The Council has received a Commission report on actions taken following the European Parliament's discharge of the 2024 EU budget, granted on 29 April 2026. The report, published on 26 June 2026, covers budget execution, defence and Ukraine funding, rule-of-law measures, anti-fraud reforms, and error reduction, with key actions and dates through 2026.
The report notes that outstanding commitments (RAL) fell by EUR 35 billion from end-2023 to end-2024, while cohesion project selection rose from about 12% at end-2023 to 37% in 2024 and 65% in 2025. On 30 April 2026, the Commission adopted guidelines for closing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with Member States revising national plans to conclude payments by end-2026. Up to EUR 150 billion in SAFE loans for defence are available, and EUR 130.2 billion was mobilised for Ukraine from Russia's invasion to end-2024. A Ukraine Support Loan of up to EUR 90 billion was adopted in February 2026.
Hungary remains subject to Conditionality Regulation measures since 2022, with suspension of 55% of cohesion commitments and a ban on new commitments with Public Interest Trusts. On 26 March 2026, Parliament and Council agreed on EU Customs Union reform, creating an EU Customs Authority and Data Hub. On 16 July 2025, the Commission published a White Paper for the Anti-fraud Architecture Review, with results due end-2026. In 2024, EUR 2.66 billion was recovered (EUR 1.18 billion preventive, EUR 1.48 billion corrective), mainly in cohesion and agriculture. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) received additional resources in 2024-2026 for Poland's and Sweden's participation, while OLAF staff decreased by 38 over 2019-2027.
The report impacts several stakeholders. EU taxpayers benefit from reduced outstanding commitments and increased recoveries, but may face higher defence spending through SAFE loans. EU farmers and cohesion regions see continued support, though Hungary faces funding suspensions. Defence industries gain from up to EUR 150 billion in loans, while Ukraine receives substantial financial aid. Anti-fraud bodies (EPPO, OLAF) see resource shifts, with EPPO expanding and OLAF downsizing.
The European Parliament and Council will consider the report in the context of the 2025 budget discharge procedure. The Commission is expected to report on anti-fraud architecture reforms by end-2026 and on RRF closure progress.