PV\1205971FR.docx PE652.468v01-00

FR Unie dans la diversité FR

Parlement européen2019-2024

Commission du contrôle budgétaire

CONT_PV(2020)0507_1

PROCÈS-VERBALRéunion du 7 mai 2020, de 9 heures à 10 heures et de 17 h 15 à 18 h 45

BRUXELLES

La séance est ouverte le jeudi 7 mai 2020, à 9 h 3, sous la présidence de Monika Hohlmeier, présidente.

1. Adoption de l’ordre du jour

Le projet d’ordre du jour est adopté avec les modifications suivantes: l’adoption du projet de rapport sur le contrôle des activités financières de la Banque européenne d’investissement – rapport annuel 2018 (point 5) est reportée à la prochaine réunion.

2. Communications de la présidence

La présidente attire l’attention des membres sur les informations parues dans CONT News. Observations de Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel.

3. Approbation de procès-verbaux de réunions 11 et 12 novembre 2019 PV – PE644.742v01-00 18 novembre 2019 PV – PE644.860v01-00 28 novembre 2019 PV – PE644.861v01-00 4 et 5 décembre 2019 PV – PE648.460v02-00

Les procès-verbaux sont approuvés.

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7 mai 2020, de 9 heures à 10 heures

4. Mission de la commission CONT en République tchèque (du 26 au 28 février 2020)CONT/9/02414 Échange de vues sur le compte rendu de mission et débat sur les suites à donnerInterviennent: Monika Hohlmeier, Tomáš Zdechovský, Sándor Rónai, Lara Wolters, Mikuláš Peksa, Daniel Freund, Ramona Strugariu, Ondřej Knotek, Jeroen Lenaers, Tony Murphy (ECA Member), Christina Borchmann (Commission européenne, DG AGRI) et Franck Sebert (Commission européenne, DG REGIO).

7 mai 2020, de 10 heures à 10 h 15

Ouverture de la procédure de vote à distance

Le vote est ouvert de 10 heures à 11 h 30

*** Heure des votes à distance ***

Tous les députés participant au vote, qu’ils soient présents dans la salle de réunion de la commission ou qu’ils participent à distance, votent par courrier électronique en utilisant des bulletins de vote imprimés contenant les listes de vote.

5. Contrôle des activités financières de la Banque européenne d’investissement - rapport annuel 2018CONT/9/01630

2019/2127(INI)

Rapporteur:Bas Eickhout (Verts/ALE) PR – PE644.864v01-00

AM – PE648.435v01-00Fond:

CONT Échange de vuesDécision: reportée à la prochaine réunion

6. Protection des intérêts financiers de l’Union européenne - lutte contre la fraude - rapport annuel 2018CONT/9/01632

2019/2128(INI)

Rapporteur:Joachim Kuhs (ID) PR – PE644.865v02-00

AM – PE648.436v02-00Fond:

CONT Adoption du projet de rapport

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Interviennent: Monika Hohlmeier

Décision: Le projet de rapport est adopté avec les amendements: 16 voix pour, 7 voix contre et 3 abstentions133 amendements adoptés: Bloc 1 (AM 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 52, 56, 57, 58, 60, 67, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 88, 116, 117, 119, 120, 122, 124, 125, 128, 129, 130, 137, 138, 139, 144, 148, 149, 151), Bloc 2 (AM 9, 17, 40, 41, 55, 81, 85, 86, 99, 111, 115, 126, 127, 132, 145, 147), Bloc 3 (AM 16, 42, 53, 54, 84, 89, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 109, 133, 135), AM 5 et 6 (COMP 1), AM7 (partie 1), AM8, AM10, AM11, AM15, AM18, AM19, AM22, AM25, AM30, AM31, AM33, AM35, AM36, AM37, AM50, AM 59, AM62, AM63, AM64, AM65, AM68, AM69, AM71, AM73, AM76, AM82, AM83, AM87, AM90, AM95, AM96, AM100, AM102, AM103, AM106, AM107, AM110, AM113, AM114, AM118, AM121, AM123, AM131, AM136, AM140, AM141, AM142, AM14610 amendements rejetés: AM7 (partie 2), AM39, AM70, AM72, AM74, AM92, AM104, AM105, AM108, AM1121 amendement retiré: AM143

*** Fin des votes à distance ***

La séance est suspendue jusqu’à 17 h 15

La séance est suspendue à 12 h 23.

* * *

7 mai 2020, de 12 heures à 13 h 30

À huis clos

7. Réunion des coordinateurs

Le résumé des recommandations des coordinateurs est annexé au présent procès-verbal.

* * *

La séance reprend à 17 h 15 sous la présidence de Monika Hohlmeier, présidente.

7 mai 2020, de 17 h 15 à 18 h 45

8. Communications de la présidence

Résultats de la procédure de vote à distance

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Votes finaux par appel nominal

9. Questions diverses

Néant.

La séance est levée à 17 h 24.

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Results of roll-call votes

Contents

6. Protection of the European Union's financial interests - combating fraud - annual report 2018 - CONT/9/01632

6.1. Final vote

16 +

EPP Lefteris Christoforou, José Manuel Fernandes, Monika Hohlmeier, Markus Pieper, Petri Sarvamaa, Angelika Winzig, Tomáš Zdechovský

RENEW Olivier Chastel, Cristian Ghinea, Pierre Karleskind, Ramona Strugariu

ID Matteo Adinolfi, Joachim Kuhs

VERTS/ALE Daniel Freund, Mikuláš Peksa

NI Sabrina Pignedoli

7 -

S&D Caterina Chinnici, Corina Crețu, Isabel García Muñoz, Tsvetelina Penkova, Lara Wolters

GUE/NGL Luke Ming Flanagan, Marisa Matias

3 0

EPP Tamás Deutsch

ID Jean-Francois Jalkh

ECR Ryszard Czarnecki

Key to symbols:+ : in favour- : against0 : abstention

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ПРИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/PREZENČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESENHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/

LISTE DE PRÉSENCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELENCO DI PRESENZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELENLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTENDENZA/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/

LISTĂ DE PREZENŢĂ/PREZENČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/NÄRVAROLISTA

Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/Prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*)

Monika Hohlmeier, Martina Dlabajova, Isabel García Muñoz, Caterina Chinnici, Tamás Deutsch

Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Βουλευτές/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/ Nariai/Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter

Matteo Adinolfi, Olivier Chastel, Lefteris Christoforou, Corina Crețu, Ryszard Czarnecki, José Manuel Fernandes, Luke Ming Flanagan, Daniel Freund, Cristian Ghinea, Jean-Francois Jalkh, Pierre Karleskind, Joachim Kuhs, Tsvetelina Penkova, Markus Pieper, Sabrina Pignedoli, Michèle Rivasi, Petri Sarvamaa, Ramona Strugariu, Angelika Winzig, Lara Wolters, Tomáš Zdechovský

Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/Supleanţi/Náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter

Katalin Cseh, Pascal Durant, Bas Eickhout, Jeroen Lenaers, Maria-Jean Marinescu, Jan Olbrycht, Mikuláš Peksa, Sándor Rónai, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel

209 (7)

Ondřej Knotek, Marisa Matias

216 (3)

56 (8) (Точка от дневния ред/Punto del orden del día/Bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/Tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/Σημείο της ημερήσιας διάταξης/Agenda item/Point OJ/Točka dnevnog reda/Punto all'ordine del giorno/Darba kārtības punkts/Darbotvarkės punktas/Napirendi pont/Punt Aġenda/Agendapunt/Punkt porządku dziennego/Ponto OD/Punct de pe ordinea de zi/Bod programu schôdze/Točka UL/Esityslistan kohta/Punkt på föredragningslistan)

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Наблюдатели/Observadores/Pozorovatelé/Observatører/Beobachter/Vaatlejad/Παρατηρητές/Observers/Observateurs/Promatrači/ Osservatori/Novērotāji/Stebėtojai/Megfigyelők/Osservaturi/Waarnemers/Obserwatorzy/Observadores/Observatori/Pozorovatelia/ Opazovalci/Tarkkailijat/Observatörer

По покана на председателя/Por invitación del presidente/Na pozvání předsedy/Efter indbydelse fra formanden/Auf Einladung des Vorsitzenden/Esimehe kutsel/Με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chair/Sur l’invitation du président/ Na poziv predsjednika/Su invito del presidente/Pēc priekšsēdētāja uzaicinājuma/Pirmininkui pakvietus/Az elnök meghívására/ Fuq stedina taċ-'Chairman'/Op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/Na zaproszenie Przewodniczącego/A convite do Presidente/La invitaţia preşedintelui/ Na pozvanie predsedu/Na povabilo predsednika/Puheenjohtajan kutsusta/På ordförandens inbjudan

Съвет/Consejo/Rada/Rådet/Rat/Nõukogu/Συμβούλιο/Council/Conseil/Vijeće/Consiglio/Padome/Taryba/Tanács/Kunsill/Raad/ Conselho/Consiliu/Svet/Neuvosto/Rådet (*)

Комисия/Comisión/Komise/Kommissionen/Kommission/Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*)

Christina Borchmann (DG AGRI) and Franck Sebert (DG REGIO)

Други институции и органи/Otras instituciones y organismos/Ostatní orgány a instituce/Andre institutioner og organer/Andere Organe und Einrichtungen/Muud institutsioonid ja organid/Λοιπά θεσμικά όργανα και οργανισμοί/Other institutions and bodies/Autres institutions et organes/Druge institucije i tijela/Altre istituzioni e altri organi/Citas iestādes un struktūras/Kitos institucijos ir įstaigos/ Más intézmények és szervek/Istituzzjonijiet u korpi oħra/Andere instellingen en organen/Inne instytucje i organy/Outras instituições e outros órgãos/Alte instituții și organe/Iné inštitúcie a orgány/Muut toimielimet ja elimet/Andra institutioner och organ

ECA Tony Murphy (Member)

Други участници/Otros participantes/Ostatní účastníci/Endvidere deltog/Andere Teilnehmer/Muud osalejad/Επίσης παρόντες/Other participants/Autres participants/Drugi sudionici/Altri partecipanti/Citi klātesošie/Kiti dalyviai/Más résztvevők/Parteċipanti ohra/Andere aanwezigen/Inni uczestnicy/Outros participantes/Alţi participanţi/Iní účastníci/Drugi udeleženci/Muut osallistujat/Övriga deltagare

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Секретариат на политическите групи/Secretaría de los Grupos políticos/Sekretariát politických skupin/Gruppernes sekretariat/ Sekretariat der Fraktionen/Fraktsioonide sekretariaat/Γραμματεία των Πολιτικών Ομάδων/Secretariats of political groups/Secrétariat des groupes politiques/Tajništva klubova zastupnika/Segreteria gruppi politici/Politisko grupu sekretariāts/Frakcijų sekretoriai/ Képviselőcsoportok titkársága/Segretarjat gruppi politiċi/Fractiesecretariaten/Sekretariat Grup Politycznych/Secretariado dos grupos políticos/Secretariate grupuri politice/Sekretariát politických skupín/Sekretariat političnih skupin/Poliittisten ryhmien sihteeristöt/ De politiska gruppernas sekretariat

PPE

S&D

Renew

ID

Verts/ALE

ECR

GUE/NGL

NI

Кабинет на председателя/Gabinete del Presidente/Kancelář předsedy/Formandens Kabinet/Kabinett des Präsidenten/Presidendi kantselei/Γραφείο του Προέδρου/President's Office/Cabinet du Président/Ured predsjednika/Gabinetto del Presidente/Priekšsēdētāja kabinets/Pirmininko kabinetas/Elnöki hivatal/Kabinett tal-President/Kabinet van de Voorzitter/Gabinet Przewodniczącego/Gabinete do Presidente/Cabinet Preşedinte/Kancelária predsedu/Urad predsednika/Puhemiehen kabinetti/Talmannens kansli

Кабинет на генералния секретар/Gabinete del Secretario General/Kancelář generálního tajemníka/Generalsekretærens Kabinet/ Kabinett des Generalsekretärs/Peasekretäri büroo/Γραφείο του Γενικού Γραμματέα/Secretary-General's Office/Cabinet du Secrétaire général/Ured glavnog tajnika/Gabinetto del Segretario generale/Ģenerālsekretāra kabinets/Generalinio sekretoriaus kabinetas/ Főtitkári hivatal/Kabinett tas-Segretarju Ġenerali/Kabinet van de secretaris-generaal/Gabinet Sekretarza Generalnego/Gabinete do Secretário-Geral/Cabinet Secretar General/Kancelária generálneho tajomníka/Urad generalnega sekretarja/Pääsihteerin kabinetti/ Generalsekreterarens kansli

Генерална дирекция/Dirección General/Generální ředitelství/Generaldirektorat/Generaldirektion/Peadirektoraat/Γενική Διεύθυνση/ Directorate-General/Direction générale/Glavna uprava/Direzione generale/Ģenerāldirektorāts/Generalinis direktoratas/Főigazgatóság/ Direttorat Ġenerali/Directoraten-generaal/Dyrekcja Generalna/Direcção-Geral/Direcţii Generale/Generálne riaditeľstvo/Generalni direktorat/Pääosasto/Generaldirektorat

DG PRES

DG IPOL

DG EXPO

DG EPRS

DG COMM

DG PERS

DG INLO

DG TRAD

DG LINC

DG FINS

DG ITEC

DG SAFE

Monika Strasser

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Правна служба/Servicio Jurídico/Právní služba/Juridisk Tjeneste/Juristischer Dienst/Õigusteenistus/Νομική Υπηρεσία/Legal Service/ Service juridique/Pravna služba/Servizio giuridico/Juridiskais dienests/Teisės tarnyba/Jogi szolgálat/Servizz legali/Juridische Dienst/ Wydział prawny/Serviço Jurídico/Serviciu Juridic/Právny servis/Oikeudellinen yksikkö/Rättstjänsten

Секретариат на комисията/Secretaría de la comisión/Sekretariát výboru/Udvalgssekretariatet/Ausschusssekretariat/Komisjoni sekretariaat/Γραμματεία της επιτροπής/Committee secretariat/Secrétariat de la commission/Tajništvo odbora/Segreteria della commissione/Komitejas sekretariāts/Komiteto sekretoriatas/A bizottság titkársága/Segretarjat tal-kumitat/Commissiesecretariaat/ Sekretariat komisji/Secretariado da comissão/Secretariat comisie/Sekretariat odbora/Valiokunnan sihteeristö/Utskottssekretariatet

Evelyn Waldherr, Benoit Lefort, Olivier Sautière

Сътрудник/Asistente/Asistent/Assistent/Assistenz/Βοηθός/Assistant/Assistente/Palīgs/Padėjėjas/Asszisztens/Asystent/Pomočnik/ Avustaja/Assistenter

Veronika Patyi-Horvath, Kameliya Velcheva

* (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair/Président/Predsjednik/Priekšsēdētājs/ Pirmininkas/Elnök/'Chairman'/Voorzitter/Przewodniczący/Preşedinte/Predseda/Predsednik/Puheenjohtaja/Ordförande

(VP) = Заместник-председател/Vicepresidente/Místopředseda/Næstformand/Stellvertretender Vorsitzender/Aseesimees/Αντιπρόεδρος/ Vice-Chair/Potpredsjednik/Vice-Président/Potpredsjednik/Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks/Pirmininko pavaduotojas/Alelnök/ Viċi 'Chairman'/Ondervoorzitter/Wiceprzewodniczący/Vice-Presidente/Vicepreşedinte/Podpredseda/Podpredsednik/ Varapuheenjohtaja/Vice ordförande

(M) = Член/Miembro/Člen/Medlem./Mitglied/Parlamendiliige/Βουλευτής/Member/Membre/Član/Membro/Deputāts/Narys/Képviselő/ Membru/Lid/Członek/Membro/Membru/Člen/Poslanec/Jäsen/Ledamot

(F) = Длъжностно лице/Funcionario/Úředník/Tjenestemand/Beamter/Ametnik/Υπάλληλος/Official/Fonctionnaire/Dužnosnik/ Funzionario/Ierēdnis/Pareigūnas/Tisztviselő/Uffiċjal/Ambtenaar/Urzędnik/Funcionário/Funcţionar/Úradník/Uradnik/Virkamies/ Tjänsteman

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European Parliament2019 - 2024

Committee on Budgetary Control- The Secretariat -

COORDINATORS' MEETING7 May 2020 12.00-13.30

Remote meeting with Interactio(Brussels, meeting room JAN 4Q2)

Summary of recommendations

Items for decision ............................................................................................................................111. CONT Public hearings - Proposals for 2nd half of 2020..................................................11The coordinators recommended that the proposal of Mr Ghinea - Effectiveness of Cohesion Funds / Measuring the impact of cohesion funds- e. g. social aspects in 3 countries. A comparative perspective - be combined with the public hearing of Ms Strugariu on the Implementation if EU funds. ....................................................................................................11After the meeting the two rapporteurs and the RE coordinator, Mr Chastel agreed not to merge the two topics and organise Ms Strigariu's hearing on its own, while Mr Ghinea’s proposal can be resubmitted for the first half of 2021..............................................................112. Own Initiative reports .......................................................................................................113. Exchange of views on leakage of CONT internal or draft documents .............................134. Annual Structured Dialogue on the European Commission Work Programme 2021 ......135. CONT possible further involvement in rule of law issues................................................136. Proposals for items to put on the agenda of upcoming CONT committee meetings........14

Items for information.......................................................................................................................147. CONT missions in the 2nd half of 2020 ...........................................................................148. Letter of 16 March from Commissioner Hahn on payments to Agrofert Group in all Member States ..........................................................................................................................149. Documents received for information ................................................................................1410. Any other business ........................................................................................................1511. Time and date of next Coordinators' meeting ...............................................................15

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Items for decision

1. CONT Public hearings - Proposals for 2nd half of 2020

Coordinators were invited to communicate to the Secretariat their proposals for public hearings for the second part of 2020 by Wednesday, 11 March 2020.

The following proposals were received:

Chair: Follow-up to the CONT mission to the Czech Republic

S&D Will simplifications suggested for the new period bring the necessary balance

between more efficient, effective and correct spending of EU funds? (proposed by Mr Manda)

Renew: Evolution of the paperless EU administration (proposed by Mr Chastel) Follow up on the ECA report on VAT e-commerce (proposed by Mr Chastel)

(N.B.: a workshop on the same topic was already approved) Effectiveness of Cohesion Funds / Measuring the impact of cohesion funds- e. g.

social aspects in 3 countries. A comparative perspective (proposed by Mr Ghinea)

Coordinators were informed that due to the COVID-19 outbreak according to the decisions of CoP on 2 April 2020, the EP calendar has been updated, therefore the committee meeting dates when the CONT public hearings approved for the 1st half of 2020 were planned were cancelled. (Alternative dates to organise these hearings in June/July during remote committee meetings have been identified by CONT Secretariat)Decision:- The Chair recommended that the Follow-up to the CONT mission to the Czech Republic should be treated as an item on the committee agenda and not as a public hearing - For the second half of 2020, the coordinators recommended to seek authorisation for the below two public hearings:• Will simplifications suggested for the new period bring the necessary balance between more efficient, effective and correct spending of EU funds? (proposed by S&D)• Follow up on the ECA report on VAT e-commerce (proposed by Renew)

The coordinators recommended that the proposal of Mr Ghinea - Effectiveness of Cohesion Funds / Measuring the impact of cohesion funds- e. g. social aspects in 3 countries. A comparative perspective - be combined with the public hearing of Ms Strugariu on the Implementation if EU funds.

After the meeting the two rapporteurs and the RE coordinator, Mr Chastel agreed not to merge the two topics and organise Ms Strigariu's hearing on its own, while Mr Ghinea’s proposal can be resubmitted for the first half of 2021.

2. Own Initiative reports

Coordinators were informed that during the first half of a parliamentary term, each parliamentary committee may simultaneously draft up to six own-initiative reports and that CONT committee currently has five slots are currently available to draw up own initiative reports.

The following proposals were received:

EPP

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EU budget investments in security and protection of the citizens: a balancing act between effectiveness and efficiency (proposed by Mr Novakov)

Reasoning: The 2014-2020 period witnessed dramatic increase of the investment in protection of EU’s external borders. The last year of the current MFF coincided with further deepening of the migration challenge. Threats such as terrorism and cross-border crime increased the demand and the spending on internal border protection. This report aims to analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of policy investments and the role of the Commission in the context of protecting the external and internal borders of the EU. The structure is planned around the following lines:

o Lessons learnt from the investments in securing the European external and internal borders;

o Conclusions on the effectiveness and efficiency;o Recommendations for further actions.

The impact of organised crime on own resources of the EU and on the misuse of EU funds with a particular focus on shared management (proposed by Ms Hohlmeier)

To follow-up to the CONT meeting of 28 January 2020. The idea is to focus on how organised crime gets access to EU subsidies, particularly in the area of agriculture and cohesion

MFF 2021-2027: fight against oligarch structures, protection of EU Funds from fraud and conflict of interest (proposed by Mr Sarvamaa)

- Farm subsidies and cohesion make up the biggest portion of EU spending. However, the lack of controls on the way EU funding is disbursed by European governments means that in some cases, unscrupulous politicians and people in positions of power are able to abuse the EU funding system for their own personal gain - What we see in some Member States is that a couple of oligarchs profit of EU subsidies at the expense of European taxpayers. There is a need for a clear guideline on how to deal with conflicts of interest in such cases. - CONT committee should give a signal to the Commission with an INI and demand stronger protection of EU spending against fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, intentional misuse and organised crime, as well as for EU money to be distributed more fairly. The EU should not be a cash machine for oligarchs and politicians

S&D How effectively did Member States use the money from the EU through Solidarity

Fund (in cases of natural disasters)? (proposed by Mr Manda)

Renew: Evolution of the international customs cooperation (proposed by Mr Chastel)

Greens: Evaluation of Preventive Measures for avoiding corruption, irregular spending and

misuse of EU and national funds in case of emergency funds and crisis-related spending areas

Decision:

The coordinators recommended to seek authorisation for the below INI reports:

1. The impact of organised crime on own resources of the EU and on the misuse of EU funds with a particular focus on shared management (proposed by Ms Hohlmeier, EPP)

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2. MFF 2021-2027: fight against oligarch structures, protection of EU Funds from fraud and conflict of interest (proposed by Mr Sarvamaa, EPP)

3. How effectively did Member States use the money from the EU through Solidarity Fund (in cases of natural disasters)? (proposed by Mr Manda, S&D)

4. Evolution of the international customs cooperation (proposed by Mr Chastel, RE)5. Evaluation of Preventive Measures for avoiding corruption, irregular spending and misuse

of EU and national funds in case of emergency funds and crisis-related spending areas (Greens)

According to the points system approved by coordinators on 8 October 2019, all these reports cost 1,5 points. (the current points system is annexed to this summary).

3. Exchange of views on leakage of CONT internal or draft documentsThe item was postponed because the technical difficulties did not allow for a real exchange among Coordinators.

4. Annual Structured Dialogue on the European Commission Work Programme 2021

Under the Framework Agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission of 2010, a special procedure is foreseen for Parliament’s contribution to the annual work programme of the Commission. With a view to preparing the Summary Report, which the Conference of Committee Chairs submits to the Conference of Presidents in June and on which the Parliament resolution of July can be based, committees are invited to inform about a limited number of major legislative objectives that they would like to be considered in the Commission's Work Programme 2021.

In that context, each committee is requested to provide proposals of legislative priorities for 2021 to the Chair of the CCC by 20 May 2020 at the latest.

The secretariat identified the following request for a legislative initiative which was made in the 2018 discharge report to the Commission:

In the framework of shared management, propose a regulation for the establishment of an IT system that allows for uniform and standardised reporting in real-time by the Member States' authorities ensuring interoperability with the systems in the Member States, to guarantee better transparency and cooperation between Commission and Member States and to improve further accountability of the payments, and particularly to contribute to an earlier detection of systemic errors and misuse.

Decision: Coordinators were invited to send their eventual legislative proposals in the remit of CONT’s competences (as set out in Annex VI of the Rules of procedure) to the Secretariat by 18 May 2020 2020,12.00.

5. CONT possible further involvement in rule of law issues

Coordinators received for information a note from the Secretariat on the current distribution of competences with regard to the rule of law between LIBE and CONT and CONT’s possible ways forward of cooperation with LIBE with regard to the rule of law.

For their approval, Coordinators received a draft letter to LIBE requesting CONT to be granted

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associated committee status on LIBE's future own-initiative follow-up report to the Commission Annual Rule of Law Report, announced for late 2020.

Decision: Coordinators approved to send the letter to LIBE requesting CONT to be associated to the follow up report to the Commission Annual Rule of Law Report.

6. Proposals for items to put on the agenda of upcoming CONT committee meetings

Restructuring of OLAF

Decision: Coordinators approved the proposal of the Chair to send a letter to the Commission to request further information on the restructuring of OLAF. Upon their reply, an exchange of views with Commission and OLAF representatives should be scheduled as of September.

Alleged lack of good governance of the EIB

A Luxembourgish paper (Luxtimes) recently reported whistleblowing complaints at the EIB (Link to Luxtimes article) highlighting weaknesses in the EIB’s internal governance mechanisms and a disregard for anti-money laundering rules and practices, in particular in terms of due diligence and know-your-customers checks when the EIB finances projects worldwide. These weaknesses in the EIB’s internal mechanisms and governance structures are also highlighted in the draft report on ‘control of the financial activities of the EIB - annual report 2018’.Decision: Coordinators approved the recommendation to organise an exchange of views with EIB representatives as of September and to ask beforehand for access to the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Items for information

7. CONT missions in the 2nd half of 2020Coordinators decided during their meeting on 20 February 2020 to request authorisation for the following two mission for the second half of 2020:• Tunisia - week 39

• Eritrea - week 45

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak according to the decisions of CoP on 2 April 2020 theEP calendar has been updated, therefore the committee missions planned for May, June, July were de facto cancelled, including the CONT mission to Sweden planned for May 2020 (week 21).Coordinators decided during their visio meeting on 2 April 2020 that the final decision regarding CONT mission in the second half of 2020 should be taken once the end of travel restrictions due to the corona crisis is in sight.

8. Letter of 16 March from Commissioner Hahn on payments to Agrofert Group in all Member States

Coordinators received the reply of 16 March from Commissioner Hahn to CONT Chair's letter of 25 February 2020 which requested information about payments to the Agrofert Group in all EU Member States. 9. Documents received for informationCoordinators received for information in all documents the committee received for information since the written procedure of 26 March 2020. (annexed to this summary)

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10. Any other business

Greens coordinator, Mr Peksa voiced his disappointment on the late postponement of the EIB vote.The Chair explained the backgrounds and the procedure applied in this decision and invited the rapporteur and shadows to find agreement on compromises. The vote on this report will be organised in two weeks’ time (exact date and time TBC).11. Time and date of next Coordinators' meeting

6 July 2020 (TBC)

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ISSUE N°4 - 7 MAY 2020

NEWSLETTER

COMMITTEE MEETINGTHURSDAY, 7 MAY 2020

9.00 – 10.15 and 17.15 – 18.45

Remote participation of Members

Any Members present in Brussels can attend the meeting in room József Antall (JAN) 4Q1

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The draft agenda and meeting documents are available in the meeting file.

2. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chair draws attention to the following points:

Languages available

FR, DE, IT, EN, CS and RO

WebstreamingThe meeting will be webstreamed and can be followed live via the CONT webpage.

Adoption of Coordinators’ recommendations:

The summaries of Coordinators' recommendations were circulated to the Members as follows:

- Summary of recommendations of meeting of 20 February 2020 circulated on 26 February 2020;- Summary of recommendations of the written procedure of 26 March 2020 was circulated on 3 April 2020; and- Summary of recommendations of the visio meeting of 2 April 2020 was circulated on 16 April 2020.

If no objections are received before the end of the meeting, these recommendations will be deemed approved.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETINGS 11-12 November 2019 PV – PE644.742v01-00 18 November 2019 PV – PE644.860v01-00 28 November 2019 PV – PE644.861v01-00 4-5 December 2019 PV – PE648.460v02-00

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4. CONT MISSION TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC (26-28 FEBRUARY 2020)CONT/9/02414

Exchange of views on mission report and discussion on follow-up

A delegation of six CONT Members, led by committee chair Monika Hohlmeier, participated in a fact-finding mission to the Czech Republic from 26 to 28 February 2020. The Members looked into the mechanisms established by the Czech authorities to comply with the obligation to prevent and remedy conflict of interests.

Briefing in Prague on the political and economic situation in the Czech Republic

This fact-finding mission to Prague was to follow-up on reports on possible irregularities in the compliance with the EU law in how the EU cohesion and agricultural funds are managed in the Czech Republic. Members of CONT Committee wanted to gain on-the-spot knowledge about the management and distribution of these EU funds and directly speak with stakeholders in the country. Members met representatives from the Czech Parliament and the Czech ministerial authorities, the paying agency and the Supreme Audit Office as well as farmers and NGOs. They also held a roundtable with journalists and visited a successful project supported by cohesion funds.

Members will exchange views on the mission report and the further follow-up to this mission. They might wish to discuss how to further support Member States in preventing and remedying conflicts of interests in order to better protect the EU’s financial interests. The mission report is available on the CONT website.

Visit of LASER ELI Beamlines EU project

Meeting with NGO representatives Meeting with investigative journalists Chair with the Mr M. Kala, President of the Czech Rep Supreme Audit Office,

All photographs: © European Union 2020 - Source: EP\Michal Cizek

CONT Delegation Chair: Monika Hohlmeier (EPP)Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP)Sándor Rónai (S&D)Lara Wolters (S&D)Daniel Freund (Greens)Mikuláš Peksa (Greens)

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Opening of the remote voting procedure

Voting will be open from 10.00 to 11.30

*** REMOTE VOTING TIME ***

All Members taking part in the vote (either present in committee meeting room or via remote participation) will have to vote by e-mail and to send the signed ballot paper-voting lists to the dedicated CONTvote mailbox (instructions on voting procedure and remote participation modailites will be e-mailed to Members).

5. CONTROL OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB) - ANNUAL

REPORT 20182019/2127(INI) / CONT/9/01630

Adoption of draft report

Rapporteur: Bas Eickhout (Greens)Administrator: Olivier Sautière

Shadow Rapporteurs: Angelika Winzig (EPP), Corina Crețu (S&D), Christian Ghinea (RE), Joachim Kuhs (ID), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL).

Each year, the Budgetary Control committee drafts an annual own-initiative report entitled ‘Control of the financial activities of the EIB’ focusing on results.

The draft report deals with the annual track records of EIB funding activities and the main priorities of the EIB’s investment policy and sustainability of its business model.

The Rapporteur addresses the role of the EIB in financing the European Green Deal, the upcoming shift of the EIB to become the ‘EU Climate Bank’, the future focus on Just Transition and the EIB’s activities carried out under its external lending mandate.

Mr Eickhout also raised a number of issues namely regarding the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and its effectiveness while encouraging a better synergy between EFSI, national promotional banks and investment platforms.

Finally, the Rapporteur reiterates the utmost importance of ethics, integrity, transparency and accountability of the EIB Group in all its operations. He particularly advocates for the optimisation of the EIB corporate governance, the need to develop transparency with reinforced mechanisms to fight fraud and corruption and calls for a stronger external scrutiny on EIB by the Court of Auditors.

The draft report was sent to Members on 13 February 2020. The deadline for tabling amendments was 3 March 2020 when 114 amendments were tabled.

The draft report and the amendments are available in all languages on the CONT website.

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6. PROTECTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FINANCIAL INTERESTS - COMBATING FRAUD - ANNUAL

REPORT 20182019/2128(INI) / CONT/9/01632

Adoption of draft report

Rapporteur: Joachim Kuhs (ID)Administrator: Olivier Sautière

Shadow Rapporteurs: Jeroen Lenaers (EPP), Corina Crețu (S&D), Ramona Strugariu (RE), Mikuláš Peksa (Greens), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR), Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL).

As in previous years, the Committee on Budgetary Control decided to draw up an own-initiative report on ‘ Protection of the European Union's financial interests - combating fraud - annual report 2018‘ (the PIF Report).

On 17 October 2019, Commissioner Günther Oettinger presented the 30th annual report 2018 from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (under Article 325 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) on the Protection of the European Union’s financial interests (COM(2019)0444), the last one adopted under the Juncker Commission.

The purpose of this report is both to assess to what extent the EU funds or revenue of the EU budget are at risk of misuse due to fraudulent or non-fraudulent irregularities and to describe the actions taken to address the issue. It presents the anti-fraud measures at EU level and by the Member States, with a focus on the PIF directive, the EPPO and the role of OLAF.

In his draft report, the Mr Kuhs underlines the fact that in 2018 a total of 11638 fraudulent and non-fraudulent irregularities were reported to the Commission, 25% lower than in 2017 amounting to approximately EUR 2.5 billion, stable in comparison with the previous year (EUR 2.58 billion in 2017). Regarding the revenue, the Rapporteur expresses his concern about the ‘fast estimates’ statistics of the VAT gap in 2018 reaching EUR 130 billion and that intra-Community VAT fraud cases cost the Union EUR 50 billion annually. Moreover, he questions the fact that the Commission does not have comprehensive and comparable information on the detected fraud level in EU spending. Mr Kuhs welcomes the new priorities of the new Commission anti-fraud strategy such as improving the understanding of fraud patterns and systemic vulnerabilities affecting the EU budget while observing that only eleven Member States adopted a national anti-fraud strategy. The Rapporteur also points out several areas of improvement such as developing the measurement of customs gap and the monitoring of risks related to the expansion of e-commerce. Finally, Mr Kuhs recognizes the importance of article 61 of the Financial Regulation and its redefinition of conflict of interests and calls on the newly elected Commission to devise a Europe-wide strategy for the proactive avoidance of conflict of interests for all financial actors implementing the EU budget.

The draft report was sent to Members on 6 February 2020. The deadline for tabling amendments was on 3 March when 151 amendments were tabled. The Commission’s Annual Report 2018 on the Protection of the EU's Financial Interests - Fight against fraud and the draft report and amendments are available on the CONT website.

*** END OF REMOTE VOTING TIME***Suspension of meeting until 17.15

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7. COORDINATORS’ MEETING (12.00 – 13.30) - JAN (4Q2)

Meeting held in camera with the remote participation tool Interactio.

Coordinators present in Brussels can attend the meeting in room: Jozsef Antall (4Q2).

17.15 – 18.45

8. CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Results of the remote voting procedure

Final votes by roll call

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

PAPERLESS PROGRAMME (INTERNAL USERS ONLY)Access CONT committee meeting documents on eMeeting or any CONT committee information on eCommittee

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONContact the CONT Secretariat or visit the website of the CONT committee

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NEWS FROM POLICY DEPARTMENT - BUDGETARY AFFAIRSRecent Publications

CONTIn-depth Analysis “Follow up to the 2009 and 2014 Studies on the Code of Conduct for Commissioners - Improving Effectiveness and Efficiency”In-depth Analysis “Gaps and Errors in the TED database” Study “The European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Strategies for coping with complexity”Study “Effectiveness of cohesion policy: learning from the project characteristics that produce the best results”Study “Aligning the budget with the Performance-Based Budgeting: lessons from Member States”Study “Appointment procedures in the EU institutions”Study “Appointment of the Commission’s Secretary General in 2018”Study “Performance Indicators for Convergence in Regional Development - How reliable are they to ensure Targeted and Result-Oriented spending?”BUDGBriefing “The net operating balances: Variants, emerging numbers and history”Briefing “Why net operating balances are a distorted indicator of a Member State’s benefit from the EU budget”Briefing “The benefits of EU membership are not measured by net operating balances”Briefing “Strategies to overcome the ‘juste retour’ perspective on the EU budget”At A Glance “The net operating balances or the “juste retour” approach”At A Glance “Net operating balances indicator: A distorted indicator of a Member State’s benefit from the EU budget”At A Glance “EU membership benefits: Not measured by net operating balances”At A Glance “How to overcome the “juste retour” obsession”At A Glance “I want my money back’: The history of national rebates”Briefing “EU Own Resources”In-depth Analysis “How the EU Budget Has Developed and Changed in the Last 10 years?” (Available in all languages)In-depth Analysis “The History of the EU Budget” (Available in all languages)At a Glance “The next MFF and Own Resources”Forthcoming Publications

BUDG- Study “Documenting climate mainstreaming in the EU budget - making the system more transparent, stringent and comprehensive”- Study “How EU funds tackle economic divide in the European Union”- Study “Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP/PA) in the EU budget 2014-2019”- Study “A Just Transition Fund - How the EU budget can best assist in the necessary transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy"

CONTACTSPolicy Department for Budgetary Affairs: poldep-budg@ep.europa.eu / Email: Policy Department Webpage

DisclaimerThe items contained herein are drafted by the secretariat of the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament and are provided for general information purposes only. The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. This document may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organisations. The secretariat does not necessarily endorse the view(s) expressed on these websites.