2007 discharge: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction EMCDDA

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report drawn up by Christofer FJELLNER (EPP-ED, SE) on discharge to be granted to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, calling on the European Parliament to grant the Executive Director of the Centre discharge in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2007.

Noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2007 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, MEPs approve the closure of the Centre’s accounts.

However, they make a number of recommendations as part of the decision on discharge. In addition to the general recommendations appearing in the draft resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2008/2207(INI)), MEPs make the following observations:

• the ECA's observation that the Centre’s IT needs increased dramatically, explained by the Centre’s move to new premises and, therefore, the need for new equipment;
• there is a disagreement between the Centre and Norway about Norway's financial participation in the Centre's work;
• a compromise has since been achieved, according to which Norway made a one-off payment of EUR 34 230 and accepted the waiving of an existing surplus of its contribution to the Centre; Norway also accepted a new calculation method for future contributions.

Lastly, on the issue of follow-up to previous discharge exercises, MEPs welcome the fact that the Centre closely cooperates with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), also based in Lisbon, in order to share buildings and jointly use infrastructures and services.