Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - Committee of the Regions

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Committee of the Regions in respect of the implementation of the Committee of the Regions' budget for the financial year 2024, Section VII - Committee of the Regions.

In its resolution, adopted by 567 votes to 70, with 13 abstentions, Parliament made the following observations:

Budgetary and financial management

The final adopted budget of the Committee was EUR 123 178 345 in 2024, including the Amending Budget 5/2024 (salary related), representing an increase of EUR 6 502 953 (i.e. + 5.60 %) compared to 2023. The implementation of current year commitment appropriations was 99.9 % in 2024 (the same as in 2023). The appropriations carried over from 2023 to 2024 were EUR 12 578 853 compared to EUR 10 540 464 in the previous year. The consistently high budget implementation rate over the years is due to optimisation in budget planning and execution in light of persistent budgetary pressures.

In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, that the Committee continued to be affected in 2024 by rising costs of energy, transportation, accommodation and by indexation mechanisms linked to inflation rate, which have had an impact directly or indirectly, on expenditure for raw materials, external contractors, energy, travel, rents, lease and maintenance of buildings.

Members commend the common actions of the Committee and the EESC to secure better interinstitutional collaborations through digitalisation and joint procurement efforts.

The mission’s budget increased by 13.60 % from EUR 420 833 in 2023 to EUR 478 050 in 2024 and an execution rate of that budget of approximately 80 % in 2024 (similar to 2023). This increase was due to an increase in the number of missions.

Internal management, performance and internal control

As part of its annual operational plan, the reporting of the performance of the Committee was based on 26 objectives, the achievement of which was assessed through 87 quantitative indicators. The Committee is called on to further strengthen the outcome -and impact-oriented indicators to better demonstrate the impact and the added value of the Committee’s activities on Union policies. The targets of the majority of those indicators (approximately 74 %) were achieved with a level of 90 % or more, six were partially achieved with a level of less than 90 % and six were not achieved.

In 2024, the Committee adopted 53 opinions (the same as in 2023) and four resolutions (six in 2023). Parliament recognised the Committee’s political achievements in 2024 and its role in integrating local and regional perspectives into Union policymaking, thereby enhancing citizen involvement. The Committee also: (i) continued implementing measures to improve its internal management and modernise its administration, streamline its processes and enhance cost effectiveness; (ii) implemented a partially digitalised and simplified procedure for financial workflows and the appointment of financial actors.

Other observations

Parliament noted that:

- at the end of 2024, the Committee had a total of 561 members of staff (seconded national experts, interim, intra muros and trainees not included), compared to 559 in 2023. The occupation rate of posts in the establishment plan was 96.40 % (a decrease from 98 % in 2023) and the turnover rate was 7.30 % (an increase from 6.60 % in 2023), respectively. The Committee has not yet achieved gender parity in leadership positions, but acknowledges significant progress made in this area. The proportion of women in senior management positions decreased from 44.4 % in 2023 to 33.3 % in 2024 (it increased back to 44.4 % in 2025) and the proportion of women in middle management decreased from 32.50 % in 2023 to 29.7 % in 2024. The Committee employed 57.2 % women and 42.8 % men, almost the same proportions as in 2023.

- Members also noted that the number of burnout cases decreased from 18 in 2023 to 6 in 2024. They commended the Committee for its proactive approach to preventing burnout, by closely monitoring staff on long-term sick leave through tailored measures which entail regular contact with the respective staff and input from medical experts;

- the combined IT budget of the Committee and the EESC was EUR 13.70 million in 2024, compared to EUR 12.70 million in 2023, i.e., a decrease of approximately 7.90 %, whereas EUR 760 000 of that budget (or approximately 6 %) was paid for cybersecurity in 2024;

- budgetary and administrative savings were achieved through interinstitutional cooperation;

- the Committee’s communication activities focus on relationship with press, organisation of events and digital content and social media with a total budget (current year appropriations) of approximately EUR 2,3 million in 2024, i.e., approximately EUR 500 000 less than in 2023.

Text adopted by Parliament, single reading