Date: 2020-12-14Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision (EU) 2020/2044 of the European Parliament of 20 October 2020 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018, Section II – European Council and Council
Executive Summary:
This document is a decision of the European Parliament concerning the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018, specifically Section II, which pertains to the European Council and Council. The decision was made on October 20, 2020. The President of the European Parliament is instructed to forward the decision and its resolution to relevant EU bodies and arrange for publication in the Official Journal.
Key Points / Main Content:
Decision:
* The European Parliament refuses to grant the Secretary-General of the Council discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Council and of the Council for the financial year 2018.
* The observations are set out in the resolution that accompanies this decision.
Instructions:
* The President of the European Parliament is instructed to forward the decision and the resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Commission, and the Court of Auditors.
* The President is to arrange for the publication of the decision and resolution in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).
Impact Analysis:
European Council, Council, Commission, and Court of Auditors:
* Impact: These institutions will be informed of the European Parliament's refusal to grant discharge for the 2018 budget implementation concerning the European Council and Council. They will also receive the resolution outlining the Parliament's observations.
* Action Required: Review the decision and resolution, and take appropriate measures based on the observations and concerns raised by the European Parliament.
Secretary-General of the Council:
* Impact: The Secretary-General is directly impacted by the refusal of discharge related to the budget implementation for the financial year 2018.
* Action Required: Review the accompanying resolution and address the concerns raised by the European Parliament.
President of the European Parliament:
* Impact: The President is tasked with specific actions to disseminate the decision.
* Action Required: Forward the decision and resolution to the specified institutions and arrange for their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Entities Referenced
European Parliament: A legislative body of the European Union, directly elected by EU citizens.
European Council: A body of the European Union comprising the heads of state or government of the member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
Council of the European Union: Also known as the Council, it is a body of the European Union representing the governments of the member states.
Court of Auditors: The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is one of the institutions of the European Union (EU). It is established to audit EU finances.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining the EU's scope of operations.
Regulation EU, Euratom No 966/2012: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
Regulation EU, Euratom 2018/1046: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending several regulations and repealing Regulation EU, Euratom No 966/2012.
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
14.12.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 420/13
DECISIONS
DECISION (EU) 2020/2044 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
of 20 October 2020
on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the
financial year 2018, Section II – European Council and Council
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,
— having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018(1),
— having regard to the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2018 (COM(2019) 316
– C9-0052/2019)(2),
— having regard to the Council’s annual report to the discharge authority on internal audits carried out in 2018,
— having regard to the Court of Auditors’ annual report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial
year 2018, together with the institutions’ replies(3),
— having regard to the statement of assurance(4) as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the
underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2018, pursuant to Article 287 of the
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
— having regard to its decision of 13 May 2020(5) postponing the discharge decision for the financial year 2018, and the
accompanying resolution,
— having regard to Article 314(10) and Articles 317, 318 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union,
— having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002(6), and in particular Articles 55, 99, 164, 165 and 166 thereof,
— having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018
on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU)
No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU)
No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom)
No 966/2012(7), and in particular Articles 59, 118, 260, 261 and 262 thereof,
— having regard to Rule 100 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,
— having regard to the second report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A9-0189/2020),
1. Refuses to grant the Secretary-General of the Council discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the
European Council and of the Council for the financial year 2018;
2. Sets out its observations in the resolution below;
3. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the resolution forming an integral part of it to the European
Council, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, and to arrange for their publication in the Official Journal
of the European Union (L series).
The President The Secretary-General
David Maria SASSOLI Klaus WELLE
(1) OJ L 51, 28.2.2017, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 327, 30.9.2019, p. 1
(3) OJ C 357, 4.10.2018, p. 1.
(4) OJ C 357, 4.10.2018, p. 9.
(5) Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0090.
(6) OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1.