On 7 May 2025, the European Parliament voted to approve its own budgetary management for the year 2023. This vote, called 'discharge', is an annual procedure by which Parliament controls the implementation of the European Union budget. For 2023, Parliament gave the green light to its own budget section (Section I), meaning that the institution's expenditure is deemed compliant with the rules.
Each year, the European Parliament examines how the EU institutions have spent taxpayers' money. For 2023, the report concerning Parliament itself was prepared by MEP Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, Germany). This report (A10-0062/2025) recommends granting discharge, i.e. approving the accounts. The vote took place in plenary session in Strasbourg.
Parliament adopted the discharge decision for the 2023 financial year, Section I – European Parliament. This means that MEPs consider that the institution's expenditure (operating costs, salaries, buildings, etc.) was carried out in accordance with the voted budget and EU financial rules. The decision also includes observations on financial management, but the main point is the approval of the accounts.
The vote was by roll call (each MEP votes individually). The results are as follows:
A majority of MEPs therefore supported the discharge, which was expected since the committee report was favourable.
This vote may seem technical, but it has a direct impact on trust in the European institutions. By approving its own management, Parliament shows that it respects budgetary rules. For citizens, this means that European tax money has been used transparently and under control. If the discharge had been refused, it could have led to corrective measures or even political questioning of Parliament's management. Here, the green light confirms that everything is in order for the year 2023.
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