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The financial management of the EU’s 43 agencies was better in 2024 than in previous years, according to the annual audit report issued today by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
However, the auditors have once again detected issues with budgetary management, public procurement procedures, and management and control systems. 33 agencies need to improve in several areas, particularly when handling public procurement, which the auditors stress is still the main source of irregularities.
The EU agencies are located in 23 member states and employ over 17 000 people to carry out specific technical, scientific or managerial tasks to design, monitor and implement EU policies.
In 2024, the total budget of all EU agencies was €5.3 billion, or 4 % of the EU’s general budget for 2024 (2023: 3 %).
“The work of the 43 EU agencies influences areas of vital importance to European citizens’ daily lives, such as health, safety, security, freedom and justice”, said Petri Sarvamaa, the ECA Member responsible for the annual audit of the EU agencies.
“Most of the EU agencies managed their finances well in 2024. But we keep finding issues, particularly with public procurement.”
In their 2024 statements of assurance, the auditors conclude that the agencies’ accounts are reliable. However, they note that financial disclosure by some agencies requires attention, for instance as regards the financial consequences of legal procedures, declining operating revenue, and the uncertain costs of policy implementation and other tasks.
All agencies get a clean bill of health for their revenue. The auditors also validate the legality and regularity of payments for all agencies but the European Labour Authority (ELA), which received a qualified opinion due to issues with a contract that the auditors found had been awarded irregularly in 2022.
In addition, the auditors identify several areas for improvement at 33 agencies. As in previous years, high carry-overs and late payments are key issues for budgetary management.
The number of agencies with a high share of late payments has even increased since 2022, the auditors note. They also stress that weak management and control systems undermine the effective oversight of operations.
At several agencies, they note a lack of adequate checks, procurement procedures being launched without proper financing decisions, expenditure being implemented without appropriate authorisation, and weaknesses in the management of grants.
