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Michael Theurer CONT Chair © European Union  
Next meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)

The next Committee Meetings will be held on:
 
► Monday 7 July 2014
 
► Thursday 10 July 2014
 

The agenda and the meeting documents will be available via the links below.

 
Further information
 
 
Highlights
 
Study - EU financing for NGOs  
Study - EU financing for NGOs in the area of home affairs, security and migration

This study analyses the EU financing for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the area of home affairs, security and migration.
 
In this regard, it describes the general principles of EU financing for NGOs, quantifies and qualifies the EU financing for NGOs (under central direct management) in the area of home affairs, security and migration, assesses the administrative burden faced by NGOs applying for and receiving EU grants, and examines the state-of-play of measures undertaken by the European Commission to ensure the transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of the EU financing for NGOs in the area of home affairs, security and migration.

 
Further information
 
Hearing: Lisbon strategy  
Public hearing on "Lisbon Strategy: budget implementation and results"

The Lisbon Strategy which aimed at making the European Union "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world ", was the main European Union Strategy from 2000 to 2010.
 
Its objectives of growth and employment are now pursued by the Europe 2020 Strategy.
 
On 7 April 2014, from 15.30 to 18.30, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control will organise a hearing on the budget implementation and results of the Lisbon Strategy.
 
The Commission, academics and the European Court of Auditors will exchange views with the Committee and attempt "to evaluate success and understand failure".
 
Rapporteur: Ingeborg Grässle (EPP)

 
Further information
 
 
Latest press releases
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EU budget fraudsters to face tougher criminal penalties
CONT LIBE 20-03-2014 - 11:12  

Rules on prosecuting and punishing fraud against the EU budget were voted by the Budgetary Control and Civil Liberties committees on Thursday. In amendments to a draft anti-fraud law, MEPs clearly defined the offences for which member states would have to introduce criminal penalties, such as fraud, passive and active corruption, money laundering or dishonest bidding for public procurement contracts. Fraud costs the EU budget an estimated €600 million each year.

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Discharge 2012: Riga-based BEREC agency and Council fail discharge test
CONT 17-03-2014 - 16:51  

The European Commission’s management of EU funds in 2012 won the Budgetary Control Committee’s “budget discharge” seal of approval on Tuesday. Yet MEPs expressed reservations about the high error rate in agriculture and regional policy spending at national level. In separate votes, discharges to the Council and the Riga-based electronic communications regulatory body BEREC were postponed.

Presentation and responsibilities
 
Committee responsible for:
 
1.    control of the implementation of the budget of the Union and of the European Development Fund, and the decisions on discharge to be taken by Parliament, including the internal discharge procedure and all other measures accompanying or implementing such decisions;
 
2.    the closure, presenting and auditing of the accounts and balance sheets of the Union, its institutions and any bodies financed by it, including the establishment of appropriations to be carried over and the settling of balances;
 
3.    control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank;
 
4.    monitoring of the cost-effectiveness of the various forms of Union financing in the implementation of the Union’s policies, involving, upon the Committee on Budgetary Control’s request, the specialised committees and acting, upon the Committee on Budgetary Control’s request, in cooperation with the specialised committees for the examination of special reports of the Court of Auditors;
 
5.    relations with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), consideration of fraud and irregularities in the implementation of the budget of the Union, measures aimed at preventing and prosecuting such cases, the strict protection of the Union’s financial interests and the relevant actions by the European Public Prosecutor in this field;
 
6.    relations with the Court of Auditors, the appointment of its members and consideration of its reports;
 
7.    the Financial Regulation as far as the implementation, management and control of the budget are concerned.
 
 
 
Today's broadcasts
 
No broadcast today  
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Multimedia Library
 
07-04-2014 - 15:47   CONT Meeting   Watch the meeting
20-03-2014 - 09:11   CONT LIBE Meeting   Watch the meeting
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Welcome words
 
Michael Theurer CONT Chair © European Union  
 

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the web pages of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT). This site is designed to enable the citizen to follow our work.
 
CONT looks at how the EU Budget is spent, how well goals are met and if the programmes are value for money and ensuring that European tax payer money is spent efficiently, effectively and according to EU law. In this context, the Committee relates closely with the Court of Auditors and suggests improvements on the basis of the Court's audit results in order to ensure sound financial management.
 
In addition, CONT liaises with the Union's Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to strengthen the fight against fraud and corruption in relation to the EU Budget.
 
The main tool CONT has at hand is the "discharge" procedure. During this procedure CONT scrutinises the implementation of the EU Budget by all actors involved, i.e. inter alia the Commission, Parliament, other institutions and Agencies.
 
If you are interested in how we put theory into practice, I suggest you have a look at our reports. You can also watch live broadcasts of our meetings and have a browse through the different links on this page which should give you a better idea of CONT's work.
 
Do not hesitate to contact us on any questions you might have.
 
Michael Theurer