The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme for the financial year 2022 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.

Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurance that the Agency's annual accounts for the financial year 2022 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 559 votes to 22 with 22 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations set out in the resolution on the performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

Agency’s financial statements

The Agency's final budget for the financial year 2022 was EUR 70 032 491.77 , representing an increase of 22.58 % compared to 2021. Parliament noted that the Court presented an “emphasis of matter” paragraph in relation to the impact of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in the Agency’s operations.

Budgetary and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations of 100 %, representing the same rate as in the previous two years. The execution rate of the current year payment appropriations was 72.86 %, representing a decrease of 1.92 % compared to 2021.

In addition to its core budget, the Agency continued to manage a large amount of delegated budget (earmarked appropriations), and a total of EUR 574.5 million was committed under delegated budget in 2022 and EUR 1.26 billion made in payments.

Other comments

Parliament also made a series of observations concerning performance, staff policy, procurement, internal controls and digitalisation.

In particular, it noted that:

- the Agency has disclosed potential impacts from the war in Ukraine, including the interruption in using Soyuz launchers for Galileo satellites due to the unilateral withdrawal of the Russian Soyuz launcher team. The Agency does not envisage any direct, immediate impact on its financial performance but recognises that intensive work is required to minimise delays in the launch of new satellites, which could then lead to delays in expense recognition and the clearing of receivable assets paid in the form of pre-financing;

- on 31 December 2022 the establishment plan was 100 % implemented, with 231 temporary agents appointed out of 231 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared to 191 authorised posts in 2021);

- there is a lack of gender balance within the Agency’s senior and middle management as well as the Agency’s administrative board members;

- the digitalisation of procedures should be accelerated;

- work should be continued on public procurement procedures, transparency, incompatibilities, conflicts of interest, illegal lobbying and revolving doors;

- the Agency should develop greater visibility in the media, internet, and social media in order to make its work known to the citizens.