Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 9 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed9. Notes from the hearing of the Vice-President/High RepresentativeatRepresentative at the meeting of Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) on 17 November 2025 (the ‘Hearing’) that the EEAS has faced significant budgetary constraints in the last few years, while the institution has been tasked with an increasingly expansive mandate and has incurred increased costs and needs for the 145 delegation-network; notesregrets that the underfunding of the EEAS is not structurally addressed; supports the EEAS view that there is a disparity between tasks and resources which poseposes a significant challenge for the EEAS’ ability to fully deliver on its objectives and effectively support the Union’s foreign and security policy agenda;agenda, thus undermining the performance of the Union´s foreign policy, in a moment of rapid geopolitical change, and the Union’s credibility as a global actor; calls on the EEAS to prioritise actions that deliver clear added value for the Union and its citizens, while avoiding activities and projects that risk undermining effectiveness and staff well-being; invites the EEAS to remedy staff shortages in Union delegations, particularly in postings facing complex security or geopolitical challenges, and to strengthen transparency and accountability in recruitment procedures;

Change 10 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed10. Notes further that investments in real estate and IT projects were postponed and the number of trainees was reduced in 2024; notes the EEAS view that these limitations could ultimately impact the Union’s global presence and staff safety; expects that the additional EUR 10 million allocated to the EEAS for the 2025 budget will contribute to improving the EEAS budget implementation towards the achievements of its objectives and avoiding situations in which the duty of care of the EEAS with regard to staff posted in Union delegations would be compromised;

Added10. Calls on the Court to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the EEAS to evaluate the efficiency of its activities compared to the diplomatic services of OECD countries; requests that this audit identify areas where the EEAS provides unique, irreplaceable added value and areas where its activities overlap with those of Member States; simultaneously calls on the EEAS to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its global network and to prioritise resources towards delegations in countries that clearly contribute to the Union's immediate interests, such as economic prosperity, energy security, border protection, and the prevention of irregular migration flows; insists on the establishment of clear, measurable performance indicators to demonstrate the 'value for money' delivered to Union citizens and demands that the EEAS discontinue any activities or missions that are evaluated as ineffective or redundant following these assessments;

Removed11. Notes that the financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility managed under the authority of the Vice-President/High Representativeincreased from 12 billion in 2023 to EUR 17 billion in 2024, whereas the additional EUR 5 billion are dedicated to military support for Ukraine; calls on the EEAS to collaborate with the Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) to ensure effective oversight and monitoring of the projects funded by the European Peace Facility;

Added11. Notes further that investments in real estate and IT projects were postponed and the number of trainees was reduced in 2024; notes the EEAS view that these limitations could ultimately impact the Union’s global presence; warns that continued postponement of investments and staff reductions risk undermining the EEAS’ duty of care, particularly with regard to staff safety, mental health and security in high-risk postings; invites the EEAS to present an investment pipeline for critical IT, cybersecurity and duty-of-care infrastructure, including cost-benefit analysis and expected operational impact, in order to avoid repeated postponements that undermine efficiency and staff safety;

Removed12. Notes from the replies of the EEAS to the CONT questionnaire for 2024 discharge (the ‘Questionnaire’) that the EEAS, both at its headquarters and in Union delegations, launched a total of 71 procurement procedures for high-value contracts, i.e. above Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Councilthreshold of EUR 143 000 for supplies and services in 2024; notes that 63 of those procedures were successful with 63 contracts being signed, while 8 procedures failed; notes that, with the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation on 29 September 2024, the management of procurement procedures for Union delegations in third countries has been simplified by introducing a separate set of ceilings for very low-, low- and medium-value contracts, thereby addressing a longstanding issue related to the limited capacity of local operators to meet the complex requirements of the Union’s procurement rules; expects those simplifications to better meet the needs of both host countries and Union delegations with regard to procurement procedures; invites the EEAS to keep the discharge authority informed of the outcomes of the implementation of the new provisions of the Financial Regulation;

Added12. Notes that the financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility managed under the authority of the Vice-President/High Representative increased from 12 billion in 2023 to EUR 17 billion in 2024, whereas the additional EUR 5 billion are dedicated to military support for Ukraine; stresses that the significant increase in the European Peace Facility requires strengthened transparency and parliamentary oversight; calls for regular, structured reporting to the discharge authority on risk management, monitoring arrangements and compliance with Union values and international humanitarian law; calls on the EEAS to collaborate with the Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood) to ensure effective oversight and monitoring of the projects funded by the European Peace Facility; recognises the European Peace Facility as a necessary tool for peace keeping, in an era of geopolitical competition, that aims at building stability and a unified European defence cooperation;

Change 11 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed15.17. Notes that, in 2024, the EEAS continued to face growing political and financial challenges, as well as challenges with respect to human rights and the rule of law;law in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment marked by intensified hybrid threats to democratic systems; notes that the Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and its geopolitical consequences continued to be a key issue in 2024; highlightshighlights, in this regardsregard, the importance and need for the EEAS to play a central and reinforced key role in building the Union’s strategic autonomy, resilience and security, which should be safeguarded also via the systematic and robust fight against foreign information,information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and disinformation campaigns; notes that in 2024 the EEAS published its second report on FIMI threats, detailing 750 incidents and exposing the Operation False Façade (an information-laundering scheme by pro-Kremlin entities), utilizedthereby contributing to public attribution and strategic awareness of hostile state-sponsored interference, and utilised the Rapid Alert System as a central coordination mechanism on FIMI in the context of protecting the integrity of the European elections,elections; releasednotes the release of a toolkit for detecting identity-based FIMI, organizedthe organisation of the annual high-level FIMI conference, developedthe development of the Common Security and DefenseDefence Policy (CSDP) handbook on FIMI to strengthen the capability of CSDP missions to detect and respond to FIMI attacks and contributedthe contribution to strengthening media resilience at the Connecting Media Communities event in Kosovo, which was attended by 130 journalists and fact-checkers; strongly commends the EEAS for its EUvsDisinfo campaign that has analysed and exposed Russia’s FIMI efforts in 2024; notes with concern that pro-Kremlin disinformation cases exceeded 18 000 entries;entries, confirming the scale, persistence and strategic nature of the threat posed in particular by Russia, alongside other hostile actors; notes that some Union delegations have a Strategic Communication Officer tasked with analysing and addressing FIMI, but intelligence collection capability remains Member States’ responsibility; stresses, therefore, the need for reinforced coordination, structured information-sharing and closer cooperation with Member States and trusted partners; commends the EEAS for launching the FIMI Information Sharing and Analysis Centre to enhance cooperation and shared situational awareness; acknowledges that these efforts, supported by a reinforced budget for Strategic communication capacity of EUR 6,12 million in 2024, ensured a more robust, coordinated and comprehensive Union-wide response to FIMI threats; encourages the continued development and expansion of the network of ‘FIMI defenders’ through capacity-building initiatives; underlines that sustained and predictable funding is essential to ensure continuity and effectiveness in countering hybrid threats and FIMI; considers therefore that efforts should be made to effectively combat anti-EU disinformation campaigns and narratives deployed strategically by authoritarian and illiberal regimes that seek to undermine Union external action in third countries;

Change 12 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed16. Highlights that in 2024 the Union, with strong support from the EEAS, continued its comprehensive political, military, financial, diplomatic, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine in response to Russia’s war of aggression; underlines that a key milestone was the signing of the EU-Ukraine joint security commitments in June 2024, with Union accession identified as the ultimate security guarantee to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience, deterrence and long-term stability; notes that the EEAS worked closely with Member States, the G7, NATO and international partners to maintain unity, enforce restrictive measures against Russia, prevent sanctions circumvention, and support accountability initiatives, while conducting extensive global outreach in support of a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter and international law, including follow-up to the Peace Summit in Switzerland, support for Ukraine’s Peace Formula, participation in the International Crimea Platform, support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, and the Union’s accession in June 2024 to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children;

Added18. Emphasises the need to modernise the Union delegation network, particularly by strengthening the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU INTCEN) and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre; highlights that enhancing analytical capacity and crisis preparedness requires adequate staffing, up-to-date IT security, and sufficient administrative resources;

Removed17. Recalls that is crucial to further strengthen our support to human rights, democracy and development in third countries through the NDICI – Global Europe financial framework; highlight that maintaining specific funding for human rights and democracy, as well as a human rights-based approach and mainstreaming of human rights in our third-country support and partnerships, can serve to strengthen the Union’s standing globally and back up Union values; underlines that resources to the Union’s Digital Diplomacy should be further increased given the current context of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical competition; insists that ‘green diplomacy’ and the green transition, as one of the Union’s priorities, should be enhanced towards third countries through the Union’s External Action;

Added19. Recalls the calls of the Strategic Compass and of the Parliament to strengthen the Union’s intelligence and situational awareness capabilities; underlines that the Union’s growing analytical and crisis-management needs call for a reinforcement of the resources allocated to the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre, to ensure that they are adequately equipped to fulfil their mandates in an increasingly complex and demanding geopolitical environment; underlines the central role of EU INTCEN in delivering integrated, all-source analytical assessments in support of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and CSDP decision-making and stresses the potential of the Union delegation network, without prejudice to Member States’ competences, as a key contributor to situational awareness through the integration of relevant information already available at field level; considers that the establishment of a clearer and more visible budgetary allocation for EU INTCEN could facilitate enhanced transparency, democratic scrutiny and accountability within the discharge procedure;

Removed18. Notes with satisfaction from the Follow-up report the EEAS’ central role and actions in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, including by calling for the unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale, in line with international humanitarian principles; welcomes in this context the Vice-President/High Representative’s view expressed at the Hearing, whereby as a fundamental principle, whoever causes damages should also pay for it; notes that an estimation of damages is not feasible as long as access to Gaza is not possible;

Added20. Welcomes the establishment of the European Democracy Shield and the creation of a Centre for Democratic Resilience as important steps to strengthen the Union’s capacity to counter FIMI; welcomes the intention to expand the proposed European Democracy Shield to the accession countries, thereby reinforcing their capacity to respond to threats such as FIMI and disinformation campaigns; calls on the Commission and EEAS to deepen cooperation with vulnerable enlargement countries, on information resilience, cybersecurity and hybrid threats; calls on the EEAS and Union delegations in third countries to further strengthen their respective capacities in fighting and countering disinformation and propaganda against the Union’s CFSP, including by investing in communication campaigns to fight foreign influence;

Change 13 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed23.37. Sees election observation mission as a practical and effective foreign policy instrument that remains central to the Union’s democracy support policies and strategies; notes from the Follow-up report that the EEAS has no prospect toof extendextending observation work towards candidate and neighbouring countries, because observation missions adequately cover these countries led by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights which used a methodology similar to the Union’s and often sources experts from the same pool of professionals; reiterates nevertheless its call on the Union to ensure adequate resourcesresources, including expertise on the integrity of online information and interference risks in election observation methodologies to the Union’s election observation missions;

Change 14 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed25.39. Recalls that in 2021 Parliament proposed a pilot project ‘Towards the creation of the European Diplomatic Academy’ (EUDA) with the objective to create a critical mass of European diplomats trained on Union’s foreign relations and security and a European diplomatic culture that aims at enhancing the Union’s role as an effective foreign policy actors; notes that in the first phase of that pilot project, which covered the academic year 2022-2023, 42 young diplomats participated, while in the second phase, which covered the academic year 2023-2024, there were 50 participants; notes that the second phase ran over two identical 4-month course editions, followed by 1-month training assignment at EEAS Headquarters in Brussels; notes that courses and training programmeprogrammes were implemented by an academic consortium formed by the College of Europe in Belgium (Bruges) and Poland (Natolin); notes from the Questionnaire that, in line with the service contract EEAS/2022/OP/0168-2023, the College of Europe produced a final report containing the assessment of the second phase of the pilot project; calls on the EEAS to provide the discharge authority with that report; notes from the EEAS report on the annual accounts for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, with regard to budget implementation for the pilot phases of the EUDA,EU Diplomatic Academy, that the EEAS paid EUR 831 000 in 2022, EUR 120 000 in 2023 and EUR 862 000 in 2024; asks the EEAS to provide Parliament in the context of discharge procedure with copies of all documentation with regard to procurement procedures carried out, contracts signed and payments made in connection with phase 1 and phase 2 of the EUDAEU Diplomatic Academy pilot project;

Change 15 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed26.40. Notes further that on 21 May 2024, building on the experience and structure developed in the pilot phases, the Council adopted a decision to establish a fully-fledged EUDAEU Diplomatic Academy for four academic years starting with 2024-2025, whereas the course and training activities have been assigned to the College of Europe, while EUDAthe EU Diplomatic Academy will operate under the responsibility of the Vice-President/High Representative who will receive guidance from a steering committee composed of a representative designated by each Member State, as well as representative of Parliament, the Council and the Commission; notes from that decision that an intended amount of EUR 1,72 million shall cover the period 1 July 2024-30 June 2025, whereas the management of the expenditure in connection with EUDAthe EU Diplomatic Academy is supervised by the Commission through the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments;

Change 16 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed27.41. Notes that, following the creation of the CGS in 2023, the EEAS updated its Internal Control Framework (ICF) in 2024 to reflect the role of the Chief Governance Officer and introduce a monitoring mechanism on internal controls; notes from the Questionnaire that the ICF of the EEAS is aligned with that of the Commission; notes that, in addition to the standard annual assessment of its internal control system, the EEAS carried out in 2024 a survey among 167 respondents/staff, all with Authorising Officers by Sub-Delegation (AOSD) responsibilities, whereas the results of that survey are discussed at senior management level in the EEAS’ Internal Control Committee; notes that that survey highlighted 185183 areas that need attention, especially with regard to challenges that Union delegations are facing such as awareness on internal controls and risk management, recruiting and retaining qualified staff and IT services; welcomes the fact that the EEAS devised an action plan to rectify existing concerns and pro-actively address potential risks; invites the EEAS to keep the discharge authority updated on these matters;

Change 17 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Added42. Encourages the EEAS to strengthen internal controls and document management systems, addressing weaknesses identified by the Court, in particular those concerning information management and reporting from Union delegations;

Change 18 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed33.48. Notes from the Annual activity report of the EEAS (the ‘EEAS 2024 report’) for 2024 that the operations of each Union delegation are periodically evaluated (every 4-5 years) through inspection missions and strategic corporate exercises; notes that 26 Union delegations were inspected in 2024 which led to the formulation of 1 000 recommendations and advicesadvice to the Union delegations inspected and Headquarters services, including six critical recommendations and aboutapproximately 100 very important ones; notes with concern from the Questionnaire that two Union delegations received critical recommendations concerning internal management; welcomes the fact that the EEAS has applied strict follow-up in both cases and, although one inspection remains open due to its complexity, the EEAS is actively supporting the delegation to resolve the outstanding issues and implement the required corrective measures;

Change 19 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed34.49. Notes that the EEAS is broadly on schedule to meet the Court’s end-2025 deadline forto implementingimplement the recommendations of the Court’s Special Report 02/2024 on ‘The coordination role of the European External Action Service’;Service’ by the end of 2025; acknowledges that all newly appointed Heads of Delegation received mission letters in 2024 and 2025, and that improved feedback mechanisms and the Annual Management Plan process have strengthened coordination between Headquarters and Union delegations; welcomes the ongoing implementation of the EEAS information management strategy, including the full roll-out of the HIVE collaborative platform, used by over 16 500 staff ;staff; notes the continued work with the Commission, Council and Member States on enhancing interoperability and progressing discussions on a standardised security classification; further notes the completion of the Union delegations’ workload assessment in September 2024, which informed the subsequent political agreement on the modernisation of the Union delegation network in May 2025; notes the EEAS status of ‘associated service’ in audits carried out by the Court, whereas four audits (Special reportsReports 17/2024, 18/2024, 06/2024 and 04/2025) were finalised in 2024 and two audits (Special Report 17/2025, 20/2025) were launched in 2024 and finalised in 2025; notes in this context with satisfaction the good cooperation of the EEAS with the Commission’s directorate generals concerned by those audits;

Change 20 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed35.50. Notes that the EEAS was employingemploying, excluding local staff, a total of 2 902 members of staff, including 1 268 officials, 442 temporary agents, 619 contract agents and 573 seconded national experts (SNEs),in 2024, compared to 2 812 members of staff, including 1 245 officials, 450 temporary agents, 603 contract agents and 514 SNEs in 2023; remindsrecalls the importance of providing permanent contracts in order to maintain skills, continuity and productive working environment;

Change 21 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed36.51. Notes from the EEAS 2024 report that, of a total of 5 355 people working in the EEAS, 47 % were working in the EEAS headquarters and 53 % in Union delegations at the end of 2024, with 1 622 as Locallocal Agentsagents in Union delegations; notes that, during the Hearing, Members raised concerns regarding the alleged dismissal of local staff in certain Union delegations without due respect for local labour law; notes that, following that hearing, CONT Members submitted additional written questions; notes from the EEAS replies to those questions (the ‘Second questionnaire’), that on 14 May 2025 the Commissioners’ Project Group on External Action endorsed a project for the modernisation of the Union delegations network; notes that the implementation of this project entails, inter alia, the centralisation of finance, contracts and audit functions for the six Western Balkans Union delegations at DG ENESTEnlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood headquarters, as well as a reduction in the number of staff working on finance and contracts in those Union delegations, based on assessments carried out in consultation with legal advisers; notes that, in relation to the redundancy package, the EEAS claims that all rights under the local law and the Union’s internal rules have been respected, with financial packages for economic redundancy being the most favourable between the ones mandated by the local law and the Union ones, and this despite the concerns expressed by the local agents in the relevant Union delegations; notes further notes that the EEAS in collaboration with the Commission is patterningpartnering closely with local law firm who provide guidance on any local legal requirements, thus ensuring the implementation of the redundancy process in full compliance with the applicable local labour laws; call on the EEAS to fully consult the local staff representative when designing the dismissal plan for local staff; notes with concerns from the answers from the Questionnaire that if a Union delegation is relocated to a different country, such as in the event of an evacuation (e.g. Sudan sub-office moving to Egypt), local agents employed in the origin country are made redundant, leaving them behind without security; callcalls on the EEAS to find viable solutions for the security and safety of local staff who have been working loyally in Union delegations;

Change 22 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed37. Notes that 46,60 % of all EEAS staff were women in 2024 (compared to 46,80 % in 2023); notes with regard to women representation and the posts they occupied in the EEAS in 2024, that 40 % were Administrators , 63,78 % were Assistants, 73,25 % were Assistant-Secretaries, 56,70 % were Contractual Agents and 26,87 % Seconded National Experts; notes with satisfaction from the EEAS 2024 report the institution’s efforts to achieve greater representation of women in management positions; notes in this context an upward trend with regard to senior management positions, with 37,30 % of women in 2024 (compared to 31 % in 2023), but a slight decrease with regard to middle management positions with 38,70 % of women in 2024 (compared to 40,40 % in 2023); welcomes an increase from 35,50 % in 2023 to 36,10 % in 2024 with regard to representation of women in Head of Delegation positions;

Added52. Expresses serious concern regarding reports of insufficient social dialogue and the inclusion of protected staff representatives among local agents affected by redundancies in certain Union delegations; recalls that respect for local labour law, social dialogue obligations and the protection of staff representatives are essential elements of sound administration and the Union’s credibility as an employer

Removed38. Notes from the Follow-up report the EEAS efforts to mobilise additional applications from underrepresented gender; welcomes in this context the organisation of four executive trainings on gender-responsive leadership (GRL) which reached 80 % of EEAS senior managers and a full four-month programme on GRL for 18 managers from Union delegations in 2024; notes further that the EEAS established its new Gender Focal Point network and created a Task Force on Istanbul Convention which presented in 2024 a mid-term report with an action plan; notes the work of the EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity to integrate a gender perspective in human rights dialogues and key multilateral statements and resolutions; invites on the EEAS to continue providing updates on the latest developments of the GAP for 2021-2025, and the actions taken to further promote the participation of women in all diplomatic and political dialogues;

Added53. Stresses that any restructuring, relocation or redundancy affecting local staff must be preceded by meaningful consultation with staff representatives and accompanied by concrete measures to safeguard the rights, security and dignity of local agents, in particular in crisis or evacuation contexts; calls on the EEAS to assess and report to the discharge authority on the cost-effectiveness of staff reductions compared to alternative organisational solutions, including the long-term financial, operational and reputational impacts of redundancies affecting local staff;

Removed39. Notes the efforts made by the EEAS to create a diverse and representative workforce; appreciates that all Member States are represented among the EEAS staff; regrets however that certain imbalances persist, with some Member State being over-represented; notes that at the end of 2024 three Member States (one Member State in 2025) continued having no Union Ambassador, while Ambassadors from five Member States occupied 56 % of all Union’s Ambassadors posts (144), up from 54 % in 2023; reiterates its call on the EEAS to continue ensuring a sound geographical balance throughout its organisation and on all levels; encourages the search for employees and the promotion of recruitment processes among under-represented countries;

Added54. Calls on the EEAS to further improve the security of Union delegations, including cybersecurity, physical security and crisis evacuation capabilities, and to systematically report on progress and remaining vulnerabilities;

Change 23 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed42.60. Notes that in 2024 the EEAS continued to strengthen a safe, respectful and ethical working environment; welcomes the expanded accessibility of the mandatory e-learning on respect and dignity at work, recognising and addressing harassment with 1 900 staff members of staff having completed the training in 2024; welcomes the fact that 57 % of managers attended a similar mandatory training in 2024; commends the EEAS for offering trainingstraining on resilience and trauma management for staff in crisis zones and for Regional Security Officers in 2024; further welcomes the adoption of a Decision extending protection against psychological and sexual harassment to local staff in Union delegations, who now have access to the EEAS formal procedures in case of harassment allegations;

Change 24 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed43.61. Notes with satisfaction the actions taken by the EEAS in 2024 in the framework of its Diversity and Inclusion Agenda for 2023-2025, in particular targeted actions for gender, ethnicity, disability, age, and LGBTIQ+ groups; notes in this context the EEAS incorporated Diversity and Inclusion topics into training, provided information to LGBTIQ+ staff on legal and cultural situations in posting countries and reinforced its diversity recruitment efforts; commends further the EEAS for updating its Roadmap for Action on Disability, doing a survey on disability matters, producing accessibility factsheets for Union delegations conducting an accessibility assessment of its website and providing financial aid for non-medical costs to 26 staff members with children with disabilities; calls on the EEAS to continue to regularly train managerial and non-managerial staff on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging;

Change 25 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed44.62. Notes from the Questionnaire that in 2024 the EEAS received 16 requests for assistance for allegations of psychological harassment, including several concerning the same staffmember member,of staff, which led to the opening of four administrative inquiries, and that one alleged case involving a Commission staff member of staff was referred to the competent Commission authority; notes that four formal procedures were also initiated for local agents in Union delegation, but no prima facie evidence was found to justify the opening of an administrative inquiry; notes that six cases were concluded during the year and that disciplinary or corrective measures were applied where appropriate, including disciplinary sanctions in two cases and a non-disciplinary warning in another case;

Change 26 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed47.65. Notes with concern about the European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s (EPPO) investigation launched in 2025 into a potential procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interestsinterest and violation of professional secrecy case, involving strong suspicions of breaches of competition rules in connection with the award by the EEAS to the College of Europe, in the period 2021-2022, of a tender procedure for a nine-month training programme related to the implementation of a pilot project for the creation of EUDA;the EU Diplomatic Academy; underlines that the creation of the EU Diplomatic Academy represents a strategic step towards strengthening the Union’s diplomatic capacity and developing a genuinely European diplomatic culture; notes that the investigation focuses on whether the College of Europe and/or their representatives were informed in advance about the selection criteria of the tender procedure and had sufficient reason to believe that they would be awarded the implementation of the project, prior to the official publication by the EEAS of the tender notice; further notes that following raids within the EEAS and the College of Europe, the Belgian police detained and then released three suspects in December 2025, i.e. a former Vice-President/High Representative, currently Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the EUDA,EU Diplomatic Academy, as well as the current Directordirector Generalgeneral of the Commission’s Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, and a former Secretary-General of the EEAS; notes with concern that the Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the EU Diplomatic Academy resigned in the context of the ongoing investigation linked to procurement irregularities and the EU Diplomatic Academy; notes that such a situation, in which a public tender may have been rigged in favour of a higher education institution, risks undermining trust in Union institutions, as allegations of irregularities in public procurement can cast doubt on transparency, fairness, and equal treatment of candidates; understands nevertheless that facts related to the EPPO investigations are under strict confidentiality rules and cannot be disclosed in the context of the discharge procedure and emphasises that no conclusions should be drawn before the judicial process is concluded; welcomes that the EEAS committed to make the relevant documents available once the judicial investigations are closed; requests that any suspicion of fraud be duly investigated, with the full cooperation by the EEAS, andEEAS; demands the EEASEEAS, without prejudice to reinforceongoing itsinvestigations, anti-fraudto frameworkdraw systemic lessons from this case, in order to provide serious guarantees that such cases will not be repeated in the future; asks that the discharge authority be kept informed accordingly on the subsequent developments; notes that under the grant agreement entrusting the EU Diplomatic Academy to the College of Europe, the College has an obligation to provide an expenditure verification report with its final report, prepared by an external auditor and to be submitted shortly for 2024, ensuring full transparency over the EUR 1,8 million spent across 2022–2024; also takes note that at the end of December 2025, the EEAS initiated the review process of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1472 establishing the EU Diplomatic Academy by launching an independent external evaluation of the EU Diplomatic Academy and of the performance of the College of Europe in implementing the education and training activities of the EU Diplomatic Academy; calls on the EEAS to share with the discharge authority both the expenditure verification report and the external evaluation, to ensure accountability and transparency; calls on the EEAS to provide Parliament with detailed information on the implementation of the Internal Audit Service's procurement-related recommendations; requests that the EEAS publish the findings and recommendations of the Task Force established in 2024 to strengthen procurement processes, in order to allow public scrutiny of their implementation and to enable other Union institutions to benefit from the lessons learned by the EEAS in improving procurement procedures; notes furthermore the decision of the Steering Committee of the EU Diplomatic Academy in its 18 December 2025 meeting to request the College of Europe to ensure a transparent and competitive recruitment process, based on the publication of a vacancy notice, for the appointment of a new Director of the EU Diplomatic Academy; welcomes that the Steering Committee further requested that the function of Director of the EU Diplomatic Academy be separated from that of Rector of the College of Europe; underlines the need for vigilant and effective parliamentary oversight to safeguard procurement integrity, ethical standards, and the protection of Union financial interests and reputation; reiterates that transparency and sound financial management in the use of Union public funds must remain a core principle for all Union institutions and bodies, including the EEAS, and that this principle is a cornerstone to maintaining citizens’ trust in the Union’s external action; believes that the EPPO investigation should not be used to undermine the role of the EU Diplomatic Academy, whose added value is to be fully recognised, in particular in views of the consistently positive feedback received from participants and Member States;

Change 27 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed48.66. Notes the EEAS’ reporting whereby the first full year of implementing the 2023 anti-fraud strategy led to a more robust and coherent anti-fraud architecture, strengthening the institution’s overall integrity and transparency; notes that that strategy was operationalised through enhanced fraud awareness trainingstraining and prevention measures that are better aligned with the specific responsibilities of different staff groups at headquarters and delegations, dissemination of internal guidelines and reinforcement of secure reporting channels; notes that EEAS staff has access to a learning path on anti-fraud developed by European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), as part of the implementation of the Commission anti-fraud strategy action on developing a joint ethics and anti-fraud training plan with the EEAS; welcomes the continued promotion of the 16 ‘principles of professional behaviour’ during mandatory ‘Ethics and integrity’ and ‘Anti-harassment policy’ courses;

Change 28 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed49.67. Notes from the Questionnaire that the EEAS registered two whistleblowing cases in 2024; notes that both cases were examined by OLAF and closed without recommendations, either following investigation or at the selection stage; notes with satisfaction from the EEAS 2024 report that the EEAS started working on developing its own whistleblower policy; asks that Parliament is updated on the progress made in this matter; insists that the EEAS whistleblower framework include confidential reporting, protection against retaliation for all categories of staff including local agents, and annual anonymised reporting on cases and outcomes;

Change 29 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed53. Notes that, in her capacity as Vice-President of the Commission, the Vice-President/High Representative is bound by the rules of the Transparency Register; stresses that while the EEAS is not an Institution within the meaning of Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union and does not have a direct role in Union law, it does, however, have an important role in Union law with regard to decisions concerning sanctions and the negotiation of international trade agreements, which have a considerable regulatory impact; notes that it would be of great relevance for the EEAS to adopt transparency measures and notify them to the management board of the Transparency Register; notes with satisfaction from the Follow-up report that the Vice-President/High Representative initiated a broader discussion on addressing the matter in external dimension with recommendations expected by the end of 2025; invites the EEAS to keep Parliament updated on the progress made in this matter;

Added71. Deplores the fact that the EEAS has failed to carry out proper reviews of the implementation of cooperation agreements with third countries, including the assessment of compliance with their conditions and human rights clauses; stresses that this failure is particularly evident in the case of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with Cuba, which, ten years after its signature, has failed across all areas, from respect for human rights, including the imprisonment of over one thousand political prisoners by the end of 2025, to Havana's harmful impact on European security, including close political and military cooperation with the regimes in Moscow and Minsk, as manifested in particular by the fact that Cubans have become the largest group of mercenaries supporting Russian forces in their aggression against Ukraine and by their involvement in acts of sabotage on EU territory, as recently demonstrated in Lithuania; notes that, despite blatant violations of numerous provisions of the Agreement, neither the suspension nor the termination clauses have been activated, while Union financial resources have continued to flow to Cuba, where the communist regime controls the entire economy, misuses those funds, and derives political legitimacy from the ongoing cooperation under the PDCA; considers that such regimes must not continue to benefit from privileged cooperation with the European Union and that Union taxpayers’ money must not serve such regimes; therefore calls for the activation of Article 86 of the Agreement and for its termination; calls on the Court to urgently examine all Union support granted to Cuba since 2016;

Removed54. Notes that during the Hearing, CONT Members expressed concerns with regard to the use of a Signal chat by the Vice-President/High Representative to communicate with Foreign Ministers of Members States; notes that such concerns were linked to the lack of transparency and risks of possible spying activities; notes from the EEAS replies to the Second questionnaire that the Signal chat in question is open to Member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs only, solely for informal exchanges, coordinating meetings or sharing updates and never as decision-making tool, whereas substantive discussions and the formulation of political positions occur within the relevant structures of the Council;

Added72. Notes that, in her capacity as Vice-President of the Commission, the Vice-President/High Representative is bound by the rules of the Transparency Register; stresses that while the EEAS is not an institution within the meaning of Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union and does not have a direct role in Union law, it does, however, have an important role in Union law with regard to decisions concerning sanctions and the negotiation of international trade agreements, which have a considerable regulatory impact; calls on the EEAS to adopt internal transparency measures aligned with the Transparency Register’s standards, including proactive publication of high-level meetings of relevant top management where this does not compromise security-sensitive diplomacy for the EEAS; notes with satisfaction from the Follow-up report that the Vice-President/High Representative initiated a broader discussion on addressing the matter in external dimension with recommendations expected by the end of 2025; invites the EEAS to keep Parliament updated on the progress made in this matter;

Added73. Notes that during the Hearing, CONT Members expressed concerns with regard to the use of a Signal chat by the Vice-President/High Representative to communicate with Foreign Ministers of Members States; notes that such concerns were linked to the lack of transparency and risks of possible spying activities; notes from the EEAS replies to the Second questionnaire that the Signal chat in question is open to Member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs only, solely for informal exchanges, coordinating meetings or sharing updates and never as decision-making tool, whereas substantive discussions and the formulation of political positions occur within the relevant structures of the Council; recalls that even informal digital communication tools used at political level should be accompanied by clear guidance on cybersecurity, record-keeping and institutional memory, in order to safeguard transparency, accountability and the integrity of Union decision-making;

Change 30 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed57. Commends the EEAS for its actions to enhance cybersecurity preparedness, through regular security briefings covering a broad range of staff and affiliates, along with training sessions organised upon request from different user groups, including Regional Security Officers (RSOs) and Union Delegation Security Coordinators (DSCs) and phishing exercises; looks forward to the introduction of mandatory cybersecurity training for all EEAS’ members of staff; notes with satisfaction from the Questionnaire the tools - such as the EEAS’ Security Operations Centre - with which the EEAS is equipped to monitor cyber threats and identify security vulnerabilities in real-time;

Added76. Stresses that the deployment of artificial intelligence tools in external action must be accompanied by strict safeguards on data protection, fundamental rights, transparency and human oversight, including in Union delegations and cooperation with third-country partners; calls for regular reporting to Parliament on implementation of the EEAS Artificial Intelligence Strategy;

Removed58. Commends the EEAS for the digital tools and systems it uses in the fight against FIMI, such as FIMI Information Sharing and Analysis Centre or the Rapid Alert System; notes further from the Questionnaire the launch of an e-learning course on countering disinformation, accessible to all Union institutions, and the completion of a CSDP handbook on disinformation designed to support field staff in Union military and civilian missions; observes the ongoing development of the EUvsDisinfo awareness-raising initiative;

Added77. Commends the EEAS for its actions to enhance cybersecurity preparedness, through regular security briefings covering a broad range of staff and affiliates, along with training sessions organised upon request from different user groups, including Regional Security Officers (RSOs) and Union Delegation Security Coordinators (DSCs) and phishing exercises; calls on the EEAS to provide regular mandatory cybersecurity training for all EEAS’ members of staff; notes with satisfaction from the Questionnaire the tools - such as the EEAS’ Security Operations Centre - with which the EEAS is equipped to monitor cyber threats and identify security vulnerabilities in real-time;

Removed59. Notes from the Questionnaire and the EEAS 2024 report that the EEAS detected approximately 27 000 alerts, of which 348 required further investigation; observes that 57 of the latter were confirmed as attacks, and 5 had a significant impact on the EEAS operations; notes with satisfaction that the EEAS identified the attackers’ tactics, techniques, and procedures and used this analysis to strengthen its countermeasures; asks for clarification regarding the extent to which these attacks affected the institution’s activities;

Added78. Commends the EEAS for the digital tools and systems it uses in the fight against FIMI, such as FIMI Information Sharing and Analysis Centre or the Rapid Alert System; further notes from the Questionnaire the launch of an e-learning course on countering disinformation, accessible to all Union institutions, and the completion of a CSDP handbook on disinformation designed to support field staff in Union military and civilian missions; welcomes the ongoing development of the EUvsDisinfo awareness-raising initiative and stresses the importance of further collaborations with Member States in order to tackle more efficiently hybrid threats on the ground;

Change 31 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed60.80. Notes that in 2024 the EEAS had a global network of 328 Union delegation buildings used as offices and residences for Heads of Delegation and three office buildings at Headquarters in Brussels; notes that, by the end of 2024, the EEAS occupied three buildings in Brussels with a total surface area of 87 506 m² and made use of 175 office buildings for Union delegations in third countries, amounting to 287 000 m² of space; notes further notes that the Union owned 23%23 % of these Union delegation premises, while the remaining 77%77 % were rented; notes with concern from the Questionnaire a shortage in resources limiting the implementation of the EEAS buildings policy, whereas the EEAS would need more infrastructure experts to increase its capacity to conduct real estate projects;

Change 32 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed61.81. Notes with appreciation that the EEAS reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the network of 145 Union delegations and reinforcing the One Delegation principle; observes that ongoing modernisation seeks to enhance efficiency and align the network with Union’s priorities while addressing budgetary constraints; underlines that, until financial conditions improve, strict savings measures, cost-sharing discussions with the Commission, and targeted reinforcement of key Union delegations will continue; expressescalls someon the EEAS to implement a periodic workload assessment and staffing-need methodology for delegations, linked to risk level and mandate expansion, to prevent burnout and improve retention; expresses concerns about the plan to reduceimplement new distinctions in terms of categories and resourcing among delegations; deplores that reducing the dimension of some Union delegations and to cutcutting staffstaff, in a shift from its original focus on development aid and economic cooperation to some strategic interests, whichrisks seemsundermining the operational activities and presence of the Union in third countries, and hampering the EEAS´ ability to penalisefulfil its mandate and defend Union values, with particular incidence to Union relations with the Global South and the Southern Neighbourhood; callcalls on the EEAS to maintain its pivotal role and strategic priority in the Mediterranean region based on a comprehensive assessment of the Union’s geopolitical challenges;challenges, while continuing its ongoing engagement with the Eastern neighbouring countries;

Change 33 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Added83. Calls on the EEAS to strengthen practical coordination mechanisms with the Member States’ diplomatic missions in third countries, including through shared services, joint logistical arrangements and enhanced information-sharing, in order to maximise efficiency and ensure optimal use of the Union and national resources;

Change 34 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed66.87. Notes from the EEAS 2024 report that by the end of 2024, co-location arrangements increased to 137 (45 with Member States and partner countries and 92 with other Union partners); observes that co-location has grown rapidly, more than doubling in the past six years and increasing more than six-fold since 2011; underlines that co-location now accounts for 8%8 % of Union delegation office space and involves 80 Union delegations, with sustainability principles consistently applied across all shared working environments;

Change 35 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed67.88. Welcomes the fact that the EEAS is focused on ensuring that its buildings are accessible to people with disabilities and reduced mobility; notes from the Questionnaire that in 2024 there were regular meetings held with the EEAS real estate division, security division and other Commission services to exchange best practices onon, among others, accessibility and evacuation of buildings among other;buildings;

Change 36 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed68.89. Highlights the EEAS’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in 2024, including LED re-lamping and ‘New Ways of Working’ renovations in the Schuman building, insulation of water and heating pipes, optimisation of HVAC systems, and standardised temperature set points; notes the progressive installation of central waste sorting stations in the Schuman building and full deployment in the Belmont and NEO buildings, alongside ongoing energy-saving measures; acknowledges the procurement of 100񒂣%100 % renewable electricity (EUR 1,569 million) and on-site solar generation of 22,286 kWh, with the Schuman building’s decarbonisation path towards 2050 combining short-term management and insulation measures with long-term upgrades such as photovoltaic installations and replacement of gas heating with heat pumps;

Change 37 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed71.92. Appreciates that that sustainability considerations are embedded into procurement through green public procurement (GPP) clauses in tender templates; notes that 38 % of high-value Headquarters contracts and 87 % of procurement templates included GPP clauses in 2024; notes with satisfaction that Union delegations applied green criteria in procurements for vehicles, IT equipment, and cleaning services, and further efforts are planned for 2025, including a dedicated GPP info hub, for Union delegations, on the HIVE platform; notes that 16 high-value tenders concluded with environmental performance indicators and 6 contracts were signed with relevance to GPP in 2024;

Change 38 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed72.93. Notes from the Questionnaire that the EEAS continued its close cooperation with OLAF and the relevant Commission Directorates-Generaldirectorates-general in implementing the Commission anti-fraud strategy, notably through the development of joint trainingstraining programmes and a shared anti-fraud training pathway, as well as through targeted actions to address specific fraud risks in Union delegations; notes with satisfaction that the EEAS strengthened its operational framework by signing working arrangements with the EPPO in June 2024;

Change 39 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed74. Welcomes the fact that EEAS communication actions are coordinated and harmonised with other institutions through the EU Communication Directors’ network, interinstitutional platforms with Parliament and the Commission and the RELEX subgroup on Protection of Cultural Heritage and Internal Cultural Relations;

Added95. Recalls that, in accordance with the Treaties, the Union’s external action and the EEAS are intended to support, coordinate and complement the diplomatic action of the Member States; underlines the importance of close cooperation in order to avoid inefficiencies;

Added96. Welcomes the fact that EEAS communication actions are coordinated and harmonised with other institutions through the EU Communication Directors’ network, interinstitutional platforms with Parliament and the Commission and the RELEX subgroup on Protection of Cultural Heritage and International Cultural Relations;

Change 40 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed75.97. Notes from the Questionnaire that the EEAS allocated EUR 1 745 000 – supplemented by EUR 107 968,67 in C5 credits – for public information and events, with a 99,70 % implementation rate in 2024; highlights that this funding supported the procurement of digital services, communication and graphic products, and the organisation of public events such as Europe Day; further notes that the budget also financed the production and dissemination of online content, the management of corporate social media accounts, and assistance to Union delegations in strengthening their digital presence;

Change 41 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed77.99. Encourages the continuation of the process of increasing communication with third-country nationals on Union policy, as well as increased coordination efforts to raise the profile of Union-funded projects, particularly in candidate countries, in order to counter attempts by actors acting in bad faith to undermine the Union’s efforts; reiterates, furthermore, its call on the Commission to ensure full visibility and public awareness of the Union’s support and investments in third countries with a clear signposting and the flag of the Union;

Change 42 under “2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Added101. Notes that the EEAS reached, through its EUvsDisinfo campaign, over 38 million users and documented more than 18 000 cases, demonstrating the scale and systemic nature of pro-Kremlin disinformation in 2024