Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 22 October 2019 - Strasbourg

Discharge 2017: European Asylum Support Office (EASO) (debate)

  Petri Sarvamaa, Rapporteur. – Mr President, as already mentioned also by Commissioner Oettinger, there has been significant improvement in the governance of EASO under the new management. Their commitment to reform has shown results at both financial and human resources level. This is why we call on the new management to continue its determined and transparent efforts to develop a more accountable, trustworthy and efficient governance structure and related procedures.

However when taxpayers’ money is lost, or spent without fair procurement and competition, the European Parliament must point out such cases so that they can be prevented in the future. We are now looking forward to cooperation with the new EASO management with the aim to monitor closely how the ambitious 2019 EASO Governance Action Plan will be implemented.

Lastly, while recognising all efforts made to remedy the shortcomings of the past, we cannot assume political responsibility for approving the budgetary and financial management of the agency in 2017. If we want to remain serious about the discharge granted by the European Parliament, we cannot arrive at a different conclusion following the adverse opinion issued by the Court of Auditors and the issues identified by the OLAF investigation. This is why discharge for EASO for the financial year 2017 should be refused.