Most of the EU’s expenditure is managed by the European Commission, whose budgetary performance was approved by the European Parliament with 421 votes in favour, 151 against and 5 abstentions. In 2021, the EU budget increased by roughly 30% compared to 2020, mainly because of the money spent from the Next Generation EU programme to fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vague criteria, weak controls, unknown destination

In a resolution accompanying the Commission’s discharge decision (adopted by 460 to 129 and 49 abstentions), MEPs voice concerns on the limited options the EU has to check how the money from the recovery facility (RRF) is being used. Since it was set up “under time pressure”, control requirements are lighter than those for other EU programmes and more reliant on the national authorities, which in some cases are “too error-prone and unreliable”. MEPs warn about the risk of misuse, fraud and organised crime , and ask the Commission to tighten checks…