The challenges of policy oversight for the European Parliament: how the committee system is adapting in its scrutiny of budgetary expenditure

In its scrutiny role the European Parliament (EP) makes wide use of several informational resources, including Commission evaluations and European Court of Auditors' performance audits. These crucial inputs into deliberative processes of parliamentary oversight enable committees to monitor the performance of policies financed by the EU budget. Effective scrutiny is fundamental for the throughput legitimacy and financial accountability of EU policy and law making. Traditionally the EP's Budgetary Control Committee (CONT) has scrutinised ECA reports across all policy domains. However, during the eighth and ninth legislatures (2014-2024), direct contact has been forged between the standing committees and ECA for the presentation of audit findings, allowing committees a more retrospective perspective on policy performance. Arguably, greater engagement and understanding of budgetary control helps the EP as co-legislator deliver improved regulation and better designed policy instruments. This article explores the evolving nature of EP-ECA committee relations and institutionalisation of new scrutiny arrangements.