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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2024/2295 10.10.2024
RESOLUTION (EU) 2024/2295 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
of 11 April 2024
with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the
implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year
2022
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,
— having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute
for Gender Equality for the financial year 2022,
— having regard to Rule 100 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,
— having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality,
— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A9-0096/2024),
A. whereas, according to its statement of revenue and expenditure(1), the final budget of the European Institute for
Gender Equality (the ‘Institute’) for the financial year 2022 was EUR 8 432 919,91, representing a decrease of
2,99 % compared to 2021;
B. whereas the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’), in its report on the annual accounts of the European Institute for Gender
Equality for the financial year 2022 (the ‘Court’s report’), states that it has obtained reasonable assurance that the
Institute’s annual accounts are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular;
C. whereas Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) states that in all its activities the
Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, thereby establishing the principle of gender mainstreaming, and to
promote gender equality between men and women; whereas gender equality must be incorporated into all Union
policies, including via gender budgeting at all levels of the budgetary process;
D. whereas the 2023 Gender Equality Index demonstrates that Member States have made a modest increase of only 1,6
points to reach 70,2, with some domains showing signs of regression, in particular in economic and income
metrics(2); whereas the Institute was established in order to contribute to, and strengthen the promotion of, gender
equality in the Union, including gender mainstreaming in all Union policies and the resulting national policies, to
fight against discrimination based on gender, and to raise Union citizens’ awareness of gender equality;
Budget and financial management
1. Notes that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation rate of
current year commitment appropriations of 97,91 %, representing a decrease of 1,01 % compared to 2021; notes
that the current year payment appropriations execution rate was 81,10 %, representing an increase of 9,72 %
compared to 2021; commends the Institute for the close monitoring of budget implementation and the satisfactory
budget implementation rates in 2022, despite the challenges of that year linked to the war of aggression against
Ukraine and the economic volatility in the Union; acknowledges the decrease in the Institute’s carry-over operating
expenditure to 42,28 % in 2023, compared to 54,79 % in 2022;
2. Notes that the amount of the Institute’s final budget is the result of amending budgets of a total of EUR 175 000
adopted by the Institute’s management board due to the sharp rise in the rate of inflation in the Union and
particularly in Lithuania in 2022, an indexation of salaries of 6,9 % and a rise in the correction coefficient
applicable to Lithuania of 7,3 %;
3. Notes with concern that, according to the Court’s report, the Institute had not disclosed, for a framework contract
for event organisation services, the related earmarked budget appropriations of EUR 3,7 million in the Institute’s
single programming documents (SPD), thus undermining the budgetary transparency towards the Institute’s board
and other stakeholders; calls on the Institute to include all operational framework contracts in its single
programming documents;
(1) OJ C 38, 31.1.2023, p. 63.
(2) https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023
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Performance
4. Observes that the Institute uses certain key performance indicators in relation to operational objectives to assess the
added value provided by its activities; notes with appreciation that the Institute achieved 96,1 % of its work
programme in 2022 and reached the targets set in the amended 2022-2024 single programming document;
5. Welcomes the fact that in 2022 the Institute supported Union policymaking by monitoring gaps and trends in
gender equality by launching the Gender Equality Index, and organised its first Gender Equality Forum, which
featured various panel discussions, workshops and experience sessions by high-level political decision-makers and
members of civil society; notes further that the Institute produced a policy brief regarding the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on young women and men, providing recommendations to engage and empower the youth;
notes in addition that the Institute published a report entitled ‘Artificial Intelligence, platform work and gender
equality’ showing that artificial intelligence and platform work have the potential to improve gender equality in the
economy;
6. Recalls that the Institute was established in order to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality in
the Union by providing quality research and comparable data, to help the Union institutions and the Member States
to mainstream gender equality in all their policies and to combat gender-based discrimination; stresses, therefore, the
fact that the Institute has a crucial role in collecting, analysing, processing and disseminating data and necessary
information for policy makers and the policies of the Union and the Member States;
7. Stresses the importance of combating inequalities among and injustices against women; calls on the Commission
and Member States to take urgent action to address poverty and increasing inequalities among women, especially
among groups in vulnerable situations, including single mothers, women with disabilities, racialised women,
LGBTIQ+ women, migrant women and refugees, elderly women and women in rural or scarcely populated areas;
notes that that could be achieved by meeting the need for increased funding for gender equality actions in terms of
employment and growth, as well as to combat gender-based violence and the pay gap between men and women,
the pension pay gap between men and women, the impact of crises on women, gender mainstreaming and
budgeting, the increasing poverty rate among women, as well as in terms of rights and democracy and the rule of
law;
Efficiency and gains
8. Notes the Institute’s synergies with, inter alia, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions (Eurofound), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Agency for
Safety and Health Work; observes that, according to the Institute’s replies, the Institute is an active member of the
justice and home affairs (JHA) agencies’ network, keeps regular contact with all the other JHA agencies and actively
participates in activities of the EU Agencies Network of Scientific Advice; further notes the Institute’s cooperation
with data providers such as Eurostat, FRA, Eurofound or Eurojust;
9. Commends the Institute for the progress made to improve its internal efficiency in 2022 through further digitalising
its work processes as well as maximising the use of online communications and virtual participation in meetings and
events; notes, in particular, that in 2022 the Institute developed or deployed several tools, such as the electronic
signature tool, Sysper2 (the Commission’s human resources management tool), the e-recruitment tool and the
project management tool, contributing to the automatisation and digitalisation of key processes (human resources
and project and financial management); observes that the Institute has shared its human and financial resources in
order to use the inter-agency contract for the provision of services for the evaluation of projects; observes further
that the Institute defined several measures to reduce CO emissions and adopt environmentally friendly work
2
practices (environmental sustainability clauses in the Institute’s contracts, the recycling of paper and plastic,
electronic workflows and the collection of data on CO emissions caused by the Institute’s business travels);
2
Staff policy
10. Notes that, on 31 December 2022, the establishment plan was 100 % filled, with 27 officials and temporary agents
(TAs) appointed out of 27 TAs and officials authorised under the Union budget (the same number of posts as
in 2021); notes that in addition in 2022 the Agency’s staff turnover rate was 11 %, identical to the rates in 2021
and 2020;
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11. Notes that the Institute completed the annual performance appraisal exercise for all 62 members of staff and ensured
that members of staff were offered appropriate training opportunities aimed at improving their skills and
competencies; welcomes that, in order to promote and facilitate professional development in the Institute, 19
different group training programmes were organised in 2022 with 414 participants, while 20 statutory members of
staff took part in 42 individual training courses; notes that the Institute continued to promote language training for
its TAs, contract agents, seconded national experts and trainees, reimbursing up to EUR 500 per staff member;
encourages the Institute to keep focusing on career development by developing a long-term human resources policy
on offering specific training possibilities for career development;
12. Welcomes the fact that balanced gender distribution, which was achieved in 2021 in senior and middle management
(2 men (50 %) and 2 women (50 %)), was maintained in 2022 and notes the recurrent unbalanced gender
distribution on the management board (8 men (21,62 %) and 29 women (78,38 %)) and among staff overall (14
men (29,17 %) and 34 women (70,83 %)); reiterates its call on the Institute to ensure gender balance in the future;
acknowledges, nevertheless, that, according to the Institute’s written replies, in order to achieve gender balance
among its staff, it has taken concrete pro-active steps and measures such as increasing the reach of vacancy notices
to attract a more diverse talent pool or the use of gender-sensitive wording in vacancy announcements to attract the
attention of both women and men; asks the Commission and the Member States to take into account the importance
of ensuring gender balance when nominating their members to the Institute’s management board;
13. Notes that, according to the Institute’s replies, there were no cases of harassment reported, investigated, concluded
internally or taken before the courts in 2022; points out, however, that that does not automatically mean that there
were no such cases, particularly because harassment might take various forms and remain unreported; calls on the
Institute to continue its work in order to maintain the existing trend, while putting in place all relevant safeguards
to ensure that no case remains unreported; commends the Institute for having organised in 2022, for both
management and staff, training on the prevention of harassment; notes further that the Institute made use of its
appointed external law firm to manage legally previous harassment cases; observes that the Institute does not have
its own legal services unit or a post of legal advisor;
14. Notes that, in 2022, an ongoing case against company UAB Manpower Lit, instituted with the Vilnius City District
Court at the beginning of 2018 by a number of former interim workers, was finalised; recalls that the judgment of
the Court of Justice of 11 November 2021(3) confirmed that Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council(4) applies to the decentralised agencies of the Union and confirmed the principle that interim
workers and statutory members of staff be treated equally; notes that the Supreme Court of Lithuania upheld that
ruling by the Court of Justice and ruled in favour of interim workers; welcomes the fact that the Institute no longer
hires interim workers as of 1 January 2022;
15. Welcomes the Institute’s comprehensive wellbeing policy, with a number of measures in place to support work-life
balance, teleworking and a healthy lifestyle for its staff members; notes the Institute’s sustained efforts to enhance
the working environment in 2022 through a combination of respect and integrity, team spirit and cooperation
across units to strengthen staff’s understanding of and support for the Institute’s zero tolerance on psychological
and sexual harassment; further notes the Institute’s measures to support staff such as extending the possibility for
teleworking in the case of documented personal situations or reimbursing non-statutory staff for psychotherapeutic
sessions;
Procurement
16. Notes with concern the observation from the Court’s report regarding a framework contract, for which the payment
by the Institute in 2022 of an amount of EUR 25 571,18(out of a total of EUR 511 296paid under that contract) for
the cost category ‘unforeseen expenditure’ was found irregular due to the fact that that cost category was not
included in the framework contract; welcomes the fact that the Institute has introduced a formal amendment to the
framework contract defining the percentage of the budget for and the purpose of usage of unforeseen expenditure;
(3) Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 11 November 2021, UAB ‘Manpower Lit’ v E.S. and Others, ECLI:EU:C:2021:624.
(4) Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work (OJ L 327,
5.12.2008, p. 9).
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17. Notes another observation from the Court’s report regarding the irregularity of the procedure and the resulting
contract in connection with an audited negotiated procedure with at least three candidates, with a value below
EUR 60 000; acknowledges, nevertheless, with regard to the latter observation that in 2022 no payments were
made under that contract; calls on the Institute to address the shortcomings of its internal control deficiencies in
the area of procurement;
Prevention and management of conflicts of interest and transparency
18. Notes the Institute’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, the prevention and management
of conflicts of interest and whistle-blower protection; notes in particular that the Institute prevents and manages
conflicts of interest by raising awareness and by monitoring the validity of the declarations of interest signed by its
management board, senior management and staff involved in recruitment and procurement procedures; further
notes that the Institute updated its conflicts of interest policy in 2023 to take into account the recommendations on
‘revolving doors’ issued by the Court in its 2021 audit report on decentralised agencies of the Union and other
relevant reports or studies issued by the discharge authority and the European Ombudsman; calls on the Court to
include the Institute’s new conflicts of interest policy in the Court’s future audit plans;
19. Notes that the Institute published on its website the CVs and declarations of interests of its Director and management
board members; recalls the importance of CVs and declarations of interests being published; calls on the Institute to
publish its meetings with interest representatives without delay and provide the discharge authority with
information on the webpage where such meetings are published;
Internal control
20. Welcomes the Institute’s measures taken in 2022 to strengthen its internal control system; notes in that context that
the Institute is on track with regard to the progress made in its internal control and audit related activities, such as the
implementation of the recommendations or observations issued by the Court and the Internal Audit Service (IAS) in
their audit reports from 2021 and the actions and measures set out in the Institute’s 2021-2023 anti-fraud strategy;
welcomes the fact that those actions and measures include the provision of fraud prevention training, awareness-
raising though a dedicated anti-fraud intranet page and dedicated controls and fraud risk assessments;
21. Notes that the IAS performed a specific assessment of the Institute’s internal control system in 2022; notes further
the results of that assessment, in which four moderate deficiencies related to components I (the control
environment), III (control activities) and IV (information and communication) and one major deficiency related to
component III and the need for the improvement or significant improvement of various principles (4, 10, 11
and 13) were identified; calls on the Institute to report to the discharge authority on the progress made in
addressing the IAS’s findings;
22. Observes that a second independent external evaluation of the Institute was published in 2022; notes in that context
that the Institute’s management board has addressed to the Commission a letter with recommendations regarding
the Institute’s experts’ forum, the functioning of the management board and staffing issues; understands from that
letter that addressing those recommendations might require an amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of
the European Parliament and of the Council(5)that established the Institute; calls on the Commission to support the
Institute in the follow-up analysis and discussions regarding the outcome of that external evaluation;
23. Commends the Institute for having taken the necessary actions with regard to the Court’s observations from 2021,
which have all been deemed closed by the Court;
Other
24. Notes that the Institute signed in 2022 a new lease contract for its premises in Vilnius for a period of 10 years;
further notes that the Brussels liaison office started its activities in 2022 and helped strengthen the visibility of the
Institute as a stakeholder;
(5) Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a European
Institute for Gender Equality (OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, p. 9).
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25. Welcomes the Institute’s commitment to digitalise its procurement procedures through the onboarding of the Public
Procurement Management Tool, expected to be completed in Q4 of 2023; notes that, according to the Institute’s
replies to the questions from Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control, it updated its cybersecurity policy
in 2022 to enhance security measures; recalls the importance of regularly updating arrangements for cybersecurity
audits, tests and IT risk assessments;
26. Notes that the Institute has further increased its public visibility and online presence by launching or hosting several
campaigns or events such as the #SafeSpaces campaign to show, inter alia, how cyber violence undermines the safety
of women and girls; and the Institute’s first Gender Equality Forum with forum sessions open to public via
livestreaming and recordings;
27. Insists on the importance of its report on feminicide published in 2022 entitled ‘Feminicide indicators: pilot study of
data availability and feasibility assessment’ and encourages the Institute to continue its campaign to raise the visibility
of feminicide in national policies and highlight the potential benefits of recognising it as a separate criminal offence;
28. Refers, for other observations of a cross-cutting nature accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution of
11 April 2024(6)on the performance, financial management and control of the agencies.
(6) Texts adopted, P9_TA(2024)0280.
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