Discharge to Frontex: exchange of views
On 13 July 2022, in the context of the discharge to the European Boarder and Coastguard Agency (Frontex), the Committee on Budgetary Control had an exchange of views with Frontex Management Board, Frontex acting Executive Director, and the European Commission. In spring 2022, the Parliament decided to postpone the discharge to Frontex for the year 2020; a second vote, now on granting or refusing discharge, will take place in October 2022.
The exchange of views took place in this context and was aimed to hear from the Chair of Frontex Management Board, Frontex acting Executive Director, and the European Commission on how they envisage to keep the Agency on track to fulfil its mandate.
Frontex has been through a difficult period with a rapid and significant expansion of its mandate and manpower, the departure of its previous Executive Director, and allegations of pushbacks. An OLAF investigation dealt with some of these issues.
The discharge authority has put conditions in its previous discharge resolutions for Frontex to encourage the Agency to meet its obligations under its complex mandate. Frontex has provided the discharge authority with detailed information on the implementation of these conditions. The progress made will be part of the considerations of the CONT Committee for granting discharge, as well as how the Agency envisages to continue to implement its mandate for external border management in the future.