Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

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

2008/2258(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted by 581 votes to 12, with 39 abstentions, a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2007. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency.

In parallel, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge.

Parliament highlights:

  • that the Centre’s IT needs increased dramatically due to the Centre’s move to new premises;
  • the disagreement between the Centre and Norway about Norway's financial participation in the Centre's work;
  • the compromise which has since been achieved, according to which Norway made a one-off payment of EUR 34 230 to the Community.

On the issue of follow-up to previous discharge exercises, Parliament welcomes 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.

Lastly, noting that the Monitoring Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2007 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, the Parliament approves the closure of its accounts and refers, for other observations accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies - see 2008/2207(INI) - adopted in parallel.