Reviewing Europe's investments in clean energy, digital life, and modern infrastructure

European Parliament approves 2024 accounts of 24 EU research projects

Undertakings and decisions

Why the decisions were made

• Audit confidence – The Court of Auditors confirmed the 2024 accounts were reliable, legal and regular.
• Budget implementation – All projects met their 2024 budget conditions.
• Transparency and accountability – The Parliament wants to ensure public money is used efficiently and that projects continue to support EU goals such as climate action, digital sovereignty and health.

Key observations and recommendations

1. Financial management – Strengthen internal controls, improve budgeting accuracy and reduce unused cash surpluses.
2. Procurement – Use procurement to promote sustainability, security, fair competition, gender balance and regional balance.
3. Staffing & governance – Recruit and retain skilled staff, improve working conditions and ensure transparent conflict‑of‑interest declarations.
4. Risk management – Adopt risk‑based controls for grant payments and better monitor high‑risk projects.
5. Reporting – Provide detailed follow‑up reports by 30 September 2026 showing how each undertaking has acted on the observations.

What this means for the EU

• The Parliament confirms that the 2024 budgets of these strategic projects were managed properly.
• It sets a clear agenda for the next multi‑annual financial framework (2028‑2034) to keep these partnerships well‑funded and aligned with EU priorities.
• The undertakings are encouraged to improve transparency, procurement practices, staff welfare and risk management to support Europe’s strategic autonomy and innovation goals.

Broader context

The discharge procedure is the final stage of the annual EU budgetary cycle, acting as the primary democratic tool for the European Parliament to hold bodies accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money. By granting "discharge," Parliament formally closes the accounts for a specific financial year, confirming that the money was used according to EU rules. These Joint Undertakings (JUs) are unique public-private partnerships where the EU pools resources with private industry to fast-track innovation in strategic sectors. While the Court of Auditors generally verified the accuracy of these accounts, they frequently identify recurring technical issues, such as errors in staff cost declarations and the need for more sophisticated risk-based control systems to protect EU funds. europarl.europa

Impact on people living in the EU

For the average citizen, these decisions ensure that large-scale investments in essential technologies are being managed with oversight, rather than disappearing into unchecked administrative processes. By demanding improvements in transparency, procurement, and governance, Parliament is working to ensure that these massive research projects—which impact daily life—remain effective and reliable. europarl.europa

These projects translate directly into real-world benefits for residents, such as safer aviation, more efficient rail networks, advanced medical treatments, and improved digital sovereignty. The requirement for JUs to improve their internal controls is intended to secure these future advancements against financial waste, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the EU's research agenda. era.gv