(Consultation)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Article 286(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C9‑0333/2023),

–  having regard to Rule 129 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A9-0293/2023),

A.  whereas, by letter of 8 September 2023, the Council consulted Parliament on the nomination of Alejandro Blanco Fernández as a Member of the Court of Auditors;

B.  whereas Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control then proceeded to evaluate Alejandro Blanco Fernández’s credentials, in particular in view of the requirements laid down in Article 286(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; whereas in carrying out that evaluation, the committee received a curriculum vitae from Alejandro Blanco Fernández, as well as the replies to the written questionnaire that he had been sent;

C.  whereas the committee subsequently held a hearing with Alejandro Blanco Fernández on 12 October 2023, at which he made an opening statement and then answered questions put by the members of the committee;

1.  Delivers a favourable opinion on the Council’s nomination of Alejandro Blanco Fernández as a Member of the Court of Auditors;

2.  Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and, for information, the Court of Auditors, the other institutions of the European Union and the audit institutions of the Member States.