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 EU Joint Undertakings are public-private partnerships that pool resources from the EU, member states, and private companies to fund large-scale research and innovation projects. These partnerships are a key part of the EU’s Horizon Europe program, which aims to tackle global challenges like climate change, digital transformation, and health crises by supporting breakthrough technologies and industries.

The discharge procedure is an annual process where the European Parliament reviews how EU institutions and bodies, including Joint Undertakings, have spent their budgets. A discharge means the Parliament approves the budget implementation, confirming that the funds were used legally, efficiently, and for their intended purpose. The Court of Auditors plays a crucial role by auditing the accounts and providing an opinion on their reliability.

This legislation is part of the EU’s broader push for strategic autonomy, ensuring that Europe remains competitive in critical technologies (e.g., semiconductors, hydrogen, cybersecurity) and can address societal needs (e.g., health, sustainable aviation, and energy).

Impact on people living in the EU

The decisions directly and indirectly affect EU citizens in several ways:

• Technological and scientific progress: Funding for projects like Clean Aviation, Clean Hydrogen, and Fusion Energy accelerates the development of greener technologies, which can lead to cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and more sustainable transport and energy solutions.

• Health improvements: Initiatives like the Global Health EDCTP3 and Innovative Health Initiative support research into diseases, vaccines, and medical innovations, potentially leading to better healthcare and new treatments for EU citizens.

• Digital sovereignty: Projects such as High-Performance Computing, Cybersecurity, and Chips aim to strengthen Europe’s digital independence, improving data security, computing power, and technological resilience—benefiting businesses, governments, and individuals.

• Economic growth: By fostering innovation and industry collaboration, these undertakings help create high-skilled jobs and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), boosting local economies.

• Transparency and accountability: The EP’s emphasis on better financial management, procurement, and governance ensures that public funds are used wisely, reducing waste and increasing trust in EU institutions.

• Regional development: The focus on regional balance in procurement and staffing can help distribute opportunities more evenly across the EU, benefiting less developed areas.