Dossier · Discharge procedure

2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council

Reference: 2024/2021(DEC) Discharge procedure
Where it stands: Completed: published in the Official Journal on 8 October 2025 and now EU law.
Stage: Parliament’s position
Lead committee: Budgetary Control CONT

More facts (6)

Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI
Shadow rapporteurs: 7 members
Decisions in plenary: 2
Last vote: 22 Oct 2025 · Discharge decision adopted
Versions: 6 versions
Opinions from: JURI, LIBE, CULT, SEDE, BUDG, FEMM, AFCO, ECON, REGI, IMCO, DEVE, AGRI, INTA, ENVI, EMPL, PECH, SANT, ITRE, AFET, TRAN

Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI
Shadow rapporteurs: 7 members
Decisions in plenary: 2
Last vote: 22 Oct 2025 · Discharge decision adopted
Versions: 6 versions
Opinions from: JURI, LIBE, CULT, SEDE, BUDG, FEMM, AFCO, ECON, REGI, IMCO, DEVE, AGRI, INTA, ENVI, EMPL, PECH, SANT, ITRE, AFET, TRAN

Cite this page

Legislative Observatory

Link to this page

Where it stands

The steps of this kind of dossier and how far it has come, from the procedure file.

Referred to committee (done) 17 September 2024
Committee work (done) Report adopted 24 September 2025
Tabled for plenary (done) 26 September 2025
Plenary vote (done) Adopted 22 October 2025
Parliament’s position (done) Final

Parliament checks how an EU institution or agency spent a past year’s budget and signs it off — or refuses to.

People

Committees and members responsible for the dossier, as the procedure file names them. Groups as recorded there.

Lead committee: Budgetary Control CONT
Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI (ECR)
Shadow rapporteurs: Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP), Csaba MOLNÁR (S&D), Virginie JORON (Patriots), Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (Renew), Damian BOESELAGER (Greens), Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left), Alexander JUNGBLUTH (ESN)
Opinion: JURI: Legal Affairs
Opinion: LIBE: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Opinion: CULT: Culture and Education
Opinion: SEDE: Security and Defence
Opinion: BUDG: Budgets
Opinion: FEMM: Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Opinion: AFCO: Constitutional Affairs · rapporteur Sven SIMON (EPP)
Opinion: ECON: Economic and Monetary Affairs
Opinion: REGI: Regional Development
Opinion: IMCO: Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Opinion: DEVE: Development
Opinion: AGRI: Agriculture and Rural Development
Opinion: INTA: International Trade
Opinion: ENVI: Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Opinion: EMPL: Employment and Social Affairs
Opinion: PECH: Fisheries
Opinion: SANT: Public Health
Opinion: ITRE: Industry, Research and Energy
Opinion: AFET: Foreign Affairs
Opinion: TRAN: Transport and Tourism

Decisions in plenary, 2

Every decision Parliament took on this dossier, newest first.

**Effect**: what the decision did. **Final vote**: for–against–abstained, and how it was recorded.
Date	Decision	Kind	Effect	Final vote
22 Oct 2025	Discharge 2023: EU general budget – European Council and Council (No. 4, 22 Oct 2025)	Budget	Discharge decision adopted	441 for, 125 against, 73 abstained by roll call
7 May 2025	Discharge 2023: EU general budget – European Council and Council (No. 5, 7 May 2025)	Budget	Discharge decision adopted	588 for, 62 against, 16 abstained by roll call

Voting grid

Export

Every roll-call vote on the dossier, in date and voting order, with each group's line at the date of the vote.

Each group's clear line at the date of the vote: a position with at least two thirds of the group's votes (at least 10 members voting), otherwise Divided; “< 10 voted” when fewer took part. Result: outcome, for–against–abstained (method).

Voting grid of 2024/2021(DEC): one row per roll call, one column per group, then the result.
Vote	The Left	Greens	S&D	Renew	EPP	ECR	Patriots	ESN	Result
7 May 2025 Final vote	For	For	For	For	For	For	Divided	For	Adopted588–62–16
7 May 2025 Amendment 1 to paragraph 20	For	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected105–430–130
7 May 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 20	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected283–358–20
7 May 2025 Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 22	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected293–352–15
7 May 2025 Amendment 5, adding text after paragraph 22	Divided	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected246–383–20
7 May 2025 Amendment 7, adding text after paragraph 23	Against	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected229–400–20
7 May 2025 Amendment 4 to paragraph 52	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	For	For	Adopted379–260–22
7 May 2025 Amendment 8, adding text after paragraph 57	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	For	Rejected316–327–17
7 May 2025 Final vote — text as a whole	For	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Adopted526–119–20
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 15	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	Rejected181–451–15
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 1 to paragraph 16	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted461–173–16
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 1	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted459–161–28
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 2	For	For	For	For	Divided	Against	Against	Against	Adopted334–285–15
22 Oct 2025 Paragraph 17 — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted445–178–17
22 Oct 2025 Final vote — text as a whole	For	For	For	For	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Adopted441–125–73

7 May 2025 Final vote

Adopted 588–62–16

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

For
Patriots

Divided
ESN

For
7 May 2025 Amendment 1 to paragraph 20

Rejected 105–430–130

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

Abst.
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
7 May 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 20

Rejected 283–358–20

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
7 May 2025 Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 22

Rejected 293–352–15

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
7 May 2025 Amendment 5, adding text after paragraph 22

Rejected 246–383–20

The Left

Divided
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
7 May 2025 Amendment 7, adding text after paragraph 23

Rejected 229–400–20

The Left

Against
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
7 May 2025 Amendment 4 to paragraph 52

Adopted 379–260–22

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

For
ESN

For
7 May 2025 Amendment 8, adding text after paragraph 57

Rejected 316–327–17

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

For
7 May 2025 Final vote — text as a whole

Adopted 526–119–20

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

For
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 15

Rejected 181–451–15

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 1 to paragraph 16

Adopted 461–173–16

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 1

Adopted 459–161–28

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Oct 2025 Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 16 — part 2

Adopted 334–285–15

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

Divided
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Oct 2025 Paragraph 17 — part 2

Adopted 445–178–17

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
22 Oct 2025 Final vote — text as a whole

Adopted 441–125–73

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Abst.
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against

Add members’ columns

Versions, 6

The text of the dossier, version by version, newest first. Compare shows what changed between two consecutive versions.

Adopted by Parliament22 Oct 2025

Adopted text TA10-0245/2025 TA-10-2025-0245

Compare with adopted by parliament
Adopted by Parliament7 May 2025

Adopted text TA10-0079/2025 TA-10-2025-0079

Compare with tabled for plenary
Tabled for plenary26 Sept 2025

Report A10-0167/2025 A-10-2025-0167

Compare with tabled for plenary
Tabled for plenary1 Apr 2025

Report A10-0052/2025 A-10-2025-0052

Compare with committee draft
Committee draft12 Aug 2025

Draft report (CONT) CONT-PR-775471

Compare with committee draft
Committee draft16 Jan 2025

Draft report (CONT) CONT-PR-764997

Each version in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source

Adopted text TA10-0245/2025: Parliament refuses to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council for the 2023 budget, citing the Council's continued non-cooperation since 2009.
Adopted text TA10-0079/2025: Parliament postpones granting discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council for the 2023 budget, citing the Council's continued refusal to cooperate in the discharge procedure since 2009.
Report A10-0167/2025: Parliament refuses to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council for the 2023 budget, citing the Council's continued non-cooperation since 2009.
Report A10-0052/2025: Parliament postpones its decision on granting discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council for the 2023 budget and sets out observations in a resolution.
Draft report (CONT): This draft report concerns the discharge for the 2023 budget of the European Council and Council. It refuses discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council due to lack of cooperation and includes a resolution with observations.
Draft report (CONT): This draft report concerns the discharge for the European Council and Council budget for 2023. It proposes granting or postponing discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council and includes observations.

Report a problem

Committee opinions: Draft opinion (AFCO), Opinion (AFCO)

What changed, 3

Between consecutive versions, newest pair first. The overviews are written by AI from the two texts; the comparison shows every change.

Tabled for plenary → Tabled for plenary Report A10-0052/2025 → Report A10-0167/2025

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The main change is that Parliament now refuses discharge to the Council instead of postponing the decision. The resolution adds new paragraphs expressing regret and frustration over the Council's non-cooperation, including specific references to the questionnaire and hearing. It also updates the reference to the Ombudsman's findings, shifting from general criticism to a specific strategic inquiry. Other changes are formal or wording adjustments, such as fixing a typo and rephrasing time references.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary Draft report (CONT) → Report A10-0052/2025

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The decision changes from refusing discharge to postponing it, and the resolution adds new sections on budget, management, and other topics. The resolution now includes performance-based budgeting and replaces the Ombudsman reference with a general transparency requirement. The other changes are formal or wording updates, such as rephrasing durations and clarifying the Secretariat's name.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions
Committee draft → Committee draft Draft report (CONT) → Draft report (CONT)

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The main change is that Parliament now refuses discharge to the Council for 2023, instead of granting or postponing it. The resolution is restructured to focus on the Council's non-cooperation, omitting detailed budget figures and administrative observations. Adds a recital on the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration and drops a reference to performance-based budgeting. Other changes are wording adjustments, such as 'almost twenty years' and 'since 2009'.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions

Timeline, 17

Every recorded step, newest first, grouped by stage; the latest stage is open.

Plenary stage 2 steps · 14 Oct 2025–22 Oct 2025

22 October 2025

Plenary vote

Sitting of 22 Oct 2025 Adopted text TA10-0245/2025 Report A10-0167/2025
14 October – 15 October 2025

4 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

Amendments 1–2 Amendment 3 Amendment 4

Outcome 1 step · 8 Oct 2025

8 October 2025

Published in the Official Journal

The act is now EU law.

Plenary stage 1 step · 26 Sept 2025

26 September 2025

Report tabled for plenary

This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

Report A10-0167/2025

Committee stage 3 steps · 12 Aug 2025–24 Sept 2025

24 September 2025

Committee vote: report adopted

CONT (Budgetary Control) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
10 September 2025

Amendments tabled in committee

Members of CONT (Budgetary Control) proposed changes to the draft.

Amendments in committee (CONT)
12 August 2025

Draft report published

The rapporteur’s first text in CONT (Budgetary Control). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

Draft report (CONT)

Plenary stage 4 steps · 1 Apr 2025–7 May 2025

7 May 2025

Plenary vote

Sitting of 7 May 2025 Report A10-0052/2025
6 May 2025

Debated in plenary

MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

Sitting of 6 May 2025 Council / Commission text C10-0067/2024Council / Commission text C10-0068/2024Council / Commission text C10-0069/2024Council / Commission text C10-0070/2024Council / Commission text C10-0071/2024Council / Commission text C10-0072/2024Council / Commission text C10-0073/2024Council / Commission text C10-0074/2024Council / Commission text C10-0075/2024Council / Commission text C10-0076/2024Council / Commission text C10-0077/2024Council / Commission text C10-0078/2024Council / Commission text C10-0079/2024Report A10-0046/2025 Report A10-0047/2025 Report A10-0050/2025 Report A10-0051/2025 Report A10-0052/2025 Report A10-0053/2025 Report A10-0054/2025 Report A10-0055/2025 Report A10-0056/2025 Report A10-0062/2025 Report A10-0065/2025 Report A10-0069/2025 Report A10-0074/2025
30 April 2025

12 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

Amendments 1–4 Amendment 5 Amendments 6–8 Amendments 9–12
1 April 2025

Report tabled for plenary

This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

Report A10-0052/2025

Committee stage 6 steps · 17 Sept 2024–18 Mar 2025

18 March 2025

Committee vote: report adopted

CONT (Budgetary Control) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
11 February 2025

Amendments tabled in committee

Members of CONT (Budgetary Control) proposed changes to the draft.

Amendments in committee (CONT)
29 January 2025

AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) adopted its opinion

The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

Opinion (AFCO)
16 January 2025

Draft report published

The rapporteur’s first text in CONT (Budgetary Control). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

Draft report (CONT)
18 November 2024

Draft opinion from AFCO (Constitutional Affairs)

An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

Draft opinion (AFCO)
17 September 2024

Referred to the CONT (Budgetary Control) committee

The lead committee prepares the report; JURI (Legal Affairs), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs), CULT (Culture and Education), SEDE (Security and Defence), BUDG (Budgets), FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), AFCO (Constitutional Affairs), ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs), REGI (Regional Development), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), DEVE (Development), AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), INTA (International Trade), ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs), PECH (Fisheries), SANT (Public Health), ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy), AFET (Foreign Affairs), TRAN (Transport and Tourism) give an opinion.

Connections

Texts, decisions, people and other dossiers related to this one.

Texts voted on

Text SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section II – European Council and Council Report A10-0167/2025 22 Oct 2025
Text REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section II – European Council and Council Report A10-0052/2025 7 May 2025

Other dossiers of the same rapporteur

Dossier 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service 2024/2024(DEC) · Discharge procedure 7 May 2025 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Economic and Social Committee 2024/2025(DEC) · Discharge procedure 7 May 2025 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - Committee of the Regions 2024/2026(DEC) · Discharge procedure 7 May 2025 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Ombudsman 2024/2027(DEC) · Discharge procedure 7 May 2025 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Data Protection Supervisor 2024/2028(DEC) · Discharge procedure 7 May 2025 Discharge decision adopted

Dossiers sharing a running issue

Dossier Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Court of Justice of the European Union 2025/2148(DEC) · Discharge procedure 29 Apr 2026 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council 2025/2147(DEC) · Discharge procedure 29 Apr 2026 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - European Parliament 2025/2146(DEC) · Discharge procedure 29 Apr 2026 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Commission 2025/2145(DEC) · Discharge procedure 29 Apr 2026 Discharge decision adopted
Dossier Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Court of Auditors 2025/2149(DEC) · Discharge procedure 29 Apr 2026 Discharge decision adopted

Sources & citation

Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.

Permalink: https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2024-2021
Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL)
Data source: EP Open Data API: procedure record
Licensed CC BY 4.0.
Retrieved: 25 September 2026

Cite as

European Parliament (2025). “2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council”. Dossier, 22 October 2025. procId 2024-2021, reference 2024/2021(DEC). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2024-2021 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL), https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2024%2F2021(DEC). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/procedures/2024-2021 (CC BY 4.0).

BibTeX

@misc{epw-dossier-2024-2021,
  author = {{European Parliament}},
  title = {{2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council}},
  year = {2025},
  date = {2025-10-22},
  howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2024-2021}},
  url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2024-2021},
  urldate = {2026-09-25},
  publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
  note = {Dossier. procId 2024-2021, reference 2024/2021(DEC). Official source: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2024\%2F2021(DEC). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record (CC BY 4.0)}
}