In the report, adopted on Monday by 17 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions, the Budgetary Control Committee stresses the great risk to the EU’s financial interests posed by nepotism used when procuring EU funds.

MEPs on the committee are also concerned about the latest data showing that journalists’ safety in the EU has deteriorated and call for better protection of investigative journalists who can significantly contribute to fighting corruption and impunity.

Ukraine

The adopted text says that the EU funds for assistance in non-EU countries and the money allocated for Europe’s response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are not adequately monitored and controlled. They call on the Commission to carry out more thorough checks to ensure that EU funds end up going to those most in need.

Particularly, MEPs are concerned about the peak in irregularities affecting the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA) and call on the Commission to also fraud-proof…