10
Apr
2024
Watch
Discharge 2022 (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, as we gather here today to address the discharge procedure of 2022, I am compelled to reflect upon the extraordinary challenges that we as a Union faced during that time. I still remember vividly the issues that we had to tackle: the consequences of COVID, the beginning of the war – everything happened back then. I kept my promise, with a well-structured report, which focused only on the work of the Parliament, having in mind what happened during that year. In the face of such challenges, it was imperative that we, as the European Parliament, demonstrated leadership and consistency. We had to navigate through the crisis while upholding the values and principles upon which our Union was founded. Despite what was happening in Europe, we had also our own problems here in the House to solve. I am proud to say that our leadership rose to the occasion, taking decisive steps to maintain trust in the European decision-making process. We strengthened the transparency, ethics and rightful conduct within our institutions. They became paramount and I commend on our efforts in this regard. As the rapporteur of the discharge report of the European Parliament, my primary goal was to provide a factual assessment of the financial implementation of the European Parliament budget for the year 2022. I aim to scrutinise how external events – such as the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis – affect our budgetary execution and how our institution responded to these challenges. Throughout this process, I have the privilege of working closely with Parliament’s administration. Their invaluable assistance has been instrumental in enabling us to fulfil our mandate effectively. Here I have to say that the structure of the report is a bit innovative, compared to the few last reports that we have on that issue before. We had a DG-by-DG approach, having in mind that each DG has specific issues, a specific approach to different challenges, so we keep it objective. Therefore, we need to express our gratitude and support for the tireless efforts of the administration. While we must continuously strive for positive reforms and improvements, we must also acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of those who serve in our institution. As a Bulgarian but also a dedicated European, I am deeply committed to promote transparency and fostering a modern democracy that truly represents the diverse views of all EU citizens. It is my firm belief that the European Parliament stands as a beacon of democratic values and principles, and it is our collective responsibility to uphold and strengthen these foundations. I am pleased to say that those values have been defended throughout the pages of my report, and I am certain that we would have a valuable final result tomorrow during the vote.