Activities of Angelika WINZIG related to 2022/2125(DEC)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021 the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021
Amendments (11)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. NotWelcomes that the report of the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’) on the Joint Undertaking’s annual accounts (the “Court’s report”) finds the 2021 annual accounts to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Joint Undertaking at 31 December 2021, the results of its operations, its cash flows, and the changes in net assets for the year then ended, in accordance with the Joint Undertaking’s Financial Regulations and with accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer; notes, furthermore, and that the underlying transactions to the accounts are legal and regular in all material aspects;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Acknowledges that Horizon Europe envisages ambitious goals for the Joint Undertaking, that can only be achieved if effective solutions that address the weaknesses in the internal control systems and prepare for the future challenges arising from increased responsibilities, e.g. in the area of human resources management and planning, are designed and implemented; points out, in this context, that particularly complicated and burdensome calculations and reporting requirements represent a significant risk of error and calls therefore, to explore the possibilities of simplifications wherever possible and compatible with the existing legal framework;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. NoteHighlights that, regarding the risk identified by the Court in 2020 to the achievement of the Joint Undertaking research and innovation agenda for the Horizon 2020 programme, the operational achievements reported in the Annual Activity Report 2021 confirm that, despite the reduction of in-cash contributions from both the Joint Undertaking’s members (European Commission and Bio-Based Industries Consortium), the Joint undertaking succeeds in achieving its strategic objectives; notwelcomes, in particular, that among the operational highlights reported for 2021, 41 projects were finalised, with all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) linked to the project performance having been achieved; noappreciates, moreover, that the expected results reported by ongoing projects indicate that the final Key Performance Indicators will significantly exceed the targets set in the Strategic and Innovation Research Agenda (SIRA) of the Bio-based and Renewable Industries for Development and Growth in Europe, which identified the research, demonstration and deployment activities to be carried out by the Joint Undertaking in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. NotesPoints out that the majority (around 90%) of the validated data reaches scores 1 or 2 (validation scores: 1, 2, 3) showing that the Key Performance Indicators framework set for Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking gives a meaningful measure of the outcomes and impacts of the programme;
Amendment 8 #
17. NotesIs pleased that, in 2021, the Joint Undertaking’s efficient performance in core operations continued in respect of the main Key Performance Indicators of Horizon 2020 on which the Joint Undertaking is monitored, confirming the positive trends observed in previous years: Time to Inform (TTI) applicants of Call 2020 was met in January 2021, at 137 days against a target of 153 days (100% on time); Time to Grant (TTG) for retained proposals of Call 2020 was on average 236 days against the target of 245 days and all Grant Agreements were signed on time (100% on time); Time to Amend (TTA) was 9 days against the target of 45 days (100% on time); Time to Pay (TTP) for pre-financing of retained proposals from Call 2020 was 9.5 days on average against the target of 30 days (100% on time) and for interim and final payments was 66 days on average against the target of 90 days (100% on time);
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. NoteHighlights that, following an observation in the 2020 discharge procedure on procurement, the Joint Undertaking has implemented all possible measures in order to ensure the broadest competition in its procurement procedures and in compliance with the EU financial regulation; notwelcomes, moreover, that the Joint Undertaking uses eTendering to publish its public procurement notices and has implemented all accession requirements for eProcurement solutions (such as eSubmission), planned to be fully integrated into this system by the end of 2022;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. NotAcknowledges that, following an observation in the 2020 discharge procedure on the lack of a support structure to ensure the psychological well-being of staff, the Joint Undertaking put in place a series of events to support staff in coping with the challenges imposed by the pandemic; notes, in addition, and that best practices and golden working rules have been set up in the preparation of the “Return to the Office” Strategy of the organisation within the framework of new ways of working;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. NoAppreciates that, as was the case last year, there is evidence that the simplifications introduced in Horizon 2020, along with the progressively increasing experience acquired by the major beneficiaries, have positively affected the number and level of errors; notes, however, that beneficiaries still make errors, usually because of a lack of understanding or non-respect of the rules;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes that, at the end of 2021 a total of 11 risks were identified and described in the Risk Register with varying degrees of importance, convergence and inter-dependency; notes, moreover,points out that the risk assessment exercise conducted in 2021 confirmed the trend of previous years and some additional risks were absorbed or reduced by an increased effectiveness of internal controls as well as experience gained in the core activities, such as the Horizon 2020 grant planning, processes and systems;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. NotWelcomes that, regarding management of potential conflicts of interest, the Joint Undertaking Programme Office has developed a comprehensive set of rules and procedures that are effectively implemented across its entire governance structure and that specific measures have been implemented for the prevention and management of conflicts of interest of experts in charge of the review of projects and tenders;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. NoteHighlights that, in the course of 2021 these controls systems operated effectively, and nothing needs to be reported which may influence the reasonable assurance to be provided by the Authorising Officer;