Rapporteur for the opinion: Corina Crețu (S&D) AD – PE639.783v03-00 AM – PE641.113v01-00 BUDG – Monika Hohlmeier (PPE) DT – PE639.763v02-00 Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (S&D)

PE641.373v01-00 2/13 PV\1189921EN.docx EN Opinions: AFET, DEVE, INTA, CONT, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN, REGI, AGRI, PECH, CULT, JURI, LIBE, AFCO, FEMM, PETI  Consideration of draft opinion  Deadline for tabling amendments : 6 September, 14.00

The following spoke: Monika Hohlmeier, Corina Crețu, Andrey Novakov, Olivier Chastel, Joachim Kuhs, John Howarth, Lenka Filipkova (European Commission, DG BUDG)

8. The OLAF Annual Report 2018 CONT/9/01054  Exchange of views with OLAF Director General, Ville Itälä

The following spoke:Monika Hohlmeier, Ville Itälä, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, , Tsvetelina Penkova, Caterina Chinnici, Katalin Cseh, John Howarth, Mikuláš Peksa, Angelika Winzig, Sándor Rónai, Andrey Novakov, Tamás Deutsch.

Isabel García Muñoz ( 1st vice-chair) took the chair at 17.10

9. The OLAF Supervisory Committee Annual Activity Report 2018 CONT/9/01056  Exchange of views with the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, Jan Mulder and Members of the Supervisory Committee

The following spoke: Isabel García Muñoz, Jan Mulder.

10. Any other business

None

11. Next meetings  25 September 2019, 9.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 17.30 (Brussels)  26 September 2019, 9.00 – 12.30 (Brussels)

The meeting ended at 18.18

3/13 PE641.373v01-00 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 (*)

Monika Hohlmeier,Isabel García Muñoz, Caterina Chinnici

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

Lefteris Christoforou, Tamás Deutsch, Markus Pieper, Petri Sarvamaa, Angelika Winzig, Corina Crețu, Claudiu Manda, Tsvetelina Penkova, Lara Wolters, Olivier Chastel, Cristian Ghinea, Daniel Freund, Nico Semsrott, Matteo Adinolfi, Jean-François Jalkh, Joachim Kuhs, Younous Omarjee, Michael Heaver, Sabrina Pignedoli

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

Jeroen Lenaers, Andrey Novakov, Maria Grapini, John Howarth, Sándor Rónai, Katalin Cseh, Mikuláš Peksa, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel

209 (7)

Miriam Dalli, Sylvie Guillaume, Vladimír Bilčík, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Lena Düpont, Maria Walsh, Peter Kofod, Ralf Seekatz, Tom Vandendriessche, Bettina Vollath, Roberta Metsola, Domènec Ruiz Devesa,Miriam Dalli, Sylvie Guillaume, Vladimír Bilčík, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Lena Düpont, Maria Walsh, Peter Kofod, Ralf Seekatz, Tom Vandendriessche, Bettina Vollath, Roberta Metsola, Domènec Ruiz Devesa

216 (3)

56 (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)

PE641.373v01-00 4/13 PV\1189921EN.docx 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 (*)

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

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

5/13 PE641.373v01-00 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, Edyta Tarczynska, Ewa Tomczuk

S&D Diana Popova, Hélène Beaghe

Renew Dominykos Mordas,Emilie Tafenel

Verts/ALE Robert Godina

ID Timothee Etchecopar

ECR Kamila Wrzesinska

GUE/NGL Elisa Reschini

NI Marianna Lorenzano

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 Wisdorff Armin DG PERS DG INLO DG TRAD DG LINC DG FINS DG ITEC DG SAFE

PE641.373v01-00 6/13 PV\1189921EN.docx 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, Christian Ehlers, Philippe Godts, Charlotte Kutzenberger, Benoit Lefort, Olivier Sautière

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

7/13 PE641.373v01-00 EN NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 2019 14.30 - 18.30 Room: Altiero Spinelli (ASP) 1 G-3

1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

2. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Interpretation: FR, DE, IT, NL, EN, EL, ES, FI, SV, CS, HU, PL, BG and RO.

Webstreaming: please be aware that each time a speaker activates the microphone to make an intervention, the camera will be automatically directed to the speaker.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETINGS

 10 July 2019 PV – PE639.881v01-00  24 July 2019 PV – PE639.880v01-00

4. DISCHARGE 2017: EUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE ( EASO), IN CAMERA Procedure file

CONT in camera hearing - open to LIBE - with the Executive Director of EASO, Nina Gregori

Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa (EPP) Administrator: Cécile Bourgault

CONT Shadow Rapporteurs: Lara Wolters (S&D), Ramona Strugariu (RE)

CONT will hold an in camera hearing - open to LIBE Members - with the Executive Director of EASO, Ms Nina

Gregori, to discuss the follow-up to the 2017 discharge of EASO, in particular the follow-up of the measures proposed by OLAF.

First, the executive director will make an introductory statement. Afterwards, the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will be able to ask questions. Subsequently, the floor will then be given to the CONT and LIBE Members.

5. DISCHARGE 2017: 2ND REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE (EASO)

PE641.373v01-00 8/13 PV\1189921EN.docx EN Procedure file

Consideration of the second draft report on the European Asylum Support Office

Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa (EPP) Administrator: Cécile Bourgault

CONT Shadow Rapporteurs: Lara Wolters (S&D), Ramona Strugariu (RE)

EASO is the only decentralised agency for which the European Court of Auditors issued an adverse opinion on the legality and regularity of the payments underlying the accounts. The main issues identified regarding EASO were related to material and systematic instances of non-compliance of payments with the Office’s Financial Regulation, mainly related to public procurement and recruitment procedures.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) opened an investigation. It discovered a breach of procurement procedures, misappropriation of EU funds, mismanagement, abuse of position in human resources issues, breaches of data protection rules, harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards staff members

Members can consult the case report under the procedure applicable to confidential documents. Should members wish to do so, please contact Marcia Maguire ([email protected]).

Based on the measures taken by EASO in light of the ECA and the OLAF observations, the rapporteur will present the second draft report on the 2017 discharge of EASO.

The EN version of the second draft report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2017 (2018/2208(DEC) was circulated on 23 July.

The draft report and other relevant information can be found on the CONT website.

CONT Timetable:

Event Body Date Consideration of the second draft report CONT 4 September Deadline for amendments CONT 6 September at 14:00 Adoption in CONT CONT 25-26 September Adoption in Plenary Plenary October II

9/13 PE641.373v01-00 EN 6. DISCHARGE 2017: GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EU - COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL Procedure file

Consideration of the second draft report on the European Council and Council

CONT Rapporteur: Isabel García Muñoz (S&D) Administrator: Charlotte Kutzenberger

CONT Shadow Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (RE)

The Council’s lack of cooperation resulted in Parliament’s refusal to grant discharge ever since 2009. Last March, the European Parliament postponed the 2017 discharge for the ninth year by endorsing the report, as voted in CONT.

In this context, and to overcome the deadlock, CONT replied by letter of 16 July 2018 to the Council’s amended proposal on the Council discharge procedure. In the letter CONT asked to distinguish between the different roles of the respective institutions in the discharge procedure, thereby excluding equal roles and reciprocal obligations of the two institutions.

As the letter of 16 July 2018 remained without reply, coordinators decided on 24 July 2019 to draft a follow-up letter to the Council, which was sent on 26 July 2019.

In the second draft report the rapporteur, Ms García Muñoz recalls Parliament’s responsibilities in the discharge process and invites the Council to react swiftly to the latest proposal, so that the new arrangements for the discharge exercise can be applied as soon as possible.

At the same time, the rapporteur welcomes the improvements in the Council’s process of administrative modernisation and efforts to further improve its financial management and performance.

Ms García Muñoz deplores that the Council failed, once again, to provide answers to the written questions, that the Secretary-General of the Council did not attend the hearing organised on 27 November 2018. She also regrets that the Council did not take into account the recommendations proposed by the Parliament on the discharge resolution of 26 March 2019.

Nevertheless, the rapporteur feels encouraged by the fact that the Council considers it necessary to address the discharge procedure and is open to arriving at an agreement with Parliament.

The draft report and other relevant information can be found on the CONT website.

PE641.373v01-00 10/13 PV\1189921EN.docx EN CONT Timetable:

7. GENERAL BUDGET OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2020 - ALL SECTIONS Procedure file Consideration of draft opinion to BUDG

Rapporteur: Corina Crețu (S&D) Administrator: Philippe Godts

CONT Shadow Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (RE)

In her draft opinion, Ms Crețu calls on the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament, in coordination with the sector committees of this Parliament, to promote a real culture of “result orientation” aiming at optimizing the use of funds, analysing the reasons leading to low performance programmes and pushing for measures for improvement of absorption and performance.

The rapporteur recalls that Article 247(1)(c) of the Financial Regulation sets out an obligation for the Commission to communicate, each 31 July, to the European Parliament and the Council, an integrated set of financial and accountability reports, including a long-term forecast of future inflows and outflows covering the next 5 years.

Ms Crețu calls on the Commission:

 to streamline performance reporting and to make its reporting based on single set of objectives and indicators;

 to improve the accuracy of the payment forecast and to use the lessons learned from the previous programming period in order to deal with the accumulated backlog in payments and avoid its negative effect on the next MFF;

 to present accurate and complete information on financial instruments under shared management after closure indicating amounts returned to the Union budget and those remaining in the Member States;

 to establish a way of recording Union budgetary expenditure that will make it possible to report on all funding related to the refugee and migration crisis, as well as for the future Union policy on management of migration flows and integration.

The rapporteur points out that pooling resources from the EDF, the Union Budget and other donors in trust funds should not have as consequence that money flagged for development and cooperation policy do not reach their normal beneficiaries or pursue their original objectives.

Ms Crețu stresses that trust funds should be established only when their use is justified and the required action is not possible through other, existing financing channels. She calls on the Commission to consider putting an end to trust funds that are unable to attract a significant contribution from other donors or that do not provide an added

value as compared to ‘traditional’ Union external instruments. 11/13 PE641.373v01-00 EN Ms Crețu insists to have a separate budget line for the Daphne specific objective in order to show the commitment of the Union in relation to combating of violence against women and girls.

The rapporteur insists that the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO) be adequately financed and staffed; recalls that the EPPO has to be operational already as of November 2020 and asks to increase the EPPO contribution by EUR 1.8 Million.

The draft opinion can be found on the CONT website.

CONT Timetable:

Event Body Date Consideration of the second draft report CONT 4 September Deadline for amendments CONT 6 September at 14:00 Adoption in CONT CONT 25-26 September Adoption in BUDG BUDG 14 October Adoption in Plenary Plenary October II

8. THE OLAF ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Exchange of views with OLAF Director General, Ville Itälä

Administrator: Christian Ehlers

Article 17(4) of the OLAF Regulation obliges the Director General to "(...) report regularly to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors on the findings of investigations carried out by the Office, the action taken and the problems encountered, whilst respecting the confidentiality of the investigations, the legitimate rights of the persons concerned and of informants, and, where appropriate, national law applicable to judicial proceedings."

In this context, the committee holds an annual exchange of views with the OLAF Director General in the presence of members of the OLAF-SC.

The 2018 OLAF Annual Activity Report is supposed to be published in early September. The CONT secretariat will send the report to members the moment it becomes available.

PE641.373v01-00 12/13 PV\1189921EN.docx EN 9. THE OLAF SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2018

Exchange of views with the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, Jan Mulder and Members of the Supervisory Committee

Administrator: Christian Ehlers

Article 15(1) of the OLAF Regulation stipulates: "The Supervisory Committee shall regularly monitor the implementation by the Office of its investigative function, in order to reinforce the Office’s independence in the proper exercise of the competences conferred upon it by this Regulation." Furthermore Article 15(9) specifies: "The Supervisory Committee shall adopt at least one report on its activities per year, covering in particular the assessment of the Office’s independence, the application of procedural guarantees and the duration of investigations. Those reports shall be sent to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors."

In this context, the committee holds an annual exchange of views with members of the OLAF-SC, in the presence of the OLAF Director General. They sent their 2018 OLAF-SC Activity Report to the Parliament on 16 July.

In their report the members of the OLAF-SC analysed:  the legal frame work in which OLAF operates;

 OLAF's financial and staff resources;

 the OLAF-SC access to information;

 the duration of OLAF investigations;

 cases in which information was sent to national judicial authorities;

 the follow-up given to OLAF recommendations;

 the safeguard of procedural guarantees;

 the investigation policy priorities;

 and the OLAF-SC governance.

The OLAF-SC Activity Report can be found on the CONT website (all languages available) or on the website of the OLAF Supervisory Committee website.

NEXT MEETINGS

 25 September 2019, 9.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 18.30 (Brussels)  26 September 2019, 9.00 - 12.30 (Brussels)  7 October 2019 – 15.00 – 18.30 (Brussels)  8 October 2019 – 9.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 18.30 (Brussels)

13/13 PE641.373v01-00 EN