Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2023)391 - Consolidated annual accounts of the EU for the financial year 2022

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CONTENTS


FOREWORD 2

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 3

NOTE ACCOMPANYING THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS 36

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES 37

BALANCE SHEET 39

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 40

CASHFLOW STATEMENT 41

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 42

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 43

BUDGETARY IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES 138

GLOSSARY 203

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 207


FOREWORD


In 2022, the European Union proved once again its power of unity to respond to unprecedented challenges. European solidarity was our response to Russia's brutal war. On one hand, we have stood by our Ukrainian partners and sought to mitigate the impact of this unlawful and arbitrary war, which affected the daily lives of millions of Ukrainians. On the other hand, we have addressed the direct and indirect consequences for our citizens, businesses, and Member States. That is why we have mobilised all available means in the EU budget and under the European Peace Facility to complement support directly provided by the Member States.

The current geopolitical situation has emphasised the importance of a sustainable and diversified source of energy supply. In this context, our dedicated recovery instrument NextGenerationEU proved to be an important tool to further accelerate the green and the digital transition. At the same time, NextGenerationEU has been instrumental for the growth of the EU into the large scale-sovereign style issuer. By implementing unified EU borrowing strategy, the Commission sent a very important signal to financial markets: it showed EU solidarity and has generated confidence in the resilience of the euro area.

In addition, the SURE programme (Support to Mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency) continued to support Member States to maintain people in work and help jobs affected by the pandemic. At the end of 2022, its final year, Member States had signed loan facility agreements of 98.4 billion Euro, all of which were disbursed supporting more than 30 million people and 2.5 million companies across 19 different Member States.


On top of tackling the crisis with rapid responses and ongoing adjustments to the political and financial situation, the European Union kept its promise and delivered on its overall policy objectives. In 2022, the second year of the MFF 2021-2027, it made the best use of the 2022 budget, with commitment implementation amounting to 357.1 billion Euro.

Thanks to the EU budget, the European Union could stand up to its challenges. Therefore, it is my pleasure to present the 2022 annual accounts of the European Union, which will illustrate this in detail. They provide a complete overview of EU finances, including information on contingent liabilities, financial commitments and other obligations of the Union, as well as on the implementation of the EU budget for the past year. The consolidated annual accounts of the European Union are part of the Commission’s integrated financial and accountability reporting package and form an essential part of our highly developed system of fiscal transparency and accountability.


Johannes Hahn

Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR


The objective of this Financial Highlights section, which has been prepared on the basis of the principles outlined in the IPSASB Recommended Practice Guideline (RPG) 2 ‘Financial Statement Discussion and Analysis’ is to assist readers to understand how the operational, financial and investment activities of the EU are reflected in the different elements of the consolidated financial statements of the EU. The information presented in this section has not been audited.


It should be noted that due to the rounding of figures into millions of euros, some financial data in the tables below may appear not to add up.

CONTENTS


1. KEY FIGURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 5

2. THE 2021-2027 MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK AND
NextGenerationEU 7

2.1. MFF 2021-27 & NextGenerationEU – Key Figures 7

2.2. NextGenerationEU – overview 8

2.3. Financial situation of NGEU at 31 December 2022 9

3. SUMMARY OF BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION 15

3.1. Revenue 15

3.2. Expenditure 16

4. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND BUDGETARY GUARANTEES 19

4.1. Financial instruments financed by the EU budget 19

4.2. Budgetary guarantees: Financial assets held in guarantee funds 19

4.3. Loans and related borrowings for financial assistance programmes 20

4.4. Budgetary contingent liabilities for financial assistance programmes 23

5. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS 25

5.1. REVENUE 25

5.2. EXPENSES 26

5.3. ASSETS 27

5.4. LIABILITIES 29

6. EU POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK, GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY 32

6.1. POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 32

6.2. GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY 33


1. KEY FIGURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

Consolidated financial statements
The consolidated financial statements of the EU comprise more than 50 entities (including the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and EU agencies). They are prepared on the basis of accrual-based accounting rules adopted by the Accounting Officer of the Commission, these rules being based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).


As can be seen on the balance sheet below and further detailed in the Financial Statements Analysis (section 5), the 2022 EU consolidated financial statements were particularly marked by an increase of borrowings due to the continued implementation of NextGenerationEU and the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) instrument, as well as the additional financial support provided to Ukraine:

EUR billion
20222021
ASSETS
Financial Assets235.4188.6
Pre-financing100.593.4
Receivables48.272.4
Cash and cash equivalents46.544.9
Property, Plant and Equipment and other assets15.214.7
Total445.9414.1
LIABILITIES
Post-employment benefits80.6122.5
Financial liabilities352.3246.1
Payables55.346.4
Accruals86.278.1
Other liabilities2.83.3
Total577.2496.4
NET ASSETS
Reserves1.31.3
Amounts to be called from Member States(132.6)(83.6)
Total(131.3)(82.3)
see Financial Statement Analysis, section 5

Key developments in 2022
Continuing the successful track record of bond issuances
see section 4
Delivering on the NGEU obectivesProviding financial assistance to Ukraine
see section 2see section 4



2. THE 2021-2027 MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK AND NextGenerationEU

3. MFF 2021-27 & NextGenerationEU – Key Figures

The EU’s 2021-2027 long-term budget, together with the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) recovery instrument, amounts to EUR 2.018 trillion in current prices (EUR 1.8 trillion in 2018 prices).

The package consists of the long-term budget, the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF), made up of EUR 1.211 trillion in current prices (EUR 1.074 trillion in 2018 prices), combined with the temporary recovery instrument, NGEU of up to EUR 806.9 billion in current prices (EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices).


The budget has been designed as a response to Europe’s priorities and most urgent needs:

- More than 50% of the total amount of the next long-term budget and NGEU will support the modernisation of the European Union through research and innovation, fair climate and digital transitions, preparedness, and recovery and resilience actions;

- 30% of the EU budget will be spent to fight climate change – the highest share of the largest EU budget ever;

- 20% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – which accounts for 90% of NGEU – will be invested in digital transformation;

- In 2026 and 2027, 10% of the annual spending under the long-term budget will contribute to halting and reversing the decline of biodiversity; and

- For the first time ever, new and reinforced priorities have the highest share within the long-term budget, 32%.

Following Russia’s war of agression against Ukraine, the EU budget turned into a key instrument to support the EU’s crisis response and strategic autonomy building. More concretely, in a ‘Team Europe’ approach, the EU, its Member States and financial institutions, had by the end of 2022 together mobilised close to EUR 50 billion in overall support for Ukraine, in a clear expression of the EU’s continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine.


This included:

- EUR 18.9 billion in financial assistance, budget support and humanitarian assistance, enabled by the EU budget and directly from EU Member States in grants, loans and guarantees;

- An EUR 18 billion package to support Ukraine’s economy, to be paid out in 2023; and

- EUR 3.2 billion in military assistance under the European Peace Facility and EUR 7 billion directly by the EU Member States (both the European Peace Facility and the direct support by Member States are not part of the EU budget).

4. NextGenerationEU – overview

With a budget of EUR 806.9 billion, NGEU is designed to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, thus building a post-COVID-19 Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and better fit for the current and forthcoming challenges.

A majority of the funds is channeled through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Part of the funds, up to EUR 338.0 billion, are provided in the form of non-repayable support, or grants. The other part, up to EUR 385.8 billion, is used to provide loans from the Union to individual Member States. These loans will be repaid by those Member States starting only after the current MFF period and extending over a long time period, with the final maturity of the loans outstanding at 31 December 2022 ending only as from 2052 (see section 2.3.3).

In addition, NGEU reinforces several existing EU programmes and policies, as follows:

- The Cohesion policy under the recovery assistance for cohesion and the territories of Europe (REACT-EU), to help address the economic consequences of COVID-19 in the first years of the recovery;

- The Just Transition Fund, to guarantee that the transition to climate neutrality works for all;

- The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, to further support farmers;

- InvestEU, to support the investment efforts of our businesses;

- Horizon Europe, to make sure the EU has the capacity to fund more excellence in research; and

- RescEU, safeguards that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has the capacity to respond to largescale emergencies.


In addition, following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, the Commission put forward REPowerEU, the European Commission’s plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030. Under REPowerEU, Member States add a REPowerEU chapter to their national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) – the roadmaps to funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility – to finance key investments and reforms in diversifying energy supplies and reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels. REPowerEU does not increase the overall envelope for the RRF, but will accelerate the deployment of the current borrowing capacity by offering Member States the possibility to request additional loans under NGEU for REPowerEU objectives. REPowerEU is complemented by grants financed by the auctioning of ETS allowances and transfers from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

5. Financial situation of NGEU at 31 December 2022

Contents

1.

6. Overview


From the launch of the NGEU funding operations on 15 June 2021 to the end of 2022, the Commission has raised EUR 170.8 billion of long-term funding (nominal amount), mainly by issuing bonds in syndicated transactions (2021: EUR 71.0 billion). In addition, as of December 2022, the Commission has EUR 17.0 billion of short-term EU-Bills outstanding. Up to year-end 2022, the Commission had disbursed a total of EUR 162.0 billion of financial support (2021: EUR 71.6 billion). The majority of this amount, EUR 138.7 billion, was disbursed under the RRF, with EUR 93.5 billion disbursed as non-repayable support and EUR 45.2 billion disbursed as financial loan support. A further EUR 23.3 billion (net of recoveries of EUR 0.2 billion) was disbursed as MFF payments under existing programmes. Furthermore, liquidity of EUR 20.5 billion is held in the NGEU bank account with the ECB and in the Commission’s central treasury account, pending disbursement to the budget for MFF programmes.


NGEU – Outstanding Borrowings and Disbursements at 31 December 2022


* A further EUR 0.6 billion of funds were held in the Commission’s central treasury account pending disbursement to the budget for MFF programmes (including EUR 0.2 billion of recovered NGEU funds previously paid).

2.

7. Borrowings


To meet the NGEU funding needs, the Commission issues securities on the international capital markets. Based on a unified funding approach, the Commission combines the use of different funding instruments and funding techniques with an open and transparent communication to market participants.

In 2022, the annual Borrowing Decision allowed the Commission to issue up to a maximum amount of EUR 140 billion in long-term funding and to have up to a maximum outstanding amount of EUR 60 billion in short-term funding.1

Long-term funding – Syndicated transactions and auctioning of EU bonds

As of 31 December 2022, the outstanding (nominal) amount of long-term funding was EUR 170.8 billion (2021: EUR 71.0 billion). Out of this amount, EUR 36.4 billion related to green bonds (2021: EUR 12 billion). The borrowings will mature between 2025 and 2052 as follows:

EUR billion
MaturityIssued/RaisedTotal repaid at year-endOutstanding at year-end
202511.20.011.2
202618.90.018.9
20279.30.09.3
202814.00.014.0
202910.00.010.0
203120.00.020.0
203214.90.014.9
20336.00.06.0
203718.40.018.4
204113.00.013.0
20424.00.04.0
20437.00.07.0
20485.00.05.0
205114.00.014.0
20525.00.05.0
170.80.0170.8

Short-term funding – Auctioning of EU-Bills

The auctioning of EU-Bills gives extra flexibility to the Commission as an issuer, and is supporting the liquidity of its securities. As of 31 December 2022, the outstanding (nominal) amount of short-term funding, raised via the auctioning of EU-bills with a maturity of three or six months, amounted to EUR 17.0 billion (2021: EUR 20.0 billion).

8. Disbursements

During 2022 the Commission positively assessed the five remaining Member States’ recovery and resilience plans (Bulgaria, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Sweden), which were subsequently approved by the Council. As a consequence, all 27 Member States’ recovery and resilience plans were endorsed by year-end 2022. The total non-repayable support approved under the 27 Member States’ plans amounted to EUR 335.1 billion (2021: EUR 291.2 billion), corresponding to almost the whole financial envelope of NGEU non-repayable support of EUR 338.0 billion2. Out of this amount, EUR 234.4 billion were covered by financing agreements signed with Member States (2021: EUR 195.4 billion). The total financial loan support approved under the plans amounted to EUR 165.3 billion (2021: EUR 153.9 billion), of which the loan agreements signed by year-end covered EUR 153.9 billion (2021: EUR 153.2 billion).

3.

Non-repayable support


By year-end 2022, the Commission had disbursed a total of EUR 93.5 billion of non-repayable support to 22 Member States (2021: EUR 46.4 billion to 20 Member States). Out of this amount, EUR 36.6 billion related to pre-financing (2021: EUR 36.4 billion) and EUR 56.9 billion related to payments made following the fulfilment of milestones and targets by Member States (2021: EUR 10.0 billion):

EUR billion

Member
State
Maximum
non-repayable support*
Signed
commitments and budgetary commitments
31.12.2022

Disbursed as
pre-financing
31.12.2022

Milestone
payments
31.12.2022
Total
disbursed at
31.12.2022
Austria3.82.20.4-0.4
Belgium4.53.60.8-0.8
Bulgaria5.74.6-1.41.4
Croatia5.54.60.81.42.2
Cyprus0.90.80.10.10.2
Czechia7.73.50.9-0.9
Denmark1.41.30.2-0.2
Estonia0.90.80.1-0.1
Finland1.81.70.3-0.3
France37.524.35.17.412.5
Germany28.016.32.3-2.3
Greece17.413.52.31.74.0
Hungary5.84.6---
Ireland0.90.9---
Italy69.047.99.020.029.0
Latvia1.81.60.20.20.4
Lithuania2.12.10.3-0.3
Luxembourg0.10.10.0-0.0
Malta0.30.20.0-0.0
Netherlands4.73.9---
Poland22.520.3---
Portugal15.59.81.80.62.4
Romania12.110.21.91.83.6
Slovakia6.04.60.80.41.2
Slovenia1.51.30.2-0.2
Spain77.246.69.022.031.0
Sweden3.22.9---
Total338.0234.436.656.993.5
* Maximum financial contribution calculated for each Member State following the update of 30 June 2022 in line with Article 11 i of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 (before deduction of support expenditure), see
https://commission.europa.eu/document/c22c182c-f53e-453f-b45a-dacdcf2d69dd_en.

Budgetary commitments take into account all decommitments including those related to commitments made before 2022. Out of the total budgetary commitments EUR 136.4 billion was committed in 2022.

During 2022 the Commission disbursed non-repayable support totalling EUR 47.2 billion. This amount mainly comprised the first milestone payment to France (EUR 7.4 billion), the first and second milestone payments to Italy (EUR 10.0 billion each), and the second milestone payment to Spain (EUR 12.0 billion).

4.

Loans


By year-end 2022, the Commission had disbursed EUR 45.2 billion of financial loan support to five Member States (2021: EUR 18.0 billion to four Member States). Out of this amount, EUR 19.9 billion related to pre-financing (2021: EUR 18.0 billion) and EUR 25.2 billion related to loan instalments made following the fulfilment of milestones and targets by Member States (2021: nil):

EUR billion

Member State
Maximum
financial loan support
Total
signed at
31.12.2022
Disbursed as
pre-financing
31.12.2022
Milestone
payments 31.12.2022
Total
outstanding at 31.12.2022
Cyprus0.20.20.0-0.0
Greece12.712.71.71.83.5
Italy122.6122.615.922.037.9
Portugal2.72.70.40.61.0
Romania14.914.91.90.82.7
Poland11.50.0---
Slovenia0.70.7---
Approved165.3153.919.925.245.2
Reserve220.5----
385.8153.919.925.245.2

During 2022 the Commission provided financial loan support totalling EUR 27.2 billion. This amount comprised the loan pre-financing of EUR 1.9 billion to Romania, the payment of the first loan instalments to Greece (EUR 1.8 billion), Italy (EUR 11.0 billion), Portugal (EUR 0.6 billion) and Romania (EUR 0.8 billion), as well as the payment of the second loan instalment to Italy (EUR 11.0 billion).

According to the loan agreements, Member States will make annual repayments of 5% of the disbursed amounts starting ten years after the disbursement date. Thus Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Portugal will start repaying the loans as from 2032 and Romania as from 2033. The repayment schedule for the nominal amounts outstanding at year-end is as follows:

EUR million

Member State
Repayment
period
Annual
repayment
Total
repayment
Cyprus2032-2051126
Greece2032-20521753 500
Italy2032-20521 89737 938
Portugal2032-205248960
Romania2033-20521372 732
2 25845 156

5.

NGEU contribution to other programmes under the EU budget


By year-end 2022, the total net payments disbursed to other programmes under the MFF amounted to EUR 23.3 billion (2021: EUR 7.2 billion). This contribution, which is net of recoveries of EUR 0.2 billion, mainly related to REACT-EU which finances the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF, including FEAD):

EUR billion

MFF-Programme
Total
allocation
Total
net commitments
31.12.2022
Total
net payments
31.12.2022
REACT-EU50.650.518.2
- of which ERDF
30.029.913.6
- of which ESF (incl. FEAD)
20.620.64.6
Just Transition Fund10.95.00.2
Rural Development (EAFRD)8.18.11.3
InvestEU6.13.61.4
Horizon Europe5.43.51.9
RescEU2.00.90.3
Total83.171.623.3

During 2022, the Commission disbursed payments to other MFF programmes totalling EUR 16.1 billion. This amount comprised mainly the payments relating to REACT-EU (EUR 11.2 billion, of which EUR 8.7 billion under the ERDF and EUR 2.5 billion under the ESF, including FEAD), Horizon Europe (EUR 1.9 billion), InvestEU (EUR 1.2 billion) as well as Rural Development (EUR 1.2 billion).


6.

9. Liquidity


Loans provided under NGEU do not follow the strict back-to-back principle used in the past. Instead, a diversified and pooled funding strategy has been developed for the NGEU that has required the implementation of an efficient liquidity management. The objective of the NGEU liquidity management is to ensure that the amounts held on the NGEU bank account are sufficient to meet all upcoming disbursement needs and to maintain a defined safety buffer, while avoiding any excess balances. For the liquidity management, the Commission has developed an IT tool that allows for the monitoring of the NGEU account on a daily basis. At year-end 2022 the funds held in the NGEU off-budget account amounted to EUR 19.9 billion. In addition, EUR 0.6 billion of funds were held in the Commission’s central treasury account pending disbursement to the budget for MFF-programmes (including EUR 0.2 billion of recovered NGEU funds previously paid).

Following the success of the diversified funding strategy for NGEU and the growing recurrence to borrowing to secure funding for EU policy priorities, the Commission decided in 2022 to start using the unified funding approach as a main funding method as of 2023. Under this approach, the Commission – on behalf of the EU – will henceforth issue only ‘EU-Bonds’ rather than separately denominated bonds for individual programmes. The NGEU recovery programme and the new Macro-Financial Assistance + programme for Ukraine of EUR 18 billion for 2023 are the first programmes to benefit from the new funding approach.


10. SUMMARY OF BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION

11. Revenue

In the initial adopted EU budget, total payment appropriations amounted to EUR 170 603 million and the amount to be financed by own resources totalled EUR 157 701 million. The revenue and expenditure estimates in the initial budget are typically adjusted during the budgetary year by way of amending budgets. Adjustments in the GNI-based own resources ensure that budgeted revenue matches exactly budgeted expenditure. In accordance with the principle of equilibrium, budget revenue and expenditure (payment appropriations) must be in balance.

During 2022, five amending budgets were adopted. Taking them into account, the final adopted revenue for 2022 amounted to EUR 170 038 million and the total amount financed by own resources amounted to EUR 153 928 million. Member States' contributions in 2022 were mainly reduced by the surplus of the previous year (EUR 3 227 million). The level of payment appropiations remained more or less in line with the initial voted budget.

Revenue comes from six sources (titles):

Title 1 : Own resources

The collection of traditional own resources was above the amounts forecasted in the budget. This was due mainly to a higher than expected collection in the last months of the year.

Member States' final VAT, GNI and Plastics payments corresponded closely to the final budgetary estimate. The differences between the forecasted amounts and the amounts actually paid are due to the differences between the euro rates used for drawing up the budget and the rates in force at the time when the Member States outside the euro area actually made their payments.

Title 2 : Surpluses, balances and adjustments

The surplus of the previous financial year amounted to EUR 3 227 million. This amount was inscribed in the budget 2022 through an amending budget and the own resources contributions from the Member States were reduced accordingly.

For the VAT and GNI balances, the rules are set out in Article 10b of the Making Available Regulation (Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014). According to these rules the total sum of the balances are calculated in order for the impact on the EU budget to be zero (‘netting system’) and the procedure does not entail a budgetary amendment. The Commission therefore directly requests the Member States to pay the net amounts in accordance with the rules of the Making Available Regulation.

Title 3 : Administrative revenue

This title comprises mainly revenue from taxes and levies on the remuneration of staff.

Title 4 : Financial revenue, default interest and fines

The main part of this title relates to the fines in connection with the implementation of competition rules.

Title 5 : Budgetary guarantees, borrowing and lending operations

This title has increased significantly with the advent of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU). NGEU funds within this title are assigned revenue. Title 5 covers revenue related to guarantees, interest and repayments of loans granted. It also channels funds (for the NGEU non-repayable support under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and for reinforcement of MFF programmes) from earmarked revenue that Member States receive under the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI).

Title 6 : Revenue, contributions and refunds related to Union policies

This title concerns mainly revenue from financial corrections related to structural and agricultural funds (ESIF, EAGF and EAFRD). It also includes the participation of third countries in research programmes, the clearance of accounts in agricultural funds and other contributions and refunds to EU programmes/
activities. A substantial part of this total is made up of earmarked revenue, which gives rise to the entering of additional appropriations on the expenditure side.

Total 2022 budget revenue amounted to EUR 245 265 million:


12. Expenditure

7.

13. Budget implementation


In 2022, the second year of the MFF 2021-2027, the final adopted budget amounted to EUR 182.2 billion of commitment appropriations and EUR 170.0 billion of payment appropriations. In addition, EUR 295.0 billion of commitment appropriations were available as assigned revenue, out of which EUR 277.8 billion related to the NGEU3, and EUR 4.5 billion of commitment appropriations were carried over from 2021. The payment appropriations related to 2022 assigned revenue amounted to EUR 87.0 billion, out of which EUR 64.3 billion related to the NGEU and EUR 4.3 billion of payment appropriations were carried over from 2021.

The implementation of the 2022 budget was still partly impacted by the late adoption of the MFF Regulation (December 2020), which led to the adoption of the legal acts of the new generation of programmes only in the course of 2021. Moreover, the implementation of the 2022 budget was heavily affected by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the need to take resolute actions to provide complex humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine, help refugees as well as countries hosting them, and to respond to a crisis that had consequences beyond Ukrainian borders.

The implementation of the total commitment appropriations in 2022 amounted to EUR 357.1 billion:

- EUR 179.4 billion from the final adopted budget;

- EUR 4.5 billion from appropriations carried-over or made available again from 2021;

- EUR 173.2 billion from appropriations stemming from assigned revenue;

- of which EUR 162.7 billion from NGEU.

The implementation of the total payment appropriations in 2022 amounted to EUR 243.3 billion:

- EUR 167.3 billion from the final adopted budget;

- EUR 4.2 billion from appropriations carried-over or made available again from 2021;

- EUR 71.8 billion from appropriations stemming from assigned revenue;

- of which EUR 63.5 billion from NGEU.

In cases allowed by the Financial Regulation and/or legal bases, the appropriations of the voted budget that were not implemented in 2022 were carried over to 2023: EUR 1.5 billion of commitment appropriations and EUR 2.5 billion of payment appropriations.

Likewise, EUR 121.5 billion of commitment appropriations of assigned revenue, of which EUR 115.1 billion related to the NGEU, and EUR 15.2 billion of payment appropriations of assigned revenue, of which EUR 0.8 billion related to the NGEU, were carried over to 2023 in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

Total 2022 commitment appropriations implementation per EU policy objectives were as shown below:


The 2022 implementation for all types of appropriations (budget, carry-overs from previous year and assigned revenue) was 74% for commitments and 93% for payments. Implementation rates including the appropriations carried over to 2023 (in accordance with the Financial Regulation and/or legal bases) reached 99% for commitment appropriations and 100% for payment appropriations of the voted budget for 2022.

In 2022, the annual tranche of commitments under NGEU4 was EUR 144.6 billion. In addition, EUR 21.1 billion of commitments were carried over from 2021. In total, EUR 165.7 billion was available for commitments in 2022, out of which 162.7 billion, or 98%, were consumed. The remaining EUR 114 billion of the NGEU total envelope are planned for implementation in 2023 (and in later years for administrative appropriations which can be implemented until 2027). In line with art. 3 i of EURI Regulation5 2020/2094, over 60% of legal commitments for the relevant programmes under NGEU (with the exception of InvestEU and Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) loans) were entered into by 31 December 2022. The implementation of the NGEU payment appropriations reached 99%.


8.

14. Outstanding commitments


Outstanding commitments (commonly referred to as RAL – reste à liquider), which correspond to amounts committed but not yet paid for, stood at EUR 452.8 billion at the end of 2022. The outstanding commitments increased as compared to 2021 (by EUR 111.2 billion).

The main driver of the 2022 increase of the RAL was the NGEU (non-repayable part) implementation, contributing EUR 189.1 billion (42%) to the total RAL at the end of 2022. As the NGEU appropriations will be committed until 31 December 2023 and paid by 31 December 2026, in accordance with the Articles 3 i and 3(9) of the EURI Regulation, the trend of nominally growing RAL linked to NGEU will continue in 2023.

9.

15. Budget result


The budget result (surplus) decreased from EUR 3.2 billion in 2021 to EUR 2.5 billion in 2022. A major contributor to the budget result (surplus) 2022 was higher than expected revenue from the customs duties.


16. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND BUDGETARY GUARANTEES

17. Financial instruments financed by the EU budget

Financial instruments financed by the EU budget exist in the form of guarantee instruments, equity instruments and loan instruments. Under the 2021-2027 MFF the use of budgetary guarantees is expected to increase in comparison to the use of financial instruments fully financed or provisioned from the EU budget. In particular, under the InvestEU Programme, EUR 26.2 billion of EU guarantees will be provided to the EIB group and other financial institutions to support various policy objectives of the Union by means of financing investment operations. The basic concept behind this approach, in contrast to the traditional method of budget implementation of giving grants and subsidies, is that for each euro spent from the budget via financial instruments, the final beneficiary receives more than EUR 1 as financial support due to the leverage effect.

Under this type of budget implementation, funds are either already disbursed to the fiduciary accounts managed by the entrusted entities and stay available (as cash and cash equivalents, debt securities or investments in money market funds or pooled portfolios of assets) to cover future guarantee calls or have been invested in equity. The significance and volume of financial instruments financed by the EU budget under direct and indirect management has been increasing in recent years.

18. Budgetary guarantees: Financial assets held in guarantee funds

Under this type of budget implementation the EU provides guarantees to counterparts for which the funding is only partially provisioned via guarantee funds set up by the Commission. This creates contingent liabilities for the EU budget, in case the provisioning is not sufficient to cover the calls. The EU has given guarantees to the EIB Group for loans granted outside of the EU (the so-called External Lending Mandate, or ELM) and on debt and equity operations covered by the EFSI guarantee. The EU has also given guarantees to the EIB Group and other financial institutions for operations covered by the EFSD, the NDICI-External Action Guarantee and InvestEU.

As of 2021, the provisioning is held in the Common Provisioning Fund (CPF). The CPF is established by the Financial Regulation6 to hold the provisioning made (i.e. funds held) to cover financial liabilities arising from financial instruments, budgetary guarantees and financial assistance loans as of the 2021-2027 MFF. It also includes some assets of provisioning for financial liabilities from previous MFFs.

The CPF is created and functions as a single portfolio, currently combining provisioning for all the EU budgetary guarantees and some financial assistance programmes. The resources of the CPF are allocated into compartments for the purpose of tracing the amounts relating to the contributing budgetary guarantees and financial assistance programmes.

At 31 December 2022, the Commission holds financial assets in the CPF for the following compartments:

- Guarantee Fund for external actions – EUR 2.5 billion

- EFSI – EUR 8.5 billion

- EFSD – EUR 0.7 billion

- NDICI EFSD+ – EUR 1.1 billion

- InvestEU EU compartment – EUR 1.7 billion

- InvestEU MS compartment Czech Republic – 14 million

- InvestEU MS compartment Finland – 18 million

- InvestEU Blending Operations – 18 million.

In addition, EUR 342 million is held in the Commission central treasury as a liquidity buffer to cover for immediate guarantee calls.

19. Loans and related borrowings for financial assistance programmes

The EU borrowing and lending activities for financial assistance programmes are non-budget operations. Except for the NGEU, funds raised are on-lent to the beneficiary country, back-to-back i.e. with the same coupon, maturity and amount. As a result, the EU services the borrowings with the money it receives from the loans. Nevertheless, the service of the borrowings is a legal obligation of the EU, which will ensure that all payments are made fully and in a timely manner. The Commission has put procedures in place to ensure the repayment of borrowings even in case of a loan default.

The financial support for Member States and third countries, in the form of bilateral loans financed from the capital markets with the guarantee of the EU budget, is provided by the Commission under decisions of the European Parliament and of the Council. In 2022 the Commission, acting on behalf of the EU, operates six main programmes under which it may grant loans:

- SURE assistance;

- European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM) assistance;

- Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA);

- Balance of Payments (BOP) assistance;

- Euratom; and

- NGEU – for further information see section 2 above.


At 31 December 2022, the nominal amount of the loans granted for financial assistance, excluding NGEU (see section 2), were:

EUR billion
Total grantedTotal disbursed at year-endTotal repaid at year-endOutstanding at year-end
SURE
Belgium8.28.2-8.2
Bulgaria1.01.0-1.0
Croatia1.61.6-1.6
Cyprus0.60.6-0.6
Czechia4.54.5-4.5
Estonia0.20.2-0.2
Greece6.26.2-6.2
Hungary0.70.7-0.7
Ireland2.52.5-2.5
Italy27.427.4-27.4
Latvia0.50.5-0.5
Lithuania1.11.1-1.1
Malta0.40.4-0.4
Poland11.211.2-11.2
Portugal6.26.2-6.2
Romania3.03.0-3.0
Slovakia0.60.6-0.6
Slovenia1.11.1-1.1
Spain21.321.3-21.3
98.498.4-98.4
EFSM
Ireland22.522.5-22.5
Portugal24.324.3(0.5)23.8
46.846.8(0.5)46.3
MFA
Ukraine12.212.2(0.6)11.6
Tunisia1.41.4-1.4
Jordan1.10.9-0.9
Other1.41.3(0.2)1.1
16.115.8(0.8)15.0
BOP
Latvia2.92.9(2.7)0.2
2.92.9(2.7)0.2
EURATOM
Energoatom and K2R4 – Ukraine0.40.4(0.1)0.3
Other0.40.4(0.4)-
0.80.8(0.5)0.3
Total165.0164.7(4.5)160.2


The repayment schedule for the amounts outstanding at year-end is as follows:

EUR billion
SUREEFSMMFABOPEURATOMTOTAL
2023-3.50.1--3.6
2024-2.60.6--3.2
20258.02.4-0.2-10.6
20268.06.20.1--14.3
2027-3.00.2-0.13.3
202810.02.30.2-0.112.6
20298.21.40.9--10.4
203010.0-0.1-0.110.2
2031-7.31.2-0.18.6
2032-3.00.7--3.7
2033-2.10.5--2.6
2034--0.7--0.7
20358.52.02.0--12.5
20369.05.71.3--16.0
20378.7-0.9--9.6
2038-1.8---1.8
2039-----
20407.0-0.5--7.5
2041----
2042-3.02.0--5.0
2043-----
2044-----
2045-----
20465.0----5.0
20476.0----6.0
2048-----
2049-----
205010.0----10.0
2051-----
2052--0.5--0.5
2053--2.5--2.5
Total98.446.315.00.20.3160.2

10.

SURE


SURE was established in 2020 to provide financial assistance to Member States who are experiencing, or are seriously threatened with, a severe economic disturbance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in their territory. The instrument complements the national measures taken by affected Member States. The maximum amount of financial assistance shall not exceed EUR 100 billion for all Member States.

At the end of 2022, Member States had signed loan facility agreements of EUR 98.4 billion, all disbursed by year-end 2022. In 2022, the Commission disbursed new loans of EUR 8.7 billion. The maturity of loans varies between 5 and 30 years.

11.

EFSM


EFSM was created to provide financial assistance to all Member States experiencing or seriously threatened by a severe economic financial disturbance caused by exceptional occurrences beyond their control. The EFSM was used to provide financial assistance, conditional on the implementation of reforms, to Ireland and Portugal between 2011 and 2014. This programme has expired and no additional loans can be drawn, though it remains in place for specific tasks such as the lengthening of maturities of existing loans and providing bridging loans. In 2022, loans of EUR 2.2 billion to Portugal, maturing in April 2022, were extended by 4.5 years, whilst EUR 0.5 billion were repaid.

12.

MFA


The MFA programme is a form of financial assistance extended by the EU to partner countries outside the EU experiencing a balance of payments crisis. It takes the form of medium/long-term loans or grants, or a combination of these, and is only available to countries benefiting from a disbursing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

Ukraine

In 2022 the European Parliament and the Council agreed three packages of financial assistance for Ukraine7, totalling EUR 7.2 billion, to strengthen the immediate resilience of the country subsequent to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression. All the loans have been disbursed to Ukraine by the end of 2022. The maturity of these new loans to Ukraine varies between 10 to 30 years.

At the end of 2022 the total MFA loans outstanding to Ukraine amounted to EUR 11.6 billion (nominal amount).

To continue the EU support for Ukraine in 2023, a new package of financial assistance of EUR 18 billion was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 14 December 2022 (Regulation (EU) 2022/2463). The Commission and Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Loan Facility Agreement in early 2023 and EUR 7.5 billion of loans has been disbursed by 31 May 2023. The Commission plans to disburse the remaining amount by the end of 2023 in monthly tranches of EUR 1.5 billion.

13.

BOP


The BOP is an assistance programme designed for Member States outside the euro area that are experiencing or are threatened by difficulties regarding their balance of payments. BOP assistance takes the form of medium-term loans that are conditional on the implementation of policies designed to address underlying economic problems. Typically, BOP assistance from the EU is offered in cooperation with the IMF and other international institutions or countries. No new operations or loan repayments occurred in 2022.

14.

Euratom


The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom, represented by the Commission) lends money to both Member States and non-Member States, and to entities of both, to finance projects relating to energy installations.

20. Budgetary contingent liabilities for financial assistance programmes

Borrowings of the EU constitute direct and unconditional obligations of the EU and are guaranteed by the EU Member States (budgetary contingent liabilities). Borrowings undertaken to fund loans to countries outside the EU are covered by the CPF. Should a beneficiary Member State default, the debt service will be drawn from the available treasury balance of the Commission, if possible. If that is not possible at that time, the Commission would draw the necessary funds from the Member States. EU Member States are legally obliged, according to the EU own resources legislation (Article 14 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014), to make available sufficient funds to meet the EU’s obligations. Thus investors are only exposed to the credit risk of the EU, not to that of the beneficiary of loans funded. ‘Back-to-back’ lending ensures that the EU budget does not assume any interest rate or foreign exchange risk.

Loans provided to Member States under the SURE instrument are underpinned by a system of voluntary guarantees from Member States amounting to 25% of the maximum amount of financial assistance. Each Member State’s contribution to the overall amount of the guarantee corresponds to its relative share in the total gross national income (GNI) of the European Union based on the 2020 EU budget.

EUR 6 billion of loans provided to Ukraine in 2022 under the exceptional MFA financial assistance, are covered by a system of guarantees from Member States for 61% of the exposure, with the first 9% of any losses to be covered by the EU budget (CPF). See note 2.4.1.1 in the consolidated EU annual accounts.

For each country programme, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission decisions determine the overall granted amount, the number of instalments to be disbursed, and the maximum (average) maturity of the loan package. Subsequently, the Commission and the country concerned agree the loan/funding parameters, in particular the maturity of instalments. In addition, except for the first one, all instalments of the loan depend on compliance with policy conditions in the context of an EU financial assistance, which is another factor influencing the timing of funding operations. This implies that the timing and maturities of issuances are dependent on the related EU lending activity. Funding is exclusively denominated in euro and the maturity spectrum is from 3 to 30 years.

21. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS

22. REVENUE

The consolidated revenue of the EU incorporates amounts related to exchange transactions and non-exchange transactions, the latter being the most significant. The five-year trend of the main non-exchange revenue categories (comprising GNI resources, Traditional own resources, VAT resources, the new Plastics own resources, Fines and Recovery of expenses) is as follows:

Five-year trend of revenue from main non-exchange transactions*


*2020 to 2022 figures: excluding revenue relating to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU

As budget revenue should equal (or exceed) budget expenditure, the main driver in the revenue trend shown above is the payments made each year.

Consolidated revenue – main developments in 2022

In 2022, the consolidated revenue, comprising all revenue categories, amounted to EUR 171.2 billion, compared to EUR 178.9 billion the previous year. The main developments explaining the decrease of EUR 7.7 billion or 4.3% were:

- Traditional own resources increased from EUR 20.6 billion in 2021 to EUR 23.5 billion in 2022. The increase of 2.9 billion or 14.1% is mainly explained by the recent economic recovery;

- VAT contributions have increased from EUR 18.3 billion in 2021 to EUR 19.7 billion in 2022;

- Revenue from GNI (gross national income), the primary element of the EU’s operating revenue, decreased from EUR 116.0 billion in 2021 to EUR 103.9 billion in 2022. The decrease of EUR 12.1 billion or 10.4% is linked to the increase of the other revenue categories, as the revenue from GNI funds the part of the budget which is not covered by other sources of income; and

- Financial revenue decreased by EUR 2.5 billion mainly due to a decrease in accrued late payment interest for custom cases.


23. EXPENSES

The main component of expenses recognised in the consolidated financial statements are expenses under the shared management mode, which includes the following funds: (i) European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), (ii) European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and other rural development instruments, (iii) European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) & Cohesion Fund (CF), and (iv) European Social Fund (ESF). These funds made up EUR 114.8 billion or 43.6% of the total expenses of EUR 263.1 billion incurred in 2022 (2021: EUR 119.9 billion, 54.3% of the total expenses). The split of expenses under the shared management mode and their relative weights are presented below:

15.

Main expenses under the shared management mode for the financial year 2022



The decrease of expenses under the shared management mode is mainly due to decreased expenses relating to the ERDF and Cohesion Fund (by EUR 3.8 billion) and the ESF (by EUR 2.1 billion). This reflects the transition from the former programming period of the 2014-2020 MFF to the current MFF 2021-2027: the costs declared for the previous programming period are decreasing while the costs related to the current period are low due to the slow start of its implementation. Expenses relating to the EAFRD and other rural development instruments and the EAGF increased by EUR 0.6 billion and EUR 0.2 billion respectively.

Following the successful launch of NGEU (see section 2) in 2021, expenses under the direct management mode, which represents budget implementation by the Commission, executive agencies and trust funds, continued to increase from EUR 63.0 billion in 2021 to EUR 94.0 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 31.0 billion is mainly due to the non-repayable support granted under the NGEU’s RRF, which amounted to EUR 69.5 billion (2021: EUR 42.9 billion).

Expenses under the indirect management mode represent the budget implementation by EU agencies, EU bodies, third countries, international organisations and other entities. In 2022 the expenses under the indirect management mode amounted to EUR 13.6 billion (2021: EUR 10.9 billion). The increase is mainly due to the increased expenses in the External Action area.


24. ASSETS

As at 31 December 2022 total assets amounted to EUR 445.9 billion (2021: EUR 414.1 billion) – the increase is due to further lending from the SURE instrument and the lending and advances paid under the NGEU instrument. The most significant items were financial assets other than cash and cash equivalents (EUR 235.4 billion), pre-financing (EUR 100.5 billion), receivables and recoverables (EUR 48.2 billon) and cash and cash equivalents (EUR 46.5 billion). Other assets, amounting to EUR 15.2 billion, mainly included property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

16.

Composition of assets at 31 December 2022



The increase in total assets of EUR 31.8 billion or 7.7% from the previous year was mainly due to the following effects:

- Loans outstanding increased from EUR 163.6 billion in 2021 to EUR 204.4 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 40.8 billion or 24.9% mainly reflects the issuance of further loans for financial assistance programmes to Member States under the RRF (EUR 27.2 billion), SURE (EUR 8.7 billion) programmes, and new loans under the MFA inancial assistance programme (EUR 7.5 billion), of which EUR 7.2 billion was disbursed to Ukraine;

- Total pre-financing increased from EUR 93.4 billion in 2021 to EUR 100.5 billion in 2022. The decrease of EUR 7.9 billion in the non-repayable financial support granted under the RRF was more than counterbalanced by the increased pre-financing payments in the cohesion area (ERDF, ESF, CF) where, as well as the first pre-financing paid out for the 2021-2027 programming period (EUR 5.4 billion), there were new pre-financing payments made for the 2014-2020 period that relate mainly to the REACT EU initial pre-financing (EUR 3.5 billion);

- Cash and cash equivalents increased from EUR 44.9 billion in 2021 to EUR 46.5 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 1.6 billion or 3.6% is mainly due to the liquidity relating to NGEU (EUR 19.9 billion held in the NGEU account, as well as EUR 0.6 billion of funds held in the Commission’s central treasury account pending disbursement to the budget for MFF programmes); and

- Receivables and recoverables decreased from EUR 72.4 billion to EUR 48.2 billion. The decrease of EUR 24.2 billion or 33.4% is mainly due to the decrease in the recoverable related to the UK Withdrawal agreement.

17.

UK Withdrawal from the EU


On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) withdrew from the European Union. The terms of its departure are defined in an Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community, also known as the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’ or ‘WA’. As part of this deal, the UK agreed to honour all financial obligations undertaken while it was a member of the EU. The agreement entered into force on 31 January 2020. The UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget and to benefit from pre-2021 EU programmes and expenditure as if it was a Member State. The UK will also receive back certain defined monies it paid into the EU budget or monies received by the EU budget linked to its period of membership. The EU reports twice a year to the UK on the amounts due and the UK pays these on a monthly basis. The reporting is updated each year based on actual figures.

The obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement create liabilities and receivables for the EU which have to be calculated and reflected in the EU’s annual accounts and cover in particular the following areas:

- Own resources (Article 136)

- Outstanding commitments (Article 140)

- Competition fines (Article 141)

- Union Liabilities (Article 142)

- Contingent financial liabilities and financial instruments (Articles 143 & 144)

- Net assets of the European Coal & Steel Community (Article 145)

- EU investment in the European Investment Fund, EIF (Article 146)

- Contingent liabilities concerning legal cases (Article 147).

EUR million
Article 140Article 142Other31.12.202231.12.2021
Due from the UK17 0299 5876826 68343 982
Due to the UK(2 812)(2 812)(2 229)
Total17 0299 587(2 744)23 87141 753
Non-current8 4659 298(2 953)14 81030 839
Current8 5632882099 06110 913

18.

Pre-financing


In 2022, pre-financing, excluding other advances to Member States and contributions to the trust funds Bêkou and Africa, amounted to EUR 94.1 billion (2021: EUR 86.2 billion), almost all of which related to Commission activities. The increase of EUR 7.9 billion or 9.2% is related to the increase of pre-financing related to shared management from EUR 31.8 billion in 2021 to EUR 40.6 billion in 2022:


19.

Commission pre-financing by management mode



The level of pre-financing granted under MFF programmes is significantly influenced by the respective MFF cycle – for example at the beginning of an MFF period large advances are expected to be paid to Member States under cohesion policy and these amounts remain available to Member States until the closure of the programmes. An annual pre-financing is also paid out, which must be used within the year or be recovered the following year as part of the annual closure of the accounts cycle. The Commission makes every effort to ensure that pre-financing is maintained at an appropriate level. A balance has to be struck between ensuring sufficient funding for projects and the timely recognition of expenditure.

25. LIABILITIES

As at 31 December 2022 the total liabilities were EUR 577.2 billion (2021: EUR 496.4 billion) – the increase is driven mainly by the borrowings taken out in 2022 under the SURE and NGEU instruments. The most significant liabilities were borrowings for NGEU and financial assistance (EUR 344.3 billion), accrued charges and deferred income (EUR 86.2 billion), pension obligations and other post-employment benefits liabilities (EUR 80.6 billion) and payables to third parties (EUR 55.3 billion).


20.

Composition of liabilities at 31 December 2022



The increase of EUR 80.8 billion or 16.3% over the previous year was mainly due to the following effects:

- Borrowings increased from EUR 236.7 billion in 2021 to EUR 344.3 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 107.6 billion or 45.5% mainly relates to the new issuances, net of repayments, under NGEU (EUR 96.9 billion) and to additional borrowings under SURE (EUR 8.7 billion) and MFA (EUR 7.5 billion);

- Accrued charges and deferred income increased from EUR 78.1 billion in 2021 to EUR 86.2 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 8.1 billion or 10.4% mainly relates to the RRF as the Member States advance with the implementation of reforms, and investments and milestones are estimated to have been completed;

- Payables increased from EUR 46.4 billion in 2021 to EUR 55.3 billion in 2022. The increase of EUR 8.9 billion or 19.2% is also primarily related to RRF (increase of EUR 5.5 billion), and own resources payables (increase of EUR 3.7 billion); and

- The increase of the above liabilities was partially counterbalanced by a decrease of EUR 41.9 billion or 34.2% in the pension obligations and other post-employment benefits liabilities, which fell from EUR 122.5 billion in 2021 to EUR 80.6 billion in 2022. This decrease was mainly driven by the actuarial gains from changes in the underlying financial assumptions resulting from a sharp increase in the real discount rates in the year.


Total cost claims and invoices received and recognised in the Balance Sheet under the heading ‘Payables’


21.

Net assets


The excess of liabilities over assets at 31 December 2022 amounted to EUR 131.3 billion (2021: EUR 82.3 billion). The considerable increase of EUR 49.0 billion is mainly due to the borrowings in relation to non-repayable support taken out under NGEU in 2022 (resulting in direct management expenses of EUR 69.5 billion, an increase of EUR 26.6 billion against the previous year). It is noted that the excess of liabilities over assets does not mean that the EU institutions and bodies are in financial difficulties, rather it means that certain liabilities will be funded by future annual budgets. Many expenses are recognised under accrual accounting rules in the current year although they may be actually paid in following years and funded using future budgets; the related revenues will only be accounted for in future periods. Apart from the borrowings for NGEU, which are to be repaid between 2028 and 2052, and the employee benefits liability, which is to be paid over several decades, the most significant amounts to be highlighted are the activities relating to the EAGF, the bulk of which is usually paid in the first quarter of the following year.


26. EU POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK, GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The European Union (EU) is a Union on which the Member States confer competences to attain objectives they have in common. The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.

27. POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK

EU TreatiesThe overarching objectives and principles that guide the Union and the European institutions are defined in the Treaties. The Union and the EU institutions may only act within the limits of the competences conferred by the Treaties so as to attain the objectives set out therein and must do this in accordance with the principles8 of subsidiarity and proportionality. In order to
attain its objectives and carry out its policies, the Union provides itself with the necessary financial means. The Commission is responsible for promoting the general interest of the Union which includes executing the budget and managing programmes in cooperation with the Member States and in accordance with the principle of sound financial management.

The EU pursues the objectives established by the Treaty with various instruments, one of which is the EU budget. Others are, for example, a common legislative framework or joint policy strategies.

Multiannual financial framework and spending programmesThe policies supported by the EU budget are implemented in accordance with the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and corresponding sectoral legislation defining spending programmes and instruments. These translate the EU’s political priorities into financial terms over a period long enough to be effective and to provide a coherent long-term perspective for beneficiaries
of EU funds and co-financing national authorities. Maximum annual amounts (ceilings) are set for EU expenditure as a whole and for the main categories of expenditure (headings). The sum of the ceilings of all headings gives the total ceiling for commitment appropriations. The MFF is adopted by the Council by unanimity of all Member States, with the consent of the European Parliament. The current 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework was adopted on 17 December 2020. The 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework is complemented by the temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU (see section 2).

Annual budgetThe annual budget is prepared by the Commission. The European Parliament and the Council agree (usually by mid December) on the budget for the following year, based on the procedure of Article 314 TFEU. According to the principle of budgetary equilibrium, total revenue must equal total expenditure (payment appropriations) for a given financial year.

The main sources of funding of the EU budget are own resources revenues which are complemented by other revenues. There are four types of own resources: Traditional own resources (mainly custom duties), the own resource based on value added tax (VAT), the own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste (introduced in 2021) and the own resource based on gross national income (GNI). Other revenues arising from the activities of the EU (e.g. competition fines) normally represent less than 10% of total revenue.


Management modes

The EU budget is implemented in three management modes which determine how the money is paid out and managed:


- Shared management: the vast proportion of the budget (around 3/4 of the budget) is managed under a system of shared management by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States, notably in the areas of structural funds and agriculture.

- Direct management: the Commission also manages programmes itself and can delegate the implementation of specific programmes to executive agencies.

- Indirect management: Expenditure decisions can also be indirectly managed via other bodies within or outside the EU. The Financial Regulation and/or contribution agreements define the necessary control and reporting mechanisms by these entities and the supervision by the Commission where budget implementation tasks are entrusted to national agencies, the European Investment Bank Group, third countries, international organisations (e.g. the World Bank or the United Nations) and other entities (e.g. EU decentralised agencies, Joint Undertakings).

Financial instruments and budgetary guaranteesThe traditional method of budget implementation of giving grants and subsidies is complemented by issuing financial instruments in the form of guarantees as well as equity and loans. Furthermore, the EU engages in borrowing and lending activities for specific financial assistance programmes in order to support Member States and third countries in the form of bilateral
loans financed from debt issued on the capital markets with the guarantee of the EU Budget. In December 2022, Parliament and the Council established the unified funding approach to EU borrowing, under which the Commission will be issuing single branded ‘EU-Bonds’, rather than separately denominated bonds for individual programmes.

Financial RegulationThe Financial Regulation (FR)9 applicable to the general budget is a central act in the regulatory architecture of the EU´s finances. It defines in detail the financial rules applicable to the execution of the EU budget and the roles of the different actors involved in ensuring that the money is used soundly and achieves the objectives set. It also includes the specific provisions applicable
to financial instruments, budgetary guarantees and financial assistance

28. GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

22.

29. Institutional structure


The EU has an institutional framework through which it aims to promote its values, advance its objectives, serve its interests, those of its citizens and those of the Member States, and ensure the consistency, effectiveness and continuity of its policies and actions. The organisational structure consists of institutions, agencies and other EU bodies. The Financial Regulation, together with the applicable accounting rules, defines which of these entities are included in the EU consolidated accounts (please see note 9 of the EU consolidated annual accounts for the list of entities included in the scope of consolidation).

The European Parliament, jointly with the Council, exercises legislative and budgetary functions. The Commission is politically accountable to the European Parliament. The Council also carries out policy-making and coordinating functions within the general political direction and priorities of the Union set by the European Council.

The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union. It promotes the Union’s general interest and takes appropriate initiatives to that end. It ensures the application of the Treaties and oversees the application of Union law by Member States under the control of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It exercises coordinating, executive and management functions, executes the budget and manages programmes.

The Commission implements the budget, in large part in cooperation with the Member States.10 Together, they ensure that the appropriations are used in accordance with the principles of sound financial management. Regulations lay down the control and audit obligations of the Member States when they share the implementation of the budget and the resulting responsibilities. They also lay down the responsibilities and detailed rules for each of the EU’s institutions as concerns their own expenditure.

30. The Commission’s governance structure

The Commission’s governance arrangements and how these ensure that the Commission functions as a modern, accountable and performance-oriented institution are described in the Communication11 on Governance in the European Commission.

The Commission performs its functions under the leadership of the College of Commissioners, which sets priorities and takes overall political responsibility for the work of the Commission. As a College, the Commission works under the political guidance of its President, who presents, as part of his or her nomination to the European Parliament the objectives he or she intends to pursue in the form of political guidelines. The President decides on the internal organisation of the Commission, ensuring that it acts consistently, efficiently and as a collegiate body.

The College delegates the operational implementation of the budget and financial management to the Directors-General and Heads of Service who lead the administrative structure of the Commission. This decentralised approach creates an administrative culture that encourages civil servants to take responsibility for activities over which they have control and requires them to provide assurance as concerns the activities for which they are accountable.

Under the authority of the President and in close cooperation with the Member of the Commission in charge of budget, human resources and administration, and with the involvement of the Presidential and central services, the Corporate Management Board provides coordination, oversight, advice and strategic orientations.

The internal arrangements define a coherent set of robust controls and management tools which allow the College of Commissioners to assume political responsibility for the work of the Commission.12

31. The Commission’s financial management

In the Commission, the roles and responsibilities in financial management are clearly defined (e.g. in the Financial Regulation and the Internal Rules13) and applied accordingly. As authorising officers by delegation, the Commission’s Directors-General and Heads of Service are responsible for the sound financial management of EU resources, compliance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation, risk management and establishing an appropriate internal control framework.

The responsibility of the Authorising Officers covers the entire management process, from determining what needs to be done to achieve the policy objectives set by the institution to managing the activities from both an operational and a sound financial management standpoint. Tasks can further be sub-delegated to Directors, Heads of Unit and others, who thereby become Authorising Officers by Sub-Delegation. Each authorising officer by delegation may rely on one or two directors in charge of risk management and internal control to oversee and monitor the implementation of internal control systems.

The Commission’s central services provide guidance and advice and promote best practices, including through the work of the Corporate Management Board.

The Financial Regulation requires each authorising officer to prepare an annual activity report (AAR) detailing achievements, internal control and financial management activities during the year. The AAR includes a declaration that resources have been used based on the principles of sound financial management and that control procedures are in place which provide the necessary guarantees concerning the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions. The Annual Management and Performance Report for the EU budget14 is the main instrument through which the College of Commissioners assumes political responsibility for the financial management of the EU budget.

The Accounting Officer of the Commission is centrally responsible for treasury management, recovery procedures, laying down accounting rules based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), validating accounting systems and the preparation of the Commission's and consolidated annual accounts of the EU. Furthermore, the Accounting Officer is required to sign the annual accounts declaring that they present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position, the results of the operations and the cash flows of the Union. The annual accounts are adopted by the College of Commissioners. The Accounting Officer is an independent function and bears a major responsibility as regards financial reporting in the Commission.

The Internal Auditor of the Commission is likewise a centralised and independent function and provides independent advice, opinions and recommendations on the quality and functioning of internal control systems inside the Commission, EU agencies and other autonomous bodies.

The Audit Progress Committee ensures the independence of the Internal Auditor and monitors the quality of internal audit work and the follow-up given by the Commission services to internal and external audit recommendations, as well as to the European Court of Auditors’ discharge related findings and recommendations on the reliability of the annual consolidated EU accounts. The advisory role of the committee contributes to the overall further improvement of the Commission’s effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its goals and facilitates the College’s oversight of the Commission’s governance, risk management, and internal control practices.

23.

32. External audit and discharge procedure


In line with the principles of sound financial management, funds must be managed in an effective, efficient and economic manner. An accountability framework based on comprehensive reporting, external audit and political control exists to provide reasonable assurance that EU funds are spent in a proper manner.

The European Parliament decides, after a recommendation by the Council, on whether or not to provide its final approval, known as ‘granting discharge’, on the way the Commission implemented the EU budget in a given year. The annual discharge procedure ensures that the Commission is held politically accountable for the implementation of the EU budget.

Every year the European Court of Auditors examines the reliability of the accounts, whether all revenue has been received and all expenditure incurred in a lawful and regular manner and whether the financial management and the qualitative aspects of budgeting, including the performance dimension, have been sound. As from 2021, given the considerable importance of NextGenerationEU, the European Court of Auditor’s opinion on the legality and regularity of expenditure under the traditional EU budget is complemented by a separate opinion on the legality and regularity of expenditure under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The publication of the annual report of the European Court of Auditors is the starting point for the discharge procedure. The auditors also prepare special reports on specific spending or policy areas, or on budgetary or management issues.

The decision on the discharge is also based on the Commission’s integrated financial and accountability reporting, on hearings of Commissioners in the European Parliament and on the replies provided to written questions addressed to the Commission.




NOTE ACCOMPANYING THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS


The consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the year 2022 have been prepared on the basis of the information presented by the institutions and bodies under Article 246 i of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Union. I hereby declare that they were prepared in accordance with Title XIII of this Financial Regulation and with the accounting principles, rules and methods set out in the notes to the financial statements.

I have obtained from the accounting officers of these institutions and bodies, who certified its reliability, all the information necessary for the production of the accounts that show the European Union's assets and liabilities and budgetary implementation.

I hereby certify that based on this information, and on such checks as I deemed necessary to sign off the accounts of the European Commission, I have a reasonable assurance that the accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position, the results of the operations and the cashflows of the European Union.


24.

Rosa ALDEA BUSQUETS


Accounting Officer of the Commission

19 June 2023


25.

EUROPEAN UNION


FINANCIAL YEAR 2022


CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES


It should be noted that due to the rounding of figures into millions of euros, some financial data in the tables below may appear not to add-up.

CONTENTS


BALANCE SHEET 39

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 40

CASHFLOW STATEMENT 41

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 42

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 43

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 44

2. NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET 59

3. NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 95

4. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND ASSETS 104

5. BUDGETARY AND LEGAL COMMITMENTS 110

6. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT 114

7. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES 133

8. EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE 135

9. SCOPE OF CONSOLIDATION 136


BALANCE SHEET

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible assets2.1900769
Property, plant and equipment2.212 92212 669
Investments accounted for using the equity method2.31 3131 192
Financial assets2.4226 431181 874
Pre-financing2.547 48260 792
Exchange receivables and non-exchange recoverables2.618 87040 642
307 917297 938
CURRENT ASSETS
Financial assets2.48 9816 744
Pre-financing2.553 01432 656
Exchange receivables and non-exchange recoverables2.629 32931 796
Inventories2.78284
Cash and cash equivalents2.846 54444 860
137 950116 141
TOTAL ASSETS445 867414 078
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Pension and other employee benefits2.9(80 617)(122 466)
Provisions2.10(2 199)(2 950)
Financial liabilities2.11(323 985)(214 974)
(406 801)(340 391)
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Provisions2.10(571)(398)
Financial liabilities2.11(28 316)(31 149)
Payables2.12(55 341)(46 372)
Accrued charges and deferred income2.13(86 164)(78 068)
(170 392)(155 987)
TOTAL LIABILITIES(577 193)(496 377)
NET ASSETS(131 325)(82 299)
Reserves2.141 3121 325
Amounts to be called from Member States*2.15(132 637)(83 624)
NET ASSETS(131 325)(82 299)
* The European Parliament adopted a budget on 23 November 2022 which provides for the payment of the Union's short-term liabilities from own resources to be collected by, or called up from, the Member States in the following year. Additionally, under Article 83 of the Staff Regulations (Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 of 29 February 1968 as amended), the Member States shall jointly guarantee the liability for pensions.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

EUR million
Note20222021
REVENUE
Revenue from non-exchange transactions
GNI resources3.1103 880115 955
Traditional own resources3.223 49520 590
VAT resources3.319 66618 340
Plastics own resources3.46 3375 831
Fines3.59151 990
Recovery of expenses3.61 2191 794
UK Withdrawal Agreement3.71 122
Other3.811 3956 737
166 908172 357
Revenue from exchange transactions
Financial revenue3.92 6025 092
Other3.101 6691 497
4 2716 589
Total Revenue171 179178 946
EXPENSES
Implemented by Member States3.11
European Agricultural Guarantee Fund(41 031)(40 829)
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and

other rural development instruments
(16 073)(15 451)
European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund(43 083)(46 932)
European Social Fund(14 649)(16 727)
Other(3 482)(4 835)
Implemented by the Commission, executive agencies and trust funds3.12(94 027)(63 000)
Implemented by other EU agencies and bodies3.13(3 615)(3 154)
Implemented by third countries and international organisations3.13(5 281)(4 512)
Implemented by other entities3.13(4 738)(3 225)
Staff and pension costs3.14(14 209)(12 417)
Finance costs3.15(7 637)(4 201)
UK Withdrawal Agreement3.7(6 961)-
Other expenses3.16(8 342)(5 762)
Total Expenses(263 128)(221 046)
ECONOMIC RESULT OF THE YEAR(91 949)(42 100)


CASHFLOW STATEMENT

EUR million
20222021
Economic result of the year(91 949)(42 100)
Operating activities
Amortisation135116
Depreciation1 2841 054
(Reversal of) impairment losses on investments
(Increase)/decrease in loans(40 787)(70 259)
(Increase)/decrease in pre-financing(7 049)(30 699)
(Increase)/decrease in exchange receivables and non-exchange recoverables24 2392 055
(Increase)/decrease in inventories2(4)
Increase/(decrease) in pension and other employee benefits(41 850)6 447
Increase/(decrease) in provisions(578)(2 057)
Increase/(decrease) in financial liabilities (other than NGEU borrowings)14 05060 075
Increase/(decrease) in payables8 96913 964
Increase/(decrease) in accrued charges and deferred income8 09613 484
Prior year budgetary surplus taken as non-cash revenue(3 227)(1 769)
Remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities (non-cash movement not included in statement of financial performance)46 048(3 257)
Other non-cash movements102(1 757)
Investing activities
(Increase)/decrease in intangible assets and property, plant and equipment(1 803)(2 307)
(Increase)/decrease in investments accounted for using the equity method(121)(604)
(Increase)/decrease in non-derivative financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit*(5 850)(4 636)
(Increase)/decrease in derivative financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit(156)(629)
Financing activities
Increase/(decrease) in borrowings related to NGEU92 12891 000
NET CASHFLOW1 68428 118
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents1 68428 118
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year44 86016 742
Cash and cash equivalents at year-end46 54444 860

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

EUR million
Amounts to be called from Member States Accumulated Surplus/(Deficit)Other reservesFair value reserveNet Assets
BALANCE AS AT 31.12.2020(38 480)4 566496(33 418)
Impact of revised EAR 11 (see Note 1)1 719(3 043)(496)(1 820)
BALANCE AS AT 01.01.2021(36 761)1 523(35 238)
Remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities(3 257)(3 257)
Other262(198)63
2020 budget result credited to Member States(1 769)(1 769)
Economic result of the year(42 100)(42 100)
BALANCE AS AT 31.12.2021(83 624)1 325(82 299)
Remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities46 04846 048
Other115(13)102
2021 budget result credited to Member States(3 227)(3 227)
Economic result of the year(91 949)(91 949)
BALANCE AS AT 31.12.2022(132 637)1 312(131 325)





NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note that in the following tables amounts concerning the UK in relation to MFFs up to end 2020 are still shown under the heading Member States as although the UK withdrew from the Union on 1 February 2020, in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement, it continues to have a financial relationship with the Union equivalent to that of a Member State for these periods.

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2. LEGAL BASIS AND ACCOUNTING RULES

The accounts of the EU are kept in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30 July 2018, p.

1) hereinafter referred to as the ‘Financial Regulation’ (FR).

In accordance with Article 80 of the Financial Regulation, the EU prepares its financial statements on the basis of accrual-based accounting rules that are based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). These accounting rules, adopted by the Accounting Officer of the Commission, have to be applied by all the institutions and EU bodies falling within the scope of consolidation in order to ensure the internal consistency of the EU consolidated accounts.

26.

Application of new and amended European Union Accounting Rules (EAR)


Revised EAR effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022

There are no new EAR which became effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022.

27.

New EAR adopted but not yet effective at 31 December 2022


There are no new EAR adopted but not yet effective at 31 December 2022.

3. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

The objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and cashflows of an entity that is useful to a wide range of users. For the EU as a public sector entity, the objectives are more specifically to provide information useful for decision-making, and to demonstrate the accountability of the entity for the resources entrusted to it. It is with these goals in mind that the present document has been drawn up.

The overall considerations (or accounting principles) to be followed when preparing the financial statements are laid down in EU accounting rule 1 ‘Financial Statements’ and are the same as those described in IPSAS 1: fair presentation, accrual basis, going concern, consistency of presentation, materiality, aggregation, offsetting and comparative information.

The qualitative characteristics of financial reporting are relevance, faithful representation (reliability), understandability, timeliness, comparability and verifiability.

4. CONSOLIDATION

28.

Scope of consolidation


The consolidated financial statements of the EU comprise all significant controlled entities, joint arrangements and associates. The complete list of entities falling under the scope of consolidation, which now comprises 54 controlled entities and 1 associate (2021: 55 controlled entities and 1 associate), can be found in note 9. Among the controlled entities are the EU institutions (including the Commission, but not the European Central Bank) and the EU agencies (except those of the Common and Foreign Security Policy). The European Coal and Steel Community in Liquidation (ECSC i.L.) is also considered as a controlled entity. The EU’s only associate is the European Investment Fund (EIF).

Entities falling under the scope of consolidation but immaterial to the EU consolidated financial statements as a whole need not be consolidated or accounted for using the equity method where to do so would result in excessive time or cost to the EU. These entities are referred to as ‘Minor entities’ and are separately listed in note 9. In 2022, 8 entities have been classified as such minor entities (2021: 8 entities).

29.

Controlled entities


In order to determine the scope of consolidation, the control concept is applied. Controlled entities are entities for which the EU is exposed, or has right, to variable benefits from its involvement and has the ability to affect the nature and amount of those benefits through its power over the other entity. This power must be presently exercisable and must relate to the relevant activities of the entity. Controlled entities are fully consolidated. The consolidation begins at the first date on which control exists, and ends when such control no longer exists.

The most common indicators of control within the EU are: creation of the entity through founding treaties or secondary legislation, financing of the entity from the EU budget, the existence of voting rights in the governing bodies, audit by the European Court of Auditors and discharge by the European Parliament. An individual assessment for each entity is made in order to decide whether one or all of the criteria listed above are sufficient to result in control.

All material inter-entity transactions and balances between EU controlled entities are eliminated, while unrealised gains and losses on such transactions are not material and so have not been eliminated.

30.

Joint Arrangements


A joint arrangement is an agreement of which the EU and one or more parties have joint control. Joint control is the agreed sharing of control of an arrangement by way of a binding arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require the unanimous consent of parties sharing control. Joint agreements can be either joint ventures or joint operations. A joint venture is a joint arrangement that is structured through a separate vehicle and whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the arrangement. Participations in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method (see note 1.5.4). A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangements have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, related to the arrangement. Participations in joint operations are accounted for by recognising in the EU’s financial statements its assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as its share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses jointly held or incurred.

31.

Associates


Associates are entities over which the EU has, directly or indirectly, significant influence but not exclusive or joint control. It is presumed that significant influence exists if the EU holds directly or indirectly 20% or more of the voting rights. Participations in associates are accounted for using the equity method (see note 1.5.4).

32.

Non-consolidated entities the funds of which are managed by the Commission


The funds of the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme for staff of the EU, the European Development Fund and the Participants Guarantee Fund are managed by the Commission on behalf of these entities. However, since these entities are not controlled by the EU, they are not consolidated in its financial statements.

5. BASIS OF PREPARATION

Financial statements are presented annually in accordance with Article 243 of the Financial Regulation. The accounting year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December.

33.

6. Currency and basis for conversion


Functional and reporting currency

The financial statements are presented in millions of euros, unless stated otherwise, the euro being the EU’s functional currency.

34.

Transactions and balances


Foreign currency transactions are translated into euros using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of foreign currency transactions and from the re-translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the statement of financial performance.

Different conversion methods apply to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, which retain their value in euros at the rate that applied at the date when they were purchased.

Year-end balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into euros on the basis of the European Central Bank (ECB) exchange rates applying on 31 December:

35.

Euro exchange rates

Currency31.12.202231.12.2021Currency31.12.202231.12.2021
BGN1.95581.9558PLN4.68084.5969
CZK24.116024.8580RON4.94954.949
DKK7.43657.4364SEK11.121810.2503
GBP0.88690.8403CHF0.98471.0331
HRK7.53457.5156JPY140.6600130.3800
HUF400.8700369.1900USD1.06661.1326

36.

7. Use of estimates


In accordance with IPSAS and generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements necessarily include amounts based on estimates and assumptions by management based on the most reliable information available. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to: amounts for employee benefit liabilities, financial risk of accounts receivable and the amounts disclosed in the notes concerning financial instruments, impairment allowance for financial assets at amortised cost and for financial guarantee contract liabilities, accrued revenue and charges, provisions, degree of impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment, net realisable value of inventories, contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in the period in which they become known, if the change affects that period only, or that period and future periods, if the change affects both.

8. BALANCE SHEET

37.

9. Intangible assets


An intangible asset is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance. An asset is identifiable if it is either separable (i.e. it is capable of being separated or divided from the entity, e.g. by being sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, either individually or together with a related contract, identifiable asset or liability, regardless of whether the entity intends to do so), or arises from binding arrangements (including rights from contracts or other legal rights), regardless of whether those rights are transferable or separable from the entity or from other rights and obligations).

Acquired intangible assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Internally developed intangible assets are capitalised when the relevant criteria of the EU Accounting Rules are met and the expenses relate solely to the development phase of the asset. The capitalisable costs include all directly attributable costs necessary to create, produce, and prepare the asset to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. Costs associated with research activities, non-capitalisable development costs and maintenance costs are recognised as expenses as incurred.

Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (3 to 11 years). The estimated useful lives of intangible assets depend on their specific economic life time or legal life time determined by an agreement.


38.

10. Property, plant and equipment


All property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or transfer of the asset.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits or service potential associated with the item will flow to the EU and its cost can be measured reliably. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to the statement of financial performance during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Land is not depreciated as it is deemed to have an indefinite useful life. Assets under construction are not depreciated, as these assets are not yet available for use. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost less their residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Type of assetStraight line depreciation rate
Buildings4% to 10%
Space assets8% to 25%
Plant and equipment10% to 25%
Furniture and vehicles10% to 25%
Computer hardware25% to 33%
Other10% to 33%

Gains or losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds less selling expenses with the carrying amount of the disposed asset and are included in the statement of financial performance.

39.

Leases


A lease is an agreement whereby the lessor conveys to the lessee, in return for a payment or series of payments, the right to use an asset for an agreed period of time. Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases.

Finance leases are leases where substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership are transferred to the lessee. When entering a finance lease as a lessee, the assets acquired under the finance lease are recognised as assets and the associated lease obligations as liabilities as from the commencement of the lease term. The assets and liabilities are recognised at amounts equal to the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments, each determined at the inception of the lease. Over the period of the lease term, the assets held under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term. The minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge (the interest element) and the reduction of the outstanding liability (the capital element). The finance charge is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability, which is presented as current/non-current, as applicable. Contingent rents are charged as expenses in the period in which they are incurred.

An operating lease is a lease other than a finance lease, i.e. a lease where the lessor retains substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of an asset. When entering an operating lease as a lessee, the operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the statement of financial performance on a straight-line basis over the lease term with neither a leased asset nor a leasing liability presented in the balance sheet.

40.

11. Impairment of non-financial assets


An impairment is a loss in the future economic benefits or service potential of an asset, over and above the systematic recognition of the loss of the asset's future economic benefits or service potential through amortisation or depreciation (as applicable). Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation/depreciation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets that are subject to amortisation/depreciation are tested for impairment whenever there is an indication at the reporting date that an asset may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable (service) amount. The recoverable (service) amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use.

Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at least once per year. If the reasons for impairments recognised in previous years no longer apply, the impairment losses are reversed accordingly.

41.

12. Investments accounted for using the equity method


Participations in associates and joint ventures

Investments accounted for using the equity method are initially recognised at cost, with the initial carrying amount subsequently being increased or decreased to recognise further contributions, the EU’s share of the surplus or deficit of the investee, any impairments and dividends. The initial cost together with all movements give the carrying amount of the investment in the financial statements at the balance sheet date. The EU’s share of the investee’s surplus or deficit is recognised in the statement of financial performance, and its share of investee’s movements in equity is recognised in the reserves within net assets. Distributions received from the investment reduce the carrying amount of the asset.

If the EU's share of deficits of an investment accounted for using the equity method equals or exceeds its interest in the investment, the EU discontinues recognising its share of further losses (‘unrecognised losses’). After the EU’s interest is reduced to zero, additional losses are provided for and a liability is recognised only to the extent that the EU has incurred legal or constructive obligation or made payments on behalf of the entity.

If there are indications of impairment, a write-down to the lower recoverable amount is necessary. The recoverable amount is determined as described under note 1.5.3. If the reason for impairment ceases to apply at a later date, the impairment loss is reversed to the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised.

In cases where the EU holds 20% or more of an investment capital fund, it does not seek to exert significant influence. Such funds are therefore treated as financial instruments and categorised as financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit (‘FVSD’).

Associates and joint ventures classified as minor entities (see note 1.3) are not accounted for under the equity method. EU contributions to those entities are accounted for as an expense of the period.

42.

13. Financial assets


Classification at initial recognition

The classification depends on two criteria:

- The financial assets management model. This requires an assessment of how the EU manages the financial assets to generate cash flows and to achieve its objectives and how it evaluates the performance on financial assets.


- The asset contractual cash-flow characteristics. This requires an assessment of whether the contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal outstanding. The interest is the consideration for the time value of money, credit risk and other basic lending risks and costs.

Following assessment based on these criteria, the financial assets can be classified in three categories: Financial assets at amortised cost (‘AC’), financial assets at fair value through net assets/equity (‘FVNA’) or financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit (‘FVSD’).

Financial assets with contractual cash flows that represent solely principal and interests are classified depending on the entity’s management model. If the management model is to hold the financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, the financial assets are classified at AC. If the management model is to hold the financial assets both to collect contractual cash flows and to sell the financial assets, the classification is FVNA. If the management model is different to these two models (e.g. the financial assets are held for trading or held in a portfolio managed and evaluated on a fair value basis), the financial assets are classified as FVSD.

Financial assets with contractual cash flows that do not represent only principal and interests, but introduce exposure to risks and volatility other than those present in a basic lending arrangement (e.g. changes in equity prices), are classified as FVSD regardless of the management model.

At initial recognition, the EU classifies the financial assets as follows:

i. Financial assets at amortised cost

The EU classifies in this category:

- Cash and cash equivalents;
- Loans (including term deposits with original maturity of more than three months);
- Exchange receivables, except for the financial guarantee contract receivable leg classified as financial asset at fair value through surplus or deficit.

These non-derivative financial assets meet two conditions: The EU’s management model is to hold them in order to collect the contractual cash flows. Furthermore, on specified days, there are contractual cash flows that represent only principal and interest on the outstanding principal.

Financial assets at amortised cost are included in current assets, except for those with maturity of more than 12 months from the reporting date.

ii. Financial assets at fair value through net assets/equity

These non-derivatives financial assets have contractual cash flows that represent only principal and interest on the outstanding principal. In addition, the management model is to hold the financial assets both to collect contractual cash flows and to sell the financial assets.

Assets in this category are classified as current assets, if they are expected to be realised within 12 months from the reporting date.

The EU does not hold such assets at 31 December 2022.

iii. Financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit

The EU classifies the following financial assets as FVSD because the contractual cash flows do not represent only principal and interests on the principal:

- Derivatives;
- Equity investments and investments in money market funds or in pooled portfolio funds;
- Other equity-type investments (e.g. Risk Capital Operations).

In addition, the EU classifies the debt securities it holds as FVSD because the portfolios of debt securities are managed and evaluated on a portfolio fair value basis (e.g. Common Provisioning Fund under Article 212 of the Financial Regulation).

Assets in this category are classified as current assets, if they are expected to be realised within 12 months from the reporting date.

43.

Initial recognition and measurement


Purchases of financial assets at fair value through net assets/equity and at fair value through surplus or deficit are recognised on their trade-date – the date on which the EU commits to purchase the asset. Cash equivalents and loans are recognised when cash is deposited in a financial institution or advanced to borrowers.

Financial assets are initially measured at fair value. For all financial assets not carried at fair value through surplus or deficit, the transactions costs are added to the fair value at initial recognition. For financial assets carried at fair value through surplus or deficit the transaction costs are expensed in the statement of financial performance.

The fair value of a financial asset on initial recognition is normally the transaction price unless the transaction is not at arm’s length i.e. at no or at nominal consideration for public policy purposes. In this case, the difference between the fair value of the financial instrument and the transaction price is a non-exchange component which is recognised as an expense in the statement of financial performance. In this case, the fair value of a financial asset is derived from current market transactions for a directly equivalent instrument. If there is no active market for the instrument, the fair value is derived from a valuation technique that uses available data from observable markets.

When a long-term loan that carries no interest or an interest below market conditions is granted, its fair value can be estimated as the present value of all future cash receipts discounted using the prevailing market rate of interest for a similar instrument with a similar credit rating.

Loans granted under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and loans for financial assistance are initially measured at their nominal amount, with the transaction price considered the fair value of the loan. This is because:

- The ‘market environment’ for EU lending is very specific and different from the capital market used to issue commercial or government debt. As lenders in these markets have the opportunity to choose alternative investments, the opportunity of doing so is factored into market prices. However, this opportunity for alternative investments does not exist for the EU, which is not allowed to invest money in the capital markets; it only borrows funds for the purpose of lending. This means that there is no alternative lending or investment option available to the EU for the sums borrowed. Thus, there is no opportunity cost and therefore no basis of comparison with market rates. In fact, the EU lending operation itself represents the market. Essentially, since the opportunity cost ‘option’ is not applicable, the market price does not fairly reflect the substance of the EU lending transactions. Therefore, it is not appropriate to determine the fair value of EU lending with reference to commercial or government bonds.


- Furthermore, as there is no active market or similar transactions to compare with, the interest rate to be used by the EU for fair valuing its lending operations should be the interest rate charged.

44.

Subsequent measurement


Financial assets at amortised cost are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial assets at fair value through net assets/equity are subsequently measured at fair value. Gains and losses from changes in the fair value are recognised in the fair value reserve, except for foreign exchange translation differences on monetary assets, which are recognised in the statement of financial performance.

Financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit are subsequently measured at fair value. Gains and losses from changes in the fair value (including those stemming from foreign currency translation and any interests earned) are included in the statement of financial performance in the period in which they arise.

45.

Fair value at subsequent measurement


The fair values of quoted investments in active markets are based on current bid prices. If the market for a financial asset is not active (and for unlisted securities and over-the–counter derivatives), the EU establishes a fair value by using valuation techniques. These include the use of recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cashflow analysis, option pricing models and other valuation techniques commonly used by market participants.

Investments in venture capital funds which do not have a quoted market price in an active market are valued at the attributable net asset value, which is considered as an equivalent of their fair value.

46.

Impairment of financial assets


The EU recognises and measures an impairment loss for expected credit losses on financial assets that are measured at amortised cost and at fair value through net assets/equity.

The expected credit loss (ECL) is the present value of the difference between the contractual cash flows and the cash flows that the EU expects to receive. The ECL incorporates reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort at the reporting date.

The ECL is measured with a three stage model that takes into account probability weighted default events during the lifetime of the financial asset and the evolution of credit risk since the origination of the financial asset. For loans, origination is the date of the irrevocable loan commitment.

If there is no significant increase in credit risk since origination (‘stage 1’), the impairment loss is the ECL from possible default events in the next 12 months from the reporting date (’12 months ECL’). If there is a significant increase in credit risk since origination (‘stage 2’), or if there is objective evidence of a credit impairment (‘stage 3’), the impairment loss equals the ECL from possible default events over the whole lifetime of the financial asset (‘lifetime ECL’) (see note 6.5).

For assets at amortised cost, the asset’s carrying amount is reduced by the amount of the impairment loss which is recognised in the statement of financial performance. For assets at fair value through net assets/equity the loss allowance is recognised in net assets/equity and does not reduce the carrying amount of the financial asset in the balance sheet. If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed through the statement of financial performance.

a. Loans to sovereigns

The EU bases its assessment of loans’ impairment, in the context of the nature of the EU’s financing and its unique institutional status.

For the impairment of loans to non-Member States, the EU calculates the expected credit losses using external credit quality data, however taking into account its preferred creditor status, which reduces the credit risk. For the calculation of the present value, the discount rate is the loan’s original effective interest rate. If a loan has a variable interest rate, the discount rate is the current effective interest rate determined under the contract.

For loans to Member States, the EU has never incurred any impairment losses, nor faced any defaults on payments. For these loans, in addition to the preferred creditor status, the EU takes into account the relationships with its Member States. These two elements, in principle, guarantee the full recovery of the loans to Member States, on maturity. Therefore, the EU considers the expected credit losses from loans to Member States to be negligible, and a statistical approach to calculate expected credit losses as inappropriate for these loans. Thus no expected credit losses are recognised in the statement of financial performance for the loans to Member States.

b. Receivables

The EU measures the impairment loss at the amount of lifetime ECL, using practical expedients (e.g. provision matrix).

c. Cash and cash equivalents

The EU holds cash and cash equivalents in current bank accounts and term deposits of up to 3 months. The cash is held in banks with very high credit ratings (see note 6.5), thus having very low default probabilities. Given the short duration and low default probabilities, the expected credit losses from cash and cash equivalents are negligible. As a result, no impairment allowance is recognised for cash equivalents.

47.

Derecognition


Financial instruments are derecognised when the rights to receive cashflows from the investments have expired or the EU has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership to another party. Sales of financial assets at fair value through net assets/equity and through surplus or deficit are recognised on their trade-date.

48.

14. Inventories


Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The cost of finished goods and work in progress comprises raw materials, direct labour, other directly attributable costs and related production overheads (based on normal operating capacity). Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the costs of completion and selling expenses. When inventories are held for distribution at no charge or for a nominal charge, they are measured at the lower of cost and current replacement cost. Current replacement cost is the cost the EU would incur to acquire the asset on the reporting date.

49.

15. Pre-financing amounts


Pre-financing is a payment intended to provide the beneficiary with a cash advance, i.e. a float. It may be split into a number of payments in accordance with the principle of sound financial management over a period defined in the particular contract, decision, agreement or basic act. The float or advance is either used for the purpose for which it was provided during the period defined in the agreement or it is repaid. If the beneficiary does not incur eligible expenditure, they have the obligation to return the pre-financing to the EU. As the EU retains control over the pre-financing and is entitled to a refund for the ineligible part, the amount is presented as an asset.

Pre-financing is initially recognised on the balance sheet when cash is transferred to the recipient. It is measured at the amount of the consideration given. In subsequent periods pre-financing is measured at the amount initially recognised on the balance sheet less the eligible expenses (including estimated amounts where necessary) incurred during the period.

Interest on pre-financing is recognised as it is earned in accordance with the provisions of the relevant agreement. An estimate of the accrued interest revenue, based on the most reliable information, is made at the year-end and included in the balance sheet.

Other advances to Member States, which originate from reimbursement by the EU of amounts paid as advances by the Member States to their beneficiaries (including ‘financial instruments under shared management’), are recognised as assets and presented under the heading ‘Pre-financing’. Other advances to Member States are subsequently measured at the amount initially recognised on the balance sheet less a best estimate of the eligible expenses incurred by final beneficiaries, calculated on the basis of reasonable and supportable assumptions.

The contributions to EU trust funds (as established under Article 234 of the Financial Regulation) not consolidated in the European Commission, or to other unconsolidated entities, are classified as pre-financing since their purpose is to give a float to the trust fund to allow it to finance specific actions defined under the trust fund’s objectives. The EU contributions to trust funds are measured at the initial amount of the EU contribution less eligible expenses, including estimated amounts where necessary, incurred by the trust fund during the reporting period and allocated to the EU contribution in accordance with the underlying agreement.

50.

16. Exchange receivables and non-exchange recoverables


The EU Accounting Rules require a separate presentation of exchange and non-exchange transactions. To distinguish between the two categories, the term ‘receivables’ is reserved for exchange transactions, whereas for ‘non-exchange transactions’, i.e. when the EU receives value from another entity without directly giving approximately equal value in exchange, the term ‘recoverables’ is used (e.g. recoverables from Member States related to own resources).

Receivables from exchange transactions are financial assets measured at amortised cost, except for certain amounts of financial guarantee contract receivable leg which are classified as financial asset at fair value through surplus or deficit (see note 1.5.5).

Recoverables from non-exchange transactions are carried at fair value as at the date of acquisition less write-down for impairment. A write-down for impairment of recoverables from non-exchange transactions is established when there is objective evidence that the EU will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of recoverables from non-exchange transactions. The amount of the write-down is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the recoverable amount. The amount of the write-down is recognised in the statement of financial performance. A general write-down, based on past experience, is also made for outstanding recovery orders not already subject to a specific write-down. See note 1.5.14 concerning the treatment of accrued revenue at year-end. Amounts displayed and disclosed as recoverables from non-exchange transactions are not financial instruments, as they do not arise from a contract that would give rise to a financial liability or equity instrument. However, in the notes to the financial statements recoverables from non-exchange transactions are disclosed together with receivables from exchange transactions where appropriate.


51.

17. Cash and cash equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents are financial assets at amortised cost and include cash at hand, deposits held at call or at short notice with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

52.

18. Employee benefits


The EU provides a set of benefits (emoluments and social security) to employees. For accounting purposes these have to be classified into short-term and post-employment benefits.

53.

Short-term employee benefits


Short-term employee benefits are those benefits due to be settled before twelve months after the end of the reporting period in which employees rendered the service, such as salaries, annual and paid sick leaves, and other short-term allowances. Short-term employee benefits are recognised as an expense when the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid if the EU has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

54.

Post-employment benefits


The EU grants a set of post-employment benefits to employees, which include retirement, invalidity and survival pensions provided under the Pension Scheme of the European Officials (PSEO), as well as health insurance coverage provided under the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) (see note 2.9). These benefits are provided under a single plan – although split in two schemes – and they must be treated similarly so as to give a fair presentation of the situation and reflect the economic reality:

i. Pension Scheme of European Officials (PSEO): The benefits granted under this notionally funded15 scheme relate to seniority, invalidity and survival, as well as, family allowances, death before retirement to those employees that work or worked in the EU Institutions, Agencies and other EU bodies or are survivors of deceased officials or pensioners. Staff contribute one third of the expected cost of these benefits from their salaries.

ii. Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS): Under this scheme, the EU provides health insurance coverage for staff of the European Commission, Institutions, Agencies and other EU bodies through the reimbursement of medical expenses. The benefits granted to the ‘inactives’ of this scheme (i.e. pensioners, orphans, etc.) are classified as post-employment benefits.

The EU also provides post-employment benefits to Members and former Members of the EU institutions via separate pension schemes. These are shown under the heading ‘Other retirement benefit schemes’. Under these schemes the EU provides pension benefits to members of the Commission, European Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, Council, European Parliament, European Ombudsman, and the European Data Protection Supervisor. The EU provides health coverage to the members of the EU Institutions via the JSIS.

The above post-employment benefits qualify as defined benefit obligations of the EU and are calculated at each reporting date by estimating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in the current and prior periods, discounting that amount and deducting the fair value of any plan assets. The calculation of defined benefit obligation is performed annually using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of government bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension liability.

The post-employment benefits provided to EU staff are incorporated in a single plan comprising both a pension scheme (PSEO) and a sickness insurance scheme (JSIS), with the right to coverage under the JSIS scheme being dependent on having acquired the right to coverage under the PSEO scheme. Under the terms of this single plan, as set out in the Staff Regulation, certain entitlements, such as the right to a deferred and reduced pension under the PSEO scheme, are acquired after 10 years of service. However, the entitlements acquired under the single plan by the employee’s subsequent service are materially higher than those initial entitlements as reflected by subsequent annually accrued pension rights.

Therefore, in order to depict the economic substance of the underlying transaction required by the faithful representation qualitative characteristic of financial reporting as outlined in both EAR 1 and the IPSAS Conceptual Framework, the service cost incurred is accrued on a straight-line basis over staff’s estimated active service period, i.e. the period from the date when service by the employee first leads to benefits under the plan (whether or not the benefits are conditional on further service) until the date when further service by the employee will lead to no material amount of further benefits under the plan, other than from further salary increases. This approach is applied consistently to the benefits provided for under the single plan.

Remeasurements in the net defined benefit liabilities comprise actuarial gains and losses and the return on plan assets, and are recognised immediately in net assets.

The EU recognises the net interest expense (income) and other expenses related to the defined benefit plans in the statement of financial performance within the heading ‘Staff and pension costs’.

When benefits provided are changed or curtailed, the resulting change in benefits that relates to past service or the gain or loss on curtailment is recognised immediately in the statement of financial performance. Gains and losses on settlement are recognised when the settlement occurs. Past service cost is recognised immediately in the statement of financial performance, unless the changes are conditional on the employees remaining in service for a specified period of time.

55.

19. Provisions


Provisions are recognised when the EU has a present legal or constructive obligation towards third parties as a result of past events, it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses. The amount of the provision is the best estimate of the expenses expected to be required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date. Where the provision involves a large number of items, the obligation is estimated by weighting all possible outcomes by their associated probabilities (‘expected value’ method).

Provisions for onerous contracts are measured at the present value of the lower of the expected cost of terminating the contract and the expected net cost of continuing with the contract.

56.

20. Financial liabilities


Financial liabilities are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through surplus or deficit, financial liabilities carried at amortised cost, or as financial guarantee contract liabilities.

Borrowings are composed of borrowings from credit institutions and debts evidenced by certificates (EU bonds, EU deposits and EU bills). They are recognised initially at fair value, being their issue proceeds (fair value of consideration received) net of transaction costs incurred, then subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method; any difference between proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the redemption value is recognised in the statement of financial performance over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. The transaction costs incurred by the EU and then recharged to the beneficiary of the loan are immaterial and are directly recognised in the statement of financial performance.

Financial liabilities at fair value through surplus or deficit include derivatives where the fair value is negative. They follow the same accounting treatment as financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit, see note 1.5.5.

The EU recognises a financial guarantee contract liability when it enters into a contract that requires the EU to make specified payments to reimburse the guarantee holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument. Where the guarantee contract requires the EU to make payments in response to financial instruments price changes or changes to other underlyings, the guarantee contract is a derivative i.e. a financial liability at fair value through surplus or deficit. All other guarantee contracts are accounted for as financial provisions.

Financial guarantee contract liabilities are initially recognised at fair value. This equals the net present value of the premium receivable, if it is at market terms. When no guarantee premium is charged or where the consideration is not fair value, the fair value is determined based on the quoted prices in an active market for financial guarantee contracts directly equivalent to that entered into the financial guarantee liability, if available, or using a valuation technique. If no reliable measure of fair value can be determined either by direct observation of an active market or through another valuation technique, the financial guarantee contract liability is initially measured at the amount of the lifetime expected credit losses.

The subsequent measurement depends on the evolution of the credit risk exposure from the financial guarantee. If there is no significant increase in credit risk (‘stage 1’), financial guarantee liabilities are measured at the higher of the 12 months expected credit losses and the amount initially recognised less, when appropriate, cumulative amortisation. If there is a significant increase in credit risk (‘stage 2’), financial guarantee liabilities are measured at the higher of the lifetime expected credit losses and the amount initially recognised less, when appropriate, cumulative amortisation (see note 6.5).

Financial liabilities are classified as non-current liabilities, except for maturities less than 12 months after the balance sheet date. Financial guarantee contracts are classified as current liabilities except if the EU has an unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

EU trust funds that are considered as part of the Commission’s operational activities (i.e. trust funds Madad and Colombia) are accounted for in the Commission accounts and further consolidated in the EU annual accounts. Therefore, contributions from other donors to the EU trust funds fulfil the criteria of revenues from non-exchange transactions under conditions and they are presented as financial liabilities until the conditions attached to the contributions transferred are met, i.e. eligible costs are incurred by the trust fund. The trust fund is required to finance specific projects and return remaining funds at the time of winding-up. At the balance sheet date the outstanding contribution liabilities are measured at contributions received less the expenses incurred by the trust fund, including estimated amounts when necessary. For reporting purposes the net expenses are allocated to the contributions of other donors in proportion to net contributions paid as at 31 December. This allocation of contributions is only indicative. When the trust fund is wound up the actual distribution of the remaining resources will be decided by the trust fund board.

The same measurement principles apply to the external contributions to the EU programmes, in case such contributions are received with conditions to use the resources as stipulated in the contribution agreements or otherwise to return them to the contributor.

57.

21. Payables


A significant amount of the payables of the EU are unpaid cost claims from beneficiaries of grants or other EU funding (non-exchange transactions). They are recorded as payables for the requested amount when the cost claim is received. Upon verification and acceptance of the eligible costs, the payables are valued at the eligible amount.

Payables arising from the purchase of goods and services are recognised at invoice reception for the original amount and the corresponding eligible expenses are entered in the accounts when the supplies or services are delivered and accepted by the EU.

58.

22. Accrued and deferred revenue and charges


Transactions and events are recognised in the financial statements in the period to which they relate. At year-end, if an invoice is not yet issued but the service has been rendered, the supplies have been delivered by the EU or a contractual agreement exists (e.g. by reference to a treaty), an accrued revenue will be recognised in the financial statements. In addition, at year-end, if an invoice is issued but the services have not yet been rendered or the goods supplied have not yet been delivered, the revenue will be deferred and recognised in the subsequent accounting period.

Expenses are also accounted for in the period to which they relate. At the end of the accounting period, accrued expenses are recognised based on an estimated amount of the transfer obligation of the period. The calculation of accrued expenses is done in accordance with detailed operational and practical guidelines issued by the Commission which aim at ensuring that the financial statements provide a faithful representation of the economic and other phenomena they purport to represent. By analogy, if a payment has been made in advance for services or goods that have not yet been received, the expense will be deferred and recognised in the subsequent accounting period.

23. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

59.

24. Revenue


REVENUE FROM NON-EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS

The vast majority of the EU’s revenue relates to non-exchange transactions as follows:

60.

GNI based resources, VAT and Plastics own resources


Revenue is recognised for the period for which the Commission sends out a call for funds to the Member States claiming their contribution. The revenue is measured at its ‘called amount’. As VAT, GNI and Plastics own resources are based on estimates of the data for the budgetary year concerned, they may be revised since changes occur until the final data are issued by the Member States. The effect of a change in estimate is included when determining the net surplus or deficit for the period in which the change occurred.

61.

Traditional own resources


Recoverables from non-exchange transactions and related revenues are recognised when the relevant monthly ‘A’ statements (including duties collected and amounts due that are guaranteed and not contested) are received from the Member States. At the reporting date, revenue collected by the Member States for the period but not yet paid to the Commission is estimated and recognised as accrued revenue. The quarterly ‘B’ statements (including duties neither collected nor guaranteed, as well as guaranteed amounts that have been contested by the debtor) received from the Member States are recognised as revenue less the collection costs to which they are entitled. In addition, a value reduction is recognised for the amount of the estimated recovery gap.

62.

Fines


Revenue from fines is recognised when the EU’s decision imposing a fine has been adopted and it is officially notified to the addressee. After the decision to impose a fine, the fined entities have two months from the date of notification:

63.

a. either to accept the decision, in which case they must pay the fine within the time limit laid down and the amount is definitively collected by the EU; or


b. not to accept the decision, in which case they challenge it in accordance with EU law.

Even if appealed, the fine must be paid within the time limit of three months laid down, as the appeal does not have suspensory effect (Article 278 TFEU). The cash received is used to clear the recoverable. However, subject to the agreement of the Commission’s Accounting Officer, the undertaking may present a bank guarantee for the amount instead. In that case the fine remains as a recoverable. If neither cash nor a guarantee is received and there are doubts about the undertaking’s solvency, a value reduction on the entitlement is recognised.

If the undertaking appeals against the decision, and has already provisionally paid the fine, the amount is disclosed as a contingent liability, or, if it appears probable that the General Court may not rule in favour of the EU, a provision is recognised to cover this risk. If a guarantee is given instead, the outstanding recoverable is written down.

The accumulated interest received by the Commission on the bank accounts where received payments are deposited is recognised as revenue, and any contingent liability is increased accordingly.

Since 2010, all provisionally cashed fines are managed by the Commission in a specifically created fund (BUFI) and invested in financial instruments.

64.

REVENUE FROM EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS


Revenue from the sale of goods and services is recognised when the significant risk and rewards of ownership of the goods are transferred to the purchaser. Revenue associated with a transaction involving the provision of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at the reporting date.

65.

Interest revenue and expense


Interest revenue and expense are recognised in the statement of financial performance using the effective interest method. This is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or a financial liability and of allocating the interest revenue or interest expense over the relevant period. When calculating the effective interest rate, the EU estimates cashflows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument (for example prepayment options) but does not consider future credit losses. The calculation includes all fees and interest rate points paid or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs and all other premiums or discounts.

Once a financial asset or a group of similar financial assets is considered credit impaired (‘stage 3’), the interest revenue is recognised using the rate of interest to discount the future cashflows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss.

66.

Revenue from dividends


Revenue from dividends and similar distributions is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

67.

Revenue and expense from financial assets through surplus or deficit


This refers to the fair value gains (revenue) and fair value losses (expense) from these financial assets, including those stemming from foreign exchange translation. For interest-bearing financial assets, this also includes interest. See also note 3.9.

68.

Revenue from financial guarantee contracts


The revenue from financial guarantee contracts (guarantee premium) is recognised over the time the EU stands ready to compensate the holder of the financial guarantee contract for the credit loss it may incure. The amortisation schedule applied takes into account the passage of time and the volume of the guaranteed exposure. Revenue from financial guarantee contracts include also amortisation of financial guarantee contracts liability in cases when the guarantee was provided at no or nominal consideration.

69.

25. Expenses


Expenses from non-exchange transactions account for the majority of the EU’s expenses. They relate to transfers to beneficiaries and can be of three types: (i) entitlements, (ii) transfers under agreement and discretionary grants, as well as (iii) contributions and donations.

Transfers are recognised as expenses in the period during which the events giving rise to the transfer occurred, as long as the nature of the transfer is allowed by regulation (Financial Regulation, Staff Regulations, or other regulation) or an agreement has been signed authorising the transfer, any eligibility criteria have been met by the beneficiary, and a reasonable estimate of the amount can be made.

When a request for payment or cost claim is received and meets the recognition criteria, it is recognised as an expense for the eligible amount. At year-end, incurred eligible expenses due to the beneficiaries but not yet reported are estimated and recorded as accrued expenses.

Expenses from exchange transactions arising from the purchase of goods and services are recognised when the supplies are delivered and accepted by the EU. They are valued at their original invoice amount. Furthermore, at the balance sheet date, expenses related to the service delivered during the period for which an invoice has not yet been received or accepted are estimated and recognised in the statement of financial performance.

26. CONTINGENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

70.

27. Contingent assets


A contingent asset is a possible asset that arises from past events and of which the existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the EU. A contingent asset is disclosed when an inflow of economic benefits or service potential is probable.

71.

28. Contingent liabilities


A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past events and of which the existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the EU, or a present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognised, either because it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential will be required to settle the obligation, or in the rare circumstances where the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability. A contingent liability is disclosed unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential is remote.

29. CASHFLOW STATEMENT

Cashflow information is used to provide a basis for assessing the ability of the EU to generate cash and cash equivalents, and its needs to utilise those cashflows.

The cashflow statement is prepared using the indirect method. This means that the economic result for the financial year is adjusted for the effects of transactions of a non-cash nature, any deferrals or accruals of past or future operating cash receipts or payments, and items of revenue or expense associated with investing cashflows.

Cashflows arising from transactions in a foreign currency are recorded in the EU’s reporting currency (Euro), by applying to the foreign currency amount the exchange rate between the euro and the foreign currency at the date of the cashflow.

The cashflow statement reports cashflows during the period classified by operating, investing and financing activities.

Operating activities are the activities of the EU that are not investing or financing activities. These are the majority of the activities performed.

Investing activities are the acquisition and disposal of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment and of other investments which are not included in cash equivalents. Investing activities do not include loans granted to beneficiaries as they are part of the general objectives and thus daily operations of the EU. The objective is to show the real investments made by the EU.

Financing activities are activities that result in changes in the size and composition of borrowings other than those granted to beneficiaries on a back-to-back basis or for the acquisition of properaty, plant and equipment (which are included under operating activities).

30. NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

ASSETS


31. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

EUR million
Gross carrying amount at 31.12.20211 636
Additions280
Disposals(54)
Transfer between asset categories0
Other changes(12)
Gross carrying amount at 31.12.20221 849
Accumulated amortisation at 31.12.2021(867)
Amortisation charge for the year(135)
Amortisation written back-
Disposals49
Transfer between asset categories0
Other changes3
Accumulated amortisation at 31.12.2022(949)
Net carrying amount at 31.12.2022900
Net carrying amount at 31.12.2021769

The above amounts relate primarily to computer software.

32. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The space assets category covers operational fixed assets related to the two EU space programmes: the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), i.e. Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), and the Copernicus European Earth observation programme. Assets of the space systems which are not yet operational are included under the heading ‘Assets under construction’. The assets related to the EU space programmes are being built with the assistance of the European Space Agency (ESA).

For Galileo, two satellites launched in December 2021 have been declared operational in March 2022. The constellation currently includes 28 satellites. When completed, the Galileo constellation will comprise 30 satellites (including 6 spare satellites). The Galileo operational fixed assets, covering both satellites and ground installations, amounted to EUR 3 056 million at 31 December 2022, net of accumulated depreciation (2021: EUR 3 413 million). The remaining assets under construction total EUR 1 812 million (2021: EUR 1 344 million).

Regarding Copernicus, following a technical incident involving the SAR instrument (providing the radar data) on board of Sentinel-1B, and despite all efforts to reactivate the satellite, it has been concluded in July 2022 that Sentinel-1B could no longer support the Sentinel-1 mission. Sentinel 1B has thus been fully written off (EUR 86 million, net of accumulated depreciation). The total value of Copernicus operational fixed assets is EUR 634 million (2021: EUR 937 million), net of accumulated depreciation. A further EUR 2 583 million related to Copernicus satellites is recognised as assets under construction (2021: EUR 2 115 million).

Fixed assets related to the EGNOS ground infrastructure of EUR 106 million (2021: EUR 130 million) are also included under the heading ‘Space assets’. In addition, EGNOS assets under construction amount to EUR 292 million (2021: EUR 189 million).

Property, plant and equipment

EUR million
Land and BuildingsSpace assetsPlant and EquipmentFurniture and VehiclesComputer HardwareOtherFinance leasesAssets under constructionTotal
Gross carrying amount at 31.12.20216 5477 7305682817813472 6513 89022 793
Additions3473613107241391 3491 710
Disposals(6)(340)(32)(14)(49)(10)(109)(561)
Transfer between asset categories322060106(245)0
Other changes(0)(0)0(6)(6)
Gross carrying amount at 31.12.20226 6087 6035722808383672 6754 99523 937
Accumulated depreciation at 31.12.2021(3 846)(3 250)(479)(208)(581)(276)(1 487)(10 126)
Depreciation charge for the year(172)(811)(42)(15)(96)(21)(133)(1 290)
Depreciation written back00(0)56
Disposals2255271447962417
Transfer between asset categories00(0)(0)(0)(0)
Other changes(0)(0)0(22)(22)
Accumulated depreciation at 31.12.2022(4 016)(3 807)(494)(209)(630)(288)(1 574)(11 015)
NET CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31.12.20222 5923 7967871208791 1014 99512 922
NET CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31.12.20212 7014 4808973199721 1643 89012 669

33. INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD

The participation of the EU, represented by the Commission, in the European Investment Fund (EIF) is treated as an associate using the equity method of accounting. The EIF is the EU's financial institution specialising in providing risk capital and guarantees to Small and Medium-sized Entities (SMEs). The EIF operates as a private-public partnership, whose members are the European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU and a group of financial institutions.

At 31 December 2022, the EU holds 30% of ownership interests in the EIF (2021: 30%) and 30% of the voting rights (2021: 30%). The table below shows the current year’s movement of the EU’s participation in the EIF.

EUR million
European Investment Fund
Participation at 31.12.20211 192
Contributions-
Dividends received(4)
Share of net result24
Share in the net assets102
Participation at 31.12.20221 313

EIF summarised financial information:

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Total EIFTotal EIF
Assets5 5045 187
Liabilities(1 127)(1 213)
Revenue340781
Expenses(261)(217)
Surplus/(deficit)79564

The reconciliation of the above summarised financial information to the carrying amount of the interest held in the EIF is as follows:

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Net assets of the associate4 3773 974
EC ownership interests in EIF30.0%30.0%
Carrying amount1 3131 192

The EU, represented by the Commission, has paid in 20% of its subscribed shares in the EIF capital at 31 December 2022, the uncalled amount is as follows:

EUR million
Total EIF capitalEU subscription
Total share capital7 3002 190
Paid-in(1 460)(438)
Uncalled5 8401 752


34. FINANCIAL ASSETS

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Financial assets at amortised cost2.4.1199 918160 214
Financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit2.4.226 51321 660
226 431181 874
Current
Financial assets at amortised cost2.4.14 4373 353
Financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit2.4.24 5443 391
8 9816 744
Total235 412188 618
35. Financial assets at amortized cost

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Loans for RRF (NGEU) and financial assistance2.4.1.1204 103163 392
Other loans2.4.1.2251176
Total204 354163 568
Non-current199 918160 214
Current4 4373 353
36. Loans for RRF (NGEU) and financial assistance

EUR million
RRF (NGEU)SUREEFSMBOPMFAEuratomTotal
Total at 31.12.202117 97890 56747 1382017 170338163 392
New loans (nominal)27 1878 7182 2007 53545 639
Repayments(2 700)(10)(23)(2 733)
Changes in carrying amount176(155)(51)0(60)0(90)
Changes in impairment(2 023)(82)(2 105)
Total at 31.12.202245 34099 13046 58720112 613232204 103
Non-current45 15699 02642 66620012 482218199 749
Current1841043 9211130144 354

The nominal value of loans at 31 December 2022 is EUR 205 301 million (2021: EUR 162 394 million), out of which EUR 160 145 million refers to loans for financial assistance and EUR 45 156 million to the RRF.

The line ‘changes in impairment’ corresponds to the remeasurement of the expected credit losses as at 31 December 2022. The line ‘changes in carrying amount’ corresponds to the change in accrued interests and the change in premiums/discounts (new premiums/discounts and amortisation).

The financial assistance programmes operate on a ‘back-to-back’ basis. This means that the loans are financed by equivalent borrowings, with the same terms. The maturities are the same, the issue premiums/discounts and the costs are recharged to the loan beneficiary. At maturity, the loan beneficiary reimburses the Commission and the Commission repays the borrowing. For the RRF loans there is no back-to-back relationship between the terms of the loans and the NGEU borrowings (for the funding of these loans see note 2.11.1.1).

72.

Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)


The RRF is a temporary instrument to help the Member States’ economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic and become resilient to green and digital transitions. Under the EU Recovery Instrument (NGEU), the Commission borrows funds which the RRF uses to finance Member States’ reforms and investments. These have to be in line with EU priorities and have to address the challenges identified in country-specific recommendations under the European Semester framework of economic and social policy coordination. The financing can be either a loan (repayable support) or a grant (non-repayable support, see note 2.5). The Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation for loans and grants. To benefit from the support, the Member States have to submit their national recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by the end of 2026, defining clear milestones and targets to be analysed by the European Commission and approved by the European Council. The RRF loans can be disbursed until 31 December 2026, but only after the achievement of the agreed milestones and targets.

At 31 December 2022, the signed loan agreements were EUR 153.9 billion out of which EUR 45.2 billion are already disbursed.

73.

Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE)


SURE is a European instrument whose aim is to maintain people in work and support jobs affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The instrument enables Member States to request EU financial assistance to help finance sudden and severe increases of national public expenditure related to national short-time work schemes and similar measures, including for self-employed persons, or to some health-related measures, in particular in the work place in response to the crisis. It can provide financial assistance of up to EUR 100 billion in the form of loans to affected Member States.

At 31 December 2022 the Council had approved and the Commission had signed loan agreements for EUR 98.4 billion of financial assistance. The availabillity of the instrument ended at 31 December 2022 and there are no pending disbursements.

74.

European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM)


The EFSM enabled the granting of financial assistance to a Member State in difficulties, or seriously threatened by severe difficulties caused by exceptional circumstances beyond its control. The assistance could take the form of a loan or credit line. The programme has expired but remains in place for specific tasks like the maturity extension of the loans. In December 2021, Portugal requested the extension for EUR 2.2 billion of the total EUR 2.7 billion loan due in 2022. The Commission has borrowed EUR 2.2 billion to roll-over the loan, which has been extended by 4.5 years. The remaining EUR 0.5 billion was repaid.

75.

Balance of Payments (BOP)


This is a policy-based financial instrument that provides medium-term financial assistance to Member States that have not adopted the Euro. It enables the granting of loans to Member States who are experiencing, or are seriously threatened by, difficulties in their balance of payments or capital movements. The maximum outstanding amount of loans granted under the instrument is limited to EUR 50 billion. There are no undrawn amounts from signed loan agreements.

76.

Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA)


The MFA is a form of financial assistance from the EU to partner countries experiencing a balance of payment crisis. It takes the form of medium or long term loans or grants or an appropriate combination of both and generally complements financing provided in the context of an IMF-supported adjustment and reform programme.

During 2022, additional loans of EUR 7.5 billion were disbursed, including EUR 7.2 billion of new loans to Ukraine, granted with a view to supporting Ukraine’s economic stabilisation and to strengthen the immediate resilience of the country subsequent to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression. Total nominal exposure of MFA loans outstanding at year end amounted to EUR 15 billion, out of which EUR 11.6 billion was granted to Ukraine.

MFA loans and related borrowings are guaranteed by the CPF and then, if needed, by the EU budget. In addition, loans provided to Ukraine under the MFA exceptional financial assistance programme in 2022, totalling EUR 6 billion, are also covered by a system of guarantees from Member States for 61% of the exposure on top of the 9% first losses covered by the CPF. EUR 1.6 billion of these guarantees have been signed by the end of 2022, while another EUR 1.6 billion were signed by 31 May 2023. The remaining guarantees are still subject to the administrative procedures of the Member States, which are expected to be finalised in the course of 2023.

As at 31 December 2022, the impairment allowance for MFA loans is EUR 2.3 billion (2021: EUR 293 million), out of which EUR 2.2 billion refer to the loans to Ukraine. While all amounts due in 2022 from Ukraine were paid on time and at the moment of preparation of the annual accounts there is no overdue interests on loans to Ukraine, the impairment reflects the life-time expected credit losses from the EU loans to Ukraine estimated with a particular prudence due to significant uncertainties involved.

Guarantees provided by the Member States for the exceptional MFA constitute a credit enhancement for the EU budget and thus they reduce the expected credit losses on those loans to EUR 0.3 billion (out of the entire impairment allowance of EUR 2.2 billion covering the total MFA loans to Ukraine). See also note 6.5.

As at 31 December 2022, there are EUR 285 million conditional undrawn amounts from signed MFA loan agreements (2021: EUR 625 million).

77.

European Atomic Energy Community loans (Euratom)


The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom, represented by the Commission) lends money to both Member States and non-Member States, and to entities of both, to finance projects relating to energy installations. Out of the total Euratom loans outstanding at 31 December 2022, EUR 300 million (nominal value) relates to loans to Energoatom, guaranteed by Ukraine. For these loans an impairment allowance of EUR 95 million has been recognised.

At 31 December 2022, the Commission had received guarantees from third parties of EUR 327 million (2021: EUR 350 million) to cover Euratom loans. There are no undrawn amounts from signed loan agreements.

78.

Loans effective interest rates (expressed as a range of interest rates)


31.12.202231.12.2021
RRF (NGEU)0.14% - 2.54%0.11% - 0.12%
SURE(0.48)% - 2.78%(0.48)% - 0.77%
EFSM(0.03)% - 3.79%(0.03)% - 3.79%
BOP2.95%2.95%
MFA(0.14)% - 3.70%(0.14)% - 3.70%
Euratom(0.08)% - 1.53%(0.08)% - 1.66%

79.

EU budget guarantee


The EU budget guarantees the Commission borrowings which finance the loans under the RRF and financial assistance programmes. If there would be unpaid loan amounts in the future, the EU budget may have to repay the related borrowing amounts.

- NGEU borrowings and borrowings related to EFSM and BOP loans to Member States, are guaranteed solely by the EU budget;

- Borrowings related to SURE are guaranteed by the EU budget and underpinned by Member States guarantees of EUR 25 billion; and

- MFA borrowings for loans to third countries are firstly covered by the CPF (see note 2.4.2) and then by the EU budget, with exception of the MFA exceptional financial assistance loans to Ukraine of EUR 6 billion that are covered by guarantees provided by the Member States after the first 9% of losses to be covered by CPF;

- Euratom borrowings are firstly covered by the by 3rd party guarantees, then by CPF (see note 2.4.2), and then by the EU budget.

For more details, see note 6.6.

80.

UK obligations arising from its departure from the EU


In accordance with Article 143 of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK shall be liable to the Union for its share of contingent financial liabilities related to the loans for financial assistance (EFSM, MFA, BOP and Euratom) approved/decided by the withdrawal date, 31 January 2020. Article 143 requires that in case of a default under a loan for financial assistance that has been approved before the withdrawal date, the UK would be liable to the Union for its share of payments made by the Union under the defaulted operation, unless this could be covered by the UK share of provisioning held in the Guarantee Fund for external actions compartment of the CPF where this is relevant (i.e. MFA and Euratom loans in third countries) – see note 4.1.1.

The EU’s outstanding contingent liability relating to the above loans for financial assistance amounted to EUR 53.9 billion as at the withdrawal date. Following repayments since that date, the value of these loans covered by the EU guarantee at 31 December 2022 is EUR 52.4 billion – the UK’s share of this is EUR 6.5 billion.

81.

37. Other loans


These include 3 types of loans:

a. Loans granted from EU budget programmes (e.g. the MEDA programme Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the EU Employment and Social Innovation programme). These loans total EUR 79 million as at 31 December 2022 (2021: EUR 74 million).

b. Subrogated loans: These are loans disbursed by the EIB and guaranteed by the EFSI and ELM programmes. The loans defaulted, the Commission paid the guarantee calls and therefore holds the recovery rights. As a result the loans are now recognised on the EU balance sheet. At 31 December 2022, the Commission holds the recovery rights for EUR 1.0 billion of such loans, including accrued interests (2021: EUR 855 million). However, after taking into account the expected credit losses, the amount recognised on the balance sheet is EUR 126 million (2021: EUR 48 million).

c. Term deposits of EUR 46 million (2021: EUR 54 million) with maturity of over 3 months that do not meet the definition of cash equivalents.

82.

38. Financial assets at fair value through surplus or deficit (FVSD)


EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives2.4.2.130 07324 223
Financial assets at FVSD derivatives2.4.2.2984828
Total31 05725 051
Non-current26 51321 660
Current4 5443 391
39. Financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives

83.

Financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives by type


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Debt securities24 64719 326
MMFs, ETFs and investments in pooled portfolios2 8952 513
Other equity investments2 5322 384
Total30 07324 223
Non-current25 53420 834
Current4 5393 390

Debt securities are mainly sovereign and corporate bonds. They are held in the funds (portfolios) managed by the Commssion (mainly CPF, BUFI) or by the EIB on behalf of the EU (mainly H2020, Innovation Fund). The portfolios’ performance is evaluated on a fair value basis (market value).

Money market funds (MMFs) are mutual funds that invest in short-term debt securities (e.g. the EIB unitary fund). The exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds that are traded on stock exchanges. They track indices and hold assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, futures contracts. The investments in pooled portfolios are the EU funds of CEF and H2020 programmes pooled together with Member States’ funds from the NER 300 programme. They are used to provide guarantees to the EIB’s financing and investment operations.

The ‘other equity investments’ mainly refer to investing EU budget money – via implementing partners – in venture capital or other types of investment funds for pursuing EU policy objectives: for example, enhancing access to finance for start up SMEs, research and innovation as well as infrastructure both inside and outside the EU.

84.

Financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives by programme


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Innovation Fund6 4764 195
BUFI investments2 0151 257
ECSC in Liquidation1 2221 382
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development188188
EEAS local staff pension plan8469
9 9857 091
Budgetary Guarantee Funds:
Common Provisioning Fund14 05711 272
14 05711 272
Financial Instruments financed by the EU budget:
Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe3 7663 342
Connecting Europe Facility697762
EU SME Equity Facilities512684
European Fund for South East Europe214213
Green for Growth Fund107146
Energy Efficiency Finance Facility109107
Other628606
6 0315 861
Total30 07324 223
Non-current25 53420 834
Current4 5393 390


85.

Innovation Fund (IF)


The Innovation Fund was set up by Directive (EU) 2018/410 and establishes a system for the trading of greenhouse gas emission allowances within the Union. The purpose is to use the revenue to support innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in certain economic sectors. The Innovation Fund receives the revenue from the progressive monetisation of 450 million allowances and also any unspent funds from the 300 million allowances available for NER300 programme (see note 3.8). The EIB manages the monies, until they are used for the intended purpose, and invests them in debt securities.

86.

BUFI investments


The Commission has established the Budget Fines fund (‘BUFI’) for managing the money it provisionally receives for competition fines under appeal. Until the final court decision, the Commission invests the money in debt instruments. During 2022, a fine recipient provisionally paid EUR 0.9 billion, which was invested in this fund – this is the main reason for the increase here.


87.

ECSC in Liquidation


The ECSC Treaty expired on 23 July 2002 and all the ECSC assets were transferred to the European Union and were earmarked for research in the sectors associated with the coal and steel industries, for example breakthrough technologies that lead to near-zero-carbon steelmaking. The Commission invests the monies in debt securities, until they are granted for research.

88.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development


The EU holds a financial investment in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in which the number of shares held at 31 December 2022 were 90 044 (2021: 90 044 shares), representing 3% of the total subscribed share capital. The EU subscribed for a total amount of EUR 900 million of share capital, out of which EUR 713 million is currently uncalled. According to the agreement establishing the EBRD, the shareholders have some contractual restrictions such as the fact that the shares are not transferable and that their redemption is capped at the maximum of the original purchase cost. The EU measures its investment in the EBRD at fair value. The original purchase cost is considered the best estimate of the fair value, in particular due to the contractual restrictions referred to above. Although the EBRD's shares are not quoted on any stock exchange market, there were recent transactions in the investee's equity (issuance of capital at par value), indicating that cost is the best estimate of the fair value in this situation.

89.

Common Provisioning Fund (CPF)


The EU guarantees the equity investments and loans of implementing partners to sovereigns and companies. In order to pay the claims from defaults or other losses, the EU Budget, in accordance with the legal acts, is gradually setting money aside to build a capital buffer i.e. the CPF. The CPF also covers borrowings the Commission issues to finance MFA and Euratom loans to non Member States.

In compliance with the Financial Regulation, the Commission has set up the CPF to manage the capital buffer (‘provisioning’) for all budgetary guarantees and financial assistance loans to third countries, in one common portfolio. In addition to the EU budget provisioning, the CPF receives recoveries from defaulted operations, the returns on its investments and the receipts from the EU budgetary guarantees remuneration. The CPF may also receive voluntary contributions from Member States and other contributors that are – in this way – increasing the available EU budget guarantees.

The CPF allocates the incoming contributions into compartments depending on the contributing programme. The legal acts of the programmes set out the necessary provisioning for the guarantees provided. The EU budget pools these individually provisioned funds in the CPF so as to optimise the asset management.

As at 31 December 2022 the assets of the CPF were EUR 14.4 billion, out of which EUR 14.1 billion were invested in financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives (debt securities).

90.

Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe


Under the EU Regulation establishing Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), new financial instruments have been established in order to enhance access to finance to entities engaged in research and innovation (R&I). These instruments are:

- The InnovFin Loan and Guarantee Service for R&I under which the Commission shares the financial risk related to a portfolio of new financing operations entered into by the EIB;

- The InnovFin SME Guarantee and the SME Initiative Uncapped Guarantee Instrument (SIUGI) – guarantees facilities managed by the EIF, providing guarantees and counter-guarantees to financial intermediaries for new portfolios of loans (under SIUGI the Commission shares the financial risk related to the guarantee given with Member States, EIF and EIB);

- The InnovFin Equity Facility for R&I providing for investments in venture capital funds which are managed by the EIF; and

- The EIC Fund (European Innovation Council Fund) which provides equity financing to accelerate innovation and market deployment actions. The EIC fund is funded from the Horizon Europe and H2020 programmes. To date, the investments mainly refer to the H2020 programme.

91.

Connecting Europe Facility


Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) debt instrument has been established with the objective to facilitate infrastructure projects’ access to financing in the sectors of transport, telecommunications and energy. It is managed by the EIB under an agreement with the EU. It offers risk sharing for debt financing in the form of senior and subordinated debt or guarantee as well as support for project bonds guaranteed by the EU.

92.

EU SME Equity Facilities


These are equity instruments financed by the COSME, CIP and MAP programmes and the Growth and Employment Initiative, under the trusteeship of the EIF, supporting the creation and financing of EU SMEs in their early (start-up) and growth stages by investing in suitable specialised venture capital funds.


93.

Fair value hierarchy of non-derivative financial assets at FVSD


EUR million
Type of financial asset31.12.202231.12.2021
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets24 67719 336
Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices3 0612 698
Level 3: Valuation techniques with inputs not based on observable market data2 3352 190
Total30 07324 223


During the period, there were no transfers between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

94.

Reconciliation of non-derivative financial assets measured using valuation techniques with inputs not based on observable market data (level 3)


EUR million
Fair value movements
Opening balance at 1.1.20222 190
Investments during the period383
Capital repayments(143)
Revenues settled(115)
Gains or losses for the period in surplus or deficit19
Transfers into level 3
Transfers out of level 3
Other
Closing balance at 31.12.20222 335

The net losses for level 3 non-derivative assets held at end of 2022 were EUR 87 million (2021: net gains of EUR 295 million). They are included as financial revenue under ‘Gains on financial assets or liabilities at FVSD non-derivatives’ (see note 3.9) and as finance costs under ‘Losses from on financial assets or liabilities at FVSD non- derivatives’ (see note 3.15).

95.

40. Financial assets and liabilities at FVSD derivatives


Financial assets and liabilities at FVSD derivatives by type

EUR million
Type of derivative31.12.202231.12.2021
Notional amountFair Value AssetFair Value LiabilityNotional amountFair Value AssetFair Value Liability
Foreign currency forward contract48856462
Guarantee on equity portfolio4 694979(17)4 148826(1)
Guarantees on FX risk87(8)28(4)
Total5 269984(25)4 822828(5)
Non-current979(9)826(5)
Current5(15)2


96.

Foreign currency forward contract


The EU enters into foreign currency forward contracts in order to hedge the foreign currency risk related to USD denominated debt securities held in the EFSI Guarantee Fund. Under the foreign currency forward contracts, the EU delivers the contractually agreed notional amount in foreign currency (‘pay leg’), as presented in the table above, and will receive the notional amount in EUR (‘receive leg’) at the maturity date. Such derivative contracts are measured at fair value at the balance sheet date and classified as either financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through surplus or deficit depending on whether their fair value is positive or negative.


97.

Guarantees on equity portfolios


The heading ‘Guarantee on equity portfolio’ comprises guarantees given by the EU to financial institutions on portfolios of equity investments. These guarantees are classified as derivative financial instruments and accounted for as a financial asset or financial liability at fair value through surplus or deficit since they do not meet the definition of a financial guarantee liability – see note 1.5.12. The EU financial liability is measured based on the value of the underlying investments.

The total amount represents mainly the EFSI guarantee given by the EU to the EIB Group with underlying equity investments disbursed by the EIB and EIF amounting to EUR 3.5 billion (2021: EUR 3.1 billion). The fair value of the EU guarantee on the EFSI equity portfolios totalled EUR 967 million (2021: EUR 763 million).

98.

Guarantee on foreign currency risk


The EU guarantees foreign currency (‘FX’) risk under the EFSD Guarantee, where it guarantees swap and forward contracts that aim at hedging against foreign currency risks for investing operations in emerging markets. The EU also covers the devaluation of the foreign exchange currency (UAH) related to loans given by financial institutions to SMEs in Ukraine under the Eastern Partnership SME Finance Facility.

99.

Fair value hierarchy of derivative financial assets and liabilities


EUR million
Type of derivative31.12.202231.12.2021
Fair Value AssetFair Value LiabilityFair Value AssetFair Value Liability
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets
Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices5(3)2(2)
Level 3: Valuation techniques with inputs not based on observable market data979(21)826(2)
Total984(25)828(5)

During the period, there were no transfers between level 1 and level 2. Derivatives in Fair Value Level 3 include mainly guarantees on equity portfolios.

100.

Reconciliation of derivative financial assets and liabilities measured using valuation techniques with inputs not based on observable market data (Level 3)


EUR million
Fair value movements
Opening balance asset/(liability) as at 1.1.2022824
Guarantee call claims paid51
Guarantee calls returned
Revenues from guarantee settled(98)
Gains or losses for the period in surplus or deficit181
Transfers into level 3
Transfers out of level 3
Other
Closing balance at 31.12.2022958

The net gains for level 3 derivative assets held at end of 2022 were EUR 181 million (2021: net gains of EUR 777 million). This amount is included under ‘Gains on financial assets or liabilities at FVSD derivatives’ in financial revenue (see note 3.9).





41. PRE-FINANCING

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Pre-financing2.5.147 17957 764
Other advances to Member States2.5.22162 901
Contribution to Trust Funds86126
47 48260 792
Current
Pre-financing2.5.146 92728 427
Other advances to Member States2.5.26 0874 229
53 01432 656
Total100 49693 447

The level of pre-financing in the various programmes must be sufficient to ensure the necessary funding for the beneficiary to initiate and advance the project, while also safeguarding the financial interests of the EU and taking into consideration legal, operational and cost-effectiveness constraints.

101.

42. Pre-financing


EUR million
Gross amountCleared via accrualsNet amount at 31.12.2022Gross amountCleared via accrualsNet amount at 31.12.2021
Shared management
EAFRD & other rural

development instruments
3 051(527)2 5253 172(208)2 965
ERDF & CF29 812(4 932)24 88023 531(4 571)18 960
ESF11 621(1 974)9 6479 085(1 823)7 263
Other8 063(4 498)3 5654 836(2 263)2 572
52 548(11 931)40 61740 624(8 865)31 760
Direct Management
Implemented by:
Commission41 722(13 695)28 02746 494(11 970)34 525
of which RRF (NGEU)28 347(5 389)22 95834 879(4 065)30 814
EU executive agencies29 566(17 104)12 46223 931(15 030)8 901
Trust funds738(582)1561 140(847)293
72 026(31 381)40 64571 565(27 847)43 718
Indirect Management
Implemented by:
Other EU agencies & bodies2 892(1 262)1 6311 657(687)971
Third countries1 797(1 275)5221 874(1 261)614
International organisations12 488(7 491)4 9979 545(5 955)3 590
Other entities15 208(9 513)5 69512 992(7 453)5 539
32 385(19 540)12 84526 069(15 356)10 713
Total156 958(62 852)94 106138 258(52 068)86 191
Non-current47 17947 17957 76457 764
Current109 778(62 852)46 92780 494(52 068)28 427

Pre-financing represents money paid out, and thus the implementation of payment appropriations. As explained in note 1.5.7, these are advances and so not yet expensed. Thus while pre-financing reduces outstanding RAL (see note 5.1) it represents expenses still to be accepted and recognised in the statement of financial performance.

For shared management, the largest part of pre-financing relates to the programming period 2014-2020. New pre-financing payments have been made in the cohesion area, mainly related to REACT EU (EUR 3.5 billion) and the 2021-2027 programming period (EUR 5.4 billion).

For 2014-2020 period there is an initial pre-financing which can only be cleared (i.e. recognised in the statement of financial performance) towards the closure part of the programming period and is shown as a non-current pre-financing. As we are approaching the end of the implementation period of this previous MFF and more amounts become due within 12 months, this initial prefinancing is gradually reclassified to current pre-financing and its clearing has also started. This situation is the main reason for the decrease in non-current pre-financing and a big factor in the increase in the current amount.

For direct management, the biggest amounts of pre-financing are those related to the non-reimbursable support concerning the RRF instrument which began in 2021, EUR 23 billion net at year-end (2021: EUR 30.8 billion). These have decreased as amounts have been cleared as milestones have been achieved by Member States during 2022. The other significant amounts, in total EUR 13 billion (2021: EUR 8.5 billion), refer to the Research area (mainly Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, implemented by the EU executive agencies and the Commission); as the new MFF is gaining speed, more grants have been awarded and consequently more pre-financing has been paid.

For indirect management, the pre-financing covers mainly internal policies programmes like Galileo and EGNOS (Space Programmes), but also instruments related to Global Europe (including neighbourhood, development and international cooperation instruments). The most notable increase in pre-financing under this heading, EUR 1.1 billion, is related to Neighbourhood, Development and Cooperation instrument and its precursors. Similar to the direct management pre-financing, the increase here relates mainly to the new payments made under the 2021-2027 programming period as it gathers pace.

102.

Guarantees received in respect of pre-financing


These are guarantees that the Commission requests in certain cases from beneficiaries that are not Member States when making advance payments (pre-financing). There are two values to disclose for this type of guarantee, the ‘nominal’ and the ‘on-going’ values. For the nominal value, the generating event is linked to the existence of the guarantee. For the on-going value, the guarantee’s generating event is the pre-financing payment made against the guarantee, then reduced by subsequent clearings. At 31 December 2022 the nominal value of guarantees received in respect of pre-financing amounted to EUR 518 million while the on-going value of those guarantees was EUR 464 million (2021: EUR 433 million and EUR 383 million respectively).

Certain pre-financing amounts paid out under the 7th Research Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7) and under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe Programmes are effectively covered by the Mutual Insurance Mechanism (MIM), previously known as the Participants Guarantee Fund (PGF). The MIM is a mutual benefit instrument set up to cover the risks relating to non-payment of amounts by the beneficiaries during the implementation of the indirect actions under those programmes. All participants of indirect actions receiving a grant from the EU contribute 5% of the maximum EU contribution to the MIM's capital, which is invested in the financial markets by the Commission in order to generate interest. The interest may be used to cover debts not honoured by a defaulting participant towards the Union. At the end of the indirect action the contributions are paid back to the participants. The EU (represented by the Commission) acts as an executive agent of the participants of the MIM, but the fund is owned by the participants. The MIM is thus a separate entity that is not consolidated in these EU annual accounts.

At 31 December 2022, pre-financing amounts covered by the MIM totalled EUR 2.7 billion (2021: EUR 2.4 billion). The MIM total assets, including financial assets managed by the Commission, amounted to EUR 2.6 billion (2021: EUR 2.5 billion).

103.

43. Other advances to Member States


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Advances to Member States for financial instruments under shared management3 3903 647
Aid Schemes2 9143 483
Total6 3037 130
Non-current2162 901
Current6 0874 229


104.

Advances to Member States for financial instruments under shared management


Under the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) programmes, it is possible to make advance payments from the EU budget to Member States so as to allow them to contribute to financial instruments (i.e. loans, equity investments or guarantees). These financial instruments are set up and managed under the responsibility of the Member States, not the Commission. Nevertheless, monies that are unused by these instruments at year-end are the property of the EU (as with all pre-financing) and are thus treated as an asset on the EU’s balance sheet.

Under cohesion policy 2014-2020, out of EUR 17 181 million paid, it is estimated that EUR 3 303 million was unused at 31 December 2022. This includes the contribution of the Member States to the SME Initiative, an instrument aimed at stimulating additional lending by the banking sector to SMEs (EUR 1 449 million paid excluding amounts still in pre-financing, out of which EUR 292 million is estimated as unused).

For rural development, EUR 86 million remained unused at year-end.

105.

Aid Schemes


Similar to the above, reimbursed amounts corresponding to advances paid by the Member States for various aid schemes (state aid, market measures of EAGF or investment measures of EAFRD) that were not used at year-end are recorded as assets (advances) on the EU's balance sheet. The Commission has estimated the value of these advances based on information provided by the Member States; the resulting amounts are included under the Aid Schemes sub-heading above.

For the MFF 2014-2020, the unused amounts at year-end were estimated at EUR 1 198 million for cohesion policy and EUR 1 670 million for agriculture and rural development.




44. EXCHANGE RECEIVABLES AND NON-EXCHANGE RECOVERABLES

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Recoverables from non-exchange transactions2.6.116 33934 892
Receivables from exchange transactions2.6.22 5325 750
18 87040 642
Current
Recoverables from non-exchange transactions2.6.125 83229 473
Receivables from exchange transactions2.6.23 4972 323
29 32931 796
Total48 19972 438
45. Recoverables from non-exchange transactions
EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Member States2.6.1.15032 497
UK Withdrawal Agreement2.6.1.214 81030 839
Accrued income and deferred charges2.6.1.41 0111 556
Other recoverables15
16 33934 892
Current
Member States2.6.1.16 0365 682
UK Withdrawal Agreement2.6.1.29 06110 913
Competition fines2.6.1.39 42011 698
Accrued income and deferred charges2.6.1.41 2391 097
Other recoverables7583
25 83229 473
Total42 17064 365
46. Recoverables from Member States

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
TOR A accounts4 3976 137
TOR separate accounts1 3561 405
Own resources to be received715
Impairment(686)(875)
Other
Own resources recoverables5 0736 683
European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF)1 6211 525
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and other rural development instruments189668
Impairment(591)(843)
EAGF and rural development recoverables1 2191 350
Pre-financing recovery1326
VAT paid and recoverable5445
Other recoverables from Member States18073
Total6 5398 178
Non-current5032 497
Current6 0365 682

The non-current amounts due from Member States relate mainly to non-executed conformity clearance decisions for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) as well as for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The amounts related to these decisions are being recovered in annual instalments.

106.

Own resources recoverables


The ‘A accounts’ refer to the monthly statements in which the Member States communicate the established traditional own resources (TOR) entitlements. The table lists the ‘A accounts’ amounts that have not yet been paid to the Commission. TOR are mainly customs duties collected by Member States on behalf of the Commission.

The ‘A accounts’ have tended to have a level in the range of EUR 3 to 4 billion at year-end. However, in 2021 the amounts were significantly higher as they included TOR amounts related to undervaluation cases. The evolution in 2022 is mainly explained by the payments received in relation to these cases as well as the adjustments of the debts following a Court judgement.

In the UK infringement case (Infringement No 2018/2008), on 8 March 2022, the Court issued the related judgement and confirmed that the UK had infringed its obligations to protect the Union budget. The case originated in a 2017 OLAF report, that found that importers in the UK had evaded a large amount of customs duties by using fictitious and false invoices and incorrect customs value declarations at the time of importation. Based on a methodology developed by OLAF and the JRC, and on the information available, the Commission estimated that the infringement by the UK resulted, during the period November 2011 to October 2017, in losses to the EU budget amounting to EUR 2.1 billion (net, i.e. after deducting the collection costs of 20% to be retained by the UK from the gross amount of EUR 2.7 billion). The Court broadly supported the Commission’s claim in its judgment, but requested the Commission to re-calculate the amount due by taking into account additional elements for the quantification of the customs duties losses. In June 2022 UK paid a provisional amount to the Commission.

The Commission has assessed the judgment and in particular the comments of the Court with respect to the determination of the amounts due. Following a detailed analysis, the final principal amount was established at EUR 1.6 billion (net amount after deduction of 20% collection costs). The UK paid the oustanding amount in January 2023. Consequently, late payment interest was also recalculated amounting to EUR 1.4 billion, which was paid by the UK in February 2023. Both payments were made after the deduction of the UK share under the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement (see note 2.6.1.2).

Following these payments, the Commission closed the infringement case on 15 February 2023.

Applying the same parameters for the recalculation of the estimated TOR losses due by the 27 Member States for textiles and footwear imported from China at significantly understated value, a negative adjustment of EUR 0.6 billion has been applied to the recoverables at 31 December 2022. Further clarifications with Member States are ongoing to establish the final amounts due. The late payment interest due in relation to these cases is currently estimated at EUR 0.6 billion.

‘Separate accounts’ refers to established entitlements that have not been included in the ‘A accounts’, because they have not been recovered by Member States and no security (i.e. guarantee) has been provided (or security has been provided but the amounts are contested). These entitlements are subject to impairment based on information provided every year by the Member States. The impairment amounts represent generally a similar percentage of the principal amount at each year-end.

107.

EAGF and Rural Development recoverables


This item primarily covers the amounts owed by Member States at 31 December 2022, as declared and certified by the Member States as at 15 October 2022. An estimation is made for the recoverables arising after this declaration and up to 31 December 2022. The Commission also estimates a write-down for the amounts owed by beneficiaries that are unlikely to be recovered. The fact that such an adjustment is made does not mean that the Commission is waiving future recovery of these amounts. A deduction of 20% is also included in the adjustment and corresponds to what Member States are allowed to retain to cover administrative costs.


108.

47. UK Withdrawal Agreement


The ‘Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community’ (ref. 2019/C 384 I/01) (the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’ or ‘WA’) signed between the EU and the UK establishes various financial obligations on both parties. As at 31 December 2022, the net receivable from the UK based on these obligations amounted to EUR 23 871 million (2021: EUR 41 753 million), of which EUR 9 061 million is to be paid within the 12 months following the reporting date (2021: EUR 10 913 million):

EUR million
Article 140Article 142Other31.12.202231.12.2021
Due from the UK17 0299 5876826 68343 982
Due to the UK(2 812)(2 812)(2 229)
Total17 0299 587(2 744)23 87141 753
Non-current8 4659 298(2 953)14 81030 839
Current8 5632882099 06110 913

109.

UK share (Article 139)


According to Article 139, the United Kingdom's share of the financial obligations arising out of the WA shall be a percentage calculated as the ratio between the own resources made available by the United Kingdom in the years 2014 to 2020 and the own resources made available during that period by all Member States and the United Kingdom as adjusted by the amount communicated to the Member States before 1 February 2022. The final United Kingdom share has been calculated as being 12.431681219587700%.

110.

Payments under the Withdrawal Agreement


The payment mechanism to be applied to the obligations provided for between the two parties is laid out in Article 148. In summary, the EU invoices the net amounts due from the UK in April and September of each year and the UK pays these on a monthly basis. The amounts reported in April of a given year are to be paid in four equal monthly instalments from June to September of that year. The amounts reported in September are to be paid in eight equal monthly instalments from October of that year to May of the following year. Since some amounts reported are necessarily based on forecasts and estimates, the reporting is updated each year based on actual figures.

In 2022 the total amount reported to the UK under Article 136, and Articles 140 to 147, was EUR 9 815 million (2021: EUR 11 930 million), of which EUR 3 418 million was reported in April 2022 and EUR 6 397 million was reported in September 2022 (2021: EUR 3 763 million and EUR 8 166 million, respectively).

The total payments received in 2022 amounted to EUR 10 921 million (2021: EUR 6 826 million). Out of this amount, EUR 5 104 million related to the remainder of the September 2021 report and was paid in five equal instalments in the period January to May 2022 (2021: nil), EUR 3 418 million related to the 2022 April report and was paid in four equal monthly instalments in the period June to September 2022 (2021: EUR 3 763 million), and EUR 2 399 million related to the 2022 September report and was paid in three equal instalments in the period October to December (2021: EUR 3 062 million).

EUR million
Remainder of

September 2021

report:


(due and paid from January to May 2022)
April 2022

report


(due and paid

from June to

September 2022)
September 2022

report:


(due and paid

from October to

December 2022)
Total

payments

in 2022
Article 1405 0904 0292 43711 556
Article 1421823611265
Article 13629737
Article 14766
5 1384 2712 45511 864
Article 136(573)(573)
Article 141(34)(0)(56)(90)
Article 143(163)(163)
Article 144(73)(73)
Article 145(37)(37)
Article 146(7)(7)
(34)(853)(56)(943)
Total5 1043 4182 39910 921

The remaining balance of the September 2022 invoice at the end of the year, amounting to EUR 3 998 million, was paid in five equal monthly instalments in the period January to May 2023 (2022: EUR 5 104 million).

Article 140 – Outstanding Commitments

The UK has committed to pay to the EU its share of the outstanding budgetary commitments at 31 December 2020 (the so called ‘Brexit RAL’), as adjusted by the requirements of Article 140. At 31 December 2022, the total amount recognised as a receivable amounted to EUR 17 029 million (2021: EUR 28 620 million), of which EUR 8 563 million is payable within the 12 months following the year-end. The following table presents the main movements between the total amount recognised as a receivable at 31 December 2021 and the total amount recognised as a receivable at 31 December 2022:

EUR million
Amount owed by the UK at 31.12.202128 620
Net financial corrections related to 2014-2020 or previous programme periods (including adjustment of 2021 deductions)(123)
TOR relating to 2020 and made available to the Union in 2022

(including adjustment of 2021 deductions)
Net payments received from the UK in 2022(11 556)
Adjustment of estimated non-implementation88
Total17 029
Non-current8 465
Current8 563

The year-on-year decrease of the total amount recognised as a receivable amounted to EUR 11 591 million and was mainly due to the payments received from the UK in 2022 (EUR 11 556 million).

The total deduction for net financial corrections related to 2014-2020 or previous programme periods, amounting to EUR 123.5 million, comprises the amounts invoiced in September 2022 which were not yet included in the 2021 annual accounts (EUR 39.1 million, payable from January to May 2023) and the amounts to be invoiced in September 2023 and payable from October 2023 to May 2024 (EUR 84.4 million).

The total deduction for TOR relating to 2020 and made available to the Union in 2022 amounted to zero, as there were no adjustments to the amounts already invoiced and no known amounts to be included in the April 2023 or September 2023 invoice.

The amount to be paid within 12 months from the reporting date (EUR 8 563 million), comprises the remaining balance of the September 2022 invoice (EUR 4 061 million), the amount to be invoiced in April 2023 (EUR 2 647 million) and the amount to be invoiced in September 2023 and payable in the period October to December 2023 (EUR 1 855 million). The amount invoiced in April 2023 is composed of EUR 2 515 million relating to the UK’s share of the estimated RAL implementation in 2023 and EUR 132 million relating to the adjustment of the UK share of the RAL due to implementation in 2022. The amount to be invoiced in September 2023 and payable in the period October to December 2023 is made up of EUR 1 887 million relating to the UK’s share of the estimated RAL implementation in 2023 and EUR 32 million relating to the deductions for net financial corrections.

The estimated non-implementation has been adjusted by EUR 88 million to reflect the actual decommitments in 2021 and 2022 as well as the estimated decommitments of the remaining stock of Brexit-RAL at year-end 2022.

Article 142 – Union liabilities at end 2020

The UK has committed to pay the EU its share of Union liabilities at end 2020 with the exception of liabilities: (a) with corresponding assets and (b) relating to the operation of the budget and the management of own resources (including amounts already covered by the outstanding commitments, see Article 140 above). The main amount here concerns the EU post-employment benefit liabilities (pensions and sickness insurance) existing at 31 December 2020.

Outstanding 2020 liabilities under Article 142 (6)
EUR million
Pension Scheme of European OfficialsJoint Sickness Insurance Scheme31.12.202231.12.2021
Outstanding 2020 liabilities67 8405 16873 008114 507
UK Share8 4346429 07614 235
PSEO/JSIS contributions2509259236
Total8 6846519 33514 471
Non-current8 4346429 07614 235
Current2509259236

According to the default payment mode laid out in Article 142 (6), the UK contributes annually to the net payments made from the Union budget in the preceding year to each beneficiary of the Pension Scheme of European Officials (PSEO) and to the related contribution of the Union budget to the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) for each beneficiary or person who benefits through a beneficiary. The contributions are payable in four monthly instalments from June to September of the respective year.

The UK share of the net payments made from the Union budget in 2022 to the beneficiaries of the PSEO and to JSIS amounted to EUR 250 million and EUR 9 million, respectively. These amounts were communicated to the UK as part of the April 2023 invoice (and thus be payable in four equal monthly instalments in the period June to September 2023).

In addition, at 31 December 2022 the outstanding 2020 UK liabilities under Article 142 (6), relating to the Pension Scheme of the European Officials (PSEO) and the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) amounted to EUR 8 434 million and EUR 642 million, respectively (2021: EUR 13 032 million and EUR 1 203 million). The decrease for the PSEO and JSIS scheme was driven by the actuarial gain from changes in financial assumptions – see note 2.9 for more details. It is noted that while actuarial gains (or losses) from changes in financial assumptions impact the present value of the outstanding 2020 liabilities calculated on the basis of IPSAS 39/EAR 12, they do not change either the amount of benefits that will have to be actually paid by the EU, or, by implication, the UK contributions to these payments as due under the default settlement mechanism of Article 142 (6).

As at 31 December 2022, the UK has not made use of the early settlement option providing for the payment of the outstanding 2020 PSEO and JSIS liabilities, calculated using actuarial valuations made in accordance with IPSAS 39/EAR 12, in five equal instalments following the procedure laid out in the last subparagraph of Article 142 (6).


Outstanding 2020 liabilities under Article 142 (5)

According to Article 142 (5), the UK contributes to the liabilities relating to the Other retirement (pension) schemes as they were recorded in the consolidated accounts of the Union for the financial year 2020 in 10 instalments starting on 31 October 2021 (with each annual instalment payable in eight monthly instalments from October to May the following year). These liabilities in the consolidated annual accounts of the Union for the financial year 2020 amounted to EUR 2 344 billion, resulting in a UK share at 31 December 2020 of EUR 291 million. Taking into account the amounts received from the UK up until year-end 2022, totalling EUR 40 million, the outstanding UK share of the Other retirement (pension) schemes decreased to EUR 251 million at 31 December 2022, of which EUR 29 million is to be paid within the 12 months following the year-end.

For more information regarding the employee benefit schemes, please see note 1.5.10 and note 2.9.

111.

Other articles

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Due from the UK:
Article 136557
Article 1476853
68610
Due to the UK:
Article 136(678)
Article 141(1 637)(1 818)
Article 143(313)(163)
Article 144(54)(73)
Article 145(111)(148)
Article 146(20)(27)
(2 812)(2 229)
Total(2 744)(1 618)
Non-current(2 953)(711)
Current209(908)

Article 136 – Provisions applicable in relation to own resources

Article 136 establishes the provisions applicable after 31 December 2020 in relation to own resources. The UK is entitled to receive or obliged to pay, as the case may be, its share where the own resources related to the financial years up to and including 2020 are to be made available, corrected or subject to adjustments after 31 December 2020. Thus, the UK is subject to any adjustments of VAT and GNI own resources that relate to the financial years up to and including 2020. These VAT and GNI adjustments will however only be made if decided upon no later than 31 December 2028. The updates of the UK corrections of 2018-2019 are also to be taken into account.

Moreover, the UK is required to pay the traditional own resources collected by them after 28 February 2021, but related to the years 2020 and earlier. Their share of the total made available is to be deducted from this amount. The separate account for traditional own resources shall be fully liquidated at 31 December 2025.

Between January and February 2023 the United Kingdom paid an outstanding debt originating in a case where importers in the UK had evaded a large amount of customs duties by using fictitious and false invoices and incorrect customs value declarations at importation. The principal and the related late interest totalled EUR 1.6 billion and EUR 1.4 billion respectively (see note 2.6.1.1). The UK share defined in Article 139 of the Withdrawal Agreement amounted to EUR 370 million and was offset with the payments received from the UK in 2023.

The net outstanding amount due from the EU to the UK at 31 December 2022 is EUR 678 million, of which EUR 699 million will have to be paid by the UK within the 12 months following the year-end and EUR 1 377 million will have to be paid by the EU to the UK afterwards:

EUR million
Amount due from the UK at 31.12.2021557
Amount invoiced to the UK in September 202220
UK Share for undervaluation case(370)
Payments made to the UK in 2022536
UK correction including the rectified amount of 2018-2019 UK corrections update done in 2022 (EUR 3.7 million)11
Update of VAT and GNI adjustments (balances exercise 2021)(64)
VAT and GNI adjustments (balances exercise 2022)(1 377)
UK net traditional own resources after 28 February 20218
Amount due to the UK at 31.12.2022(678)
Non-current(1 377)
Current699

It is noted that the amount of EUR 699 million to be paid by the UK within the next 12 months following the year-end includes the deduction of the EUR 370 million relating to the customs case mentioned above. As this amount was settled separately from the invoice mechnanism, it was not included in the April 2023 invoice.

Article 141 – Fines

The UK is entitled to its share of fines decided before 31 December 2020 and also those decided upon by the Union after 31 December 2020 in a procedure referred to in Article 92 (1) when these become definitive. The amount of UK relevant fines which were outstanding at 31 December 2022 is EUR 12.4 billion (2020: EUR 13.8 billion). The decrease of EUR 1.4 billion is mainly due to the net decrease in fines of EUR 1.3 billion (EUR 0.2 billion of fines issued in 2022 less EUR 1.5 billion of fines confirmed and paid, reduced or cancelled by court decisions during 2022) and the increase in the impairment of fines of EUR 0.1 billion. The UK share of the UK relevant fines outstanding at 31 December 2022 is EUR 1.5 billion (2021: EUR 1.7 billion), out of which an amount of EUR 5.4 million will be included in the September 2023 invoice and paid to the UK in the period October 2023 to May 2024. In addition, the UK is entitled to its share of definitive fines which were no longer outstanding at 31 December 2022 (EUR 7.5 million, also to be included in the September 2023 invoice and paid to the UK in the period October 2023 to May 2024) and its share of definitive fines that were invoiced in September 2022 but not yet paid at year-end (EUR 93.7 million, paid to the UK in the period January to May 2023). The total UK share of fines thus amounts to EUR 1.6 billion (2021: 1.8 billion), of which EUR 98.6 million is to be paid within the 12 months following the reporting date (2021: EUR 90.2 million).

Articles 143 – Contingent financial liabilities: loans for financial assistance, EFSI, EFSD & ELM

Under this article the UK shall be liable to fund its share of the contingent liabilities of the EU in relation to its borrowing, lending and guarantee activities should these crystallise and should they not be covered by existing guarantee funds – see note 4.1 for the related contingent liabilities. The EU will refund to the UK amounts which the UK has already contributed to guarantee funds and which are no longer needed. The UK also has a right to the reflows from operations for which it shares the liability. At 31 December 2022 the amount to be paid to the UK, all within the next 12 months, is EUR 313 million (2021: EUR 163 million). This amount comprises the UK share of the recoveries and net revenues collected in 2022 (EUR 79.5 million), the excess in provisioning (EUR 216.2 million), the impact of the adjustment due to the changed treatment of losses from asset management (EUR 16.9 million), as well as another adjustment for amounts recovered in 2021 for ELM, which were identified during the agreed-upon review procedures (EUR 7 011).

Articles 144 – Financial instruments

Under this article, the EU has committed to refund to the UK its share of the reflows stemming from financial operations approved by the withdrawal date, as well as its share of the disbursements made to financial operations approved after the withdrawal date. At 31 December 2022 the amount to be paid to the UK, all within the next 12 months, is EUR 54 million (2021: EUR 73 million). This amount includes a deduction of EUR 215 resulting from a foreign exchange rate correction related to 2021.


Article 145 – European Coal and Steel Community in Liquidation (ECSC i.L.)

The UK is entitled to its share of the net assets of ECSC in Liquidation at 31 December 2020, to be paid back in five instalments on 30 June each year, starting in 2021. The net assets of the ECSC in Liquidation at 31 December 2020 amounted to EUR 1.5 billion of which the UK share is EUR 184 million. Following the payment of the second instalment of EUR 37 million in 2022, the outstanding amount at 31 December 2022 is EUR 111 million (2021: EUR 148 million), of which EUR 37 million is to be paid within 12 months following the reporting date.

Article 146 – Investment in the European Investment Fund (EIF)

The UK is entitled to its share of the EU’s investment in the paid-in share capital of the EIF at 31 December 2020, to be paid back in five instalments on 30 June each year, starting in 2021. The EU’s investment in the EIF paid-in share capital at 31 December 2020 was EUR 267 million of which the UK share is EUR 33 million. Following the payment of the second instalment of EUR 7 million, the outstanding amount at 31 December 2022 is EUR 20 million (2021: EUR 27 million), of which EUR 7 million is to be paid within 12 months following the reporting date.

Article 147 – Legal cases

The UK has committed to contribute its share of EU payments arising from legal cases concerning the financial interests of the Union that become due, provided that the facts forming the subject matter of those cases occurred no later than 31 December 2020. Taking into account the provisions and accruals at year-end, as well as actual payments made by the EU for legal cases in 2022 the estimated amount that the UK will have to pay is EUR 68 million (2021: EUR 53 million), of which EUR 18 million is to be paid within 12 months following the reporting date.

112.

48. Recoverables from competition fines


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Recoverable from fines gross amount13 63514 922
Provisional payments(2 980)(2 100)
Impairment(1 235)(1 125)
Total9 42011 698
Non-current
Current9 42011 698

Fined companies who have launched or are planning to launch an appeal have an option to either make provisional payments or to provide bank guarantees to the Commission. For the total outstanding fines at year-end, EUR 2 980 million (2021: EUR 2 100 million) has been received as provisional payments while EUR 9 066 million (2021: EUR 11 067 million) of guarantees have been received.

The amounts written down due to impairment reflect the Commission's case-by-case assessment of fines amounts not cashed or not covered by a guarantee, which the Commission expects not to recover.

A contingent liability is disclosed for the possibility of having to pay back provisionally paid amounts to the fined companies – see note 4.2.1.

113.

49. Accrued income and deferred charges


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Accrued income1 9362 313
Deferred charges relating to non-exchange transactions315340
Total2 2502 653
Non-current1 0111 556
Current1 2391 097

Accrued income includes EUR 1.8 billion (2021: EUR 2 billion) that the Commission expects to recover in the area of cohesion as a result of the examination and acceptance of the annual accounts submitted by the Member States. The biggest part of this amount (EUR 1 billion) is expected to be recovered at the closure of the underlying programmes only (as a consequence of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative measures) and therefore is classified as non-current.

114.

50. Receivables from exchange transactions


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Financial guarantee receivable1 8322 630
Late payment interest5973 052
Other receivables10368
2 5325 750
Current
Financial guarantee receivable369485
Customers288302
Impairment on receivables from customers(171)(172)
Deferred charges relating to exchange transactions291236
Late payment interest2 5541 127
Other167345
3 4972 323
Total6 0298 073

The late payment interest concerns mainly own resources cases and accrued interest on guarantees provided by fined companies. The decrease in the late payment interest is linked mainly to the recalculations that took place following the Court judgement on the undervaluation case mentioned under note 2.6.1.1. The amount related to the UK on this undervaluation case is shown as a current receivable (EUR 1.4 billion), while the non-current amount of the late payment interest (EUR 0.6 billion) relates exclusively to Member States.

The financial guarantee contract (FGC) receivable represents the future remuneration the EU expects to receive for guarantees given. The majority of the EU guarantees are non-remunerated or priced below the market rate. Therefore the FGC receivable is significantly smaller than the FGC liability (see note 2.11.2). Out of the total amount of EUR 2 201 million of the FGC receivable as at 31 December 2022, EUR 2 198 million is classified as financial assets at FVSD (Fair value level 3). Compared to the opening balance as at 1 January 2022 of EUR 3 115 million, in total the FGC receivable has decreased by EUR 914 million, of which EUR 344 was due to guarantee premiums received in 2022 and EUR 571 million to lower guarantee premiums expected to be received in the future.

51. INVENTORIES

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Scientific materials5458
Other2826
Total8284


52. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Accounts with Treasuries and Central Banks21 41320 121
Current accounts178453
Imprest accounts88
Transfers (cash in transit)
Bank accounts for budget implementation2.8.121 59820 582
NGEU2.8.219 92918 027
Financial instruments2.8.32 7132 838
Fines2.8.49141 953
Other institutions, agencies and bodies1 3441 396
Trust funds4765
Total46 54444 860
53. Bank accounts for budget implementation

This heading covers the funds which the Commission keeps in its bank accounts in each Member State and EFTA country (treasury or central bank), as well as in commercial bank current accounts, imprest accounts and petty cash accounts. The treasury balance at the end of 2022 is driven by the following main elements:

- An amount of EUR 10.9 billion non-implemented budget appropriations at year-end, of which EUR 8 billion relates to assigned revenues, EUR 0.6 billion relates to NGEU credits and EUR 2.3 billion relates to payment appropriations (including EUR 0.6 billion of EAGF);

- An amount of EUR 3.2 billion belonging to agencies’ treasuries managed by the Commission that has not been spent at year end;

- An amount of EUR 5.2 billion additional traditional own resources cashed not budgeted; and

- An amount of EUR 0.5 billion of definitive fines not yet budgeted.

115.

54. NGEU


NGEU holds cash on a bank account at the European Central Bank (ECB). With the implementation of the diversified funding strategy in the NGEU instrument – see note 2.11 – the cash balance in the NGEU instrument is substantial and reached EUR 19.9 billion as at 31 December 2022 (EUR 18 billion in 2021). The high cash balance is kept with the objective of ensuring that amounts held on the NGEU bank account are sufficient to meet all upcoming disbursement needs and to maintain a defined safety buffer, while avoiding any excess balances.

116.

55. Financial instruments


Amounts shown under this heading primarily concern cash equivalents managed by fiduciaries on behalf of the Commission for the purpose of implementing particular financial instrument programmes funded by the EU budget: EUR 1.9 billion as at 31 December 2022, of which EUR 0.6 billion relates to COSME Loan Guarantee Facility (COSME LGF) – see note 4.1.2. It also includes EUR 0.3 billion cash and cash equivalents held in the CPF and not yet invested in securities at year-end and EUR 0.4 billion cash equivalents (short term commercial papers) belonging to the Innovation Fund managed by the EIB – see note 2.4.2.1. This heading does not cover the CPF related liquidity buffer (EUR 0.3 billion as at 31 December 2022), which is held in the Commission’s central treasury. Cash belonging to financial instruments can only be used by the programmes concerned.


117.

56. Fines


This is mainly cash received in connection with fines issued by the Commission for which the case is still open. These amounts are kept in specific deposit accounts that are not used for any other activities. Where an appeal has been lodged or when it is unknown if an appeal will be made by the fined company, the underlying amount is shown as contingent liability in note 4.2.1. Since 2010, all subsequent provisionally cashed fines are managed by the Commission in the BUFI fund and invested in financial instruments categorised as financial assets at FVSD non-derivatives (see note 2.4.2). The decrease of cash relating to fines at 2022 year-end is due to the reimbursement to Intel of its provisionally paid fine of EUR 1 060 million in February 2022 following the judgement of the General Court of the EU in the Intel Corporation vs Commission case.


LIABILITIES


57. PENSION AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

118.

58. Net employee benefit scheme liability


EUR million
Pension Scheme of European OfficialsOther retirement benefit schemesJoint Sickness Insurance Scheme31.12.2022
Total
31.12.2021 Total
Defined Benefit Obligation73 1261 8806 06481 070122 926
Plan assetsN/A(63)(390)(453)(460)
Net liability73 1261 8175 67480 617122 466


The large decrease in the total employee benefits liability is primarily driven by the decrease in the net liability of the Pension Scheme of European Officials (PSEO), the largest scheme in place. This PSEO liability has decreased mainly because of the actuarial gains from changes in the underlying financial assumptions (see note 2.9.4). This has been driven by a sharp increase in the real discount rate in the year, which turned positive again after having been negative for three consecutive years. It must be noted, however, that while an increase or a decrease in the real discount rate impacts the size of the liability at year-end, it does not change the amount of benefits that will have to be actually paid from the EU budget to the beneficiaries in future years.

The resulting decrease in the liability was partially offset by an increase caused by the fact that the rights accrued during the year due to service are higher than the benefits paid out during the year. There is also an increase due to the annual interest cost (unwinding of the liability discounting).

119.

Pension Scheme of European Officials


This defined benefit obligation represents the present value of expected future payments that the EU is required to make, so as to settle the pension obligations resulting from employee service in the current and prior periods. The scheme is ongoing, and as such, all payments required to be made from the scheme on an annual basis are included in the EU budget each year.

In accordance with Article 83 of the Staff Regulations, the payment of the benefits provided for in the staff pension scheme constitutes a charge to the EU budget. The scheme is notionally funded, and the Member States guarantee the payment of these benefits collectively. A compulsory pension contribution is deducted from the basic salaries of active members, currently 10.1%. These contributions are treated as budget revenue of the year and contribute to the funding of EU expenditure in general, see also note 3.8.

The liabilities of the pension scheme were assessed on the basis of the number of PSEO staff (active staff, retirees, former active staff now on invalidity and dependants of deceased staff) at 31 December 2022 and on the rules of the Staff Regulations applicable at this date. This valuation was carried out in accordance with the accounting provisions of IPSAS 39 (and therefore also EU accounting rule 12).

120.

Other retirement benefit schemes


This refers to the liability relating to the pension obligations towards Members and former Members of the Commission, the European Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors, the Council, the European Ombudsman, and the European Data Protection Supervisor. Also included under this heading are liabilities relating to the pensions of Members of the European Parliament.

121.

Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme


In addition to the above retirement benefit schemes, a valuation is made for the estimated liability that the EU has regarding the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) in relation to healthcare costs, which must be paid during post-activity periods (net of their contributions). As stated in note 1.5.10, the calculation of this liability takes account of the full active service period, ensuring that both the pension and the sickness insurance schemes of the staff’s post-employment plan are accounted for consistently.

Taking into account the obligation to faithfully present the economic substance of the underlying situation as required by both EAR and IPSAS, IPSAS 39 has not been interpreted in a stricter sense when attributing the benefits to the periods of service. If the service cost were to be accrued for the JSIS scheme fully over 10 years for all officials, as opposed to the period of active service of the employee, the impact of such an approach on the defined benefit obligation at year-end would be an increase of EUR 1.2 billion. However, as already indicated, this stricter approach would not be compatible with the qualitative characteristic of faithful representation, and thus would not be deemed to provide reliable information in accordance with EAR 1 and the IPSAS Conceptual Framework. This estimate is highly sensitive to the evolution of current staff administrative status (in particular, the number of fixed-term contract members assumed to become officials in the future).

122.

59. Movement in present value of employee benefits defined benefit obligation


The present value of the defined benefit obligation is the discounted expected future payments required to settle the obligation resulting from employee service in the current and prior periods.

An analysis of the current year movement in the defined benefit obligation is presented below:

EUR million
Pension Scheme of European OfficialsOther retirement benefit schemesJoint Sickness Insurance SchemeTotal
Present value as at 31.12.2021109 6792 60010 647122 926
Recognised in statement of financial performance
Current Service Cost4 5751183105 003
Interest cost1 096181061 220
Past Service Cost2828
Recognised in net assets
Remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities
Actuarial (gains)/losses from

experience
1 22654(267)1 014
Actuarial (gains)/losses from

demographic assumptions
7811191
Actuarial (gains)/losses from

financial assumptions
(41 533)(862)(4 642)(47 036)
Other
Benefits paid(1 996)(78)(102)(2 176)
Present value as at 31.12.202273 1261 8806 06481 070

Current service cost is the increase in the present value of the defined benefit obligation arising from current members' service in the current year.

Interest cost refers to the increase during the period in the present value of the defined benefit obligation because the benefits are one period closer to settlement.

Actuarial gains and losses from experience refer to the effects of differences between what was expected according to the assumptions made last year for 2022 and what really occurred in 2022.

Actuarial gains and losses from changes in the values of the actuarial assumptions (demographic variables such as employee turnover and mortality and financial variables such as discount rates and expected salary increases) arise where these assumptions are updated in order to reflect changes in underlying conditions.

Benefits (for example, pensions or medical cost reimbursements) are paid during the year according to the rules of the scheme. These benefits paid lead to a decrease in the defined benefit obligation.


123.

60. Plan assets


EUR million
Other retirement benefit schemesJoint Sickness Insurance SchemeTotal
Present value as at 31.12.202174386460
Net movement in plan assets(11)5(7)
Present value as at 31.12.202263390453
61. Actuarial assumptions – employee benefits

The principal actuarial assumptions used in the valuation of the two main employee benefit schemes of the EU are shown below:

20222021
Pension Scheme of European Officials
Nominal discount rate3.6%1.0%
Expected inflation rate2.4%2.0%
Real discount rate1.1%(1.0)%
Expected rate of future salary increases1.5%1.8%
Retirement age63/64/6663/64/66
Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme
Nominal discount rate3.6%1.0%
Expected inflation rate2.4%2.0%
Real discount rate1.1%(1.0)%
Expected rate of future salary increases1.6%1.9%
Medical cost trend rates2.3%2.5%
Retirement age63/64/6663/64/66

Mortality rates for 2022 are based on the EU Civil Servants Life Table – EULT 2018, incorporating a dynamic trend over a 20 year horizon.

The nominal discount rate is determined as the value of the Euro zero-coupon yield (with a maturity of 18 years as of December 2022 for the PSEO, and 20 years for the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme). The inflation rate used is the expected inflation rate over the equivalent period. It must be determined empirically, based on prospective values as expressed by index-linked bonds on the European financial markets. The real discount rate is calculated from the nominal discount rate and the expected long-term inflation rate.

In 2022 the sharp increase in the nominal rates resulted in an overall increase in the real discount rate, thus changing the previously observed negative trend and contributing to the significant actuarial gains from financial assumptions in the year.

124.

62. Sensitivity analysis


The sensitivity analysis is based on simulations, which change, everything else being equal, the value of the concerned assumptions.

125.

Pension Scheme of European Officials sensitivity


A ten basis point (0.1%) change in the assumed discount rate would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%
Defined benefit obligation(1 316)1 352(2 464)2 544


A ten basis point (0.1%) change in expected salary increases would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%
Defined benefit obligation1 312(1 280)2 414(2 345)

A one-year change in assumed retirement age would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
One year increaseOne year decreaseOne year increaseOne year decrease
Defined benefit obligation(727)988(1 155)1 527

126.

Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme sensitivity


A ten basis point change in assumed medical cost trend rates would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%
The aggregate of the current service cost and interest cost components of net periodic post-employment medical costs10(10)13(12)
Defined benefit obligation148(144)317(307)

A ten basis point (0.1%) change in the assumed discount rate would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%
Defined benefit obligation(118)121(265)274

A ten basis point (0.1%) change in expected salary increases would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%Increase 0.1%Decrease 0.1%
Defined benefit obligation(23)22(42)41

A one-year change in assumed retirement age would have the following effects:

EUR million
20222021
One year increaseOne year decreaseOne year increaseOne year decrease
Defined benefit obligation(173)184(317)334

63. PROVISIONS

EUR million
Amount at 31.12.2021Additional provisionsUnused amounts reversedAmounts usedTransfer between categoriesChange in estimationAmount at 31.12.2022
Legal cases:
Agriculture354222(83)(216)277
Other2254(3)(2)(0)071
Nuclear site dismantlement2 440(38)(657)1 745
Financial101
Other530494(249)(100)02677
Total3 348770(336)(356)0(654)2 771
Non-current2 950242(85)(218)(36)(654)2 199
Current398527(251)(138)36(0)571

Provisions are reliably estimated amounts, arising from past events, that will probably have to be paid by the EU budget in the future.

127.

Legal cases


This is the estimate of amounts that will probably have to be paid out after the year-end in relation to a number of on-going legal cases. The Agriculture amounts relate to legal actions of Member States against conformity clearance decisions for the EAGF and the EAFRD.

128.

Nuclear site dismantlement


As of 2017 the basis for the provision was updated as per the ‘JRC Decommissioning & Waste Management Programme Strategy (D&WMP) – Updated in 2017’. The review of the strategy, along with budget and staff needs, was conducted together with the independent D&WMP Expert Group. It represents the best available estimate of the budget and staff needed to complete the decommissioning of the JRC sites of Ispra, Geel, Karlsruhe and Petten.

In accordance with the EU accounting rules, this provision is indexed for inflation and then discounted to its net present value (using the Euro swap curve). At 31 December 2022, this resulted in a provision of EUR 1 745 million, split between amounts expected to be used in 2023 (EUR 35 million) and afterwards (EUR 1 710 million). The decrease compared to 2021 is mainly the result of the sharp increase in the discount rates applied to the estimated future costs.

It must be noted that major uncertainties, inherent to the long term planning of nuclear decommissioning, could affect this estimate, which could significantly increase in the future. The main sources of uncertainty are related to the end state of the decommissioned site, nuclear materials, waste management and disposal aspects, incomplete or lacking definition of national regulatory frames, complicated and time-consuming licensing processes and future developments of the decommissioning industrial market.

64. FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Financial liabilities at AC2.11.1323 798214 824
Financial liabilities at FVSD2.4.2.295
Financial guarantee liabilities2.11.2177146
323 985214 974
Current
Financial liabilities at AC2.11.122 02223 501
Financial liabilities at FVSD2.4.2.215
Financial guarantee liabilities2.11.26 2797 648
28 31631 149
Total352 301246 123
65. Financial liabilities at amortised cost

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Borrowings for NGEU and financial assistance2.11.1.1344 303236 720
Other financial liabilities2.11.1.21 5171 605
Total345 820238 325
Non-Current323 798214 824
Current22 02223 501
66. Borrowings for NGEU and financial assistance

EUR million
NGEUSUREEFSMBOPMFAEuratomTotal
Total at 31.12.202191 00090 56747 1382017 464351236 720
New borrowingsnominal150 2678 7182 2007 535168 720
Repayments(53 381)(2 700)(10)(23)(56 114)
Changes in carrying amount(4 758)(155)(51)0(60)0(5 023)
Total at 31.12.2022183 12999 13046 58720114 929327344 303
Non-current165 54699 02642 66620014 798314322 549
Current17 5831043 92111311421 754

The borrowings mainly refer to long-term bonds, except for NGEU where there are short term EU-bills of EUR 17 billion (2021: EUR 20 billion). Aside from NGEU borrowings, see below, all borrowings are back-to-back, meaning that there are corresponding equivalent loans (same terms, interest rates, maturities, etc.) – see note 2.4.1.1.

NGEU borrowings finance RRF loans, RRF non-repayable support and other MFF programmes. There is a bi-annual borrowing plan based on the forecasted outflows for loans and non-repayable support. The Commission follows a diversified funding strategy and uses different long term and short term funding instruments, which allows it to offer long-term loans on attractive terms to beneficiary Member States. The borrowing costs are then allocated – following a single unified approach – to beneficiaries of the loans and to the EU budget (for the non-repayable support).

In the context of the NGEU diversified funding strategy, the Commission issues short-term notes (3 or 6 months), which may be repaid during the same or next year. The EUR 53.4 billion in the line ‘repayments’ under RRF refers to such short term borrowings. The net additional borrowing for NGEU in 2022 was EUR 96.9 billion.

The line ‘changes in carrying amount’ corresponds to the change in accrued interests and to the changes in premiums/discounts (new premiums/discounts and amortisation).

For NGEU the line ‘change in carrying amount’ mainly refers to discounts on the 2022 bond issuances. When the coupon rates are lower than the market rates, the borrower receives less than the nominal value of the borrowings. The difference is the discount amount. This is gradually amortised, as a finance cost and is part of the calculation for the effective interest rate of the borrowing.

The repayment of the above borrowings are ultimately guaranteed by the EU budget – see note 2.4.1.1, and by extension by each Member State.

129.

Borrowings effective interest rates (expressed as a range of interest rates)


31.12.202231.12.2021
NGEU(0.49)% - 3.41%(0.95)% - 0.74%
SURE(0.48)% - 2.78%(0.48)% - 0.77%
EFSM(0.03)% - 3.79%(0.03)% - 3.79%
BOP2.95%2.95%
MFA(0.14)% - 3.70%(0.14)% - 3.70%
Euratom(0.08)% - 1.53%(0.08)% - 1.58%


130.

67. Other financial liabilities


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Non-current
Finance lease liabilities8471 017
Buildings paid for in instalments296291
Other106133
1 2491 441
Current
Finance lease liabilities103103
Buildings paid for in instalments4854
Fines to be reimbursed
Other1176
268164
Total1 5171 605


131.

Finance lease liabilities


EUR million
Future amounts to be paid
< 1 year1-5 years> 5 yearsTotal Liability
Land and buildings97393447938
Other fixed assets6713
Total at 31.12.2022103400447951
Interest element3912474237
Total future minimum lease payments at 31.12.20221435245211 188
Total future minimum lease payments at 31.12.20211456196311 395


The lease and building related amounts above will have to be funded by future budgets.


132.

68. Financial guarantee liabilities


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Financial guarantee receivable

(Note 2.6.2)
Financial guarantee

liability
Financial guarantee receivable

(Note 2.6.2)
Financial guarantee

liability
EU budgetary guarantee programmes
EFSI guarantee2 0392 1782 9173 618
EIB ELM guarantees472 3581062 569
EFSD guarantee31802139
InvestEU guarantee46332
NDICI EU guarantee02034
2 1345 2523 0246 330
EU financial instrument programmes
COSME06170780
Horizon 20203742259410
CCS60110
Other2910632165
661 204901 464
Total2 2016 4563 1157 794
Non-current1 8321772 630146
Current3696 2794857 648

The EU applies the gross presentation of the financial guarantee contracts, where the revenues still to be received under the guarantee are recognised as a finacial guarantee receivable leg (presented under the exchange receivables heading – see note 2.6.2) and a finacial guarantee liability is recognised representing the EU liabililty for coverage of the future guarantee claims.

The EFSI guarantee and ELM guarantee remain the financially most significant of the financial guarantee programmes, with a financial guarantee liability of EUR 2 178 million and 2 358 million respectively. While in return for the EFSI guarantee, the EU is entitled to an expected remuneration of EUR 2 039 million – recognised as a finacial guarantee receivable – covering to a large extent the liability, for the ELM guarantee the expected revenues are EUR 47 million, thus covering only a small fraction of the guarantee. This is due to a high share of EU subsidisation of the ELM. In 2022, new guarantee agreements were signed under InvestEU and NDICI programmes, leading to recognition of new financial guarantee liabilities (see also note 4.1.1).

Most of the remaining EU guarantee programmes, in particular those provided for higher-risk financing to SMEs or to the innovation sector, are non-remunerated. Please see note 2.4.2.1 for further information on guarantees under the H2020 programme and note 4.1.2 in relation to COSME.


69. PAYABLES

EUR million
Gross AmountAdjustmentsNet Amount at 31.12.2022Gross AmountAdjustmentsNet Amount at 31.12.2021
Cost claims and invoices received from:
Member States
EAFRD & other rural development instruments80(0)8030(0)30
ERDF & CF6 258(1 614)4 6446 484(1 878)4 606
ESF2 796(368)2 4283 311(596)2 715
RRF (NGEU)24 62924 62919 11819 118
Other1 075(170)904663(58)605
Private and public entities1 527(467)1 0601 563(320)1 244
Total cost claims and invoices received36 366(2 620)33 74531 169(2 851)28 318
EAGF15 795N/A15 79515 650N/A15 650
Own resources payables3 764N/A3 76438N/A38
Sundry payables1 679N/A1 6792 030N/A2 030
Other357N/A357335N/A335
Total57 961(2 620)55 34149 223(2 851)46 372

Payables include invoices and cost claims received but not yet paid at year-end. They are initially recognised at the time of the reception of the invoices / cost claims for the requested amounts. The payables are subsequently adjusted to reflect only the amounts accepted following review of costs, and the amounts estimated to be eligible. The amounts estimated to be non-eligible are included in the column ‘Adjustments’; the largest amounts concern the structural actions.

The significant increase compared to the previous year-end is caused primarily by the RRF (NGEU) instrument which began in 2021 and where payables outstanding at 31 December 2022 totalled EUR 24.6 billion. These amounts represent the payment requests received towards the end of the year for which the assessment of milestones and targets was still pending.

In the 2014-2020 programming period, the Common Provisions Regulation 2013/1303 (CPR) applicable to the Structural Funds (ERDF and ESF), the Cohesion Fund and to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) foresees that the EU budget is protected by means of a systematic retention of 10% of the interim payments made. By February following the end of the CPR accounting year (1 July – 30 June), the control cycle is complete, both through management verifications by the managing authorities and audits by the audit authorities. The Commission examines the assurance documents and the accounts provided by the relevant authorities in the Member States. The payment / recovery of the final balance is made only after this assessment is finalised and the accounts are accepted. The amount retained according to this provision at end 2022 totalled EUR 8.8 billion. A part of this amount (EUR 1.3 billion) is estimated as being non-eligible on the basis of the information provided by the Member States in their accounts and is also included in the column ‘Adjustments’.

133.

Requests for pre-financing


In addition to the above amounts, at the end of 2022, EUR 3 billion of requests for pre-financing have been received and were not yet paid at year-end. According to the EU accounting rules, these amounts are not booked as payables.


134.

Own Resources Payables


Own resources payables refer to Member States EU budget contributions to be reimbursed at year-end. Amending budgets are implemented according to Article 10a i of Regulation no 609/2014. The large balance at 31 December 2022 was due to the adoption of the amending budget No 5/2022 on 23 November 2022. According to this legal provision, the resulting amounts were returned to the Member States on the first working day of January 2023.


70. ACCRUED CHARGES AND DEFERRED INCOME

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Accrued charges85 87077 819
Deferred income127126
Other167123
Total86 16478 068

The split of accrued charges is as follows:

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
RRF (NGEU)17 1888 263
EAGF25 31625 241
EAFRD and other rural development instruments19 62519 245
ERDF and CF8 74110 710
ESF3 3663 499
Other11 63310 859
Total85 87077 819

Accrued charges refer to recognised expenses for which the Union has still to receive cost claims. For cohesion policy, the decrease relates mainly to the fact that the 2014-2020 period is in its closing phase. Additionally the implementation for the current programming period is rather slow and as a result there was no recognition of accrued charges for the 2021-2027 period. On the other hand, there is an increase of accrued charges for the RRF instrument as the Member States advance with the implementation of reforms and investments and milestones are fulfiled.


NET ASSETS

71. RESERVES

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Other reserves1 3121 325
Total1 3121 325

The amount relates primarily to the reserves of the ECSC in Liquidation (EUR 865 million) for the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, which were created in the context of the winding-up of the ECSC in Liquidation, as well as to the reserve fund of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUR 293 million).

72. AMOUNTS TO BE CALLED FROM MEMBER STATES

EUR million
Amounts to be called from Member States at 31.12.202183 624
2021 budget result credited to Member States3 227
Remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities(46 048)
Other(115)
Economic result of the year91 949
Total amounts to be called from Member States at 31.12.2022132 637

This amount represents that part of the expenses incurred by the EU up to 31 December that must be funded by future budgets. Many expenses are recognised under accrual accounting rules in the year N although they may be actually paid in year N+1 (or later) and therefore funded using the budget of year N+1 (or later). The inclusion in the accounts of these liabilities coupled with the fact that the corresponding amounts are financed from future budgets, results in liabilities greatly exceeding assets at the year-end. The most significant amounts to be highlighted concern the borrowings in relation to non-repayable support taken out under NGEU, EAGF activities and employee benefit liabilities.

It should also be noted that the above has no effect on the budget result – budget revenue should always equal or exceed budget expenditure and any excess of revenue is returned to Member States.

The remeasurements in employee benefits liabilities relate to actuarial gains and losses arising from the actuarial valuation of these liabilities.


The considerable increase of the amounts to be called from Member States in the past two years is primarily due to the borrowings in relation to non-repayable support taken out under NGEU in this period.


73. NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

REVENUE

REVENUE FROM NON-EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS:
OWN RESOURCES

74. GNI RESOURCES

Own resources revenue is the primary element of the EU's operational revenue. GNI (gross national income) revenue amounts to EUR 103 880 million for 2022 (2021: EUR 115 955 million) and is the most significant of the four categories of own resources. A uniform percentage is levied on the GNI of each Member State. The GNI revenue balances revenue and expenditure, i.e. it funds the part of the budget that is not covered by other sources of income. The decrease of GNI revenue in 2022 comapred to 2021 is explained by multiple factors: the budgeting of a higher surplus by EUR 1.5 billion, the increase of the customs duties forecast by EUR 6.4 billion, a higher VAT contribution by EUR 1.8 billion and a bigger contribution by the United Kingdom linked to the Withdrawal Agreement (EUR 3.9 billion).

75. TRADITIONAL OWN RESOURCES

Traditional own resources relate mainly to customs duties where Member States retain, by way of collection costs, 25% of the amounts, so the above figures are net of this deduction. The collection of customs duties has increased significantly due to the economic recovery.

76. VAT RESOURCES

The VAT own resource is calculated based on Member States’ VAT bases, which are harmonised for this purpose in accordance with EU rules. A uniform call rate of 0.30 % applies to each Member State’s total amount of VAT receipts collected for all taxable supplies divided by the weighted average VAT rate. The VAT base is capped at 50 % of each Member State’s GNI.

77. PLASTICS OWN RESOURCES

A uniform call rate of EUR 0.80 per kilogram applies to the weight of plastic packaging waste generated in each Member State that is not recycled. The plastic packaging waste that is not recycled in a given year is calculated as the difference between the plastic packaging waste generated and the plastic packaging waste recycled in that year in a Member State. Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia are entitled to specific annual lump sum reductions in their respective plastics own resource contributions. This relatively new own resource was introduced in 2021 with the entry into force of the new Own Resources Decision 2020/2053.


REVENUE FROM NON-EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS:
TRANSFERS

78. FINES

Revenue of EUR 915 million (2021: EUR 1 990 million) relates mainly to fines the Commission has imposed on Member States for infringements of EU law (EUR 640 million) and fines imposed on companies for breaches of EU competition rules (EUR 272 million).

79. RECOVERY OF EXPENSES

EUR million
20222021
Shared management1 1101 682
Direct management9061
Indirect management1951
Total1 2191 794

This heading mainly represents the recovery orders issued by the Commission that are cashed or offset against (i.e. deducted from) subsequent payments recorded in the Commission's accounting system. The recovery orders are issued so as to recover expenditure previously paid out from the EU budget. Recoveries are based on controls, audits or eligibility analysis and therefore, these operations protect the EU budget from expenditure incurred in breach of law.

Recovery orders issued by Member States to beneficiaries of EAGF expenditure, as well as the variation of accrued income estimations from the previous year-end to the current year-end, are also included.

The amounts included in the above table represent revenue earned through the issuance of recovery orders. For this reason, these figures cannot and do not show the full extent of the measures taken to protect the EU budget, particularly for cohesion policy where specific mechanisms are in place to ensure the correction of ineligible expenditure, most of which do not involve the issuance of a recovery order. The EU budget is also protected by withdrawals of expenditure and recoveries of pre-financing.

Shared management recoveries make up the bulk of the total:

135.

Agriculture: EAGF and rural development


In the framework of the EAGF and the EAFRD, amounts accounted for as revenue of the year under this heading are financial corrections of the year and reimbursements declared by Member States and recovered during the year, as well as the net increase in the outstanding amounts declared by Member States to be recovered at year-end concerning fraud and irregularities.

136.

Cohesion policy


The main amounts related to cohesion policy are amounts that the Commission expects to recover from the Member States. The recovery will be made following the examination and acceptance of the annual accounts submitted by the Member States in early 2023. The amounts to be recovered represent essentially the difference between amounts initially declared as eligible during the accounting year and the amounts confirmed as eligible in the annual accounts of the Member States. A low amount means that the controls in place at Member State level enabled the detection of ineligible amounts early in the process.


80. UK WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

This relates to the net amounts owed by the UK under the WA signed following its departure from the Union in 2020 (see note 2.6.1.2), adjusted each year in accordance with the requirements of the WA. The revenue is zero for 2022 and instead an expense is recognised – this arises primarily due to the large decrease in the outstanding receivable from the UK relating to pensions and other employee benefits (Article 142) as well as additional amounts payable to the UK relating to own resources (Article 136).

81. OTHER REVENUE FROM NON-EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS

EUR million
20222021
Contributions from Member States for the Innovation Fund3 1922 187
Staff taxes and contributions1 4391 367
Contributions from third countries1 3071 056
Contributions from Member States for ESI and external aid204199
Transfer of assets321356
Budgetary adjustments3 2461 245
Adjustment of provisions99165
Other695261
Total11 3956 737

Contributions from Member States to the Innovation Fund are revenues relating mainly to the sale of emission allowances that are to be used to support innovation in low-carbon technologies.

Staff taxes and contributions revenue relate primarily to the deductions from staff salaries. Retirement contributions and income tax represent the substantial amounts within the category.

Contributions from third countries are mainly contributions from EFTA countries (EUR 646 million) as well as financial contributions of third states to Horizon Europe (EUR 427 million) and to ERASMUS+ (EUR 145 million).

Contributions from Member States concern mainly EUR 165 million to finance the Facility for Refugees in Turkey.

The budgetary adjustments mainly represent the budget surplus from the previous year, which amounted to EUR 3 227 million (2021: EUR 1 769 million).

The increase in revenue related to provisions is mainly due to the decrease of the nuclear site dismantlement provision (see note 2.10).

Other revenue from non-exchange transactions includes the ITER Host State and Membership contributions to Fusion for Energy, the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (EUR 155.5 million) and an adjustment on TOR recoverables’ write down (EUR 189 million).


REVENUE FROM EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS

82. FINANCIAL REVENUE

EUR million
20222021
Interest on:
Late payments(927)1 529
Loans1 2381 160
Borrowings325220
Other12710
Revenue from FGCs1 282987
Gains on financial assets or liabilities at FVSD:
Non-derivatives128324
Derivatives294815
Dividends11430
Other2016
Total2 6025 092

Interest revenue on late payments stems mainly from fines and own resources contributions due and not paid on time. The negative amount is explained by the significant reduction of the accrued late payment interest revenue for the undervaluation case referred to in note 2.6.1.1, from EUR 1.4 billion recognised in 2021 to EUR 0.4 billion in 2022. This reduction of EUR 1 billion is a consequence of the Court judgement issued in March 2022 and so is recognised in the 2022 financial year.

The interest on loans relates mainly to EFSM (EUR 0.8 billion) where the outstanding amounts mainly bear high effective interest rate. Another EUR 0.2 billion relates to the RRF loans where the new disbursements in 2022 had higher effective interest rates than last year. The interest on SURE loans is low (EUR 0.2 billion) compared to the outstanding loans amount. This is because a significant part of past transactions had lower or negative interest rates. See also note 2.4.1.

Interest revenue from borrowings mainly refers to NGEU and SURE and is due to the negative effective interest rates for certain past transactions.

Revenue from financial guarantee contracts relates primarily to the amortization of the financial guarantee liabilities. It can be interpreted as a release of the EU from guarantee liabilities for the period the EU was standing ready to compensate the holders of the guarantees for their credit losses. Thus, the revenue recognition for financial guarantees reflects the passage of time and the guaranteed volume. The amortizations apply to both types of guarantees, those which are remunerated and those for which the EU charges no or nominal remuneration (see note 2.11.2). Out of the remunerated guarantees, the most significant is the EFSI guarantee provided to the EIB for the Infrastructure and Innovation Window (‘IIW’) debt portfolio, as combined with InvestEU debt portfolios as of 2022 (see note 4.1.1). In 2022, the revenue earned by the EFSI guarantee in relation to those combined debt portfolios amounted to EUR 313 million.

The revenue related to financial guarantee contracts of EUR 1 282 million is off-set by impairment losses for financial guarantee liabilities amounting to EUR 362 million relating to guarantee calls net of recoveries of EUR 360 million and unrealized impairment losses EUR 1 million (see notes 3.15 and 6.5). In addition, the EC has subsidised financial guarantee programmes (EUR 514 million) by charging no or below market rate guarantee premiums (note 3.15). In total, the net result from financial guarantee programmes is a surplus of EUR 406 million.


83. OTHER REVENUE FROM EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS

EUR million
20222021
Fee revenue for rendering of services (agencies)694689
Foreign exchange gains330299
Sales of goods12153
Share of net result of EIF24169
Fixed assets related revenue262
Other475285
Total1 6691 497

Fee revenue for rendering of services mainly includes marketing authorisation fees charged by the European Medicines Agency and trademark fees collected by the European Union Intellectual Property Office.


EXPENSES

84. SHARED MANAGEMENT

EUR million
Implemented by Member States20222021
European Agricultural Guarantee Fund41 03140 829
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and other rural development instruments16 07315 451
European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund43 08346 932
European Social Fund14 64916 727
Other3 4824 835
Total118 318124 774

The transition from the former MFF period 2014-2020 to the current MFF 2021-2027 explains the decrease in expenses in the cohesion area (ERDF,CF, ESF): the costs declared for the previous period are decreasing while the costs related to the current period are low, mainly due to the slow start of its implementation.

Other expenses mainly include European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EUR 0.8 billion), European Union Solidarity Fund (EUR 0.9 billion), Brexit Adjustment Reserve (EUR 0.4 billion), Asylum and Migration (EUR 0.6 billion), Internal Security (EUR 0.4 billion) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (EUR 0.4 billion).

85. DIRECT MANAGEMENT

EUR million
20222021
Implemented by the Commission78 49748 265
of which RRF (NGEU)69 46142 940
Implemented by EU Executive Agencies14 96214 232
Implemented by Trust funds568503
Total94 02763 000

The increase in direct management expenses implemented by the Commission relates mainly to the implementation of RRF, Research Policy and External Action. The main expenditure concerns RRF (EUR 69.5 billion), which has greatly increased from the previous year as Member States use the funds provided and milestones are achieved. The rest of the amounts under direct management primarily concern the implementation of Research Policy (EUR 7.4 billion) and External Actions, which include the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument and its precursors (EUR 3.7 billion), as well as the Humanitarian aid operations (EUR 1 billion).

A further EUR 3.1 billion relates to the Connecting Europe Facility, the common infrastructure fund to deploy smart networks in the area of transport, energy and telecommunications.

86. INDIRECT MANAGEMENT

EUR million
20222021
Implemented by other EU agencies & bodies3 6153 154
Implemented by third countries630890
Implemented by international organisations4 6503 622
Implemented by other entities4 7383 225
Total13 63410 891

Under indirect management expenses, EUR 6 billion relates to external actions (mainly in the areas of
pre-accession, humanitarian aid, international co-operation and neighbourhood). A further EUR 3.5 billion is related to increasing Europe's competitiveness (in areas such as research, space programmes and education).

87. STAFF AND PENSION COSTS

EUR million
20222021
Staff costs7 9577 377
Pension costs6 2515 040
Total14 20912 417

Pension costs represent elements of the movements that have arisen following the actuarial valuation of the employee benefits liabilities other than those recognised in Net Assets. They do not therefore represent actual pension payments of the year, which are significantly lower at EUR 2.2 billion.

88. FINANCE COSTS

EUR million
20222021
Interest expenses:
Borrowings1 9121 209
Loans161146
Finance leases5056
Other31103
FGCssubsidised remuneration514233
Net impairment losses on:
FGCs362947
Loans and receivables2 1081 244
Loss on financial assets or liabilities at FVSD:
Non-derivatives2 344210
Derivatives12640
Other2913
Total7 6374 201

The interest expenses from borrowings are mainly from EFSM (EUR 0.8 billion), NGEU (EUR 0.9 billion) and SURE (EUR 0.2 billion). The interest on SURE borrowings are significantly lower than for the other programmes because a significant part of them have lower or negative interest rates. The negative effective interest rates for certain past SURE transactions also explains the interest expense on loans (‘back-to-back’ lending with negative interest rates).

For more details on expenses related to financial guarantees, see note 3.9.

Net impairment losses on loans and receivables mostly relate to the additional impairment of EUR 2.1 billion recognised in 2022 on MFA and Euratom loans to Ukraine (see notes 2.4.1.1 and 6.5).

The main loss on finacial assets or liabilities at FVSD non-derivatives is from the debt securities of the CPF (EUR 1.1 billion) and the Innovation Fund (0.5 billion). In 2022 the bond market prices fell because of the increase in the interest rates. This has negatively impacted the fair value of the bonds held in the EU portfolios leading to the recognition of a mostly unrealised fair value loss.


89. OTHER EXPENSES

EUR million
20222021
Administrative and IT expenses2 3212 105
Adjustment of provisions769583
Fixed assets related expenses1 5181 205
Land and buildings management expenses686591
Foreign exchange losses427171
Operating lease expenses411447
Reduction of fines by Court decision1 37815
Other832645
Total8 3425 762

The amount disclosed in line ‘Reduction of fines by Court decision’ above includes EUR 997 million related to the annulment of a fine imposed in January 2018 on Qualcomm for abusing its market dominance. In June 2022, the EU General Court annulled the fine and the Commission did not appeal the Court’s judgement, resulting in a write-off of the fine receivable in the 2022 annual accounts.

The aggregate amount of research and development expenditure recognised as an expense during 2022 is as follows:

EUR million
20222021
Research costs430401
Non-capitalised development costs133122
Total563523


90. SEGMENT REPORTING BY MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (MFF) HEADING

EUR million
Single Market, Innovation and DigitalCohesion and ValuesNatural Resources and EnvironmentMigration and Border ManagementResilience, Security and DefenceNeighbourhood and the WorldEuropean Public AdministrationNot assigned to MFF heading*Total
GNI resources103 880103 880
Traditional own resources23 49523 495
VAT19 66619 666
New Own Resources6 3376 337
Fines915915
Recovery of expenses626204684063021 219
UK Withdrawal Agreement
Other1 17314034506572061 8966 97711 395
Revenue from non-exchange transactions1 23676181346572691 896161 271166 908
Financial revenue1 471181036267432 602
Other111(25)(12)(0)(3)674801 0521 669
Revenue from exchange transactions1 582(7)(11)(0)(3)4294861 7954 271
Total revenue2 81775480246546992 382163 067171 179
Expenses implemented by Member States:
EAGF(41 031)(41 031)
EAFRD & other rural development instruments(16 073)(16 073)
ERDF & CF(43 083)(43 083)
ESF(14 649)(14 649)
Other(764)(755)(862)(72)(132)(898)(3 482)
Implemented by the EC, executive agencies and trust funds(12 765)(73 573)(906)(459)(303)(5 802)(12)(208)(94 027)
Implemented by other EU agencies and bodies(2 848)(494)(90)(1 018)(210)(25)(111)1 180(3 615)
Implemented by third countries and int. org.(418)(114)(5)(241)(163)(4 334)(1)(5)(5 281)
Implemented by other entities(225)(2 799)(1)(6)(57)(1 653)(0)2(4 738)
Staff and Pension costs(493)(15)(2)(0)(3)(157)(12 006)(1 531)(14 209)
Finance costs(882)(11)(6)(0)(0)(574)(210)(5 953)(7 637)
UK Withdrawal Agreement(6 961)(6 961)
Other expenses(2 195)(168)(305)(19)(8)(281)(3 421)(1 946)(8 342)
Total expenses(19 825)(135 670)(59 174)(2 604)(816)(12 957)(15 761)(16 321)(263 128)
Economic result of the year(17 008)(134 916)(58 372)(2 600)(163)(12 258)(13 379)146 746(91 949)
* ‘Not-assigned to MFF heading’ includes consolidated entities' budget execution and consolidation eliminations, off-budget operations and unallocated programmes with individually immaterial amounts.

The display of revenue and expenses by MFF heading is based on estimation as not all commitments are linked to an MFF heading.

91. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND ASSETS

Contingent liabilities are possible future payment obligations for the EU that may arise due to past events or legally binding commitments taken but which will depend on future events not wholly under the control of the EU. They relate mainly to guarantees given and to legal risks. All contingent liabilities, except those relating to fines, guarantees and financial instruments up to the level they are covered by funds (see note 2.4.2.1), would be financed, should they fall due, by the EU budget (and thus the EU Member States) in the years to come.

For information on the EU budget guarantees given to cover NGEU and financial assistance borrowings, please see note 2.4.1.1, as well as note 2.11.1.1. This information had been previously disclosed under this section but since any call on these guarantees would depend on a default of loans granted, which are presented in more detail in note 2.4.1.1, it is considered more relevant to present this information there.

92. Guarantees given by the EU budget

137.

93. Guarantees given under the EU budgetary guarantee programmes (nominal)


EUR million
31.12.2022
Guarantees givenAssets provisioned*
CeilingSignedDisbursed
EIB ELM guarantees30 59930 59920 9092 710
EFSI guarantee25 79324 61521 0848 571
EFSD guarantee1 176522446728
InvestEU guarantee21 2802 1083241 722
NDICI external action guarantee27 0204 5151561 067
Total105 86962 35942 91914 798
* The EUR 2.7 billion of assets provisioned for the EIB ELM guarantees also cover borrowings under legacy MFA and Euratom (see note 4.1.2).

31.12.2021
Guarantees givenAssets provisioned*
CeilingSignedDisbursed
EIB ELM guarantees33 02633 02620 8352 700
EFSI guarantee25 82624 73020 3588 602
EFSD guarantee1 391611535796
NDICI external action guarantee200200200
Total60 44258 56641 92812 098
* The EUR 2.7 billion of assets provisioned for the EIB ELM guarantees also cover borrowings under legacy MFA and Euratom (see note 4.1.2)

The above tables show the extent of the exposure of the EU budget to possible future payments linked to guarantees given to the EIB group or other financial institutions. Disbursed amounts represent the amounts already given to final beneficiaries, while signed amounts include these disbursed monies plus agreements already signed with beneficiaries or financial intermediaries but not yet disbursed at year-end (EUR 19 440 million). The ceiling represents the total guarantee that the EU budget, and thus its Member States, have committed to cover, since in order to disclose the maximum exposure faced by the EU at 31 December 2022, operations authorised to be signed but not yet signed (EUR 43 510 million) must be included.

Budgetary guarantee programmes are backed by provisions gradually built up from the budget and kept in the Common Provisioning Fund (‘CPF’) as a liquidity cushion to cover future guarantee calls (see note 2.4.2.1). The amounts provisioned amounted to EUR 14 798 million at 31 December 2022 (2021: EUR 12 098 million). Please see note 6.2 for the measures put in place to ensure that the provisioning is sufficent to cover the guarantee calls in the medium term. Any losses incurred under the budgetary guarantee programmes, above the provisioning set aside, would need in any case to be covered by future budgets.


138.

EIB ELM guarantees


The EU budget guarantees loans signed and granted by the EIB from the EIB's own resources to third countries. At 31 December 2022 the amount of loans outstanding and covered by the EU guarantee totalled EUR 20 909 million. The EU budget guarantees:

- EUR 20 482 million via the Guarantee Fund for external actions compartment of the CPF; and

- EUR 427 million directly for loans granted to Member States before accession.

Included in the guarantees given as at 31 December 2022 are EUR 2.1 billion of signed but undisbursed loans for which future disbursements are conditional on approval by the EU.

The EU ELM guarantee relating to loans granted by the EIB is limited to 65% of the outstanding balances for agreements signed after 2007 (mandates 2007-2013 and 2014-2021). For agreements made before 2007, the EU guarantee is limited to a percentage of the ceiling of the credit lines authorised, in most cases 65% but also 70%, 75% or 100%. Where the ceiling is not reached, the EU guarantee covers the full amount.

With Decision (EU) 2018/412, a private sector lending mandate for projects directed to the long term economic resilience of refugees, migrants, host and transit communities under the EIB Resilience Initiative (‘ERI’) was set-up. The Union budget is remunerated for the risk taken in relation to guarantees granted for EIB financing operations under the ERI Private Mandate, which explains the premium receivable for the ELM guarantee, which is otherwise a non-remunerated guarantee (see note 2.11.2).

The ELM 2014-2020 mandate, which expired in 2021, was the last mandate under the Guarantee Fund for external actions. The new EIB mandate is covered by the External Action Guarantee set up by the NDICI Regulation.

EU guarantee payments are made from the Guarantee Fund for external actions compartment of the CPF. During 2022, EUR 190 million of guarantee calls net of recoveries have been paid out (2021: EUR 93 million).

139.

European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) guarantee


EFSI is an initiative that aims to increase the risk bearing capacity of the EIB Group by enabling the EIB to extend its investments in the EU. The objective of EFSI is to support additional investments in the EU and access to finance for small companies. The EU budget provides a guarantee of up to EUR 26 billion (‘EFSI EU guarantee’) under an agreement between the EU and the EIB, hereinafter referred to as the ‘EFSI Agreement’, in order to protect the EIB from potential losses it may suffer from its financing and investment operations.

The EFSI operations are conducted within two windows: the Infrastructure and Innovation Window (IIW) implemented by the EIB (EFSI EU guarantee of EUR 19 250 million) and the SME Window (SMEW) implemented by the EIF (EFSI EU guarantee of EUR 6 750 million), both of which have a debt portfolio and an equity portfolio. The EIF acts under an agreement with the EIB on the basis of an EIB guarantee, which itself is counter-guaranteed by the EFSI EU Guarantee under the EFSI Agreement. In order to enhance the efficiency of EU Guarantee and to increase its risk bearing capacity, a combination of two EFSI debt portfolios with InvestEU became effective in 2022. Any guarantee calls, recoveries and are distributed between the EFSI and the InvestEU Guarantee based on effective guaranteed allocations.

The EU and the EIB have distinct roles within EFSI. EFSI is established within the EIB, who finance the operations (debt and equity investments) and, to do this, borrow the necessary funds on the capital markets. The EIB Group takes the investment decisions independently and manages the operations in accordance with its rules and procedures. The EU provides the guarantee for those operations, and covers losses incurred by the EIB up to the ceiling of this guarantee.

In order to ensure that investments made under EFSI remain focused on the specific objective of addressing market failures and that they are eligible for the protection of the EU guarantee, a dedicated governance structure has been put in place, including an Investment Committee of independent experts which examines each project proposed by the EIB under the IIW regarding its eligibility for the EU guarantee coverage and an EFSI Steering Board ensuring an oversight over the programme.

As the control criteria and accounting requirements for consolidation under the EU accounting rules (and IPSAS) are not met, the related guaranteed assets are not accounted for in the consolidated annual accounts of the EU.

The EU guarantee granted to the EIB Group under EFSI is accounted for as a financial guarantee liability in respect of the IIW debt portfolio and the SMEW debt portfolio (see note 2.11.2) and as a derivative (financial asset or liability at fair value through surplus or deficit) for both equity portfolios (see note 2.4.2.2). The EFSI guarantee given includes operations of the COSME, H2020, CCS LGF and EaSI programmes for the part covered by the EFSI EU guarantee under the SMEW debt portfolio.

During 2022, EUR 21 million of net guarantee calls have been paid out from the EFSI Guarantee Fund compartment of the CPF (2021: nil).

140.

European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD)


The European Fund for Sustainable Development, established by the EFSD Regulation, is an initiative aiming to support investments in Africa and the European Neighbourhood as a means to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and to address specific socio-economic root causes of migration. Under the EFSD Regulation, the EU was authorised to make available guarantees of EUR 1.5 billion (further increased by external contributions) to implementing partners for their investment and financing operations, in order to reduce their investment risks. The EFSD Guarantee is backed by the CPF – see note 2.4.2.1. As at 31 December 2022, seventeen EFSD guarantee agreements were effective with the total guarantee ceiling amounting to EUR 1 176 million, while the outstaning operations signed by the counterparties and guaranteed by the EU under those agreements totalled EUR 522 million. For one of the EFSD guarantee agreements (with a EUR 145 million guarantee ceiling), where the EU guarantees the capital adequacy of a currency hedging fund, in case of a guarantee call the EU holds a reimbursement right to receive shares of the fund worth the amount paid.

141.

NDICI external action guarantee


Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council 9 June 2021, established the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (the ‘Instrument’), including the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (the ‘EFSD+’) and the External Action Guarantee, for the period of the 2021-2027 MFF. The NDICI Regulation aims to increase the coherence and effectiveness of the EU’s external actions, thus improving the implementation of the different external action policies.

The External Action Guarantee supports the EFSD+ operations covered by budgetary guarantees, macro-financial assistance and loans to third countries. It is backed by the CPF – see note 2.4.2.1.

As at 31 December 2022 six budgetary guarantee agreements were signed and outstanding, for a total ceiling of EUR 27.0 billion, including a guarantee agreement (the successor of the ELM programme) signed with EIB in April 2022 for a total ceiling of up to EUR 26.7 billion. By 31 December 2022 under this agreement operations of EUR 4.5 billion were signed, of which EUR 156 million was disbursed.

142.

InvestEU guarantee


The InvestEU Regulation, (EU) 2021/523, allows the Commission to provide up to EUR 26.2 billion in guarantees to support financing and investments of financial institutions. The aim is to help achieve the Union’s objectives in four internal policies: Sustainable infrastructure, Research innovation and digitalisation, Small and medium-sized companies, and Social investment and skills. The Commission is gradually setting money aside (‘provisioning’) from the InvestEU budget into the CPF in order to create a capital buffer for guarantee calls. The InvestEU Regulation has set the provisioning rate at 40% of the EU guarantee at 31 December 2022.

In March 2022, the Commission signed a first InvestEU guarantee agreement with the EIB Group for a total ceiling of EUR 19.6 billion, which was further increased by EUR 0.3 billion stemming from several EU programmes combined with the InvestEU guarantee (blending operations). As at 31 December 2022, the EU guarantee covered signed operations for a total amount of EUR 2.1 billion, of which EUR 324 million were disbursed. Futhermore, five guarantee agreements with other implementing partners have been concluded for a total amount of EUR 1.4 billion, for which there were no guaranteed operations yet.

In addition to the EU budget, the Member States and EEA countries can contribute to the InvestEU programme from their Cohesion Policy, RRF or national funds. This is an additional amount of EU guarantee with a provisioning rate which is set on a case by case basis. The Commission first signs a contribution agreement with the Member State or EEA country and then a guarantee agreement with an implementing partner. At 31 December 2022, the Commission has signed contribution agreements with five Member States for EUR 1.7 billion (out of which EUR 0.3 billion are back-to-back guarantees) but it has not yet signed guarantee agreements with implementing partners.

143.

UK obligations arising from its departure from the EU


In accordance with Article 143 of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK shall be liable to the Union for its share of contingent financial liabilities related to EFSI, EFSD and the EIB external lending mandate operations approved by the withdrawal date, 31 January 2020. Article 143 requires that in case of a guarantee call for a financial operation that has been approved before the withdrawal date, the UK would be liable to the Union for its share of payments made by the Union under those operations, unless this could be covered by the UK share of provisioning held in the guarantee fund where this is relevant.

For EIB external lending mandate loans (ELM), the value of the EU budgetary guarantee at the withdrawal date, for the operations approved by the withdrawal date, was EUR 33.7 billion. At 31 December 2022 this had changed to EUR 24.6 billion (2021: EUR 27.6 billion). The UK share of this contingent liability at 31 December 2022 is thus EUR 3.1 billion (31 December 2021: EUR 3.4 billion). As stated above however, any default on these loans is first covered by the Guarantee Fund for external actions compartment of the CPF and amounts would only be called from the UK if the UK provisioning for this fund, of EUR 305 million at 31 December 2022, was not sufficient.

With respect to EFSI operations, the value of the EU budgetary guarantee at the withdrawal date, for the operations approved by the withdrawal date, was EUR 23.5 billion. At 31 December 2022 this had changed to EUR 18.6 billion (2021: EUR 18.8 billion). The UK share of this contingent liability at 31 December 2022 is thus EUR 2.3 billion. Any guarantee calls under EFSI are first covered by the EFSI guarantee fund compartment of the CPF and amounts would only be called from the UK if the UK provisioning for this fund, of EUR 1.0 billion at 31 December 2022, was not sufficient.

As no operations had been approved by the implementing partners in relation to the EFSD Guarantee before the withdrawal date, the UK has no obligations here.

The UK share of the payments made in 2022 for the operations approved on or after the withdrawal date and up to 31 December 2022 amounted to EUR 51 million (EUR 34 million for EFSI and EUR 17 million for ELM), reducing correspondingly the UK provisioning. The amount due to the UK in 2023 is EUR 313 million (see note 2.6.1.2).

144.

94. Guarantees given under EU financial instrument programmes (nominal)


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Horizon 20202 6492 590
Connecting Europe Facility648568
COSME674782
Other604653
Total4 5764 593

The amounts in the above table present the outstanding nominal amounts of the guarantees given under the EU financial instruments programmes.

As outlined in Article 210 i FR, the budgetary expenditure linked to a financial instrument and the financial liability of the EU shall in no case exceed the amount of the relevant budgetary commitment made for it, thus excluding contingent liabilities for the budget. In practice, it means that these liabilities have a counter-part on the asset side of the balance sheet or are covered by the outstanding budgetary commitments not yet expensed.

The COSME Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) consists primarily of capped guarantees for portfolios of higher risk debt financing (mainly loans) offered by financial intermediaries to SMEs. The COSME LGF is implemented by the EIF on behalf of the EU.

For more details on Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility see also note 2.4.2.1.

145.

UK obligations arising from its departure from the EU


With regard to the EU’s contingent liabilities for amounts approved by the withdrawal date in relation to EU financial instruments, including those above, should any of these contingencies crystalise, they would be covered by the EU budget using monies held on fiduciary accounts. Thus in principle no amounts would be called from the UK other than its share in the budgetary RAL as outlined under Article 140 of the WA – see note 2.6.1.2.

95. Contingent liabilities relating to legal cases

146.

96. Legal cases in the area of fines


At 31 December 2022 the contingent liabilities relating to fines amounted to EUR 2 990 million (2021: EUR 2 111 million). These amounts mainly concern fines imposed by the Commission for infringement of competition rules that have been provisionally paid by fined companies and where either an appeal has been lodged or where it is unknown whether an appeal will be made. The contingent liability will be maintained until a decision by the Court of Justice on the case is final or until the expiry of the period for appeal. Interest earned on provisional payments is included in the economic result of the year and also as a contingent liability to reflect the uncertainty of the Commission’s title to these amounts.

Should the EU lose any of the cases relating to fines imposed, the amounts that have been provisionally received will be returned to the companies without budgetary impact. The amount of fines is only recognised as budgetary revenue when the fines are definitive (Article 107 FR).

The increase of EUR 1.2 billion is mainly due to receiving a provisional payment from a fined company (EUR 0.9 billion) who withdrew their guarantee in 2022 to replace it with a cash payment.

147.

97. Other legal cases


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Agriculture19479
Cohesion210
Other2 9091 153
Total3 1031 443

148.

Agriculture


These are contingent liabilities towards the Member States connected with EAGF and rural development conformity decisions pending judgement of the Court of Justice. The determination of the final amount of the liability and the year in which the effect of successful appeals will be charged to the budget will depend on the length of the procedure before the Court.

149.

Cohesion


These are contingent liabilities towards the Member States in connection with actions under cohesion policy awaiting the oral hearing date or pending judgement of the Court of Justice.

150.

Other legal cases


This heading relates to actions for damages currently being brought against the EU, other legal disputes and the estimated legal costs. It should be noted that in an action for damages under Article 340 TFEU, the applicant must demonstrate a sufficiently serious breach by the institution of a rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals, real harm suffered by the applicant, and a direct causal link between the unlawful act and the harm. The considerable increase from the previous year-end mainly concerns the appeal on a dismissed damages claim against the Commission for a merger prohibition decision, where, in the absence of a reliable estimate, the amount disclosed relates to the claimed amount.

151.

UK obligations arising from its departure from the EU


Under Article 147 of the WA, the United Kingdom shall be liable for its share of the payments required to discharge the contingent liabilities of the Union that become due in relation to legal cases concerning the financial interests of the Union, provided that the facts forming the subject matter of those cases occurred no later than 31 December 2020. The estimated maximum UK exposure here is EUR 384 million (2021: EUR 179 million). For legal cases where it is considered probable that amounts will be paid from the EU budget (see note 2.10), the UK share is included as part of the overall amount due from the UK – see details under note 2.6.1.2.

98. CONTINGENT ASSETS

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Guarantees received:
Performance guarantees282287
Other guarantees68
Other contingent assets1998
Total307393

Performance guarantees are requested to ensure that beneficiaries of EU funding meet the obligations of their contracts with the EU.


99. BUDGETARY AND LEGAL COMMITMENTS

This note provides information on the budgetary process and future funding needs and not on liabilities existing as at 31 December 2022.

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) agreed by the Member States defines the programmes and sets out the heading ceilings for commitment appropriations and the total for payment appropriations within which the EU may enter into budgetary and legal commitments, and ultimately make payments for a period of 7 years – see table 1.1 in the notes to the budgetary implementation reports.

Legal commitments correspond to programmes, projects, agreements or contracts signed, thus legally binding the EU. A legal commitment is the act whereby the authorising officer enters or establishes an obligation (for the EU) which results in a charge (Article 2 i FR).

A budgetary commitment is in principle made before the legal commitment, but for some multiannual programmes/projects it is the reverse, the relevant budgetary commitments being made in annual instalments, over several years, when the basic act so provides for. For example, for cohesion, Article 86 of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) (Regulation (EU) 2021/1060) provides that the decision of the Commission adopting a programme shall constitute a legal commitment within the meaning of the Financial Regulation but that the budgetary commitments of the Union in respect of each programme shall be made in annual instalments for each fund during the period between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2027. Other legal bases may contain similar provisions. For this reason, there may be amounts that the EU has legally committed to pay, but where the budgetary commitment has not yet been made – see note 5.2 below.

If the budgetary commitment has been made but the subsequent payments are not yet made, the amount of outstanding commitments is called ‘Reste à Liquider’ (RAL). This can represent programmes or projects, often multiannual, which are signed and for which payments will only be made in later years. They represent payment obligations for future years. As the financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis, whereas the budgetary implementation reports are prepared on a cash basis, part of the overall amount unpaid (RAL) has already been expensed and is recognised as a liability on the balance sheet (see notes 2.12 and 2.13). The calculation of these expenses is made based either on cost claims/invoices received or on the estimated implementation of a programme or project where no claims have been notified yet to the EU by the reporting date. Once the payments relating to the RAL are made, the liability on the balance sheet is derecognised. The part of the RAL not expensed yet is not included under liabilities but is instead disclosed below, see note 5.1.

The disclosures below thus represent amounts at 31 December 2022 that the EU has committed to pay based on the fulfilment of the contractual agreements and which are therefore intended to be funded by future EU budgets.

EUR million
Note31.12.202231.12.2021
Outstanding budgetary commitments not yet expensed5.1364 503266 526
Significant legal commitments5.2406 284135 181
Total770 787401 707


100. OUTSTANDING BUDGETARY COMMITMENTS NOT YET EXPENSED

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Outstanding budgetary commitments not yet expensed364 503266 526

The amount disclosed above is the budgetary RAL (‘Reste à Liquider’) of EUR 452 821 million (see table 6.4 in the budgetary implementation reports), less related amounts that have been included as liabilities on the balance sheet and as expenses in the statement of financial performance. The budgetary RAL is an amount representing the open commitments for which payments and/or decommitments have not yet been made. This is the normal consequence of the existence of multi-annual programmes. The significant increase compared to 2021 is related to the inscription of the last RRF budgetary commitments (see also 5.2 below).

It should be noted that outstanding pre-financing advances at 31 December 2022 totalled EUR 100.5 billion – see note 2.5. This represents budgetary commitments that have been paid, decreasing the RAL, but where the amounts paid are still considered as belonging to the EU and not to the beneficiary, until the relevant contractual obligations are fulfilled. They are thus, like the RAL disclosed above, not yet expensed.

101. SIGNIFICANT LEGAL COMMITMENTS

EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion298 948
Natural Resources and Environment82 37217 662
Migration and Border Management8 368
RRF (NGEU) non-repayable support commitments99 530
ITER5 8556 121
Space Programmes3 5484 189
Fisheries agreements265412
HorizonEU322382
EURATOM362445
Brexit Adjustment Reserve2963 072
Connecting Europe Facility1 811
EU Solidarity Fund700
Operating lease commitments2 5392 492
Other contractual commitments896876
Total406 284135 181

These amounts reflect the long-term legal commitments that were not covered by commitment appropriations in the budget at year-end. These binding obligations will be budgeted and paid in future years.

Certain important programmes (see below) may be implemented by annual instalments according to Article 112 i FR. This allows the EU to make legal commitments (sign grant agreements, delegation agreements and procurement contracts) in excess of the available commitment appropriations of a given year. Therefore a substantial amount of the overall allocation for the current MFF may be already committed. This applies in particular for the programmes described below:

152.

Funds under shared management


These are legal obligations that the EU has committed to pay when adopting the operational programmes related to shared management. The decision of the Commission adopting an operational programme constitutes a financing decision within the meaning of Article 110 FR and once notified to the Member State concerned, it represents a legal commitment within the meaning of that Regulation.

Article 86 i of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) for shared management funds states:

‘The budgetary commitments of the Union in respect of each programme shall be made by the Commission in annual instalments for each Fund during the period between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2027’.

The amounts disclosed on the first three lines of the table above relate to the Heading 2A (Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion), Heading 3 (Natural Resources and Environment) and Heading 4 (Migration and Border Management) of the MFF 2021-2027. They represent the outstanding amounts that the EU will commit budgetarily and then pay after 31 December 2022.

153.

NGEU (RRF) non-repayable support commitments


The RRF is a key programme of NGEU, the EU Recovery Instrument. It was established by Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021. It finances reforms and investments in Member States from the start of the coronavirus pandemic in February 2020 until 2026. Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 authorises the use of annual instalments. The legal commitments signed up to 31/12/2022 in the framework of this programme represent approximately 70% of the overall amount for the non-repayable support of the RRF, as per article 11 of the Regulation. They have been entirely covered by budgetary commitments at 31 December 2022.

ITER – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

These commitments are intended to cover future funding needs of the ITER facilities up to 2027. The EU (Euratom) contribution to ITER International is given through the Fusion for Energy Agency, including also the contributions from Member States and from Switzerland. The amount reflects the prospective financing under the MFF 2021-2027 established by Council Decision (Euratom) 2021/281 of 22 February 2021 amending Decision 2007/198/Euratom establishing the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy, which authorises the use of annual instalments. ITER was created to manage and to encourage the exploitation of the ITER facilities, to promote public understanding and acceptance of fusion energy, and to undertake any other activities that are necessary to achieve its purpose. ITER involves the EU together with various other countries.

154.

Space Programmes


The space programme includes the following components : Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, Govsatcom and SSA. The most significant are Galileo, which is developing the European Global Navigation Satellite System, and Copernicus, which is related to the European Earth observation. These commitments are made for the period until 2027. Based on Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the EP and Council of 28 April 2021 (OJ L 170/69 of 12 May 2021), the Commission signed contribution agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA), EUMETSAT, Mercator and the European Centre for Medium Range weather forecasts. Article 11.6 of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 authorises the use of annual instalments.

155.

Fisheries agreements


These represent commitments entered into with third countries for operations under international fisheries agreements up to 2026. The commitments made are based on Council decisions for each third country (e.g. agreement between the EU and the Republic of Seychelles and the Implementation Protocol thereto; OJ L60, 28.2.2020) and are considered specific international treaties with multi-annual rights and obligations.

156.

Horizon Europe


These are amounts committed to the Horizon Europe programme for upstream and downstream activities for the various space components. These commitments are made for the period until 2027. Based on Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the EP and of the Council of 28 April 2021 (OJ L 170/1 of 12 May 2021), the Commission signed a contribution agreement with ESA. Article 12.8 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 authorises the use of annual instalments.

157.

EURATOM


EURATOM is a programme based on Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 of 10 May 2021 establishing the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025 complementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and repealing Regulation (Euratom) 2018/1563 (OJ L 167I, 12.05.2021, p. 81). Article 4 of the regulation foresees the use of the annual instalments.

The general objective of the Programme is to pursue nuclear research and training activities, with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, as well as to complement the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives inter alia in the context of the energy transition. The Euratom Programme provides research grants through competitive calls for proposals and to named beneficiaries.

158.

Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR)


The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) aims to counter the economic and social consequences of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in February 2020. It was established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1755 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 6 October 2021. The amount disclosed represents the legal commitments still to be implemented as part of the measures supported by the BAR. Only the part of the legal commitments not yet covered by budgetary commitments is disclosed here.

159.

European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF)


The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe. The EUSF has been established by Regulation (EC) n° 2012/2002 of the Council of 11 November 2002 and amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 and Regulation (EU) No 461/2020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30/03/2020. The amount disclosed represents the legal commitments not yet covered by budgetary commitments.

160.

Connecting Europe Facility (CEF2)


The CEF2 provides financial assistance to trans-European networks in order to support projects of common interest in the sectors of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures. The legal commitments for the CEF programme cover an implementation period running from 2021 until 2027 for CEF Energy (with a possibility to be extended). The legal basis of these commitments is the ‘Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1316/2013 and (EU) No 283/2014 (Text with EEA relevance)’ with the article 4.5 stating that ‘Budgetary commitments for actions extending over more than one financial year may be broken down into annual instalments, over two or more years’.

161.

Operating lease commitments


Minimum amounts committed to be paid according to the underlying contracts during the remaining term of these lease contracts are as follows:

EUR million
Minimum lease payments
< 1 year1- 5 years> 5 yearsTotal
Buildings4491 0401 0052 493
IT materials and other equipment1227746
Total4611 0671 0122 539


In March 2019, in the context of the United Kingdom’s notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU, and as a result of Regulation (EU) 2018/1718 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, the seat of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was relocated from London to Amsterdam. On 2 July 2019, the Agency reached an agreement with its landlord and since then has sublet its premises to a subtenant under conditions that are consistent with the ones of the headlease, including the sublease term that extends until the expiry of EMA’s headlease in June 2039.

The amounts disclosed in the table above include EUR 366 million still due under the headlease contract. An equal amount of payments is expected to be received by the subtenant under the non-cancellable sublease.

162.

Other contractual commitments


The amounts included under this disclosure correspond to amounts committed to be paid during the term of the contracts. The most significant amount included here relates to a building contract (JMO2) of the Commission in Luxembourg (EUR 505 million).


102. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The following disclosures with regard to the financial risk management of the EU relate to:

- Borrowing and lending activities for financial assistance carried out by the Commission through NGEU, EFSM, BOP, MFA, SURE and Euratom actions;

- The treasury operations carried out by the Commission in order to implement the EU budget, including the receipt of fines;

- Assets held in the Common Provisioning Fund for budgetary guarantees, the ECSC in liquidation and the BUFI portfolio;

- Financial instruments financed by the EU budget; and

- EU budgetary guarantee programmes.

103. TYPES OF FINANCIAL RISK

The EU is exposed to and manages the following main financial risks stemming from its financial instruments:

Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate, because of variations in market prices. Market risk embodies not only the potential for loss, but also the potential for gain. It comprises currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk (such as equity risk):

- Currency risk is the risk that the EU's operations or its investments' value will be affected by changes in exchange rates. This risk arises from the change in price of one currency against another;

- Interest rate risk is the possibility of a reduction in the value of a security, especially a bond, resulting from an increase in interest rates. In general, higher interest rates will lead to lower prices of fixed rate bonds, and vice versa; and

- Other price risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices (other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk), whether those changes are caused by factors specific to the individual financial instrument or its issuer, or factors affecting all similar financial instruments traded in the market.

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to a debtor's / borrower's non-payment of a loan or other line of credit (either the principal or interest or both) or other failure to meet a contractual obligation. The default events include a delay in repayments, restructuring of borrower repayments and bankruptcy.

Liquidity risk is the risk that an EU entity will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset.

104. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES

163.

Measurement of financial instruments


The following classes of financial assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value: cash and cash equivalents, loans, exchange receivables other than financial guarantee contract receivables when classified to financial assets at FVSD, borrowings, financial guarantee contracts and other financial liabilities measured at amortized cost. The carrying amount of those financial assets and liabilities is considered as a reasonable approximation of their fair value.


164.

Borrowing and lending activities for financial assistance and NGEU


The borrowing and lending transactions are carried out by the EU according to the respective Council Regulations, Council and European Parliament Decisions, and, if applicable, internal guidelines. Written procedure manuals covering specific areas such as borrowings and loans have been developed and are used by the relevant operational units. Financial and operational risks are identified and evaluated and compliance to internal guidelines and procedures is checked regularly.

Lending operations other than NGEU are financed by ’back-to-back‘ borrowings, which thus do not generate open interest rate or currency positions. Loans provided under NGEU do not follow a back-to-back approach as is done for the other financial assistance instruments. Instead, a diversified funding strategy has been developed for the NGEU which combines a wide range of funding instruments. The diversified funding strategy has required the development and implementation of efficient risk management guidelines and procedures for the NGEU instrument that actively address the related risks on a daily basis.

165.

NGEU Risk Governance


With the start of NGEU in 2021, the Commission appointed a Chief Risk Officer, established an appropriate governance structure and adopted a High Level Risk and Compliance Policy (‘HLRCP’) covering NGEU borrowing, debt management and lending operations (‘NGEU operations’). The HLRCP comprises an appropriate risk management and compliance framework for the oversight of the risks and compliance matters arising from the implementation of NGEU borrowing, debt management and lending operations.16 It provides an overarching framework for the risk management guidelines applicable to the NGEU operations by identifying all material risks arising from the implementation of the NGEU operations. The scope of the HLRCP is limited to the oversight of the risks and compliance matters arising solely from the implementation of NGEU operations.

DecisionC(2021) 2502 established the role of the Chief Risk Officer and the Risk and Compliance Committee (‘RCC’). Both the role of the CRO and the RCC were further elaborated by the HLRCP. The latter supplements the NGEU governance framework as set out in the Decision C(2021)2502,17 and further elaborates the main roles and responsibilities related to the risk management and compliance framework of the NGEU operations.

The role of the CRO is to ensure that the systems and processes used to implement the NGEU operations are designed to ensure protection of the financial interests of the Union and the sound financial management of the operations. The CRO prepares the HLRCP to ensure that risks related to NGEU operations are appropriately identified, managed and controlled, and checks that the HLRCP is implemented in a comprehensive and consistent manner.

The CRO, supported by the RCC, deploys the risk management framework through internal risk policies and procedures. The RCC is an internal committee of the Commission whose role is to support the CRO in the conduct of its responsibilities. The RCC adopts positions on matters related to the risk management framework for NGEU operations.

Finally, the CRO reports to the Member of the College responsible for the Budget with respect to the responsibilities set out in Chapter 4 of Decision C(2022) 9700. The CRO exercises its role independently and enjoys autonomy in carrying out the assigned tasks and responsibilities.

In relation to the NGEU operations, the ‘three lines of defence’ model for risk management was deployed to: (i) ensure the appropriate segregation of powers and duties; (ii) clearly define lines of authority; and (iii) ensure distinct roles and responsibilities for the management and control of risk.

166.

Treasury


The rules and principles for the management of the Commission's treasury operations are laid down in the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 (as amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2016/804) and in the Financial Regulation.


As a result of the above regulations, the following main principles apply:

- Own resources are paid by the Member States into accounts opened for this purpose in the name of the Commission with the treasury or national central bank. The Commission may draw on the above accounts solely to cover its cash requirements;

- Own resources are paid by Member States in their own national currencies, while the Commission's payments are mostly denominated in EUR;

- Bank accounts opened in the name of the Commission may not be overdrawn. This restriction does not apply to the Commission's own resource accounts in case of a default on loans contracted or guaranteed pursuant to EU Council regulations and decisions, and under certain conditions in case the cash resource requirements are in excess of the cash held in those accounts; and

- Funds held in bank accounts denominated in currencies other than EUR are either used for payments in the same currencies or periodically converted into EUR.

In addition to the own resources accounts, other bank accounts are opened by the Commission with central banks and commercial banks for the purpose of executing payments and receiving receipts other than the Member State contributions to the budget.

Treasury and payment operations are highly automated and rely on modern information systems. Specific procedures are applied to guarantee system security and to ensure segregation of duties in line with the Financial Regulation, the Commission’s internal control standards and audit principles.

A written set of guidelines and procedures regulate the management of the Commission's treasury and payment operations with the objective of limiting operational and financial risk and ensuring an adequate level of control. They cover different areas of operation (for example: payment execution and cash management, cashflow forecasting, business continuity, etc.), and compliance with the guidelines and procedures is checked regularly.

167.

Asset management


The control of the various risks related to the asset management activities is based on dedicated governance and working procedures adopted following benchmarking with the highest standards adopted by peer international institutions. These procedures, which were subject to various internal and external audits, ensure the achievement of a sound asset management.

The Commission has put in place the appropriate governance to review and approve technical and strategic decisions in relation to asset management operations. The asset management operations are supervised by two committees, the Risk Committee composed of representatives of DG BUDG, and the Asset Management Board composed of representatives of DG BUDG, DG ECFIN and DG FISMA. Technical decisions are discussed and approved in the Risk Committee, while strategic decisions are endorsed by the Risk Committee and Asset Management Board before final approval of the Director General of DG BUDG, in agreement with the Accounting Officer.

The asset management governance guarantees clear delegation of decision-making and lines of accountability, adequate segregation of duties between Front Office, Risk Management and Back Office, clearly defined roles and well-framed and documented procedures and processes and checks and balances at all levels. The compliance procedures provide the framework for adequate rules for codes of conduct to manage potential personal conflicts of interest as well as rules to manage risks of insider trading.

The Asset Management Guidelines and internal investment restrictions provide a solid internal control framework to ensure the safeguarding of assets. In particular, assets under the form of securities are kept with our custodian in accordance with market best practices, while cash and deposits are placed with highly rated financial institutions. The safeguarding of financial assets is also assured by segregation of duties between the team responsible for initiation of securities deals and back-office team responsible for their settlement and bank reconciliation. An additional layer of control is assured by accounting team during monthly closure reconciliation process when the portfolio of securities is reconciled with the security custodian’s statement. Any settlement discrepancies and late payments caused by counterparties are followed by bank reconciliation and back-office team on daily basis. For the monitoring of the respect of the control framework, an exhaustive set of performance and risk metrics for the assets under management is reported periodically to the relevant stakeholders.

The asset management guidelines, risk and investment strategies define certain limits and restrictions in order to limit the exposure to credit risk of the portfolio which is limited to investment grade, except for EU Member States exposure.

168.

Common Provisioning Fund


By Commission Decision C(2020)1896 of 25 March 2020 on the asset management guidelines of the CPF (AMG), the responsibilities and tasks of the CPF financial manager were delegated to the Director General of the Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG). The CPF is kept separate from the other portfolios managed by DG BUDG. The Fund does not exist as a separate legal entity.

The CPF is managed according to the asset management guidelines. The objective is to ensure the necessary liquidity to meet all required outflows, such as guarantee calls, fully and promptly, and to provide capital preservation over the investment horizon of the fund, with a high confidence level.

To attain the general objective described above, the financial manager of the CPF manages the assets in accordance with prudential rules and the principles of sound financial management and in accordance with the rules and procedures set out by the accounting officer of the Commission. Written procedures manuals covering specific areas, such as treasury management, have been developed and are used by the relevant operating units. Financial and operational risks are identified and evaluated and compliance with internal guidelines and procedures are checked regularly.

The CPF portfolio is constituted so as to ensure a high degree of diversification across eligible asset classes, geographical areas, issuers and maturities in order to manage fluctuations in portfolio value.

As the sole counterparty for all outstanding currency forwards as of 31 December 2022 is the Banque de France, no credit enhancements, such as collateral, netting agreements or guarantees are put in place as of this date. The maximum exposure to credit risk for foreign exchange derivatives having a positive fair value at the end of the reporting period is equal to the carrying amount on the balance sheet.

169.

Fines


Provisionally cashed fines: deposits

Amounts received before 2010 remain in bank accounts with banks specifically selected for the deposit of provisionally cashed fines. The selection of banks is conducted in compliance with tender procedures defined by the Financial Regulation. Placement of funds with specific banks is determined by the internal risk management policy defining the credit rating requirements and the amount of funds which could be placed in proportion to the counterparty equity. Financial and operational risks are identified and evaluated and compliance with internal policies and procedures is checked regularly.

170.

Provisionally cashed fines: BUFI portfolio


Fines imposed and provisionally cashed from 2010 onwards are invested in a specifically created portfolio, BUFI. The main objectives of the portfolio are the reduction of risks associated with financial markets and the equal treatment of all entities by applying a guaranteed return calculated on the same basis to the nominal amount of fines. However, the guaranteed return applied to entities fined before the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation in August 2018 is floored at zero. The asset management for provisionally cashed fines is carried out by the Commission in accordance with internal asset management guidelines. Procedural manuals covering specific areas such as treasury management have been developed and are used by the relevant operational units. Financial and operational risks are identified and evaluated and compliance with internal guidelines and procedures is checked regularly.

The objectives of the asset management activities are to invest the fines provisionally paid to the Commission in such a way as to:

- ensuring that the funds are easily available when needed, while

- aiming at delivering, under normal circumstances, a return which on average is in line with the return of the BUFI Benchmark minus costs incurred, while preserving the nominal amount for the fines.

Investments are restricted essentially to the following categories: term deposits with Member States' central banks, sovereign debt agencies, fully state-owned or state-guaranteed banks or supranational institutions, and bonds, bills and certificates of deposit issued by either sovereign or supranational institutions.

171.

Financial guarantees received


Significant amounts of guarantees issued by financial institutions are held by the Commission in relation to the fines it imposes on companies breaching EU competition rules – see note 2.6.1.3. These guarantees are provided by fined companies as an alternative to making provisional payments. The guarantees are managed in compliance with the internal risk management policy. Financial and operational risks are identified and evaluated and compliance with internal policies and procedures is checked regularly.

172.

EU budgetary guarantee programmes


The Financial Regulation has enshrined, in its Title X, several safeguards to protect the EU budget against the financial risks created through the use of budgetary guarantees. They can be grouped in four main categories:

173.

1. Measures to limit the amount of the contingent liabilities


First, the size of the EU guarantee is as a rule capped in a clearly defined manner. The Financial Regulation sets out that the financial liability and the aggregate net payments from the budget cannot exceed the amount of the budgetary guarantee, authorised by its basic act. The contingent liability generated by a budgetary guarantee can only exceed the financial assets provided to cover the EU financial liability if this is provided for in the underlying basic act and under the specific conditions it sets.

Secondly, the desired risk profile of the operations/financial products guaranteed by the EU is determined, as far as possible, ex-ante, i.e. before the signature of the guarantee agreements.

174.

2. Measures concerning the selection of implementing partners


Budgetary guarantee programmes are implemented with reliable, pillar-assessed partners. This ensures the reliability of, inter alia, the accounting, financial and risk management systems of these implementing partners (IPs). Furthermore, these IPs commit own resources ensuring appropriate alignment of interest with the Union.

175.

3. Measures to ensure adequate ex-ante budgetary capacity to absorb guarantee calls


Budgetary guarantee programmes are backed by provisioned assets that are kept in the CPF. The provisioning rate is set, in the basic act of each programme, at such a level as to allow the programming of budgetary appropriations to constitute a provision that would allow the absorption of losses without budgetary disruption. The provisioning is hence sufficient to cope with the expected and, to a certain level, also the unexpected losses of these budgetary guarantees.

Subsequently, the Commission will ensure (annually) the adequacy of the provisioning rate as defined in the basic act and its alignment with the Financial Regulation principles and with the financial programming.

176.

4. Measures to deal with realised losses exceeding the ex-ante estimation


The Financial Regulation introduces two early warning thresholds (i.e. when 50% and 30% of the provisioning rate remain available). Those warning thresholds allow the Commission to anticipate a potential exhaustion of the provisioning before the termination of the budgetary guarantee and allow the Commission to evaluate whether it should propose additional provisioning.

In case additional liquidity is temporarily needed there are procedures in place such as transfers between CPF compartments and the use of central treasury liquidity, as well as the use of available budgetary space (commitment and payment appropriations).

Furthermore, a Steering Committee on Contingent Liabilities arising from Budgetary Guarantees was established under the authority of the Commissioner for Budget in 2020. It intervenes in matters covering budgetary guarantees and financial assistance creating contingent liabilities to the budget generated from the implementation of Title X of the Financial Regulation, including those provisions laid down in the Internal Rules on the implementation of the general budget of the Union. This includes the risk management framework, relevant common horizontal provisions of the standard agreements and integrated reporting to establish corporate requirements for the sustainable management of contingent liabilities.

177.

Financial instruments programmes


The implementation of the EU budget has relied for many years on the use of financial instrument programmes. For more information on the amounts concerned – see note 2.4.2.

Common to most financial instruments is the fact that the implementation is delegated either to the EIB group (including the EIF) or to other financial institutions based on an agreement between the Commission and the financial institution. Agreements signed with these financial institutions include strict conditions and obligations on the intermediaries so as to ensure that EU monies are properly managed and reported on. Once a financial contribution to one of the instruments has been committed, the funds are transferred to a specifically created bank account opened by the financial institution in its name but on behalf of the Commission (i.e. a fiduciary account). The financial institution may, depending on the instrument in question, use the funds on this fiduciary account to provide loans, issue debt instruments, invest in equity instruments or cover guarantee calls. Proceeds from financial instruments have, as a general rule, to be reimbursed to the EU budget.

The risk as regards these financial instruments is limited to the ceiling as indicated in the underlying agreements, which is the budgeted amount foreseen for the instrument. As the Commission often bears the ‘first loss piece’ and since instruments are intended to finance riskier beneficiaries (who have difficulties in obtaining funding from commercial lenders), it is therefore likely that some losses to the EU budget will occur.

105. CURRENCY RISK

Financial instruments exposure of the EU to currency risk at year-end – net position

EUR million
31.12.2022
USDGBPPLNSEKOtherEURTotal
Financial assets
Financial assets at AC*83612151251
Financial assets at FVSD
Non-derivatives84325209829 08830 073
Derivatives(483)1 467984
Receivables**89111140175 4535 684
Cash and cash equivalents84131 0314731 42143 52246 544
6161551 0454931 54879 68183 537
Financial liabilities
Financial guarantee liability(793)(0)(37)(12)(164)(5 450)(6 456)
Financial liabilities at FVSD(1)819(50)(25)
(795)(0)(37)(4)(146)(5 500)(6 481)
Total(179)1541 0084891 40374 18177 056



EUR million
31.12.2021
USDGBPPLNSEKOtherEURTotal
Financial assets
Financial assets at AC*6318788176
Financial assets at FVSD
Non-derivatives93451237523 14124 223
Derivatives(646)1 474828
Receivables**109981084887 3727 780
Cash and cash equivalents85241 0145911 69241 45544 860
5451921 1216181 86273 52977 866
Financial liabilities
Financial guarantee liability(1 047)(0)(62)(19)(248)(6 418)(7 794)
Financial liabilities at FVSD(1)(4)(5)
(1 048)(0)(62)(19)(251)(6 418)(7 798)
Total(503)1921 0595991 61167 11170 068
*Excluding loans for RRF (NGEU) and for financial assistance.

**Excluding deferred charges.

If the EUR had strengthened or weakened against other currencies by 10%, then it would have had the following impact on the economic result:

EUR million
FX Rate Increase (+)/

Decrease (-)
2022
USDGBPPLNSEK
+10%16(14)(92)(44)
-10%(20)1711254

EUR million
FX Rate Increase (+)/

Decrease (-)
2021
USDGBPPLNSEK
+10%46(17)(96)(54)
-10%(56)2111867


178.

Borrowing and lending activities for NGEU and financial assistance


Financial assets and liabilities are currently only in EUR, so the EU has no foreign currency risk.

179.

Treasury


Own resources paid by Member States in currencies other than EUR are kept on the own resources accounts in accordance with Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 (as amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2016/804). They are converted into EUR when they are needed for the execution of payments. The procedures applied for the management of these funds are laid down by the above mentioned regulation. In a limited number of cases, these funds are directly used for payments to be executed in the same currencies.

A number of accounts in EU currencies other than EUR, including USD, GBP and CHF, are held by the Commission with commercial banks, for the purpose of executing payments denominated in these same currencies. These accounts are replenished depending on the amount of payments to be executed, and as a consequence their balances do not represent exposure to currency risk.

When miscellaneous receipts (receipts other than own resources) are received in currencies other than EUR, they are either transferred to Commission's accounts held in the same currencies, if they are needed to cover the execution of payments, or converted into EUR and transferred to accounts held in EUR. Imprest accounts held in currencies other than EUR are replenished depending on the estimated short-term local payment needs in the same currencies. Balances on these accounts are kept within their respective ceilings.


180.

Fines


All fines are imposed, paid or provisionally covered in EUR and therefore do not pose any foreign currency risk when they are held in the BUFI Fund.

181.

Budgetary guarantees


Budgetary guarantees as a rule are extended with a maximum cap defined in EUR. However, some underlying operations may be denominated in other currencies (USD or other local currencies).

Currency risk is part of the considerations taken into account when determining the provisioning needs.

182.

Common Provisioning Fund


The CPF currently operates in both EUR and USD. Currency risk is managed through entering into derivative contracts (foreign exchange forward contracts), hedging the market value of the USD investments portfolio. The limit for maximum unhedged foreign exchange exposure is set at 1% of the total portfolio value within the benchmark and annual strategy allocations. Thus, upward or downward movements in the USD investments' market value above or below the 1% limit would trigger a rebalancing trade (a new forward contract with the same or opposite direction), adjusting or reversing the hedged position accordingly.

The loans subrogated to the EU as result of calls on the fund following payment defaults by a loan beneficiary – see note 2.4.1.2 – are carried out in their original currency and therefore expose the EU to currency risk. For the subrogated loans, there are no activities to compensate foreign currency variations (‘hedging‘ activities) due to uncertainty relating to the loans’ repayment timing.

106. INTEREST RATE RISK

The following table illustrates the interest rate sensitivity of debt securities and ETFs by disclosing the impact that a change in interest rates of +/- 100 basis points (1%) would have on the EU economic result.

EUR million
Increase (+) / decrease (-) in basis pointsEconomic result
2022: Financial assets at FVSD+100(741)
-100784
2021: Financial assets at FVSD+100(622)
-100660

Sensitivity to interest rate changes of a given portfolio of bonds increases with its duration. The duration of the main asset portfolios managed by the Commission is described below.

183.

Borrowing and lending activities for NGEU and financial assistance


Due to the nature of its borrowing and lending activities, the EU has significant interest-bearing assets and liabilities. However, for the financial assistance instruments, excluding NGEU, there is no interest rate risk since the borrowings are offset by equivalent loans at the same terms and conditions (back-to-back).

The NGEU instrument does not apply a back-to-back approach and, therefore, interest rate risk has to be covered by implementation of procedures and mechanisms that mitigate the interest rate risk. The underlying principle behind the NGEU diversified funding strategy is to allocate the cost of funding and all other NGEU related costs to beneficiaries (for loans) and to the EU budget (for non-repayable support) in a transparent way. The NGEU programme is guided by the principles of full cost recovery and not-for-profit operation. Therefore, the EU passes on the funding it obtains in the market in the most cost-effective and equitable way based on daily interest calculations. That ensures that Member States bear all costs related to the loans and borrowings incurred by the Union.

The NGEU holds cash in order to maintain a defined safety buffer as part of a diversified funding strategy while avoiding any excess balances. The NGEU cash is kept at the European Central Bank. Since 4 April 2022 the Euro money market short term interest rate applies to any outstanding cash balance. Previously, the outstanding cash balance was subject of ECB deposit facility rate that was -0.5%. Based on a mutual agreement, only outstanding cash balances over EUR 20 billion were subject to negative interest at the ECB. Based on NGEU cost allocation methodology, interest not allocated to loans or non-repayable support are subject of invoicing to loans beneficiaries and EU budget in form of Liquidity management costs that can be positive or negative depending on the evoluition of interest rates applied on cash balances.

184.

Treasury


Except for the borrowing related to the NGEU programme, the Commission does not borrow money to fund its operational expenditure. Beyond the interest rate exposure on NGEU, interest is calculated on balances held on the different bank accounts. The Commission has therefore put in place measures to ensure that interest earned (positive or negative) on its bank accounts regularly reflect market interest rates, as well as their possible fluctuation.

Accounts opened with Member States treasuries for own resources receipts are non-interest bearing and free of charge. Accounts held with national central banks (own resources and other) may be remunerated at the official rates applied by each institution. During the period of negative interest environment (until September 2022), some of the remunerations applied to these accounts were negative. Cash management procedures are adapted according to the market interest conditions in order to minimise balances kept on these accounts when negative interests applied and appropriate ceilings are respected according to the banks conditions. Own resources accounts are protected from any impact of negative interest in accordance with Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 (as amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2016/804).

Overnight balances held on commercial bank accounts earn interest on a daily basis. This is based on variable market rates to which a contractual margin (positive or negative) is applied. The rates applied by commercial banks are in general floored at zero for operational balances up to a specified ceiling.

185.

Fines


The provisionally cashed fines are invested in a portfolio of long-term bonds with an average portfolio duration of 1.33 years.

186.

Common Provisioning Fund


The funds in the CPF are invested in a portfolio of long-term bonds and corporate ETFs with a total average portfolio duration of 3.17 years.

187.

ECSC in liquidation


The ECSC in liquidation amounts are invested in a portfolio of long-term bonds with an average portfolio duration of 3.17 years.

107. CREDIT RISK

188.

Maximum credit risk exposure

EUR millionEUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Financial assets
Loans204 354163 568
Cash and cash equivalents46 54444 860
Exchange receivables*5 6847 780
Financial assets at FVSDdebt securities24 64719 326
Financial assets at FVSDderivatives984828
Guarantees given and loan commitments
FGCs55 50255 267
Loan commitments8
Total at 31.12.2022337 723291 628
*excluding deferred charges

In addition, the EU is indirectly exposed to the credit risk through its investments in MMFs, corporate ETFs and pooled portfolios of debt securities (see note 2.4.2.1), which may impact their prices (see note 6.7).

189.

Loans: credit quality

EUR million
31.12.2022
Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3POCITotal
Credit rating
Premium and high grade12 84912 849
Upper medium grade62 24062 240
Lower medium grade106 537106 537
Non-investment grade (incl. default)11 92313 0942911425 160
Gross carrying amount193 54913 09429114206 786
Minus loss allowance(55)(2 361)(27)13(2 431)
Net carrying amount193 49410 7322126204 354

EUR million
31.12.2021
Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3POCITotal
Credit rating
Premium and high grade10 37910 379
Upper medium grade58 99158 991
Lower medium grade79 67279 672
Non-investment grade (incl. default)8 8195 965294814 860
Gross carrying amount157 8615 9652948163 903
Minus loss allowance(10)(299)(26)(336)
Net carrying amount157 8515 665348163 568

The four risk categories mentioned above are in principle based on the rating categories of external rating agencies and correspond to:

- Prime and high grade: Moody’s P-1, Aaa – Aa3; S&P A-1+, A-1, AAA – AA -; Fitch F1+, F1, AAA – AA- and equivalent

- Upper medium grade: Moody’s P-2, A1 – A3; S&P A-2, A+ - A-; Fitch F2, A+ - A- and equivalent

- Lower medium grade: Moody’s P-3, Baa1 – Baa3, S&P A-3, BBB+ - BBB-; Fitch F3, BBB+ - BBB- and equivalent

- Non-investment grade: Moody’s not prime, Ba1 – C; S&P B, C, D, BB+ – D; Fitch B, C, D, BB+ – D and equivalent

- The EU uses these external rating agencies’ categories as a reference point notably for financial instruments and commercial banks, but may, after making its own analysis of individual cases, keep amounts in one of the above risk categories even though one or more of the above mentioned rating agencies may have downgraded the corresponding counterparty.

The loans in the non-investment grade are mainly financial assistance loans to partner countries in financial difficulties, also to some Member States which are rated in the upper limit of this grade. All loans to Member States are in Stage 1. Stage 2 includes EUR 11.9 billion of MFA and Euratom loans to Ukraine. The POCI loans are the subrogated loans from the EFSI and ELM programmes.


190.

Borrowing and lending activities for NGEU and financial assistance


Exposure to credit risk is managed by obtaining state guarantees in the case of Euratom (see note 2.4.1.1).

Loans provided to Ukraine under the exceptional MFA programme (EUR 6 billion disbursed in 2022) are firstly covered by their compartment in CPF, and then also by additional Member States guarantees.

Loans provided to Member States under the SURE instrument are underpinned by a system of voluntary guarantees from Member States, amounting to 25% of the maximum ceiling available for the related financial assistance.

In case of default of the debtors, and in order to service any related debt due, the Commssion may draw on the assets held in the CPF (for MFA and Euratom loans to third countries) and call upon Member States, while respecting the own resources ceilings (see note 6.6).

191.

Loans: Movement in impairment loss allowance


EUR million
Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3POCITotal
Loss allowance at 01.01.20221029926336
Transfer to Stage 1
Transfer to Stage 2(0)1(1)0
Transfer to Stage 3(1)(0)1
New loans9763772
Derecognitionsrepayments(0)(0)
Derecognitionswrite offs(2)(2)
Loss allowance remeasurement371 2983(13)1 326
Other
Loss allowance at 31.12.2022552 36127(13)2 431

The additional impairment loss allowance on Stage 2 loans refers mainly to MFA and Euratom loans to Ukraine (see note 2.4.1.1).

192.

Loans: Staging assessment


As referred to in the significant accounting policies, the impairment allowance for the financial assets at amortized cost other than receivables depends on the stage to which a financial asset is classified.

The allocation to stages mainly depends on the counterparty’s credit rating. The staging model relies on a relative assessment of credit risk, that is, the EU may have different loans with the same counterparty in different stages, depending on the counterparty’s credit risk at origination. The EU, having a unique institutional status, lends money to its Member States or to sovereigns in difficulty. As a result, the EU also applies also a qualitative assessment of the credit risk based on monitoring the economic situation of borrowers in difficulty.

Stage 1 No significant increase in credit risk

Loans to counterparties with credit ratings in the investment grade (i.e. between AAA (Aaa) and BBB- (Baa3) on the S&P/Fitch (Moody’s) rating scale or an equivalent external or internal rating) at the reporting date, are considered low credit risk loans, and thus held in Stage 1, except if they are overdue for more than 30 days (see Stage 2). In addition, any loans for which a significant increase in credit risk did not occur, as defined below, are classified to Stage 1. For the financial assets in Stage 1, the impairment allowance is measured at the level of the 12 month expected credit losses (‘ECL’).

Stage 2 Significant increase in credit risk

In order to determine whether there has been a significant increase in the credit risk since origination, and a thus whether moved to Stage 2 applies, the EU applies a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments.

All loans for which contractual payments are overdue by between 31 and 90 days, are moved to Stage 2.

For counterparties with credit ratings between AAA (Aaa) and BB- (Ba3) at the initial recognition date: Unless the low risk case (above in Stage 1) applies, the deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the rating at origination and that at the reporting date is equal or superior to 3 notches.

For counterparties with credit ratings of B+ (B1) or B (B2) at initial recognition date: The deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the initial rating and the current rating is equal or superior to 2 notches.

For counterparties with credit ratings of B- (B3) or lower (in CCC/Caa range): The deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the initial rating and the current rating at the reporting date is equal or superior to 1 notch.

Loans originated before the transtion to the revised EAR 11 (i.e. 1 January 2021), for which no information on the credit risk at initial recognition is available without undue cost and effort are classified to Stage 2.

For loans in Stage 2, the impairment allowance is measured at the level of life-time expected credit losses.

Stage 3 Credit impaired loans

Loans are classified in Stage 3 when they are 90 days past due or when one or more events occur after the loan origination that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of that financial asset. For example, a loan is classified to Stage 3, if:

- It is becoming probable that a borrower will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation;

- The borrower has a rating class of D published by an external rating agency; and

- The borrower is in default under any financial obligation towards the EU, or in case of loans for financial assistance, if the borrower is in default to any other international organisation financing the programme.

For loans in Stage 3, the impairment allowance is measured at the level of life-time expected credit losses.

Purchased or originated as credit impaired (‘POCI’)

The EU also holds ‘purchased or originated as credit impaired’ (‘POCI’) loans. These are defaulted loans where the EU paid a guarantee call to the implementing partner. For these loans, all rights have been subrogated to the EU. The EU recognises them on its balance sheet at fair value at initial recognition. The EU classifies them as POCI loans and calculates an impairment allowance based on a lifetime ECL. Under the relevant agreements between the EU and the implementing partners, recovery proceedings are undertaken on behalf of the EU with the aim of recovering any sums due.

193.

Loans: ECL measurement


The ECL measurement is a probability-weighted estimation of the difference between the contractual cash flows and the expected cash flows. The EU uses the following credit risk parameters for this estimation:

- Probability of default (‘PD’);

- Loss given default (‘LGD’); and

- Exposure at default (‘EAD’).

The PD is a percentage and represents the likelihood of a counterparty defaulting on its financial obligation, either over the next 12 months (used for the ’12 months ECL’), or over the remaining lifetime of the obligation (used for the ‘Lifetime ECL’).

The LGD is a percentage showing the expected cash shortfall i.e. the part of the exposure expected to be lost after a default, taking into account recoveries and collaterals. In order to estimate the LGD on sovereign exposures, the EU takes into account its de-facto preferred creditor status.

The EAD is the outstanding exposure (amount) at the time of a default.

The estimated cash flows over the expected life of the financial asset are discounted at the effective interest rate.

The EU considers reasonable and justified forward looking information, available without undue cost and effort, and adjusts the model parameters when necessary.

194.

Cash and cash equivalents: credit quality


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Credit rating
Premium and high grade40 76940 716
Upper medium grade3 6753 650
Lower medium grade1 343306
Non-investment grade757189
Gross carrying amount46 54444 860
Minus loss allowance-
Net carrying amount46 54444 860


195.

Treasury


The amounts of cash and cash equivalents in the table above relate mainly to the cash managed by the Commission treasury. Most of the Commission's treasury resources are kept, in accordance with Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 (as amended by Council Regulation 804/2016) on own resource accounts opened by Member States for the payment of their own resources contributions (mainly GNI, VAT and TOR). All such accounts are held with Member States' treasuries or national central banks. These institutions carry the lowest credit (or counterparty) risk for the Commission as the exposure is with its Member States. For the part of the Commission's treasury resources kept with commercial banks in order to cover the execution of payments, replenishment of these accounts is made on a just-in-time basis and is automatically managed by the treasury cash management system. Minimum cash levels, which take into account the average amount of daily payments executed from it, are kept on each account. As a consequence the total amount kept overnight on these accounts remains constantly at low levels (overall less than EUR 54 million on average, spread over around 25 accounts) and so it is ensured that the Commission's risk exposure is limited. These amounts should be viewed with regard to the daily overall treasury balances which fluctuated in 2022 between EUR 7 billion and EUR 38 billion, and with an overall amount of payments made from Commission bank accounts in 2022 that exceeded EUR 175 billion.

In addition, specific guidelines are applied for the selection of commercial banks in order to further minimise counterparty risk to which the Commission is exposed:

- All commercial banks are selected by calls for tender. The minimum long-term credit rating required for admission to the tendering procedures is S&P A- or equivalent. A lower level may be accepted in specific and duly justified circumstances;

- Beyond the minimum credit rating requirements specified in the calls for tender, the counterparty risk management policy applied monitors the ratings and defines a maximum exposure on each financial institution. This ceiling, the maximum overall exposure in cash, deposits and financial guarantees per counterparty, is calculated taking into account the creditworthiness (long term credit rating) and the capitalisation of the financial sector entity. The EC counterparty risks are monitored and reported on regularly; and

- In delegations outside the EU, imprest accounts are held with local banks selected by a simplified tendering procedure. Rating requirements depend on the local situation and may significantly differ from one country to another. In order to limit risk exposure, balances on these accounts are kept at the lowest possible levels (taking into account operational needs), they are regularly replenished and the applied ceilings are reviewed on a yearly basis.

196.

NGEU


Lending and borrowing instruments for financial assistance do not, in general, keep any outstanding cash balances due to underlying back-to-back principle of the financial assistance loans. However, with implementation of diversified funding strategy for the NGEU instrument, NGEU holds cash with the objective of ensuring that amounts held on the NGEU bank account are sufficient to meet all upcoming disbursement needs and maintaining a defined safety buffer while avoiding any excess balances. The cash is placed on a bank account at the ECB, thus, the credit risk is very low.

197.

Provisionally cashed fines: deposits


Deposits held in commercial banks for fines provisionally cashed before 2010 have been largely decreased in 2022. These deposits are selected by tender procedure and the above described counterparty risk policy is applied.

198.

Receivables: credit quality


EUR million
Not duePast duePast duePast duePast dueTotal
0-30 days31-90 days91 days - 1 year> 1 year
Gross carrying amount1 6131814211 9923 658
Minus loss allowance(2)(2)(5)(13)(150)(172)
Net carrying amount at 31.12.20221 61116981 8423 486
Gross carrying amount2 7851595781 4534 840
Minus loss allowance(2)(1)(4)(18)(147)(173)
Net carrying amount at 31.12.20212 7831455601 3054 667
The amounts in this table do not include deferred charges and FGC receivable leg measured at FVSD (see note 2.6.2), as they are not subject to the impairment requirements.

Financial assets at FVSD – debt securities: credit quality

Common Provisioning Fund

The weighted average credit rating of the CPF portfolio is A (S&P or equivalent).

199.

Provisionally cashed fines: BUFI portfolio


For sovereign debt investments from provisionally cashed fines imposed as from 2010, the Commission takes on the exposure to credit risk. The weighted average credit rating of the portfolio is AA- (S&P or equivalent).

Financial guarantees received

The risk management policy applied for the acceptance of such guarantees ensures a high credit quality for the Commission. The policy includes defining a maximum credit exposure towards a particular financial sector entity based on its credit rating and the level of an entity’s capital as accounted for in its IFRS financial statements. The compliance of the outstanding guarantees with the applicable policy requirements is reviewed regularly.

ECSC in liquidation

The weighted average credit rating of the portfolio is A- (S&P or equivalent).

Financial assets at FVSD – derivatives: credit quality

The derivative assets mainly relate to the guarantees on equity portfolios and to currency forward contracts. Therefore, the credit risk is limited to the counterparty risk. The guarantee on equity will be settled with the EU implementing partner, the EIB Group, which is rated AAA. The sole counterparty for all outstanding currency forwards as of 31 December 2022 is the Banque de France, hence no credit enhancements, such as collateral, netting agreements or guarantees are put in place as of this date.


200.

Financial guarantee contracts: credit quality


EUR million
31.12.202231.12.2021
Stage 1Stage 2TotalStage 1Stage 2Total
Long-term rating
Prime and high grade044011
Upper medium grade3322
Lower medium grade2323219219
Non-investment grade24 12431 33955 4633 96451 07955 043
Managed on collective basis / not rated72922
Total24 15731 34555 5024 18751 08055 267


201.

Financial guarantee contracts: Movement in the loss allowance


EUR million
Stage 1Stage 2Total
Loss allowance at 01.01.20224857 0487 533
Transfer to Stage 2(3)3
Transfer to Stage 12 855(2 855)
Additions17045215
Release of guarantees(9)(1)(10)
Remeasurement(2 298)(1 110)(3 409)
Loss allowance at 31.12.20221 1993 1304 330
Financial guarantee liability carrying amount at 31.12.20223 1943 2636 456
* Transfers from and to stage 1 / stage 2 are measured at the opening balance impairment allowance, whereas the changes of the amount arising from the change of the stage (i.e. measuremet at 12-months or lifetime ECL) are part of re-measurement.

202.

Financial guarantee contracts: staging policies


The key risk indicator for the allocation of FGC to stages is the credit rating of the guaranteed debt. The staging model compares the credit rating at origination to the credit rating at the reporting date. For portfolio guarantees, the weighted average credit rating of the guaranteed portfolio is considered.

Stage 1 No significant increase in credit risk

FGC with credit ratings in the investment grade (i.e. between AAA (Aaa) and BBB- (Baa3) on the S&P/Fitch (Moody’s) rating scale or an equivalent external or internal rating) at the reporting date are considered low credit risk, independent of the initial credit rating, and held in Stage 1. In addition, any FGC for which a significant increase in credit risk did not occur, as defined below, are classified to Stage 1. For the FGC in Stage 1, the impairment allowance is measured at the level of the 12 month ECL.

Stage 2 Significant increase in credit risk

The following deterioration of credit rating is considered significant and leads to a reclassification of a FGC to Stage 2:

- For guarantees with a credit rating between AAA (Aa1) and BB- (Ba3) on the S&P/Fitch (Moody’s) rating scale or an equivalent external or internal rating at initial recognition, a rating deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the initial rating and the one at the reporting date is equal or superior to 3 notches for guarantees relating to a single debt instrument and 2 notches for guarantees relating to a portfolio of debt;

- For guarantees with a credit rating between B+ (B1) or B (B2) at initial recognition, a rating deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the initial rating and the one at the reporting date is equal or superior to 2 notches for guarantees relating to a single debt instrument and 1 notch for guarantees relating to a portfolio of debt; and

- For guarantees with a credit rating between B- (B3) or lower at initial recognition, a rating deterioration is considered significant if the difference between the initial rating and the one at the reporting date is equal or superior to 1 notch (single debt and portfolio).

If information on the credit rating is not available but an estimation of the expected annual claims has been made at initial recogniton, the actual level of claims compared to the initial planning is also considered a reasonable risk indicator for the assessment of SICR.

In addition to the above criteria, the EU may apply a qualitative assessment of the SICR, based on additional, reasonable and justified, information available.

FGC originated before the transtion to the revised EAR 11 (i.e. before 1 January 2021) for which no information on the credit risk at initial recognition is available without undue cost and effort are classified to Stage 2.

For FGC in Stage 2, the impairment allowance is measured at the level of life-time expected credit losses.

Classification to Stage 3 and POCI does not apply to FGC.

In 2022, EUR 2.8 billion of EFSI guarantees were moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 as the average credit risk of the guaranteed portfolio (also considering the impact of the merge with the InvestEU debt portfolios – see note 4.1.1) has decreased. This led to a remeasurement effect and a reduction of ECL for EFSI guarantee, as the impairment allowance is measured at 12-month ECL at the end of 2022 compared to life-time ECL at the end of 2021. Out of the EUR 1.1 billion remeasurement leading to a reduced ECL on guarantees in Stage 2, EUR 0.6 billion relates to the EFSI SME window. Out of the outstanding ECL for guarantees in Stage 2 of EUR 3.1 billion as at 31 December 2022, EUR 2.4 billion relates to the ELM guarantees (see note 4.1.1) . This includes EUR 1.1 billion life-time ECL for the EIB exposure in Ukraine (EUR 4.1 billion, of which EUR 0.5 billion loans are not yet disbursed) guaranteed by the EU.

203.

Budgetary guarantees


The Union is mainly exposed to credit risk through the operations which it guarantees. When the credit quality of the underlying operations deteriorates, default events become more likely and hence also calls on EU guarantees.

In order to monitor and manage this risk, the Commission relies on a Credit Risk Model to assess potential losses, using, inter alia, the inputs provided by the Implementing Partners. The output of these models is interpreted and combined with expert judgment to derive a risk assessment that is coherent with the substance of the transaction and the relevant economic circumstances.

108. LIQUIDITY RISK

204.

Maturity analysis of non-derivative financial liabilities by remaining contractual maturity


EUR million
Undiscounted contractual cash-flowsCarrying amount
< 1 year1-5 years> 5 yearsTotal
Borrowings(23 204)(80 495)(280 075)(383 774)(344 303)
Payables(55 341)(55 341)(55 341)
Other(318)(711)(771)(1 800)(1 517)
Total at 31.12.2022(78 862)(81 206)(280 846)(440 914)(401 161)
Borrowings(23 769)(45 030)(180 660)(249 459)(236 720)
Payables(46 372)(46 372)(46 372)
Other(218)(830)(890)(1 938)(1 605)
Total at 31.12.2021(70 358)(45 860)(181 550)(297 769)(284 697)


205.

Maturity analysis of derivative financial liabilities by remaining contractual maturity


EUR million
Undiscounted contractual cash-flowsCarrying amount
< 1 year1-5 years> 5 yearsTotal
Derivative pay leg(504)(8)(512)
Derivative receive leg487487
Net cash flows at 31.12.2022(17)(8)(25)(20)
Derivative pay leg(646)(5)(651)
Derivative receive leg648648
Net cash flows at 31.12.20212(5)(3)(3)

206.

Maturity analysis of financial guarantee contracts issued by earliest period in which the guarantee could be called


EUR million
Maximum amount of guaranteeCarrying amount
< 1 year1-5 years> 5 yearsTotal
FGCs at 31.12.2022(65 109)(13 332)(4 902)(83 343)(6 456)
FGCs at 31.12.2021(55 381)(878)(1)(56 259)(7 794)

207.

Borrowing activities for NGEU and financial assistance


The first recourse for the repayment of borrowings for financial assistance is the timely collection of the related financial assistance and NGEU loan repayments. However, there are additional safeguards that could be applied in case of payment defaults or payment delays of borrowers.

For MFA and Euratom loans to third countries, the Guarantee Fund for external actions compartment of the CPF provides for a liquidity reserve. Therefore, the available assets of this fund would be used first in order to repay the related borrowings (but only after a first recourse to third party guarantors for Euratom – see note 6.4). If at any moment the available assets should prove insufficient to cover the actual losses, the Commission will activate measures to provide for additional resources (e.g. recourse to temporary use of Commission’s treasury liquidity, recourse to temporary transfers and/or additional expenditure from the EU budget). Loans provided to Ukraine under the exceptional MFA programme (EUR 6 billion disbursed in 2022) are covered not only by their compartment in CPF, but also by additional Member States guarantees, in case the amount in the CPF would not be sufficient (see note 2.4.1.1).

For NGEU, the Commission may also apply active cash management and short-term borrowing in order to service EU debts.

For all financial assistance borrowings as well as for the NGEU borrowings, the Commission may call resources up to the available own resources margin in order to service the EU debts. The own resources legislation fixes the ceiling for own resources to cover annual appropriations for payment at 1.40% of Member States' GNI, plus an additional temporary increase of 0.6 percentage points for NGEU. The 2022 budget included a total of own resources to finance the expenditure of 1.01% of GNI. This means that at 31 December 2022 there existed an available margin of 0.99% to cover its liabilities. To this end, the EU is entitled to call upon Member States to ensure compliance with the EU's legal obligation towards its lenders.

Finally, loans provided to Member States under the SURE instrument are underpinned by a system of voluntary guarantees from Member States, amounting to 25% of the maximum ceiling available for the related financial assistance. Before calling on guarantees provided by the Member States, the Commission is expected to examine the scope for drawing on the margin available under the own resources ceiling for payments appropriation to the extent that it is deemed sustainable by the Commission, having regard, inter alia, to the total contingent liabilities of the Union and the sustainability of the general budget of the Union. Such examination shall not affect the irrevocable, unconditional and on-demand nature of the guarantees provided.

208.

Treasury


EU budget principles ensure that overall cash resources for a given year are always sufficient for the execution of all payments. In fact, the total Member States contributions together with the miscellaneous revenue equal the amount of payment appropriations for the budgetary year. Member States’ contributions, however, are received in twelve monthly instalments throughout the year and based on the adopted budget, while payments are subject to operational needs. Moreover, in accordance with the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 (on the methods and procedure for making available own resources, amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2016/804), Member States’ contributions relating to amending budgets approved in a given month (N) only become available either on the first working day of the month N+1 (if approved before the 16th of the given month) or on the first working day of month N+2 (if approved on the 16th or later of that given month), while the related payment appropriations are immediately available.

In order to ensure that available treasury resources are always sufficient to cover the payments to be executed in any given month, procedures regarding regular cash forecasting are in place. Own resources or additional funding can be called up in advance from Member States if needed, up to certain limits and under certain conditions provisioned under Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2016/804. Operational needs and overall budgetary restrictions in recent years have resulted in the need for increased monitoring of the rhythm of payments during the year. In addition to the above, in the context of the Commission's daily treasury operations, automated cash management tools ensure that sufficient liquidity is available on each of the Commission's bank accounts, on a daily basis.

209.

Fines


The BUFI fund, where provisionally paid fines are invested, is managed according to the principle that the assets shall have a sufficient degree of liquidity and mobilisation in relation to the relevant commitments. The portfolio is composed of mostly highly liquid securities that can be sold to meet short-term cash outflows. In addition, the share of cash, cash equivalents and securities maturing within 1 year is 56%.

210.

Budgetary guarantees


The maturity analysis for financial guarantees is presented using the prudent approach, under which the maximum amount of the guarantee given is allocated to the earliest period in which the guarantee could be called. Given that most of the EU guarantees are on first demand, a significant amount is allocated to the first time band. However, the probability that the EU will be called under all guarantees for the entire amount in the first period is remote. Moreover, the amount that the EU expects to lose is often much lower then the guarantee ceilling, therefore the amount of the liquidity risk needs to be seen in the conjunction with the carrying amount of the guarantee liabilities.

A key objective of the risk management framework of contingent liabilities is to ensure that the EU budget can, at any time, honour its obligations without disrupting the normal implementation of the budget. This also entails the mitigation of the liquidity risk related to budgetary guarantees, i.e. the risk that the Union would have insufficient funds to fulfil in a timely manner all its guarantee-related payment obligations (which might then lead to for example the crowding out of other expenses and the postponement of payments to the following budgetary years).

In this respect, each budgetary guarantee is backed by sufficient provisioning paid into the CPF so as to ensure there is always enough liquidity to pay guarantee calls in a timely manner.

The EU monitors on a regular basis the adequacy of the provisioning rate of each budgetary guarantee programme and reports18 every year on its estimate as to whether those amounts are sufficient to cover the risk for next 5 years with a defined level of certainty.

Furthermore, there are additional safeguard procedures in place (temporary transfers between CPF compartments and the use of central treasury liquidity) to ensure sufficient liquidity is available.

211.

Common Provisioning Fund


The CPF is managed according to the principle that the assets shall have a sufficient degree of liquidity and mobilisation in relation to the relevant commitments. The portfolio is composed of liquid assets that can be sold to meet short-term cash outflows if necessary. In addition the share of cash, cash equivalents and securities maturing within 1 year is 18%.

The settlement of derivative contracts is gross and is based on their contractual maturity. Obligations are honoured via sales of USD-denominated assets and/or a swap transaction, whereby it is possible that a cash outflow arises due to foreign exchange differences. No liquidity management is necessary with regard to collateral or margin requirements, as the current hedging counterparty accepts to operate with the Commission without any requirements for collateral or margin calls.

109. OTHER PRICE RISK

As at 31 December 2022, the EU is exposed to other price risks (equity risk) arising from non-quoted equity investments (such as venture capital and other investment funds), money market funds (such as the EIB Unitary Fund) and investments in pooled portfolios (see note 2.4.2.1), as well as through guarantees covering non-quoted equity and quasi equity investments, treated as derivatives at fair value through surplus or deficit (see note 2.4.2.2).

Equity price risk refers to the risk that the fair values of equity investments change as the result of fluctuations in the levels of equity prices and/or the value of the guaranteed equity investments. The effect on surplus or deficit of a 10% value increase or decrease of the above-mentioned instruments would be as follows:

EUR million
10%(10)%
Equity investments253(253)
MMFs, ETFs and investments in pooled portfolios290(290)
Guarantees on equity*469(469)
Total at 31.12.20221,012(1,012)
Equity investments238(238)
MMFs, ETFs and investments in pooled portfolios251(251)
Guarantees on equity*415(415)
Total at 31.12.2021905(905)
* The risk of guarantees on equity is based on the notional amount that is covered by the guarantee.

The EU invests in, or guarantees, unquoted assets whose values are not publicly available. Most of these financial instruments are implemented by the entrusted entities, who are experts in the industry and they assess and monitor those assets on a regular basis.


110. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

111. RELATED PARTIES

The related parties of the EU are the EU consolidated entities, associates and the key management personnel of these entities. Transactions between these entities take place as part of the normal operations of the EU and as this is the case, no specific disclosure requirements are necessary for these transactions in accordance with the EU accounting rules.

112. KEY MANAGEMENT ENTITLEMENTS

For the purposes of presenting information on related party transactions concerning the key management personnel of the EU, such persons are shown here under five categories:

212.

Category 1: the Presidents of the European Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union


Category 2: the Vice-president of the Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the other Vice-presidents of the Commission

Category 3: the Secretary-General of the Council, the Members of the Commission, the Judges and Advocates General of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the President and Members of the General Court, the Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor

Category 4: the President and Members of the European Court of Auditors

Category 5: the highest-ranking civil servants of the Institutions and Agencies

A summary of their entitlements is given below – further information can be found in the Staff Regulations published on the Europa website which is the official document describing the rights and obligations of all officials of the EU. Key management personnel have not received any preferential loans from the EU.


KEY MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS

EUR
Entitlement (per employee)Category 1Category 2Category 3Category 4Category 5
Basic salary (per month)31 251.8828 307.86 - 29 440.1822 646.29 - 25 477.0724 458.00 - 26 043.2414 399.72 - 22 646.29
Residential/Expatriation allowance15%15%15%15%0-4%-16%
Family allowances:
Household (% salary)2% + 210.212% + 210.212% + 210.212% + 210.212% + 210.21
Dependent child459.32459.32459.32459.32459.32
Pre-school112.21112.21112.21112.21112.21
Education, or311.65311.65311.65311.65311.65
Education outside place of work623.30623.30623.30623.30623.30
Presiding judges allowanceN/AN/A715.05N/AN/A
Representation allowance1 693.581 088.45715.05N/AN/A
Annual travel costsN/AN/AN/AN/AReimbursed
Transfers to Member State:
Education allowance*YesYesYesYesYes
% of salary*5%5%5%5%5%
% of salary with no ccmax 25%max 25%max 25%max 25%max 25%
Representation expensesReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedN/AN/A
Taking up duty:
Installation expenses

(Cat. 1-4: two months of basic salary)
62 503.7656 615.72 - 58 880.3645 292.58 - 50 954.1548 915.99 - 52 086.47Reimbursed
Family travel expensesReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursed
Moving expensesReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursed
Leaving office:
Resettlement expenses

(Cat. 1-4: one month of basic salary)
31 251.8828 307.86 - 29 440.1822 646.29 - 25 477.0724 458.00 - 26 043.24Reimbursed
Family travel expensesReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursed
Moving expensesReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursedReimbursed
Transition (% salary)**40% - 65%40% - 65%40% - 65%40% - 65%N/A
Sickness insuranceCoveredCoveredCoveredCoveredCovered
Pension (% salary, before tax)Max 70%Max 70%Max 70%Max 70%Max 70%
Deductions:
Community tax8% - 45%8% - 45%8% - 45%8% - 45%8% - 45%
Sickness insurance (% salary)1.7%1.7%1.7%1.7%1.7%
Special levy on salary7%7%7%7%6-7%
Pension deductionN/AN/AN/AN/A10.1%
Number of persons at year-end389327112
* with correction coefficient (‘CC’) applied
** paid for the first 3 years following departure

113. EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE

At the date of signature of these accounts no material issues had come to the attention of, or were reported to, the Accounting Officer of the Commission that would require separate disclosure under this section. The accounts and related notes were prepared using the most recently available information and this is reflected in the information presented.

114. SCOPE OF CONSOLIDATION

A. CONTROLLED ENTITIES (54)
1. Institutions and consultative bodies (11)
European ParliamentEuropean Data Protection Supervisor
European CouncilEuropean Economic and Social Committee
European CommissionEuropean Ombudsman
European Court of AuditorsEuropean Committee of the Regions
Court of Justice of the European UnionCouncil of the European Union
European External Action Service
2. EU Agencies (41)
2.1. Executive Agencies (6)
European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA)
European Research Executive Agency (REA)European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
2.2. Decentralised Agencies (35)
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
European Medicines Agency (EMA)European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)
European Environment Agency (EEA)European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
European Banking Authority (EBA)European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)European Training Foundation (ETF)
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound)
European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)
European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (Fusion for Energy)
Agency for Support for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC Office)European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)
European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX)European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)
European Labour Authority (ELA)
3. Other controlled entities (2)
European Coal and Steel Community in Liquidation (ECSC i.L.)European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
B. ASSOCIATES (1)
European Investment Fund (EIF)


213.

MINOR ENTITIES


The entities listed below have not been consolidated using the equity method in the 2022 EU consolidated financial statements on the basis of immateriality:

MINOR ENTITES (8)
Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)
Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU)
Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (Clean H2 JU)
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU)
Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU)
Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking (KDT JU)
Single European Sky ATM Research 3 Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU)
European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC)

The annual accounts of the above entities are publicly available on their respective websites.

214.

EUROPEAN UNION


FINANCIAL YEAR 2022


BUDGETARY IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES


It should be noted that due to the rounding of figures into millions of euros, some financial data in the tables below may appear not to add-up.

CONTENTS


1. EU BUDGET RESULT 140

2. STATEMENTS OF COMPARISON OF BUDGET AND ACTUAL AMOUNTS 141

3. NOTES TO THE BUDGETARY IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS 143

3.1. THE EU BUDGET FRAMEWORK 143

3.2. MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 2021-2027 143

3.3. MFF DETAILED HEADINGS (PROGRAMMES) 146

3.4. NextGenerationEU 146

3.5. ANNUAL BUDGET 147

3.6. REVENUE 149

3.7. CALCULATION OF THE BUDGET RESULT 150

3.8. RECONCILIATION OF ECONOMIC RESULT WITH BUDGET RESULT 152

4. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2022 EU BUDGET 154

5. IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET REVENUE 155

5.1. SUMMARY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET REVENUE 155

6. IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET EXPENDITURE 156

6.1. MFF: BREAKDOWN & CHANGES IN COMMITMENT & PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS 156

6.2. MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS 157

6.3. MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS 158

6.4. MFF: MOVEMENTS IN OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS (RAL) 159

6.5. MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY YEAR OF ORIGIN 160

6.6. MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY APPROPRIATIONS TYPE 161

6.7. DETAILED MFF: BREAKDOWN AND CHANGES IN COMMITMENT AND PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS 162

6.8. DETAILED MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS 168

6.9. DETAILED MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS 174

6.10. DETAILED MFF: MOVEMENTS IN OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS (RAL) 181

6.11. DETAILED MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY YEAR OF ORIGIN 187

6.12. DETAILED MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY APPROPRIATIONS TYPE 191

7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET BY INSTITUTION 197

7.1. IMPLEMENTATION OF BUDGET REVENUE 197

7.2. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS 198

7.3. IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS 199

8. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENCIES' BUDGETS 200

8.1. BUDGET REVENUE 200

8.2. COMMITMENT AND PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS BY AGENCY 201

1. EU BUDGET RESULT

EUR million
Note20222021
aRevenue for the financial year245 265239 596
bPayments against current year appropriations(239 157)(226 175)
cPayment appropriations carried over to year N+1(2 452)(4 244)
dCancellation of unused appropriations carried over from year N-180265
eEvolution of assigned revenue (B)-(A)(1 121)(6 338)
Unused appropriations at the end of current year (A)15 15214 032
Unused appropriations at the end of previous year (B)14 0327 694
fExchange rate differences for the year(97)126
Budget result2 5193 230

The budget result of the EU is returned to the Member States in 2023 through deduction of their amounts due. It is calculated in accordance with Article 1 i of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 608/2014 laying down implementing measures for the system of own resources. More information can be found under section 3.7 Calculation of the budget result.


a. Revenue for the financial year: table 5.1 “Summary of the implementation of EU Budget Revenue”, column 8 “Total Revenue”.

b. Payments against current year appropriations: table 6.3 “MFF – Implementation of Payment appropriations”, column 2 “Payments made from adopted budget and column 4 “Payments made from assigned revenue”.

c. Payment appropriations carried over to year N+1: table 6.3 “MFF – Implementation of Payment appropriations”, column 7 automatic carry-overs plus column 8 carry-over by decision.

d. Cancellation of unused payment appropriations carried over from year N-1: takes into account the amount of payment appropriations carried over (automatically and on decision) at the end of previous year and the current year’s “Payments made from carryovers” as in column 3 of table 6.3 “MFF – Implementation of Payment appropriations”.

e. Evolution of the total assigned revenue appropriations at year-end: calculates the difference of the amount of assigned revenue appropriations at the end of previous year (plus) and the amount of assigned revenue appropriations at the end of the current year (as in column 9 of table 6.3 “MFF – Implementation of Payment appropriations” - minus) to obtain the net variation of assigned revenue in the current year.

f. Exchange rate differences include realised and non-realised exchange rate differences.


2. STATEMENTS OF COMPARISON OF BUDGET AND ACTUAL AMOUNTS

Budget revenue

EUR million
Initial budget adoptedFinal adopted budgetEntitlements establishedRevenue
1Own resources157 701153 928157 320155 758
11 - Sugar levies00(1)(1)
12 - Customs duties17 91323 76527 41925 857
13 - VAT19 07119 71419 66619 666
14 - GNI114 719104 088103 880103 880
16 - Reduction of GNI-based contribution granted to certain Member States1919
17 - Plastic packaging waste5 9976 3616 3376 337
2Surpluses, balances and adjustments02 9803 2333 227
3Administrative revenue1 7911 7912 6562 607
4Financial revenue, default interest and fines11545416 635596
5Budgetary guarantees, borrowing-and-lending operations0062 20362 203
6Revenue, contributions and refunds related to union policies10 99710 88426 68920 874
Total170 603170 038268 736245 265
of which Next Generation EU (NGEU)62 40962 409


Budget expenditure: commitments by multiannual financial framework (MFF) heading

EUR million
MFF HeadingInitial adopted budgetFinal adopted budgetTotal

appropriations

available
Commitments made
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital21 77521 84533 07127 330
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values56 03967 805325 372218 907
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion49 70961 31476 06874 632
2b. Resilience and values6 3306 491249 303144 275
3Natural Resources and Environment56 23556 68175 20068 142
of which: Market related expenditure and direct payments40 36940 36941 68741 182
4Migration and Border Management3 0913 4103 5203 446
5Security and Defence1 7851 8131 8511 840
6Neighbourhood and the World17 17017 67020 36420 153
7European Public Administration10 62010 78312 07511 664
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions4 4214 4855 0414 850
OOutside MFF6 6923 006
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 7992 2193 5312 602
Total169 516182 227481 676357 091
of which Next Generation EU (NGEU)277 772162 702


Budget expenditure: payments by multiannual financial framework (MFF) heading

EUR million
MFF HeadingInitial adopted budgetFinal adopted budgetTotal

appropriations

available
Payments made
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital21 47420 60629 37925 174
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values62 05363 140129 654126 570
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion56 35157 61075 54673 015
2b. Resilience and values5 7025 53154 10853 555
3Natural Resources and Environment56 60255 78259 27158 276
of which: Market related expenditure and direct payments40 39340 35641 67441 152
4Migration and Border Management3 0783 3733 6423 368
5Security and Defence1 2381 1591 1921 154
6Neighbourhood and the World12 91613 15614 90214 521
7European Public Administration10 62010 78313 14911 583
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions4 4214 4855 7244 801
OOutside MFF6 83072
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 6232 0403 3512 602
Total170 603170 038261 370243 321
of which Next Generation EU (NGEU)64 29263 456


Budget expenditure: outstanding commitments by multiannual financial (MFF) heading

EUR million
MFF HeadingOutstanding commitments carried-over from 2021Liquidation of outstanding commitm. carried from 2021New outstanding commitments from 2022Total outstanding commit-

ments
1234=1+2+3
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital48 717(19 897)21 30950 130
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values209 033(89 435)181 482301 081
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion152 840(66 138)67 599154 302
2b. Resilience and values56 193(23 297)113 883146 779
3Natural Resources and Environment43 691(16 188)25 95753 459
of which: Market related expenditure and direct payments334(124)147357
4Migration and Border Management3 980(1 515)1 5434 008
5Security and Defence2 397(790)1 4553 061
6Neighbourhood and the World32 535(9 906)14 33336 962
7European Public Administration1 076(1 076)1 0481 048
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions684(684)654654
OOutside MFF147(20)2 9443 071
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)00
Total341 575(138 826)250 071452 821
of which Next Generation EU (NGEU)89 907(34 847)134 072189 132
of which excluding Next Generation EU (NGEU)251 668(103 979)116 000263 689

3. NOTES TO THE BUDGETARY IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS

1. THE EU BUDGET FRAMEWORK

The budgetary accounts are kept in accordance with the Financial Regulation (FR). The general budget is the instrument which provides for and authorises the Union's revenue and expenditure every year, within the ceilings and other provisions laid down in the MFF in line with the legislative acts concerning multiannual programmes adopted under that framework.


2. MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 2021-2027

EUR million

in current prices
2021202220232024202520262027Total
1. Single Market, Innovation and Digital
20 91921 27821 72720 98421 27221 84722 077150 704
2. Cohesion, Resilience and Values
6 36467 80670 13772 36774 99366 53670 283428 486
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion1 76961 34562 93964 68366 47956 72558 639372 579
2b. Resilience and Values4 5956 4617 1987 6848 5149 81111 64455 907
3. Natural Resources and Environment
56 84156 96557 29557 44957 55857 33257 557400 997
of which: Market related expenditure and direct payments40 36840 63940 69341 64941 78241 91342 047289 091
4. Migration and Border Management
1 7913 3603 8143 8664 3874 3154 46525 998
5. Security and Defence
1 6961 8961 9462 0042 2432 4352 70514 925
6. Neighbourhood and the World
16 24716 80216 32915 83015 30414 75415 331110 597
7. European Public Administration
10 63511 05811 41911 77312 12412 50612 95982 474
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions8 2168 5288 7729 0069 2199 4649 78662 991
Commitment appropriations114 493179 765182 667184 273187 881179 725185 3771 214 181
Total payment appropriations163 496170 558168 575168 853172 230175 674179 1871 198 573

Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the 2021-2027 MFF was adopted on 17 December 202019. The above table shows the MFF ceilings at current prices20, in accordance with the fixed annual deflator of 2% set out in Article 4 i of the MFF Regulation. As stipulated in the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the 2021-2027 MFF, for commitment appropriations the amounts are split per Heading; for payment appropriations the ceilings only apply at total level. 2022 was the second financial year covered by the MFF 2021-2027.


215.

2022 events


On 7 June 2021, the Commission adopted a Communication on the technical adjustment of the MFF for the year 202221. The programme specific adjustment (according to MFF regulation Art. 5(2)) was implemented with the additional allocations for specific programmes referred to in Annex II of the MFF Regulation and the resulting upwards adjustments of the ceilings for commitment and payment appropriations. The revenue from fines imposed under Council Regulations (EC) No 1/200322 and (EC) No 139/200423 entered in the budget of 2020 were below the minimum threshold of EUR 1.5 billion in 2018 prices set in the article. Therefore, the minimum threshold provided the total volume of the adjustment for 2022 in 2018 prices. The adjustment in current prices amounted to EUR 1.624 billion. The main impacts in 2022 were under Heading 1 (EUR 0.59 billion), Heading 2(b) (EUR 0.89 billion) and Heading 4 (EUR 0.15 billion).

The reprogramming of unused 2021 commitment appropriations for programmes in shared management in accordance with Article 7 of the MFF Regulation was implemented by a specific adjustment of the MFF provided in the Commission Communication of 28 January 202224 with an adjustment of the MFF ceilings and a related amending budget for 2022. The allocations not used in 2021 and not carried over were transfered in equal proportions to each of the years 2022 to 2025. The total transfer from 2021 amounted EUR 49 billion coming from main impacts in 2022 were under Heading 2(a) (EUR 46.4 billion), Heading 3 (EUR 1.8 billion), Heading 4 (EUR 0.7 billion) and Heading 5 (EUR 0.1 billion). The main impacts in 2022 were under Heading 2(a) (EUR 11.6 billion), Heading 3 (EUR 0.4 billion), Heading 4 (EUR 0.2 billion) and Heading 5 (EUR 0.02 billion).

The overall ceiling for commitment appropriations for 2022 was EUR 179 765 million, whilst the corresponding ceiling for payment appropriations was EUR 170 558 million.

Pursuant to Article 312 i TFEU, the MFF determines the amounts of the annual ceilings for commitment appropriations by category of expenditure (‘headings’) and of the annual ceilings for payment appropriations. MFF headings correspond to the Union’s major sectors of activity. An explanation of the various headings of the 2021-2027 MFF is given below.

The MFF 2021-2027 amounts to EUR 1 211 billion (EUR 1 074 billion in 2018 prices), including the European Development Fund (EDF). In addition, NextGenerationEU provides an additional amount of EUR 806.9 billion (EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices) up to 2023 in commitments and 2026 in payments.

For the annual budget procedure, the budget nomenclature is further structured by policy ‘clusters’, providing further clarity on how individual spending programmes contribute to the Union’s policy goals.

Heading 1 – Single Market, Innovation and Digital

This heading includes key EU programmes supporting the areas of research and innovation, digital transformation, strategic infrastructure, strengthening the single market and strategic space projects. Programmes under this heading include Horizon Europe, the InvestEU Fund, Connecting Europe Facility, the Single market programme and the European space programme.

Programmes receiving contributions from NGEU (external assigned revenue) in this heading: Horizon Europe and InvestEU Fund.

Heading 2 – Sustainable growth: natural resources

This heading is divided in two sub-headings: Economic, social and territorial cohesion (2a), and Resilience and values (2b).

Spending under this heading aims at strengthening the resilience and cohesion between the EU Member States. The funding helps reduce disparities in and between EU regions, and within and across Member States, and promotes sustainable territorial development (European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund Plus). It also supports the Union’s solidarity and cooperation in preparedness and response to disasters (Union Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU). In addition, programmes under this heading seek to make the EU more resilient to present and future challenges by investing in the green and digital transition, young people (Erasmus), health (EU4Health) and action to protect EU values (Justice, Rights and Values) and promote cultural diversity (Creative Europe).

This heading includes the RRF, powered by the vast majority of the funding provided by NGEU over the period 2021-2023. Other programmes receiving contributions from NGEU (external assigned revenue) in this heading: REACT-EU, Union Civil Protection Mechanism (rescEU). For a more detailed overview of the RRF activities, consult sections on the NGEU 2.2 and 2.3 of the Financial Highlights of the Year.

Heading 3 – Natural Resources and Environment

Expenditure under this heading invests in sustainable agriculture (common agricultural policy) and fisheries and maritime policy (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund), as well programmes dedicated to environmental protection and climate action (LIFE programme, Just Transition Fund).

Programmes receiving contributions from NGEU (external assigned revenue) in this heading: rural development, Just Transition Fund.

Heading 4 – Migration and Border Management

The programmes (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, Integrated Border Management Fund) and the decentralised agencies (such as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the European Union Agency for Asylum) financed under this heading seek to tackle the challenges linked to migration and the management of the EU’s external borders and to the safeguarding of the asylum system within the EU.

Heading 5 – Security and Defence

This heading reflects the increased need for cooperation at Union level to address security threats and increase its strategic autonomy. It includes programmes whose role is to improve the security and safety of Europe’s citizens (Internal Security Fund), to strengthen Europe’s defence capacities (European Defence Fund), and to provide the tools needed to respond to internal and external security challenges.

Heading 6 – Neighbourhood and the World

Programmes under this heading reinforce the EU socio-economic impact in its neighbourhood, in developing countries and the rest of the world. The new NDICI- Global Europe instrument merges several former EU external financing instruments, including cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries previously financed by the European Development Fund. The heading also includes assistance for countries preparing for accession to the EU (Pre-accession assistance) and the Union’s Humanitarian Aid programme.

216.

Heading 7 - European Public Administration


This heading covers administrative expenditure for all institutions, pensions and the European Schools.

217.

S - Special instruments


Flexibility mechanisms in the EU budget enable the EU to mobilise the necessary funds to react to unforeseen events such as crisis, natural disasters and emergency situations. Their scope, financial allocation and operating modalities are provided for in the MFF Regulation and the Inter institutional Agreement. They ensure that budgetary resources can respond to evolving priorities, so that every euro is used where it is most needed.

In the annual budgetary nomenclature and implementation, they are identified as special instruments (‘S’), as they can be mobilised over and above the MFF expenditure ceilings, both for commitment and payment appropriations.



3. MFF DETAILED HEADINGS (PROGRAMMES)

The headings of the MFF are further broken down into detailed headings, corresponding to the main spending programmes (e.g. Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ etc.). Underlying legal bases for budget implementation are adopted at this programme level. Programmes are the commonly used structure for reporting on implementation and results. Tables by programme are available in the budgetary implementation reports (see tables 6.7 - 6.12 below).


4. NextGenerationEU

With a budget of EUR 421.1 billion for the non-repayable support (grants), NGEU has a major impact on the total EU annual budgets 2021 through to 2026 and on their implementation. In 2021, this amount has been fully inscribed as assigned revenue appropriations. All commitments for the non-repayable support will be entered by the 31 December 2023 and will be honoured by payments by 31 December 2026, in accordance with the Articles 3 i and 3(9) of the EURI Regulation25.

For a comprehensive overview of the NGEU activities, consult sections 2.2 and 2.3 of the Financial Highlights of the Year.



5. ANNUAL BUDGET

The budget adoption procedure is laid down in Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The following diagram presents the deadlines as well as the steps of the budget adoption.


1. In practice, the three institutions endeavour to present their respective documents earlier in the year in order to smooth the process.

2. The Conciliation Committee is composed of the members of the Council or their representatives and an equal number of members representing the European Parliament. The Commission takes part in the Conciliation Committee’s proceedings and takes all the necessary initiatives to reconcile the positions of the European Parliament and the Council.

3. The European Parliament approves the joint text and then, within 14 days of the Council’s rejection, decides (by a majority of its component members and 3/5 of the votes cast) to confirm all or some of its amendments.

The budget structure for the Commission consists of administrative and operational appropriations. The other Institutions have only administrative appropriations. Furthermore, the budget distinguishes between two types of appropriations: non-differentiated and differentiated. Non-differentiated appropriations are used to finance operations of an annual nature (which comply with the principle of annuality). Differentiated appropriations are used in order to reconcile the principle of annuality with the need to manage multiannual operations. Differentiated appropriations are split into commitment and payment appropriations:

- commitment appropriations: cover the total cost of the legal obligations, entered into for the current financial year, for operations extending over a number of years. However, budgetary commitments for actions extending over more than one financial year may be broken down over several years, into annual instalments, where the basic act so provides.

- payment appropriations: cover expenditure arising from commitments entered into in the current financial year and/or earlier financial years.

In the accounts, the types of funding are grouped into two main items:

- Final adopted budget appropriations; and

- Additional appropriations containing:

- Carry-overs from previous year (the financial regulation allows, for a limited number of cases, to carry unspent amounts from the previous year into the current year); and
- Assigned revenue arising from reimbursements, contributions from third parties/countries to EU programmes and work performed for third parties; these are assigned directly to the corresponding expenditure budget lines and constitute the third pillar of funding.

All funding types together form the available appropriations.


6. REVENUE

218.

1. Own resources revenue


The vast majority of revenue comes from own resources, which consist of the following categories:

1. Traditional own resources (TOR): accounted for around 16% of own resources revenue in 2022.

2. Value added tax (VAT) based resource: accounted for around 13% of own resources revenue in 2022.

3. Resource based on plastic packaging waste that is not recycled: accounted for around 4% of own resources revenue in 2022.

4. Gross national income (GNI) based resource: accounted for around 67% of own resources revenue in 2022.

Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the EU (Own Resources Decision 2020) specifies the categories of own resources and lays down the methods for their calculation. This decision entered into force on 1 June 2021 and was applied retroactively from 1 January 2021.

The Own Resources Decision 2020 stipulates that the total amount of own resources allocated to the Union to cover annual appropriations for payments shall not exceed 1.40% of the sum of all the Member States’ GNIs. In addition, the decision empowers the Commission on an exceptional basis to borrow temporarily up to EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices on the capital markets on behalf of the Union to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic through the recovery instrument NextGenerationEU. The own resources ceiling for appropriations for payments will be increased temporarily by 0.6 percentage points to cover all liabilities resulting from this borrowing.

As from 2021, ‘other revenue’ of the EU budget includes the financial contributions from the United Kingdom resulting from the financial settlement under the UK Withdrawal agreement.



219.

2. Traditional own resources (TOR)


TOR consist of customs duties levied on imports from third countries, which are collected by Member States on behalf of the EU. However, Member States retain 25% to cover their collection costs. All established TOR amounts must be entered in one of the following accounts kept by the competent authorities:

- In the ordinary accounts provided for in Article 6 i of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014: all amounts recovered or guaranteed.

- In the separate accounts provided for in the same Article: all amounts not yet recovered and/or not guaranteed; amounts guaranteed but challenged may also be entered in this account.

Member States must book TOR to the Commission’s account via their treasury or national central bank no later than the first working day after the 19th day of the second month following the month in which the entitlement was established (or recovered in the case of the separate account).



220.

3. Value added tax (VAT)


The VAT own resource is calculated based on Member States’ VAT bases, which are harmonised for this purpose in accordance with EU rules. A uniform call rate of 0.30% applies to each Member State’s total amount of VAT receipts collected for all taxable supplies divided by the weighted average VAT rate. The VAT base is capped at 50% of each Member State’s GNI.




221.

4. Non-recycled plastic packaging waste


A uniform call rate of EUR 0.80 per kilogram applies to the weight of plastic packaging waste generated in each Member State that is not recycled. The plastic packaging waste that is not recycled in a given year is calculated as the difference between the plastic packaging waste generated and the plastic packaging waste recycled in that year in a Member State. Bulgaria, the Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia are entitled to specific annual lump sum reductions in their respective plastics own resource contributions.



222.

5. Gross national income (GNI)


The resource based on gross national income (GNI) is used to finance that part of the budget that is not covered by other revenue sources. A uniform call rate is levied on each Member State’s GNI, which is established in accordance with EU rules.



223.

6. Gross reduction


For the period 2021-2027, the following Member States benefit from a gross reduction in their annual GNI-based contributions; EUR 565 million for Austria, EUR 377 million for Denmark, EUR 3 671 million for Germany, EUR 1 921 million for the Netherlands and EUR 1 069 million for Sweden. These gross reductions are measured in 2020 prices and financed by all Member States.



224.

7. Adjustments to own resources of previous financial years


VAT and GNI-based resources are determined on the basis of forecasts of the relevant bases made when the draft budget is prepared. These forecasts are subsequently revised and updated during the budget year concerned, by means of an amending budget. Differences between the amounts due by the Member States with reference to the actual bases, and the amounts actually paid on the basis of the (revised) forecasts, either positive or negative, are called by the Commission from the Member States for the first working day of March of the third year following the budget year concerned. Corrections may still be made to the actual VAT and GNI bases during the subsequent four years, unless a reservation is issued. These reservations represent potential claims on the Member States for uncertain amounts, as their financial impact cannot be accurately estimated. When the exact amount can be determined, the corresponding VAT and GNI-based resources are called either in connection with the VAT and GNI balances exercise or by individual calls for funds.The forecast of the plastics-based own resource is adjusted in a similar way. However, the differences between the amounts due by the Member States according to their annual statements with the outturn data, and the amounts actually paid on the basis of the (revised) forecasts, either positive or negative, are called by the Commission from the Member States for the first working day of June of the third year following the budget year concerned. Corrections may still be made to the actual bases during the subsequent five years, unless a reservation is issued.


7. CALCULATION OF THE BUDGET RESULT

The budget result of the EU is returned to the Member States during the following year through deduction of their amounts due for that year.

The amounts of own resources entered in the accounts are those credited during the course of the year to the accounts opened in the Commission's name by the governments of the Member States. Revenue comprises also, in the case of a surplus, the budget result for the previous financial year. The other revenue entered in the accounts is the amount actually received during the course of the year.

For the purposes of calculating the budget result for the year, expenditure comprises payments made against the year's appropriations plus any of the appropriations for that year that are carried over to the following year. Payments made against the year's appropriations means payments that are made by the Accounting Officer by 31 December of the financial year. For the EAGF, payments are those effected by the Member States between 16 October N-1 and 15 October N, provided that the Accounting Officer was notified of the commitment and authorisation by 31 January N+1. EAGF expenditure may be subject to a conformity decision following controls in the Member States.

The budget result comprises two elements: the result of the EU and the result of the participation of the EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA). In accordance with Article 1 i of Regulation No 608/2014 laying down implementing measures for the system of own resources, this result represents the difference between:

- total revenue received for the financial year; and

- total payments made against current year's appropriations plus the total amount of that year's appropriations carried over to the following year.

The following are added to or deducted from the resulting figure:

- the net balance of cancellations of payment appropriations carried over from previous years and any payments which, because of fluctuations in the euro rate, exceed non-differentiated appropriations carried over from the previous year;

- the evolution of assigned revenue; and

- the net exchange rate gains or losses recorded during the year.

Appropriations carried over from the previous financial year in respect of contributions by and work for third parties, which by definition never lapse, are included as additional appropriations for the financial year. This explains the difference between carryovers from the previous year in the year N budget implementation reports and those carried over to the following year in the year N-1 budget implementation reports. Commitment appropriations made available again following the repayment of payments on account are disregarded when calculating the budget result.

Payment appropriations carried over include automatic carry-overs and carry-overs by decision. The cancellation of unused payment appropriations carried over from the previous year comprises the cancellations of appropriations carried over automatically and by decision.


8. RECONCILIATION OF ECONOMIC RESULT WITH BUDGET RESULT

EUR million
20222021
ECONOMIC RESULT OF THE YEAR(91 949)(42 100)
Revenue
Entitlements established in current year but not yet collected(5 978)(7 068)
Entitlements established in previous years and collected in current year74 08864 356
Accrued revenue (net)2 072(5 434)
70 18251 854
Expenses
Accrued expenses (net)45 64853 108
Expenses prior year paid in current year(2 053)(1 046)
Net-effect pre-financing(21 659)(47 608)
Payment appropriations carried over to next year(2 660)(4 449)
Payments made from carry-overs & cancellation of unused payment appropriations3 331(4 047)
Movement in provisions3 6501 032
Other(2 139)(3 577)
24 118(6 587)
Economic result Agencies and ECSC i.L.16861
BUDGET RESULT OF THE YEAR2 5193 230

In accordance with the Financial Regulation, the economic result of the year is calculated on the basis of accrual accounting principles and the EU Accounting Rules, while the budget result is based on modified cash accounting rules. As the economic result and the budget result cover the same underlying transactions – the exception being the other (non-budgetary) sources of revenue and expenditure of the agencies and the ECSC in Liquidation which are included in the economic result only – the reconciliation of the economic result of the year with the budget result of the year serves as a useful consistency check.

Reconciling items – Revenue

The actual budgetary revenue for a financial year corresponds to the revenue collected from entitlements established in the course of the year and amounts collected from entitlements established in previous years. Therefore the entitlements established in the current year but not yet collected are to be deducted from the economic result for reconciliation purposes as they do not form part of budgetary revenue. On the contrary the entitlements established in previous years and collected in current year must be added to the economic result for reconciliation purposes.

The accrued revenue mainly consists of amounts related to financial corrections, own resources, interests and dividends. Only the net effect, i.e. accrued revenue for current year minus reversal accrued revenue from previous year, is taken into consideration.

Reconciling items – Expenditure

The accrued expenses mainly consists of accruals made for year-end cut-off purposes, i.e. eligible expenses incurred by beneficiaries of EU funds but not yet reported to the Commission. Only the net-effect, i.e. accrued expenses for current year minus the reversal of accrued expenses from the previous year, is taken into consideration. Payments made in the current year relating to invoices registered in prior years are part of current year's budgetary expenditure and therefore must be added to the economic result for reconciliation purposes.

The net effect of pre-financing is the combination of i the new pre-financing amounts paid in the current year and recognised as budgetary expenditure of the year and i the clearing of the pre-financing through eligible costs accepted during the current year. The latter represent an expense in accrual terms but not in the budgetary accounts since the payment of the initial pre-financing had already been considered as a budgetary expenditure at the time of its payment.

As well as the payments made against the year's appropriations, the appropriations for that year that are carried forward to the next year also need to be taken into account in calculating the budget result for the year (in accordance with Article 1 i of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 608/2014). The same applies for the budgetary payments made in the current year from carry-overs from previous years, and the cancellation of unused payment appropriations.

The movement in provisions relates to year-end estimates made in the financial statements (employee benefits mainly) that do not impact the budgetary accounts. Other reconciling amounts comprise different elements such as asset amortisation/depreciation, asset acquisitions, capital lease payments and financial participations for which the budgetary and accrual accounting treatments differ.

Reconciling item – Economic result Agencies and ECSC in Liquidation

The budget result of the year is a non-consolidated figure and does not include the other (non-budgetary) sources of revenue and expenditure of the consolidated agencies and the ECSC i.L. (see note 6). To reconcile the economic result of the year – a consolidated figure which includes these amounts – with the budgetary result of the year, the whole consolidated economic result of the year of the agencies and the ECSC i.L. is presented as a reconciling item.


4. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2022 EU BUDGET

Please see section 3, “Summary of budget implementation" in the Financial Highlights of the Year for explanatory notes on the 2022 budget implementation for revenue and expenditure, outstanding commitments and budget result.

5. IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET REVENUE

1. SUMMARY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET REVENUE

EUR million
Income appropriationsEntitlements establishedRevenueReceipts as % of budgetOut-

standing
TitleInitial adopted budgetFinal adopted budgetCurrent yearCarried overTotalOn entitle-

ments of current year
On entitle-

ments carried over
Total
12345=3+4678=6+79=8/210=5-8
1Own resources157 701153 928155 0832 237157 320155 073686155 758101 %1 562
11 - Sugar levies00(1)(0)(1)(1)(1)-(0)
12 - Customs duties17 91323 76525 1812 23727 41925 17168625 857109 %1 562
13 - VAT19 07119 71419 66619 66619 66619 666100 %
14 - GNI114 719104 088103 880103 880103 880103 880100 %
16 - Reduction of GNI-based contribution granted to certain Member States19191919-
17 - Plastic packaging waste5 9976 3616 3376 3376 3376 337100 %
2Surpluses, balances and adjustments02 9803 22773 2333 2273 227108 %7
3Administrative revenue1 7911 7912 581752 6562 554532 607146 %49
4Financial revenue, default interest and fines115454(226)16 86116 635(949)1 544596131 %16 039
5Budgetary guarantees, borrowing-and-lending operations0062 20362 20362 20362 203-
6Revenue, contributions and refunds related to union policies10 99710 88420 4026 28726 68914 9525 92220 874192 %5 815
Total170 603170 038243 26925 467268 736237 0598 205245 265144 %23 471





6. IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BUDGET EXPENDITURE

1. MFF: BREAKDOWN & CHANGES IN COMMITMENT & PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Commitment appropriationsPayment appropriations
MFF HeadingBudget appropriationsAdditional appropriationsTotal approp. availableBudget appropriationsAdditional appropriationsTotal approp. available
Initial adopted budgetAmending budgets & transfersFinal adopted budgetCarry-oversAssigned revenueInitial adopted budgetAmending budgets & transfersFinal adopted budgetCarry-oversAssigned revenue
123=1+2456=3+

4+5
789=7+8101112=9+

10+11
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital21 7757021 84523010 99533 07121 474(868)20 6061478 62529 379
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values56 03911 76667 8050257 566325 37262 0531 08863 1402766 487129 654
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion49 70911 60561 31414 75476 06856 3511 25957 610317 93475 546
2b. Resilience and values6 3301616 4910242 812249 3035 702(171)5 5312548 55354 108
3Natural Resources and Environment56 23544656 68168617 83275 20056 602(820)55 7826932 79759 271
of which: Market-related expenditure and direct payments40 369(0)40 36968663241 68740 393(37)40 35668763241 674
4Migration and Border Management3 0913193 41021083 5203 0782943 373272423 642
5Security and Defence1 785281 813381 8511 238(79)1 1595281 192
6Neighbourhood and the World17 17050017 6702 23745620 36412 91624013 1561 04869814 902
7European Public Administration10 62016310 783221 26912 07510 62016310 7831 0851 28113 149
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions4 421644 485225345 0414 421644 4856955445 724
OOutside MFF6 6926 6926 8306 830
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 799(580)2 2191 303103 5312 623(583)2 0401 30383 351
Total169 51612 711182 2274 481294 968481 676170 603(565)170 0384 33586 996261 370
2. MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

appropr.

available
Commitments madeAppropriations carried over to 2023Appropriations lapsing
MFF Headingfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal
12345=2+3

+4
6=5/1789=7+810111213=10+

11+12
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital33 07121 8432305 25727 33083 %5 7385 738213
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values325 37266 6440152 263218 90767 %159105 221105 3811 002821 084
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion76 06860 15914 47374 63298 %159199359996821 078
2b. Resilience and values249 3036 4850137 790144 27558 %0105 022105 022516
3Natural Resources and Environment75 20056 07067611 39668 14291 %4886 2756 76312310161295
of which: Market-related expenditure and direct payments41 68739 87667662941 18299 %4852488710018
4Migration and Border Management3 5203 3952503 44698 %165874000
5Security and Defence1 8511 809301 84099 %3711001
6Neighbourhood and the World20 36417 6332 23728320 15399 %381732110000
7European Public Administration12 07510 7332191111 66497 %1358359501152
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions5 0414 445213844 85096 %1149150401041
OOutside MFF6 6923 0063 00645 %3 6863 686
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)3 5311 2991 3032 60274 %74637491737180
Total481 676179 4254 469173 196357 09174 %1 451121 520122 9711 351122521 614



3. MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

appropr.

available
Payments madeAppropriations carried over to 2023Appropriations lapsing
MFF Headingfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal
12345=2+

3+4
6=5/1789=7+810111213=10+

11+12
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital29 37920 4711324 57025 17486 %1124 0524 1642315341
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values129 65463 0552463 491126 57098 %762 9953 071103114
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion75 54657 600115 41473 01597 %32 5202 5237208
2b. Resilience and values54 1085 4552348 07753 55599 %734755483205
3Natural Resources and Environment59 27155 1986822 39658 27698 %49340189491110102
of which: Market-related expenditure and direct payments41 67439 84667762941 15299 %48624882410034
4Migration and Border Management3 6423 29226493 36892 %3193196780078
5Security and Defence1 1921 1305191 15497 %6915230023
6Neighbourhood and the World14 90213 0491 03244014 52197 %932583521316030
7European Public Administration13 1499 83295979211 58388 %9234851 407501054158
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions5 7243 8705983334 80184 %59620880540763119
OOutside MFF6 83072721 %6 7576 757
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)3 3511 2941 30352 60278 %746374900
Total261 370167 3214 16371 837243 32193 %2 45215 15217 6042871517445



4. MFF: MOVEMENTS IN OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS (RAL)

EUR million
Commitments outstanding at the end of previous yearCommitments of the current yearTotal commitm. outstanding at the end of the year
MFF HeadingCommitm. carried forward from previous yearDecommitm./

Revaluations/

Cancellations
PaymentsCommitm. outstanding at year-endCommitm. made during the yearPaymentsCancellation of commitm. which cannot be carried overCommitm. outstanding at year-end
1234=1+2+35678=5+6+79=4+8
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital48 717(733)(19 163)28 82027 330(6 011)(10)21 30950 130
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values209 033(288)(89 146)119 599218 907(37 423)(1)181 482301 081
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion152 840(155)(65 983)86 70374 632(7 032)(1)67 599154 302
2b. Resilience and values56 193(133)(23 163)32 896144 275(30 392)(0)113 883146 779
3Natural Resources and Environment43 691(98)(16 091)27 50268 142(42 185)(0)25 95753 459
of which: Market-related expenditure and direct payments334(6)(118)21041 182(41 034)147357
4Migration and Border Management3 980(50)(1 464)2 4653 446(1 903)1 5434 008
5Security and Defence2 397(21)(769)1 6071 840(385)(0)1 4553 061
6Neighbourhood and the World32 535(1 205)(8 701)22 62920 153(5 820)(0)14 33336 962
7European Public Administration1 076(116)(960)011 664(10 623)71 0481 048
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions684(86)(598)4 850(4 203)7654654
OOutside MFF147(9)(11)1273 006(62)2 9443 071
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 602(2 602)00
Total341 575(2 520)(136 306)202 749357 091(107 015)(4)250 071452 821



5. MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY YEAR OF ORIGIN

EUR million
<20162016201720182019202020212022Total
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital6346121 3642 0725 4008 8959 82321 32950 130
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values2 1295286 0638 99715 49425 26861 090181 512301 081
3Natural Resources and Environment1 4841 1001 0171 2752 3496 63813 64025 95753 459
4Migration and Border Management17261051705591 0255621 5434 008
5Security and Defence2891111342043208011 4553 061
6Neighbourhood and the World1 1528141 3652 4923 9434 4528 41114 33336 962
7European Public Administration001 0481 048
OOutside MFF01272 9443 071
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)00
Total5 4453 09010 02515 14027 94946 59994 453250 120452 821


The set-up of the new Commission involved an internal re-organisation of services. Re-allocating the related transactions resulted in a shift of outstanding amount between years. The overall amount of outstanding commitments remains unchanged.


6. MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY APPROPRIATIONS TYPE

EUR million
From budget appropriationsFrom assigned revenue appropriationsTotal commitm. outstanding at the end of 2022
Commitm. carried forward from 2021Adjust-

ments
Commitm. madePayments madeAmount remaining to be settledCommitm. carried forward from 2021Adjust-

ments
Commitm. madePayments madeAmount remaining to be settled
12345=1+2+3-4678910=6+7+8-911=5+10
1Single Market, Innovation and Digital41 340(643)22 07320 22942 5417 377(100)5 2574 9457 58850 130
2Cohesion, Resilience and Values95 569(263)66 64463 01498 937113 465(27)152 26363 556202 144301 081
2a. Economic, social and territorial cohesion91 481(143)60 15957 55493 94361 360(13)14 47315 46160 358154 302
2b. Resilience and values4 088(120)6 4855 4604 99352 105(14)137 79048 095141 786146 779
3Natural Resources and Environment40 854(93)56 74656 22541 2812 837(5)11 3962 05112 17853 459
of which: Market related expenditure and direct payments334(6)40 55240 5233576296290357
4Migration and Border Management3 760(49)3 3973 2973 811219(2)50711974 008
5Security and Defence2 364(21)1 8091 1283 02533(0)3027363 061
6Neighbourhood and the World31 666(1 181)19 87014 07936 275869(24)28344268736 962
7European Public Administration968(48)10 75410 741932107(60)9118421161 048
of which: Administrative expenditure of the institutions630(22)4 4654 46860653(56)38433348654
OOutside MFF147(9)3 006723 0713 071
SSolidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 6022 60200
Total216 522(2 298)183 894171 315226 803125 053(227)173 19672 005226 018452 821



7. DETAILED MFF: BREAKDOWN AND CHANGES IN COMMITMENT AND PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Commitment appropriationsPayment appropriations
Budget appropriationsAdditional appropriationsTotal approp. availableBudget appropriationsAdditional appropriationsTotal approp. available
ProgrammeInitial adopted budgetAmending budgets & transfersFinal adopted budgetCarry-oversAssigned revenueInitial adopted budgetAmending budgets & transfersFinal adopted budgetCarry-oversAssigned revenue
123=1+2456=3+

4+5
789=7+8101112=9+

10+11
1Horizon Europe12 239112 2402305 24417 71412 559(439)12 120965 96118 178
Euratom271(1)27080350314(44)27025123417
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)71071023733668(107)561151613
Other actions690690371371
Pilot projects and prep. actions17171716(8)99
InvestEU Fund1 1971 1974 6775 8741 032251 05711 7172 775
CEF - Transport1 758401 799171 8161 886791 9661191 986
CEF - Energy800(3)7971481158943632112646
CEF - Digital283(34)2492251257(124)13314138
Digital Europe1 248(15)1 233311 264849(83)766721794
Decentralised agencies1921420613219192(1)19113204
Other actions000000000000
Pilot projects and prep. actions770726(5)21021
Actions under prerogatives of Commission24(1)2242623225126
Single Market6147468845733580(39)541857605
EU Anti-Fraud242412631(3)28129
Taxation373744136(8)280432
Customs1301308139115(5)10908118
Decentralised agencies120(4)11612128120(4)11612128
Other actions10(0)1001090909
Pilot projects and prep. actions17171713(6)88
European Space Programme2 0082 0081272 1352 088(135)1 95352482 206
Decentralised agencies686827068(5)64265
Pilot projects & preparatory actions000000000000
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital21 7757021 84523010 99533 07121 474(868)20 6061478 62529 379
2Regional Development (ERDF) *30 1747 25537 4297 98345 41229 5972 58332 181111 62543 807
Cohesion Fund4 8651 5816 4466577 10211 162(1 675)9 488074510 233
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport1 4941 494121 5071 8511 85141 855
Pilot projects and prep. actions33033(0)303
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) *13 1742 76915 9436 10222 04513 73635014 08725 55919 647
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community3434135376420043
European Recovery and Resilience119119239 943240 062112(14)98247 19647 296
Pericles IV11011(0)101
EU Recovery145(71)74175145(71)742176
RescEU10125335401 9592 31318762249329578
EU4Health840(0)83922861353(163)190410204
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)3773778126134377512
Decentralised agencies291(6)28442327276(6)27042311
Pilot projects and prep. actions111
Actions under prerogatives of Commission12214141121212
Employment and Social Innovation106(19)88119987(0)87211100
Erasmus+3 40243 4063943 8003 301(20)3 28185193 807
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)1411412016111616132422158
Creative Europe40740719426400(88)313222337
Justice44449533813911049
Rights and Values2152152217170(17)15412157
Decentralised agencies246(2)2454249238(3)2354239
Other actions993117(1)639
Pilot projects and prep. actions353503652(4)48048
Actions under prerogatives of Commission183183518716411654169
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values56 03911 76667 8050257 566325 37262 0531 08863 1402766 487129 654
3Agricultural Guarantees40 369040 36968663241 68740 393(37)40 35668763241 674
Other progr. of Natural Resources and Environment000000000000
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development12 72812 7286 07218 80014 680(775)13 90501 62315 528
Maritime and Fisheries9721621 134761 21073237361183919
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)1590159159166(7)159159
Decentralised agencies29291302929130
Pilot projects and prep. actions1116(1)55
Environment and Climate (LIFE)75675610765529(1)52858542
Just Transition Fund1 1602831 44310 86712 310101175177
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism167167167167
Decentralised agencies54547615454761
Pilot projects and prep. actions880811(2)909
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment56 23544656 68168617 83275 20056 602(820)55 7826932 79759 271
4Asylum, Migration and Integration1 1192791 3992101 4111 2921941 4862691 521
Decentralised agencies1541216626192154616026186
Pilot projects and prep. actions0000
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa6718575687645111356461143790
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment13813813813611370137
Decentralised agencies1 009(57)952641 016986(42)944641 008
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management3 0913193 41021083 5203 0782943 373272423 642
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)227272545259241(28)21315219
Nuclear decommissioning99999940(3)3737
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning444414565(24)412144
Decentralised agencies216121710226216121710226
Pilot projects and prep. actions000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission22220222121021
European Defence (Research)3183187326178(18)16014165
European Defence (Non Research)62762715642379(23)35618364
Military Mobility23223223298161141115
Pilot projects and prep. actions
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence1 785281 813381 8511 238(79)1 1595281 192
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation12 717(94)12 6221 86425814 7447 8924518 3439903079 640
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)3939034233(16)161320
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)1 8066362 44239242 5052 0923062 39845242 467
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)3623622538733450384025409
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)696947352(22)30131
Other actions72(22)5015147(7)40141
Pilot projects and prep. actions000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission959519595(1)94095
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)2 012(19)1 9923311452 4682 372(521)1 851113382 200
Pilot projects and prep. actions000000000000
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World17 17050017 6702 23745620 36412 91624013 1561 04869814 902
7Staff Pensions2 086772 1622362 3982 086772 1622362 398
(Pensions former Members) EP11112121111212
(Pensions former Members) ECC111111
(Pensions former Members) Commission888888
(Pensions former Members) CJEU13013131301313
(Pensions former Members) ECA666666
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman00000000
(Pensions former Members) EDPS00000000
European schools2079215252402079215225242
Remuneration statutory staff2 62532 629912 7192 62532 6290912 719
Remuneration external staff25382617133225382613971371
Members - Salaries and allowances14115015141152017
Members - Temporary allowances3(0)223(0)22
Recruitment costs30131133301312135
Termination of service80998099
Training costs18(0)1762318(0)1712636
Social and Mobility22(1)22285022(1)22142964
Information and comm. technology25232551063622523255163106525
Rents and purchases310(21)28949337310(21)2891849356
Linked to buildings1062513132164106251315132215
Security66(2)64157966(2)643215111
Mission and representation51(1)5045351(1)5012465
Meetings, committees, conference26(13)1321526(13)134220
Official journal3(1)223(1)213
Publications10313317103137324
Acquisition of information4(0)4044(0)4206
Studies and investigations4(1)3034(1)3408
General equipment, vehicle, furniture17420123217420131244
Linguistic external services2743141722743144176
Other administrative expenditure18(1)17143118(1)1781438
Pilot projects and prep. actions0(0)00
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions4 421644 485225345 0414 421644 4856955445 724
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration10 62016310 783221 26912 07510 62016310 7831 0851 28113 149
OInnovation Fund (IF)6 5706 5706 7056 705
Other actions122122124124
Total Heading O: Outside MFF6 6926 6926 8306 830
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)1 299(580)7181217321 299(580)718121732
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)201201821025(2)23730
Brexit Adjustment Reserve1 2991 2991 2912 5901 2991 2991 2912 590
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 799(580)2 2191 303103 5312 623(583)2 0401 30383 351
Total169 51612 711182 2274 481294 968481 676170 603(565)170 0384 33586 996261 370
* This MFF programme includes the complementary financial envelope from the NextGenerationEU for the REACT-EU package. Please consult the chapter 1.1 Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 of the Notes to the Budgetary Implementation Reports. The paragraph on Heading 2 details the contribution of this MFF programme to the REACT-EU package.
8. DETAILED MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

appropr.

available
Commitments madeAppropriations carried over

to 2023
Appropriations lapsing
Programmefrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal
12345=2+3

+4
6=5/1789=7+810111213=10+

11+12
1Horizon Europe17 71412 2392302 84015 30986 %2 4042 404101
Euratom3502702629685 %545400
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)7337101672699 %7700
Other actions69061619 %629629
Pilot projects and prep. actions171717100 %
InvestEU Fund5 8741 1972 1513 34857 %2 5262 52600
CEF - Transport1 8161 79921 80199 %151500
CEF - Energy811797480199 %101000
CEF - Digital25124924999 %2200
Digital Europe1 2641 233311 264100 %000
Decentralised agencies2192061021698 %44
Other actions00000-0000000
Pilot projects and prep. actions77797 %0000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission262232596 %1100
Single Market7336882170997 %2424000
EU Anti-Fraud262402596 %11011
Taxation413713893 %3300
Customs139130413497 %4400
Decentralised agencies128116712396 %5500
Other actions1010010100 %00
Pilot projects and prep. actions171717100 %00
European Space Programme2 1352 008772 08698 %5050
Decentralised agencies7068270100 %
Pilot projects & preparatory actions00000-0000000
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital33 07121 8432305 25727 33083 %5 7385 738213
2Regional Development (ERDF) *45 41236 5567 79944 35598 %15115530672229751
Cohesion Fund7 1026 2206016 82296 %111122544270
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport1 5071 494121 507100 %0000
Pilot projects and prep. actions33399 %00
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) *22 04515 8866 06021 946100 %8334149958
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community3534135100 %000(0)0
European Recovery and Resilience240 062119136 396136 51557 %103 547103 547000
Pericles IV110197 %0000
EU Recovery757407499 %11
RescEU2 31335407601 11448 %01 1981 19900
EU4Health86183921860100 %110(0)0
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)37734334391 %353500
Decentralised agencies3272841529992 %2727
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Actions under prerogatives of Commission14131396 %11
Employment and Social Innovation998639090 %77212
Erasmus+3 8003 4062113 61795 %18318300
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)1611411315596 %66
Creative Europe4264071341998 %66
Justice534464994 %33
Rights and Values217215121699 %1100
Decentralised agencies249245324799 %22
Other actions1181978 %2211
Pilot projects and prep. actions36353598 %0000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission187181318498 %2222
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values325 37266 6440152 263218 90767 %159105 221105 3811 002821 084
3Agricultural Guarantees41 68739 87667662941 18299 %4852488710018
Other progr. of Natural Resources and Environment00000-0000000
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development18 80012 7285 68918 41698 %2222220161161
Maritime and Fisheries1 2101 131751 206100 %314000
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)159159159100 %00
Decentralised agencies302912998 %11
Pilot projects and prep. actions111100 %
Environment and Climate (LIFE)765755375899 %77000
Just Transition Fund12 3101 3274 9826 30951 %5 8855 885116116
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism16711117 %156156
Decentralised agencies6154761100 %0000
Pilot projects and prep. actions88899 %0000
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment75 20056 07067611 39668 14291 %4886 2756 76312310161295
4Asylum, Migration and Integration1 4111 391291 40199 %821000
Decentralised agencies1921661818496 %8800
Pilot projects and prep. actions00000
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa764748875699 %808000
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment138138138100 %
Decentralised agencies1 0169521696795 %484800
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management3 5203 3952503 44698 %165874000
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)259251425598 %3150(0)0
Nuclear decommissioning999999100 %
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning454404499 %00000
Decentralised agencies226217422198 %6600
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Actions under prerogatives of Commission222202299 %00000
European Defence (Research)3263187326100 %
European Defence (Non Research)64262715642100 %
Military Mobility232232232100 %
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence1 8511 809301 84099 %3711001
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation14 74412 5891 86414614 59899 %34113146(0)000
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)4239024198 %011(0)00
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)2 5052 44239162 497100 %77
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)38736225387100 %000(0)0
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)736847299 %11(0)00
Other actions51505099 %1100
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Actions under prerogatives of Commission9595095100 %0000
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)2 4681 989331942 41398 %45155(0)00
Pilot projects and prep. actions00000-0000000
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World20 36417 6332 23728320 15399 %381732110000
7Staff Pensions2 3982 1622362 398100 %
(Pensions former Members) EP121212100 %
(Pensions former Members) ECC111100 %
(Pensions former Members) Commission888100 %
(Pensions former Members) CJEU131313100 %
(Pensions former Members) ECA666100 %
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman000100 %
(Pensions former Members) EDPS000100 %
European schools2402151923598 %6600
Remuneration statutory staff2 7192 629362 66598 %555500
Remuneration external staff3322533328686 %3838808
Members - Salaries and allowances1515015100 %000(0)0
Members - Temporary allowances222100 %00
Recruitment costs333103297 %1100
Termination of service999100 %00
Training costs231732189 %22000
Social and Mobility5022173978 %1111000
Information and comm. technology3622555931487 %4747000
Rents and purchases3372893432396 %141400
Linked to buildings1641312115293 %121200
Security7964127696 %33000
Mission and representation535025196 %22000
Meetings, committees, conference151211386 %11101
Official journal222100 %
Publications171331695 %11000
Acquisition of information440499 %0000
Studies and investigations330396 %00000
General equipment, vehicle, furniture322052579 %7700
Linguistic external services7231336489 %88000
Other administrative expenditure3117112893 %22000
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions5 0414 445213844 85096 %1149150401041
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration12 07510 7332191111 66497 %1358359501152
OInnovation Fund (IF)6 5702 9532 95345 %3 6173 617
Other actions122535343 %6969
Total Heading O: Outside MFF6 6923 0063 00645 %3 6863 686
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)7321812304 %7001702
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)210282813 %111737180
Brexit Adjustment Reserve2 5901 2531 2912 54498 %4646
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)3 5311 2991 3032 60274 %74637491737180
Total481 676179 4254 469173 196357 09174 %1 451121 520122 9711 351122521 614
* This MFF programme includes the complementary financial envelope from the NextGenerationEU for the REACT-EU package. Please consult the chapter 1.1 Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 of the Notes to the Budgetary Implementation Reports. The paragraph on Heading 2 details the contribution of this MFF programme to the REACT-EU package.
9. DETAILED MFF: IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

appropr.

available
Payments madeAppropriations carried over

to 2023
Appropriations lapsing
Programmefrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom final adopted budgefrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal
12345=2+

3+4
6=5/1789=7+810111213=10+

11+12
1Horizon Europe18 17812 048872 69814 83482 %713 2603 33119212
Euratom417253211228668 %161111271404
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)61356014460599 %178000
Other actions371646417 %306306
Pilot projects and prep. actions98890 %11
InvestEU Fund2 7751 05711 6052 66396 %0112112000
CEF - Transport1 9861 965181 97499 %01111000
CEF - Energy646630112643100 %20200(0)0
CEF - Digital1381321413799 %011000
Digital Europe79475472178298 %993003
Decentralised agencies2041911020198 %44
Other actions00000-0000000
Pilot projects and prep. actions21141467 %0077
Actions under prerogatives of Commission262402595 %1100
Single Market60553371956092 %637431103
EU Anti-Fraud292212378 %1166
Taxation3227012887 %033101
Customs1181090411396 %04400
Decentralised agencies128116712396 %5500
Other actions990996 %0000
Pilot projects and prep. actions87791 %11
European Space Programme2 2061 9485592 01291 %51891930101
Decentralised agencies6564265100 %
Pilot projects & preparatory actions00000-0000000
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital29 37920 4711324 57025 17486 %1124 0524 1642315341
2Regional Development (ERDF) *43 80732 175110 28342 45997 %11 3421 34350(0)5
Cohesion Fund10 2339 487052110 00998 %0224224000
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport1 8551 85141 855100 %00000
Pilot projects and prep. actions320269 %11
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) *19 64714 08404 60618 69095 %29539560101
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community4342004298 %1010000
European Recovery and Resilience47 29696147 17847 275100 %218200000
Pericles IV110181 %0000
EU Recovery7645204761 %2913000
RescEU57823332055396 %16825(0)00
EU4Health2041863919897 %4140101
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)51213432445890 %5353000
Decentralised agencies3112701528491 %272700
Pilot projects and prep. actions111100 %
Actions under prerogatives of Commission12111195 %11
Employment and Social Innovation10085249191 %1790001
Erasmus+3 8073 26981983 47491 %133213330000
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)1581284213484 %421250000
Creative Europe33731021332596 %2911(0)000
Justice4938194897 %11100(0)0
Rights and Values1571531115498 %112000
Decentralised agencies239235323799 %22000
Other actions961782 %2200
Pilot projects and prep. actions48484899 %0000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission169164216698 %3311
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values129 65463 0552463 491126 57098 %762 9953 071103114
3Agricultural Guarantees41 67439 84667762941 15299 %48624882410034
Other progr. of Natural Resources and Environment00000-0000000
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development15 52813 83901 40615 24498 %021721767067
Maritime and Fisheries9197341183918100 %10100(0)0
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)159159159100 %
Decentralised agencies302912998 %11
Pilot projects and prep. actions555100 %
Environment and Climate (LIFE)5425225353098 %66120000
Just Transition Fund177116716995 %88(0)(0)
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism167111 %166166
Decentralised agencies6154761100 %0000
Pilot projects and prep. actions99999 %0000
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment59 27155 1986822 39658 27698 %49340189491110102
4Asylum, Migration and Integration1 5211 4492551 48097 %24635036
Decentralised agencies1861481816689 %8812012
Pilot projects and prep. actions00000
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa79063011064181 %113313415015
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment1371370137100 %0000
Decentralised agencies1 0089281694494 %484816016
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management3 6423 29226493 36892 %3193196780078
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)2191921219689 %13419019
Nuclear decommissioning373737100 %00
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning4439214194 %202001
Decentralised agencies226217422198 %6600
Pilot projects and prep. actions000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission211801887 %0033
European Defence (Research)1651581416399 %11(0)000
European Defence (Non Research)36435518364100 %11(0)00
Military Mobility1151141114100 %0000
Pilot projects and prep. actions-
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence1 1921 1305191 15497 %6915230023
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation9 6408 2759771499 40098 %68159226013013
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)2016131997 %11000
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)2 4672 39145102 44699 %71421(0)00
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)409383025408100 %0010000
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)312913096 %11000
Other actions41353584 %1166
Pilot projects and prep. actions00066 %00
Actions under prerogatives of Commission959309398 %0022
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)2 2001 82982532 09095 %1785101628
Pilot projects and prep. actions00000-0000000
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World14 90213 0491 03244014 52197 %932583521316030
7Staff Pensions2 3982 1622362 398100 %00(0)(0)
(Pensions former Members) EP121212100 %
(Pensions former Members) ECC111100 %
(Pensions former Members) Commission888100 %
(Pensions former Members) CJEU131313100 %
(Pensions former Members) ECA666100 %
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman000100 %
(Pensions former Members) EDPS000100 %
European schools24221521823697 %0660(0)0
Remuneration statutory staff2 7192 629362 66598 %05555000
Remuneration external staff371210353227775 %42398184013
Members - Salaries and allowances1715101690 %00001(0)1
Members - Temporary allowances222100 %00
Recruitment costs3528203087 %314000
Termination of service999100 %00
Training costs3681122057 %94130202
Social and Mobility641312103555 %919270202
Information and comm. technology5251291603031961 %126762020404
Rents and purchases356289183334095 %01616000
Linked to buildings21571491213262 %602181022
Security111383057366 %261136011
Mission and representation6538414467 %112130808
Meetings, committees, conference20511736 %7291304
Official journal321284 %0000
Publications248721768 %6280000
Acquisition of information6320471 %202000
Studies and investigations814563 %3030000
General equipment, vehicle, furniture4461232249 %14822011
Linguistic external services76274316382 %49130001
Other administrative expenditure3812782771 %56110101
Pilot projects and prep. actions00091 %00
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions5 7243 8705983334 80184 %59620880540763119
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration13 1499 83295979211 58388 %9234851 407501054158
OInnovation Fund (IF)6 70521210 %6 6856 685
Other actions124525242 %7272
Total Heading O: Outside MFF6 83072721 %6 7576 757
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)7321812304 %7001702
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)302252894 %01200
Brexit Adjustment Reserve2 5901 2531 2912 54498 %4646
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)3 3511 2941 30352 60278 %746374900
Total261 370167 3214 16371 837243 32193 %2 45215 15217 6042871517445
* This MFF programme includes the complementary financial envelope from the NextGenerationEU for the REACT-EU package. Please consult the chapter 1.1 Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 of the Notes to the Budgetary Implementation Reports. The paragraph on Heading 2 details the contribution of this MFF programme to the REACT-EU package.
10. DETAILED MFF: MOVEMENTS IN OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS (RAL)

EUR million
Commitments outstanding at the end of previous yearCommitments of the current yearTotal commitm. outstanding at the end of the year
ProgrammeCommitm. carried forward from previous yearDecommitm./

Revaluations/

Cancellations
PaymentsCommitm. outstanding at year-endCommitm. made during the yearPaymentsCancellation of commitm. which cannot be carried overCommitm. outstanding at year-end
1234=1+2+35678=5+6+79=4+8
1Horizon Europe27 571(385)(11 472)15 71415 309(3 362)(9)11 93927 653
Euratom317(24)(103)191296(183)(0)112303
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)1 313(0)(518)795726(86)(1)6391 433
Other actions106(8)(44)5461(20)4195
Pilot projects and prep. actions22(1)(8)1317(0)1730
InvestEU Fund4 053(30)(2 368)1 6553 348(295)3 0534 708
CEF - Transport7 183(147)(1 956)5 0791 801(18)1 7836 862
CEF - Energy3 904(68)(640)3 197801(3)7983 994
CEF - Digital436(5)(133)298249(4)245543
Digital Europe1 140(0)(523)6161 264(258)1 0061 622
Decentralised agencies36(36)216(165)5151
Other actions000000000
Pilot projects and prep. actions52(1)(13)387(2)543
Actions under prerogatives of Commission41(2)(21)1725(3)2239
Single Market950(54)(418)478709(141)(0)5671 045
EU Anti-Fraud33(0)(18)1525(5)1934
Taxation33(1)(20)1238(8)3042
Customs122(3)(89)31134(24)110141
Decentralised agencies123(123)00
Other actions6(0)(4)210(5)57
Pilot projects and prep. actions16(1)(7)817(0)1725
European Space Programme1 369(4)(757)6082 086(1 254)8311 439
Decentralised agencies15(15)70(50)2020
Pilot projects & preparatory actions000000000
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital48 717(733)(19 163)28 82027 330(6 011)(10)21 30950 130
2Regional Development (ERDF) *84 149(86)(37 813)46 25044 355(4 645)(0)39 71085 960
Cohesion Fund18 402(16)(9 327)9 0596 822(682)(0)6 14015 198
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport7 026(29)(1 844)5 1521 507(11)1 4966 648
Pilot projects and prep. actions7(1)(2)4336
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) *43 257(23)(16 996)26 23821 946(1 694)(0)20 25246 489
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community117(2)(40)7535(3)(0)32107
European Recovery and Resilience51 801(4)(21 231)30 566136 515(26 045)110 470141 037
Pericles IV1(0)(0)11(0)01
EU Recovery2(0)(2)74(45)2929
RescEU596(8)(164)4251 114(389)(0)7251 150
EU4Health412(11)(108)293860(90)7701 063
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)191(14)(135)43343(324)1962
Decentralised agencies2020299(284)1535
Pilot projects and prep. actions1(0)(1)00
Actions under prerogatives of Commission9(0)(7)113(4)910
Employment and Social Innovation187(12)(73)10290(18)72174
Erasmus+1 765(37)(887)8403 617(2 587)1 0301 870
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)148(3)(36)109155(98)57166
Creative Europe400(12)(216)173419(109)310483
Justice75(13)(20)4149(27)2263
Rights and Values156(5)(73)78216(82)134213
Decentralised agencies33(2)(3)28247(235)1341
Other actions10(0)(6)49(1)812
Pilot projects and prep. actions83(2)(47)3435(1)3468
Actions under prerogatives of Commission187(8)(115)63184(50)134197
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values209 033(288)(89 146)119 599218 907(37 423)(1)181 482301 081
3Agricultural Guarantees334(6)(118)21041 182(41 034)147357
Other progr. of Natural Resources and Environment000000000
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development38 215(17)(14 599)23 59818 416(645)(0)17 77141 369
Maritime and Fisheries2 922(38)(849)2 0351 206(68)(0)1 1383 173
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)23(14)10159(145)1424
Decentralised agencies29(29)
Pilot projects and prep. actions9(0)(5)4115
Environment and Climate (LIFE)2 154(29)(495)1 629758(34)7242 353
Just Transition Fund8(5)(1)16 309(168)6 1426 143
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism11(1)1010
Decentralised agencies3(3)161(58)33
Pilot projects and prep. actions24(2)(8)148(1)721
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment43 691(98)(16 091)27 50268 142(42 185)(0)25 95753 459
4Asylum, Migration and Integration2 363(19)(861)1 4821 401(618)7832 265
Decentralised agencies20(20)184(166)1818
Pilot projects and prep. actions0(0)
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa1 141(11)(313)817756(329)4271 244
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment135(63)72138(73)65137
Decentralised agencies321(0)(227)94967(717)250344
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management3 980(50)(1 464)2 4653 446(1 903)1 5434 008
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)360(16)(124)221255(72)183403
Nuclear decommissioning377(37)3409999439
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning315(2)(35)27844(6)38316
Decentralised agencies0(0)221(221)
Pilot projects and prep. actions111
Actions under prerogatives of Commission24(2)(12)1022(7)1525
European Defence (Research)329(0)(159)170326(4)(0)321492
European Defence (Non Research)762(1)(290)472642(74)5681 040
Military Mobility226(113)113232(1)230343
Pilot projects and prep. actions222
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence2 397(21)(769)1 6071 840(385)(0)1 4553 061
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation23 453(1 023)(6 082)16 34914 598(3 319)(0)11 27927 629
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)128(8)(17)10341(2)39142
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)1 084(7)(655)4222 497(1 791)(0)7061 128
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)178(20)(79)79387(329)58136
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)65(0)(29)3672(1)71107
Other actions0(0)050(35)1516
Pilot projects and prep. actions2(0)(0)11
Actions under prerogatives of Commission154(8)(67)7995(26)69148
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)7 471(139)(1 773)5 5592 413(318)2 0967 655
Pilot projects and prep. actions000000000
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World32 535(1 205)(8 701)22 62920 153(5 820)(0)14 33336 962
7Staff Pensions2 398(2 398)00
(Pensions former Members) EP12(12)
(Pensions former Members) ECC1(1)
(Pensions former Members) Commission8(8)
(Pensions former Members) CJEU13(13)
(Pensions former Members) ECA6(6)
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman0(0)
(Pensions former Members) EDPS0(0)
European schools2(2)235(234)11
Remuneration statutory staff0(0)2 665(2 665)(0)00
Remuneration external staff39(4)(35)286(242)(0)4343
Members - Salaries and allowances2(1)(1)15(15)00
Members - Temporary allowances2(2)
Recruitment costs2(0)(2)32(28)44
Termination of service9(9)
Training costs12(2)(11)21(10)1111
Social and Mobility15(3)(13)039(23)1616
Information and comm. technology163(4)(160)314(159)155155
Rents and purchases18(0)(18)323(321)22
Linked to buildings51(2)(49)152(83)6969
Security32(1)(30)76(43)3333
Mission and representation12(8)(4)51(40)1111
Meetings, committees, conference4(3)(1)13(6)77
Official journal1(0)(1)2(2)00
Publications7(0)(7)16(9)77
Acquisition of information2(0)(2)4(3)22
Studies and investigations4(0)(4)3(1)33
General equipment, vehicle, furniture13(1)(12)25(10)1515
Linguistic external services4(0)(4)64(59)55
Other administrative expenditure8(1)(7)28(20)88
Pilot projects and prep. actions0(0)(0)00
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions684(86)(598)4 850(4 203)7654654
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration1 076(116)(960)011 664(10 623)71 0481 048
OInnovation Fund (IF)138(3)(10)1252 953(10)2 9433 068
Other actions8(7)(0)253(52)13
Total Heading O: Outside MFF147(9)(11)1273 006(62)2 9443 071
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)30(30)
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)28(28)00
Brexit Adjustment Reserve2 544(2 544)
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 602(2 602)00
Total341 575(2 520)(136 306)202 749357 091(107 015)(4)250 071452 821
* This MFF programme includes the complementary financial envelope from the NextGenerationEU for the REACT-EU package. Please consult the chapter 1.1 Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 of the Notes to the Budgetary Implementation Reports. The paragraph on Heading 2 details the contribution of this MFF programme to the REACT-EU package.



11. DETAILED MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY YEAR OF ORIGIN

EUR million
Programme<20162016201720182019202020212022Total
1Horizon Europe3843887161 2672 4754 6685 81411 94127 653
Euratom243222327434112303
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)2964986391 433
Other actions0161013244195
Pilot projects and prep. actions013281730
InvestEU Fund155981311111572417623 0534 708
CEF - Transport6109993081 6641 9759181 7836 862
CEF - Energy3533902708901 0575527983 994
CEF - Digital225242334208245543
Digital Europe00006151 0061 622
Decentralised agencies5151
Other actions000000000
Pilot projects and prep. actions022214543
Actions under prerogatives of Commission012142239
Single Market2810202565962175851 045
EU Anti-Fraud0011581934
Taxation002103042
Customs000228110141
Decentralised agencies00
Other actions257
Pilot projects and prep. actions001431725
European Space Programme13774402948311 439
Decentralised agencies2020
Pilot projects & preparatory actions000000000
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital6346121 3642 0725 4008 8959 82321 32950 130
2Regional Development (ERDF)1 204173 0594 6638 25814 11814 93139 71085 960
Cohesion Fund1671 0461 5942 5982 4511 2036 14015 198
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport2933555775981 2341 6004951 4966 648
Pilot projects and prep. actions012136
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)4581351 3562 0603 1476 35512 72520 25246 489
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community3142311162432107
European Recovery and Resilience003930 554110 470141 037
Pericles IV00001
EU Recovery2929
RescEU012161912157251 150
EU4Health002615222187991 063
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)20221962
Decentralised agencies141491535
Pilot projects and prep. actions00
Actions under prerogatives of Commission001910
Employment and Social Innovation112319265072174
Erasmus+011341213123721 0301 870
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)20831363157166
Creative Europe051343111310483
Justice07568152263
Rights and Values45592133134213
Decentralised agencies1271341
Other actions00013812
Pilot projects and prep. actions01513153468
Actions under prerogatives of Commission101371834134197
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values2 1295286 0638 99715 49425 26861 090181 512301 081
3Agricultural Guarantees16395996147357
Other progr. of Natural Resources and Environment000000000
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development1 3321 0427837841 3885 38312 88717 77141 369
Maritime and Fisheries5611371746508561631 1383 173
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)1271424
Decentralised agencies
Pilot projects and prep. actions12115
Environment and Climate (LIFE)9658963002703264847242 353
Just Transition Fund16 1426 143
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism1010
Decentralised agencies133
Pilot projects and prep. actions0010112721
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment1 4841 1001 0171 2752 3496 63813 64025 95753 459
4Asylum, Migration and Integration17981353166452727832 265
Decentralised agencies1818
Pilot projects and prep. actions
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa1798362433811244271 244
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment7265137
Decentralised agencies94250344
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management17261051705591 0255621 5434 008
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)112025479532183403
Nuclear decommissioning28636464667399439
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning251274449854838316
Decentralised agencies
Pilot projects and prep. actions11
Actions under prerogatives of Commission00000261525
European Defence (Research)170321492
European Defence (Non Research)42713595681 040
Military Mobility113230343
Pilot projects and prep. actions012
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence2891111342043208011 4553 061
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation8035891 0101 7572 3253 3566 50911 27927 629
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)2381916253039142
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)000126553417061 128
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)02218243358136
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)33371107
Other actions01516
Pilot projects and prep. actions100001
Actions under prerogatives of Commission0117254469148
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)3462223437121 5499681 4212 0967 655
Pilot projects and prep. actions000000000
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World1 1528141 3652 4923 9434 4528 41114 33336 962
7Staff Pensions00
(Pensions former Members) EP
(Pensions former Members) ECC
(Pensions former Members) Commission
(Pensions former Members) CJEU
(Pensions former Members) ECA
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman
(Pensions former Members) EDPS
European schools11
Remuneration statutory staff00
Remuneration external staff4343
Members - Salaries and allowances00
Members - Temporary allowances
Recruitment costs44
Termination of service
Training costs1111
Social and Mobility01616
Information and comm. technology155155
Rents and purchases22
Linked to buildings6969
Security3333
Mission and representation1111
Meetings, committees, conference77
Official journal00
Publications77
Acquisition of information22
Studies and investigations33
General equipment, vehicle, furniture1515
Linguistic external services55
Other administrative expenditure88
Pilot projects and prep. actions00
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions0000000654654
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration001 0481 048
OInnovation Fund (IF)1252 9433 068
Other actions0213
Total Heading O: Outside MFF01272 9443 071
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)00
Brexit Adjustment Reserve
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)00
Total5 4453 09010 02515 14027 94946 59994 453250 120452 821

The set-up of the new Commission involved an internal re-organisation of services. Re-allocating the related transactions resulted in a shift of outstanding amount between years. The overall amount of outstanding commitments remains unchanged.


12. DETAILED MFF: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS BY APPROPRIATIONS TYPE

EUR million
From budget appropriationsFrom assigned revenue appropriationsTotal commitm. outstanding at the end of 2022
HeadingCommitm. carried forward from 2021Adjust-

ments
Commitm. madePayments madeAmount remaining to be settledCommitm. carried forward from 2021Adjust-

ments
Commitm. madePayments madeAmount remaining to be settled
12345=1+2+3-4678910=6+7+8-911=5+10
1Horizon Europe22 848(325)12 46912 02022 9714 723(68)2 8402 8144 68127 653
Euratom261(12)27027324557(11)261259303
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)1 268(1)7105441 43345166001 433
Other actions00106(8)61649595
Pilot projects and prep. actions22(1)178300000030
InvestEU Fund2 006(28)1 1978502 3252 048(2)2 1511 8132 3834 708
CEF - Transport7 050(142)1 7991 9206 787132(5)254756 862
CEF - Energy3 852(66)7976393 94452(1)45503 994
CEF - Digital433(5)2491365413(0)12543
Digital Europe1 109(0)1 2337501 59230(0)3132301 622
Decentralised agencies3620619249108151
Pilot projects and prep. actions52(1)714430000043
Actions under prerogatives of Commission36(2)2222345(0)33539
Single Market924(53)6885421 01726(1)2118281 045
EU Anti-Fraud33(0)242334000034
Taxation31(1)3727402(0)11242
Customs121(3)1301111371(0)423141
Decentralised agencies1161167700
Other actions6(0)10970(0)007
Pilot projects and prep. actions16(1)177250000025
European Space Programme1 222(1)2 0081 9611 268147(2)77501721 439
Decentralised agencies1568651820220
Total Heading 1: Single Market, Innovation and Digital41 340(643)22 07320 22942 5417 377(100)5 2574 9457 58850 130
2Regional Development (ERDF)49 100(74)36 55631 26754 31535 049(13)7 79911 19231 64485 960
Cohesion Fund13 421(16)6 2209 49510 1304 981(0)6015145 06815 198
Cohesion Fund contrib. to CEF-Transport7 023(29)1 4941 8546 6343(0)121146 648
Pilot projects and prep. actions7(1)326000006
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)21 930(23)15 88614 93622 85821 326(0)6 0603 75523 63146 489
Support to Turkish-Cypriot Community113(2)34401044(0)123107
European Recovery and Resilience141(3)1199716051 660(1)136 39647 178140 877141 037
Pericles IV1(0)11100001
EU Recovery2(0)74472900029
RescEU432(5)354225557164(3)7603285931 150
EU4Health402(10)8391921 03910(1)216241 063
Emergency support within the Union (ESI)191(14)1354303433241962
Decentralised agencies192842693401515035
Pilot projects and prep. actions1(0)10000000
Actions under prerogatives of Commission9(0)1311100(0)010
Employment and Social Innovation180(12)86871677(0)346174
Erasmus+1 526(29)3 4063 2571 646239(8)2112172251 870
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)144(3)1411331494(0)13116166
Creative Europe386(11)40731346914(1)131214483
Justice74(13)4444600(0)63363
Rights and Values156(5)2151542121(0)111213
Decentralised agencies31(1)245235401(1)33041
Other actions10(0)87110(0)10112
Pilot projects and prep. actions83(2)3548680068
Actions under prerogatives of Commission186(8)1811651941(0)303197
Total Heading 2: Cohesion, Resilience and Values95 569(263)66 64463 01498 937113 465(27)152 26363 556202 144301 081
3Agricultural Guarantees334(6)40 55240 5233576296290357
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development35 914(17)12 72814 00034 6252 3005 6891 2446 74541 369
Maritime and Fisheries2 397(38)1 1319172 573525(0)7506003 173
Fisheries (SFPA and RFMO)23159159240000024
Decentralised agencies292911
Pilot projects and prep. actions9(0)155000005
Environment and Climate (LIFE)2 148(29)7555282 3476(0)3272 353
Just Transition Fund3(1)1 32711 3275(4)4 9821674 8166 143
Loan facility under Just Transition Mechanism001111010
Decentralised agencies35454307603
Pilot projects and prep. actions24(2)89210000021
Total Heading 3: Natural Resources and Environment40 854(93)56 74656 22541 2812 837(5)11 3962 05112 17853 459
4Asylum, Migration and Integration2 335(18)1 3931 4602 25028(1)919162 265
Decentralised agencies20(20)16614818181818
Pilot projects and prep. actions0(0)00000
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Border mngmt and visa949(11)7486241 063192(0)8181811 244
Border Mngmt. (IBMF) - Customs equipment13513813713700000137
Decentralised agencies321(0)95292834401616344
Total Heading 4: Migration and Border Management3 760(49)3 3973 2973 811219(2)50711974 008
5Internal Security Fund (ISF)352(16)2511913969(0)458403
Nuclear decommissioning377993743900000439
Nuclear Safety and decommissioning315(2)44413160000316
Decentralised agencies0(0)21721744
Pilot projects and prep. actions11000001
Actions under prerogatives of Commission24(2)221825000025
European Defence (Research)322(0)3181614797(0)7212492
European Defence (Non Research)746(1)6273481 024171515161 040
Military Mobility22623211434300000343
Pilot projects and prep. actions22000002
Total Heading 5: Security and Defence2 364(21)1 8091 1283 02533(0)3027363 061
6Neighbourhood, Developm. and Intl. Cooperation23 259(1 004)14 4529 28527 423194(18)14611520627 629
Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EINS)127(8)3919139123142
Humanitarian Aid (HUMA)1 052(3)2 4812 4181 11331(4)1628151 128
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)146(20)36237211632(0)253720136
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)65(0)723010700000107
Other actions0(0)5035160000016
Pilot projects and prep. actions2(0)01000001
Actions under prerogatives of Commission154(8)95921480000148
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)6 860(138)2 3201 8297 213610(1)942614427 655
Total Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World31 666(1 181)19 87014 07936 275869(24)28344268736 962
7Staff Pensions2 1622 16223623600
(Pensions former Members) EP121200000
(Pensions former Members) ECC1100000
(Pensions former Members) Commission8800000
(Pensions former Members) CJEU131300000
(Pensions former Members) ECA6600000
(Pensions former Members) Ombudsman0000000
(Pensions former Members) EDPS0000000
European schools021521602192011
Remuneration statutory staff0(0)2 6292 629036360
Remuneration external staff38(4)253244422(1)3333143
Members - Salaries and allowances2(1)15150000
Members - Temporary allowances2200000
Recruitment costs2(0)3130300104
Termination of service9900000
Training costs11(2)171891(0)33211
Social and Mobility8(1)222097(1)1715816
Information and comm. technology143(3)25526912620(0)595029155
Rents and purchases18(0)28930600343322
Linked to buildings39(2)1311096012(0)2123969
Security28(1)6465264(0)128733
Mission and representation11(8)5042110(0)22011
Meetings, committees, conference3(3)12671(0)1107
Official journal1(0)220000000
Publications6(0)131461(0)3317
Acquisition of information2(0)4420(0)0002
Studies and investigations4(0)35300003
General equipment, vehicle, furniture11(1)2017142(0)55215
Linguistic external services4(0)313141(0)333225
Other administrative expenditure6(1)171852(0)11948
Pilot projects and prep. actions0(0)00000000
Administrative expenditure of Other Institutions630(22)4 4654 46860653(56)38433348654
Total Heading 7: European Public Administration968(48)10 75410 741932107(60)9118421161 048
OInnovation Fund (IF)00138(3)2 953213 0683 068
Other actions008(7)535233
Total Heading O: Outside MFF00147(9)3 006723 0713 071
SSolidarity and Emergency Aid (SEAR)303000000
European Globalisation Adjustment (EGF)28280000000
Brexit Adjustment Reserve2 5442 54400000
Total Heading S: Solidarity mechanisms within and outside the Union (Special instruments)2 6022 6020000000
Total216 522(2 298)183 894171 315226 803125 053(227)173 19672 005226 018452 821

1. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET BY INSTITUTION

1. IMPLEMENTATION OF BUDGET REVENUE

EUR million
Income appropriationsEntitlements establishedRevenueReceipts as % of budgetOut-

standing
InstitutionInitial adopted budgetFinal adopted budgetCurrent yearCarried overTotalOn entitle-

ments of current year
On entitle-

ments carried over
Total
12345=3+4678=6+79=8/210=5-8
European Parliament1811812362726323416250138 %13
European Council and Council61619529793194154 %3
Commission170 195169 630242 42225 437267 859236 2178 187244 404144 %23 455
Court of Justice6363630636306399 %0
Court of Auditors25252502525025102 %0
Economic and Social Committee13131901919019141 %0
Committee of the Regions11111401414014124 %
Ombudsman11101101104 %
European Data Protection Supervisor22202202100 %
European External Action Service505039303933920392782 %1
Total170 603170 038243 26925 467268 736237 0598 205245 265144 %23 471

The consolidated reports on the implementation of the general budget of the EU include, as in previous years, the budget implementation of all Institutions since within the EU budget a separate budget for each Institution is established.

The budget and implementation of Agencies are not consolidated within the EU budget and are not included in the EU budget reports. The Commission subsidy paid to the agencies however is part of the EU budget. In this budgetary part of the annual accounts, only the subsidy paid from the Commission budget to the Agencies is taken into consideration.

Concerning the EEAS, it should be noted that, in addition to its own budget, it also receives contributions from the Commission of EUR 221.7 million (2021: EUR 193.6 million) and the EDF legacy and the Trust Funds of EUR 19.6 million (2021: EUR 18.7 million). These contributions cover the costs of the Commission's staff in the delegations financed under the EDF and the Trust Funds, including assigned revenue generated during the year from these contributions.


2. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

appropriat.

available
Commitments madeAppropriations carried over to 2023Appropriations lapsing
Institutionfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom final adopted budgetfrom carry-oversfrom assigned revenueTotal
12345=2+3+46=5/1789=7+810111213=10+ 11+12
European Parliament2 2752 15121452 21897 %4646101011
European Council and Council68359904364194 %02929130013
Commission476 635174 9814 448172 812352 24174 %1 451121 371122 8211 311112521 573
Court of Justice4694610146298 %0007007
Court of Auditors1621600016098 %1012002
Economic and Social Committee1621470915596 %0116006
Committee of Regions1131090211198 %0111001
Ombudsman121201297 %0000
European Data-protection Supervisor2020002098 %000000
European External Action Service1 1447872851 07294 %07272000
Total481 676179 4254 469173 196357 09174 %1 451121 520122 9711 351122521 614



3. IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS

EUR million
Total

approp.

available
Payments madeAppropriations carried over to 2023Appropriations lapsing
Institutionfrom

final

adopted

budget
from

carry-

overs
from

assigned

revenue
Total%from final adopted budgetfrom assigned revenueTotalfrom

final

adopted

budget
from

carry-

overs
from

assigned

revenue
Total
12345=2+3+46=5/1789=7+810111213
European Parliament2 6651 801344422 18782 %372574291037249
European Council and Council745521544161683 %7730107138122
Commission255 646163 4513 56571 504238 52093 %1 85514 94416 799247754326
Court of Justice49942326145090 %3703874012
Court of Auditors1711528016094 %9092002
Economic and Social Committee18313416515585 %1251765011
Committee of Regions1289712111086 %121141304
Ombudsman141121393 %00000
European Data-protection Supervisor2118101988 %202001
European External Action Service1 2997131362421 09184 %74115189018019
Total261 370167 3214 16371 837243 32193 %2 45215 15217 6042871517445




8. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENCIES' BUDGETS

The agencies’ revenue and expenditure, as shown in the reports 8.1 and 8.2 below, are not consolidated as such within the EU budget. In this budgetary part of the annual accounts, only the subsidy paid from the Commission budget to the Agencies is taken into consideration.

The EU budget implementation reports include the subsidy paid from the EU budget to the agencies as commitment and payment appropriations, when applicable.

The agencies’ reports below show an overview of the Agencies, both decentralised (also known as traditional agencies) and executive agencies, and of their revenue (8.1) and expenditure (8.2).

Other sources of revenue and their related expenditure are not added into the EU budget accounts. Each agency presents its own set of annual accounts.


1. BUDGET REVENUE

EUR million
AgencyFunding MFF headingFinal adopted budgetRevenue received
Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators12525
Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems4297339
Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications178
Community Plant Variety OfficeN/A2118
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work2b1616
European Asylum Support Office4172175
European Aviation Safety Agency1224174
European Banking Authority15051
European Border and Coast Guard Agency4693705
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control2b96103
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training2b1918
European Chemicals Agency1115123
European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency1, 2a, 3, 55656
European Education and Culture Executive Agency2b, 66159
European Environment Agency38581
European Fisheries Control Agency32935
European Food Safety Authority2b135135
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions2b2222
European Health and Digital Executive Agency1, 2b4242
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency1, 2a4546
European Institute for Gender Equality2b88
European Institute of Innovation and Technology1436449
European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority13535
European Labour Authority2b3526
European Maritime Safety Agency187116
European Medicines Agency2b422436
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction51819
European Public Prosecutor's Office2b10851
European Research Council Executive Agency15959
European Research Executive Agency1, 39999
European Securities and Markets Authority16868
European Training Foundation2b2224
European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation2b9556
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity12424
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation5193201
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training51114
European Union Agency for Railways13535
European Union Agency for the Space Programme1651 157
European Union Fundamental Rights Agency2b2626
European Union Intellectual Property OfficeN/A287304
Fusion for Energy Joint Undertaking1605831
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union75044
Total4 9976 316

EUR million
Type of agencies revenueAmounts received
Commission subsidy3 133
Fee income867
Other income2 316
Total6 316



2. COMMITMENT AND PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS BY AGENCY

EUR million
Commitment appropriationsPayment appropriations
AgencyTotal appropr. availableCommit. madeTotal appropr. availablePayments made
Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators25253124
Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems378291367268
Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications88108
Community Plant Variety Office22192119
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work17162217
European Asylum Support Office219182207154
European Aviation Safety Agency297218310170
European Banking Authority51505851
European Border and Coast Guard Agency707694956559
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control113103172121
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training19191918
European Chemicals Agency123118137115
European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency56545952
European Education and Culture Executive Agency59596659
European Environment Agency897210972
European Fisheries Control Agency36314123
European Food Safety Authority151151149134
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions23232722
European Health and Digital Executive Agency42414743
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency46464943
European Institute for Gender Equality98119
European Institute of Innovation and Technology410384454440
European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority35354239
European Labour Authority35333922
European Maritime Safety Agency123109137110
European Medicines Agency452431539410
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction20192120
European Public Prosecutor's Office51505845
European Research Council Executive Agency59596259
European Research Executive Agency9998107100
European Securities and Markets Authority69677567
European Training Foundation25232623
European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation62556754
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity39394425
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation210198238188
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training28193117
European Union Agency for Railways39373935
European Union Agency for the Space Programme3 8016452 2091 321
European Union Fundamental Rights Agency26253426
European Union Intellectual Property Office564346585324
Fusion for Energy Joint Undertaking981704844766
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union50445445
Total9 6675 6498 5776 119

EUR million
Commitment appropriationsPayment appropriations
Type of expenditureTotal appropr. availableCommit. madeTotal appropr. availablePayments made
Administrative512486636458
Operational7 4103 4526 1613 958
Staff1 7451 7111 7801 702
Total9 6675 6498 5776 119

GLOSSARY

225.

Actuarial assumptions


Assumptions used to calculate the costs of future events that affect the pension liability.

226.

Actuarial gains and losses


For a defined benefit scheme, the changes in actuarial deficits or surpluses. They arise as a result of differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred and due to effects of changes in actuarial assumptions.

227.

Administrative appropriations


Administrative appropriations cover the running costs of the Institutions and entities (staff, buildings, office equipment).

228.

Adopted budget


Draft budget becomes the adopted budget as soon as it is approved by the Budgetary Authority and declared definitely adopted by the President of the European Parliament.

229.

Amending budget


Decision adopted during the budget year to amend (increase, decrease, transfer) aspects of the adopted budget of that year.

230.

Amounts to be called from Member States


These represent expenses incurred during the reporting period that will need to be funded by future budgets, i.e. by the EU Member States. This is a consequence of the co-existence of accruals based financial statements and a cash based budget.

231.

Annual Activity Report (AAR)


Annual Activity Reports indicate the results of operations by reference to objectives set, associated risks and the internal control structure, inter alia. Since the 2001 budget exercise for the Commission and since 2003 for all European Union institutions, the ‘authorising officer by delegation’ must submit an AAR to his/her institution on the performance of his/her duties, together with financial and management information.

232.

Appropriations


Budget funding. The budget forecasts both commitments and payments (cash or bank transfers to the beneficiaries). Appropriations for commitments and payments often differ (differentiated appropriations) because multi annual programmes and projects are usually fully committed in the year they are decided and are paid over the years as the implementation of the programme and project progresses. Non-differentiated appropriations apply to administrative expenditure, for agricultural market support and direct payments and commitment appropriations equal payment appropriations.

233.

Assigned revenue


Dedicated revenue received to finance specific items of expenditure. The main source of external assigned revenue is financial contributions from third countries to programmes financed by the Union. The main source of internal assigned revenue is revenue from third parties in respect of goods, services or work supplied at their request; revenue arising from the repayment of amounts wrongly paid and revenue from the sale of publications and films.


234.

Available for sale financial assets


All financial assets (except derivatives) that are according to International Public Sector Accounting Standards measured at fair value and for which the changes in fair value are to be recognised in a reserve in net assets until derecognition (or impairment).

235.

Budget line


As far as the budget structure is concerned, revenue and expenditure are shown in the budget in accordance with a binding nomenclature which reflects the nature and purpose of each item, as imposed by the budgetary authority. The individual headings (title, chapter, article or line) provide a formal description of the nomenclature.

236.

Cancellation of appropriations


Unused appropriations that may no longer be used.

237.

Carryover of appropriations


Exception to the principle of annuality in so far as appropriations that could not be used in a given budget year may, under strict conditions, be exceptionally carried over for use during the following year.

238.

Commitment


Legal pledge to provide finance subject to certain conditions. The EU commits itself to reimbursing its share of the costs of an EU funded project. Today’s commitments are tomorrow’s payments. Today’s payments are yesterday’s commitments.

239.

Commitment appropriation


Commitment appropriations cover the total cost of legal obligations (contracts, grant agreements/ decisions) that could be signed in the current financial year.

240.

Current service cost


The increase in scheme liabilities arising from service in the current financial year.

241.

Decommitment


An act whereby a previous commitment (or part of it) is cancelled.

242.

Defined benefit scheme


A pension or other retirement benefit scheme where the scheme rules define the benefits independently of the contributions payable, and the benefits are not directly related to the investments of the scheme. The scheme may be funded or unfunded.

243.

Derivatives


Financial instruments whose value is linked to changes in the value of another financial instrument, an indicator or a commodity. In contrast to the holder of a primary financial instrument (e.g. a government bond), who has an unqualified right to receive cash (or some other economic benefit) in the future, the holder of a derivative has only a qualified right to receive such a benefit. An example of a derivative is currency forward contract.

244.

Direct management


Mode of budget implementation. Under direct management the budget is implemented directly by Commission services, Executive Agencies or Trust Funds.

245.

Discount rate


The rate used to adjust for the time value of money. Discounting is a technique used to compare costs and benefits that occur in different time periods.

246.

Effective interest rate


The rate that discounts estimated future cash receipts or payments over the expected life of the financial asset or financial liability to the net carrying amount of the asset or liability.

Financial assets and liabilities at amortized cost

All financial assets and liabilities that are according to International Public Sector Accounting Standards measured at armotized cost.

247.

Financial assets or liabilities at fair value through surplus or deficit


All financial assets or liabilities that are according to International Public Sector Accounting Standards measured at fair value and for which the changes in fair value are to be recognised in surplus or deficit of the period (i.e. derivatives).

248.

Financial correction


The purpose of financial corrections is to protect the EU budget from the burden of irregular expenditure. For expenditure under shared management, the task of recovering irregular payments is primarily the responsibility of the Member State.

A confirmed financial correction has been accepted by the Member State concerned. A decided financial correction has been adopted by a Commission decision and is always a net correction, where the Member State is required to reimburse irregular funds to the EU budget, thus leading to a definitive reduction of the allocated envelope to the Member State concerned. Confirmed and decided financial corrections are reported in this publication as one category.

An implemented financial correction has corrected the observed irregularity.

249.

Indirect management


Mode of budget implementation. Under indirect management the Commission confers tasks of budget implementation to bodies of EU law or national law.

250.

Interruptions and suspensions


If the Commission finds, based on its own work or the information reported by audit authorities, that a Member State has failed to remedy serious shortcomings in the management and control systems and/or to correct irregular expenditure which had been declared and certified, it may interrupt or suspend payments.

251.

Irregularity


An irregularity is an act which does not comply with the applicable EU or national rules and which has a potentially negative impact on the EU financial interests. Irregularities, which may be the result of the conduct of beneficiaries claiming funds or of the authorities responsible for making payments. The notion of irregularity is wider than that of fraud, which refers to conduct that may qualify as a criminal offence.

252.

Lapsing appropriations


Unused appropriations to be cancelled at the end of the financial year. Lapsing means the cancellation of all or part of the authorisation to make expenditures and/or incur liabilities which is represented by an appropriation. Only for Joint Undertakings, as specified in their Financial Rules, any unused appropriations may be entered in the estimate of revenue and expenditure of up to the following three financial years (the so-called "N+3" rule). Hence, lapsing appropriations for JUs could be reactivated until financial year "N+3".

253.

Outstanding commitments


As the Reste à Liquider (RAL), they represent the amount where a budgetary commitment has been made but the subsequent payment is not yet done. They represent payment obligations for the EU for future years and stem directly from the existence of multi annual programmes and the dissociation between commitment and payment appropriations.

254.

Own resources


The main source of revenues for the EU budget. The different own resources are listed in the applicable Own Resource Decision (Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053) and are traditional own resources, VAT-based own resource, GNI-based resource and non-recycled plastic packaging waste-based own resource.

255.

Payment appropriations


Payment appropriations cover expenditure due in the current year, arising from legal commitments entered in the current year and/or earlier years.

256.

Pre-financing


A payment intended to provide the beneficiary with a float. It may be split into a number of instalments in accordance with the provisions of the underlying contract, decision, agreement or the basic legal act. The float or advance is either used for the purpose for which it was provided during the period defined in the agreement or it is repaid.

257.

Preventive measure


Preventive measures, which are at the Commission’s disposal to protect the EU budget when it is aware of potential deficiencies, include suspensions and interruptions of payments from the EU budget to the operational programme.

258.

Reste à Liquider (RAL)


As the Outstanding commitments, it represents the amount where a budgetary commitment has been made but the subsequent payment is not yet done. They represent payment obligations for the EU for future years and stem directly from the existence of multi annual programmes and the dissociation between commitment and payment appropriations.

259.

Shared management


Mode of budget implementation. Under shared management budget implementation tasks are delegated to Member States. About three quarters of the EU expenditure falls under this implementation mode.

260.

Traditional own resources


Traditional own resources are defined in the applicable Own Resources Decision (Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053) and comprise namely customs duties and sugar levies.

261.

Transfers (between budget lines)


Transfers between budget lines imply the relocation of appropriations from one budget line to another, in the course of the financial year, and thereby they constitute an exception to the budgetary principle of specification. They are, however, expressly authorised by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union under the conditions laid down in the Financial Regulation (FR). The FR identifies different types of transfers depending on whether they are between or within budget titles, chapters, articles or headings and require different levels of authorisation.




LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AARAnnual Activity Report
ACAmortised Cost
AFSAvailable For Sale
AMIFAsylum, Migration and Integration Fund
AODAuthorising Officers by Delegation
ATMAir Traffic Management
BOPBalance of Payments
BUFI FundBudget Fines Fund
CAPCommon Agricultural Policy
CCS LGFCultural and Creative Sector Guarantee Facility
CEF2Connecting Europe Facility
CEF DIConnecting Europe Facility Debt Instrument
CFCohesion Fund
CIPCompetitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme
COMEuropean Commission
COSMECompetitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
COSOCommittee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
CPFCommon Provisioning Fund
CPR

CRII+
Common Provisions Regulation

Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus
D&WMDecommissioning and Waste Management
EADExposure At Default
EAFRDEuropean Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
EAGFEuropean Agricultural Guarantee Fund
EAREuropean Union Accounting Rule
EaSIEmployment and Social Innovation
EBRDEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ECAEuropean Court of Auditors
ECBEuropean Central Bank
ECLExpected Credit Losses
ECOFINEconomic and Financial Affairs Council
ECSC i.L.European Coal and Steel Community in Liquidation
EDFEuropean Development Fund
EDIFGuarantee Facility under the Western Balkan
EEAEuropean Economic Area
EEASEuropean External Action Service
EFSDEuropean Fund for Sustainable Development
EFSEEuropean Fund for Southeast Europe
EFSFEuropean Financial Stability Facility
EFSIEuropean Fund for Strategic Investments
EFSMEuropean Financial Stabilisation Mechanism
EFTAEuropean Free Trade Association
EGNOSEuropean Geostationary Navigation Overlay System
EIBEuropean Investment Bank
EIFEuropean Investment Fund
ElectriFIElectrification Financing Initiative
ELM

EMFF
External Lending Mandate

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
EMUEconomic and Monetary Union
ENEFEnterprise Expansion Fund
ENIFEnterprise Innovation Fund
ENPIEuropean Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument
EPEuropean Parliament
ERDFEuropean Regional Development Fund
ERI

ESA
EIB Resilience Initiative

European Space Agency
ESFEuropean Social Fund
ESIFEuropean Structural and Investment Funds
ESMEuropean Stability Mechanism
ETFExchange-Traded Fund
EUEuropean Union
EUMETSATEuropean Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
EuratomEuropean Atomic Energy Community
FGCFinancial Guarantee Contract
FIFOFirst-in, First-out
FP77th Research Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
FREU Financial Regulation
FSDAFinancial Statement Discussion and Analysis
FVNAFair Value through Net Assets/Equity
FVSDFair Value through Surplus or Deficit
GDPGross Domestic Product
GNIGross National Income
GNSSGlobal Navigation Satellite Systems
H2020Horizon 2020
HLRCPHigh Level Risk and Compliance Policy
IIWInfrastructure and Innovation Window
IMFInternational Monetary Fund
IPSASInternational Public Sector Accounting Standards
IFInnovation Fund
ITInformation Technology
ITERInternational Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
JRCJoint Research Centre
JUJoint Undertaking
LGDLoss given Default Rate
LGFLoan Guarantee Facility
LGTTLoan Guarantee Instrument for TEN-T projects
MAPMulti Annual Program - Medium Enterprise Financial Inclusion Programme
MEPMember of the European Parliament
MFAMacro Financial Assistance
MFFMultiannual Financial Framework
MMFMoney Market Fund
MSMEMicro, Small and Medium Enterprise
NDICINeighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument
NGEUNextGenerationEU
ORDOwn Resources Decision
PBIProject Bond Initiative
PDProbability of Default
PF4EEPrivate Finance for Energy Efficiency Instrument
PGFParticipants Guarantee Fund
PPPPublic-Private Partnership
PSEOPension Scheme of European Officials
RAL"Reste à Liquider" (Outstanding Commitments)
RSFFRisk Sharing Finance Facility
RRFRecovery and Resilience Facility
RTDResearch, Technological Development and Demonstration
S&PStandard & Poor's Financial Services LLC
SANADMENA Fund for Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises
SAPARDSpecial Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development
SEMEDSouthern and Eastern Mediterranean Micro, Small and Middle sized Entreprises Financial Inclusion Programme
SICRSignificant Increase of Credit Risk
SIUGISME Initiative Uncapped Guarantee Instrument
SMESmall and Medium-sized Enterprise(s)
SMEWSME Window (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Window)
SURESupport to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency
TFEUTreaty on the Functioning of the European Union
TORTraditional own resources
TRDITemporary Rural Development Instrument
VATValue Added Tax


1 Commission Implementing Decision C(2021) 9336 final.

2 Maximum financial contribution calculated for each Member State following the update of 30 June 2022 in line with Article 11 i of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 (before deduction of support expenditure), see
https://commission.europa.eu/document/c22c182c-f53e-453f-b45a-dacdcf2d69dd_en.

3 For a comprehensive overview of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU), please see also sections 2.2 and 2.3 above.

4The authorised amount for NGEU in 2022 concerned the 2022 support in the form of non-repayable support to Member States under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU) and the additional funding for other European programmes or funds (i.e. Rural Development, InvestEU Fund, Just Transition Fund, Horizon Europe and RescEU). The EURI Regulation sets legal deadlines with respect to the legal commitments while the programming distribution is established based on the planned schedule of annual commitments which are specifically mentioned in the legal bases of the programmes concerned.

5Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.

6 Article 212 of the Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018.

7 Decision (EU) 2022/313 of the European Parliament and the Council for EUR 1.2 billion providing emergency assistance to Ukraine, Decision (EU) 2022/1201 of the European Parliament and the Council for EUR 1.0 billion providing exceptional assistance to Ukraine, Decision (EU) 2022/1628 of the European Parliament and the Council for EUR 5.0 billion providing exceptional assistance to Ukraine.

8Under the principle of subsidiarity, the Union shall act only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects, be better achieved at Union level. Under the principle of proportionality, the content and form of Union action shall not exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties (see Article 5 TEU).

9 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 – OJ L 193 of 30 July 2018, p. 1.

10 See Article 317 TFEU.

11 C(2020) 4240 of 24.6.2020.

12As a result, the term European Commission is used to denote both the institution – the College – formed by the Members of the Commission, and its administration managed by the Directors-General of its departments (and heads of other administrative structures such as services, offices and executive agencies).

13Since mid-2019 (further to the revised Article 12 of the Internal Rules) the management of the European Development Fund (EDF) is co-delegated among five departments (INTPA (DEVCO), ECHO, EAC, EACEA and JRC).

14 https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/integrated-financial-and-accountability-reporting_en.

15The PSEO is a notional (virtual) fund with defined benefits in which staff’s contributions serve to finance their future pensions. Although there is no actual investment fund, the amount that would have been collected by such a fund is considered to have been invested in the Member States’ long-term bonds and is reflected in the pension liability that is registered in the annual accounts of the European Union. Member States jointly guarantee the payment of the benefits pursuant to Article 83 of the Staff Regulations and Article 4 i of the Treaty on European Union (see COM(2018)829 for a detailed description of the scheme).

16 https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2022-01/high_level_risk_and_compliance_policy_hlrcp_formatted.pdf.

17 Decision C(2021) 2502 was repealed and replaced with Decision C(2022) 9700.

18For example in the Working Document XI attached to the Draft Budget that presents the implementation of Budgetary Guarantees, the Common Provisioning Fund and the assessment of the sustainability of the contingent liabilities arising from budgetary guarantees and financial assistance pursuant to Article 41 i of the Financial Regulation.

19Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 11.

20Technical adjustment of the financial framework for 2023 in accordance with Article 4 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/365 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, COM(2022) 266 final, 7.6.2022.

21Technical adjustment of the financial framework for 2022 in accordance with Article 4 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/365 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, COM(2021) 365 final, 7.6.2021.

22 Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1.

23 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation), OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

24Adjustment of the multiannual financial framework in accordance with Article 7 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 lying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, COM(2022)80 final, 28.2.2022.

25Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.

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