On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2022

The Committee on Transport and Tourism suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control include these points in its motion for a resolution on discharge for the European Union Agency for Railways for the 2022 financial year.¶ It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the Agency's 2022 accounts are legal and regular, and notes the budget figures and outturn.¶¶¶ It welcomes the Agency's work on the 4th Railway Package, its authorisations and safety certificates, and its report on EU railway safety and interoperability.¶¶¶ It commends the Agency's efficiency and budget execution but notes that its budget is insufficient and the smallest among transport agencies.¶¶ It proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Agency's Executive Director for the 2022 financial year.¶

Position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism suggests that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate its points into the motion for a resolution, and proposes that Parliament grant discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency for the 2022 financial year.¶¶

Key points

1. The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the motion for a resolution.¶
2. It welcomes the Court of Auditors' finding that the Agency's accounts for 2022 are legal and regular in all material aspects.¶
3. It notes the Agency's final annual budget for 2022 was estimated at EUR 34.98 million, with an implementation rate of 99.95% in commitments, and that due to lower-than-planned fees and charges revenues the final budget was EUR 33.9 million.¶
4. It notes the budget outturn in 2022 was EUR 81 821, up from EUR 69 638 in 2021.¶
5. It welcomes that the Railway Package Steering Group continued its activities evaluating the Agency's preparedness for the 4th Railway Package.¶
6. It salutes the increase in the Agency's delivery of authorisations for placing 1861 railway vehicles on the market, 66 single safety certificates for railway undertakings and 2 ERTMS trackside approvals, and recalls the importance of completion of ERTMS by 2030.¶
7. It welcomes the report on EU Railway safety and interoperability.¶
8. It commends the Agency's efficiency and budget execution through the Strengthening Action Plan adopted as part of the Single Programming Document 2023-2025, but notes these efforts cannot compensate the insufficient budget.¶
9. It recalls that the Agency has the smallest budget among the transport agencies despite the environmental benefits of rail prioritized by the Commission.¶
10. It proposes that Parliament grants discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2022.¶

Who is affected

• The European Union Agency for Railways, whose 2022 budget implementation is assessed and for which discharge is proposed.¶¶¶
• The Committee on Budgetary Control, which is asked to incorporate the suggestions into its motion for a resolution.¶
• The Executive Director of the Agency, to whom discharge would be granted.¶

Figures and deadlines

• EUR 34.98 million: the Agency's final annual budget for 2022 was estimated at this amount.¶
• EUR 26.28 million from EU subsidy, EUR 8 million from fees and charges: components of the estimated budget.¶
• 99.95%: the implementation rate in commitments.¶
• EUR 33.9 million: the final budget after a budget amendment due to lower-than-planned fees and charges revenues.¶
• EUR 81 821: the budget outturn in 2022.¶
• EUR 69 638: the budget outturn in 2021.¶
• 1861 railway vehicles, 66 single safety certificates, 2 ERTMS trackside approvals: the Agency's delivery of authorisations.¶
• 2030: the deadline for completion of ERTMS.¶