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2008 discharge: EU general budget, Court of Justice

2009/2071(DEC)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL) recommending the European Parliament to grant the Court of Justice's Registrar discharge in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008.

The committee cites that in 2008 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) had commitment appropriations available amounting to a total of EUR 297 million (2007: EUR 275 million), with a utilisation rate of 98.20%, higher than the average of the other institutions (95.67%).

Members note that the Court of Auditors indicated in its annual report that its audit of a contract the ECJ concluded for the provision of services (following a joint open tender procurement procedure with a Member State) showed weaknesses in the internal control system for performing this tendering procedure. Taking account of the various enlightenments provided by the Court of Justice on this issue, Members endorse the Court of Auditor’s suggestion that enhanced procurement procedures should be established.

Members also welcome the following elements:

  • the effective operation of the recently established ECJ's Internal Audit unit;
  • the constant reduction in the duration of proceedings before the ECJ, in particular, a significant reduction in the duration of preliminary ruling procedures (even if this reduction is not yet satisfactory);
  • the fact that the Court of First Instance in 2008 showed a 52 % increase in the number of cases decided, as well as a certain decrease in the duration of proceedings, which is not yet satisfactory;
  • the new integrated system for management and financial control (SAP), in operation since 1 January 2008, which has enabled budget savings and gains in efficiency for the three institutions involved (the Council, the ECJ and the Court of Auditors);
  • the ongoing successful interinstitutional cooperation with the Court of Auditors as regards training.

Members take note of the follow-up by the ECJ of the observations made by the Parliament and the Court of Auditors in previous discharges and reports. However, they regret the reluctance of the ECJ to publish its members' declarations of financial interests, and requests that it implements this practice without delay.