Changes from plenary report to adopted text

53. Stresses the importance of ensuring digital sovereignty in Union-funded research; highlights in this regard the key role of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre, Chips Joint Undertaking and the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, which should give priority to projects strengthening the Union’s autonomy in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; calls on the Commission to ensure that projects supported by Joint Undertakings: i) avoid undue dependence on third-country suppliers for critical technologies; ii) effectively strengthen the Union’s industrial resilience and strategic autonomy; and iii) actively support the development of domestic research and innovation capacity in strategic digital sectors;

54. Reiterates its concerns that in 2024 the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking’s implementation rate for the Horizon 2020 grant payments budget further fell to 27 % compared to 36 % in 2023; observes that in 2024, implementation rates for commitments and payments appropriations for Digital Europe investment activities remained very low at 22 % and 19 % respectively compared to 89 % and 18 % in 2023; notes the explanation provided by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, nevertheless calls on it to ensure proper implementation of all parts of its operational budget;

55. Notes that according to the Court’s report the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking private members’ contributions for Horizon 2020 remain low; their in-kind contributions to operational activities reached only EUR 20,0 million, which is far below the EUR 420,0 million minimum set in the Joint Undertaking’s founding regulation; recalls the need for a change in the Joint Undertaking’s financing arrangements, which restrict the Joint Undertaking’s ability to ensure effective cooperation with the private sector and prevent it from properly quantifying private-sector contributions to the Joint Undertaking’s objectives;

Remarks on the follow-up of Joint Undertakings to the previous discharge exercise

56. Welcomes the fact that the Joint Undertakings have produced a follow-up report to Parliament’s resolutions with observations forming an integral part of the decisions on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Joint Undertakings for the financial year 2023; notes that these reports provide the views of the Joint Undertakings on the issues underlined by Parliament to a satisfactory extent;

57. Welcomes the fact that the Court’s report also includes an analysis of the follow-up of Joint Undertakings to previous observations and recommendations for actions published by the Court; notes in this regard that by the end of 2024, fewer than half of previous years’ observations had been addressed: 18 of 44 were closed, while 26 remained open; regarding the Court’s recommendations from the period 2021–2023, most have been implemented at least partially; furthermore, out of the four recommendations with a 2024 target date, two were fully implemented by all Joint Undertakings, one was fully implemented by some of them and partially by others, and one partially implemented; of the remaining eight with later target dates, one was fully implemented, six partially, and one has not yet been implemented, as it depends on the Commission; calls on all Joint Undertakings to continue the implementation of the Court’s recommendations and to report on the progress to the Court and Parliament;

Call for a follow-up

58. Calls on each Joint Undertaking considered for the granting of discharge for the financial year 2024 to produce an individual follow-up report on all actions taken to address the specific issues mentioned in this resolution and to submit this follow-up report signed by the (Executive) Director of the Joint Undertaking to Parliament by no later than 30 September 2026;

59. Underlines that follow-up reports can reflect the Joint Undertakings’ general opinions on this resolution and on other matters relevant to the discharge authority; calls on the Joint Undertakings to prepare these reports thoroughly, covering all issues raised by Parliament regarding their activities, and to do so in a cooperative and trustworthy manner.