The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the financial year 2021 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the Institute's annual accounts for the financial year 2021 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 511 votes to 86 with 29 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations contained in the resolution on the performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

The Institute's financial statements

The Institute's final budget for the financial year 2021 amounted to EUR 8 692 878, representing an increase of 12.17 % compared to 2020.

Parliament noted thatgender equality in the Union has been particularly impacted by the consequences of the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the backlashes against gender equality and women’s rights, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in several Member States. The Gender Equality Index in 2022 is of 68,6 across the Union, representing an increase of only 0,6 point compared to 2021, thereby demonstrating that the Union’s pace towards gender equality is slow;

Budgetary and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2021 resulted in a budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations of 98.92 %, representing an increase of 1.18 % compared to 2020. Payment appropriations execution rate was 71.39 %, representing a decrease of 3.44 % compared to 2020. Parliament noted that the amount of the Institute’s final budget is the result of a first budgetary amendment of EUR 971 698, representing a budget increase of 12 % compared to the initial budget allocated for 2021 and of a second budgetary amendment of EUR 375 000, representing a 4.14 % reduction adopted by the Institute’s management Board due to the COVID-19-related savings identified at year end. Parliament also noted an increase in the Institute’s carry-over operating expenditure to 54.79 % in 2022 (49.49 % in 2021).

Other observations

Parliament also made a series of observations concerning performance, staff policy, public procurement and internal controls and Covid-19.

In particular, it noted that:

- the Institute achieved 96.62 % of its work programme in 2021, thereby reaching the targets set out in the 2021-2023 single programming document;

- the Institute published a report analysing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for victims of intimate partner violence, and carried out its first wide survey which collected evidence on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in informal care and work-life balance, wellbeing, employment and working conditions;

- on 31 December 2021, the establishment plan was 96 % executed, with 26 temporary agents appointed out of 27 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (the same number of posts as in 2020).

- 47 administrative procurement procedures and 62 operational procurement procedures were completed in 2021;

- the Institute is finalising its conflicts of interest policy and the 2021-2023 anti-fraud strategy was successfully implemented in 2021;

- several weaknesses were highlighted in the area of management and control systems;

- the Institute should further strengthen its internal control mechanisms, including the setting up of an internal anticorruption mechanism.