Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts
for the financial year 2010 and the balance sheet at 31 December
2010 of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, and the
report by the Court of Auditors on the annual accounts of the Joint
Undertaking for the financial year 2010, accompanied by the Joint
Undertaking's replies to the Court's observations, the Council
recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the
Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking in respect of the
implementation of the budget for the financial year
2010.
However, the Council considers that observations made
in the Court of Auditor's report call for a certain number of
remarks:
- the Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all
material respects, the Joint Undertaking's annual accounts fairly
present the financial position as at 31 December 2010 and the
results of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, in
accordance with the provisions of the Joint Undertaking's Financial
Rules, and that the underlying transactions for that financial year
are legal and regular;
- the Council asks the Joint Undertaking to formalise
the business processes underlying its internal control systems,
and invites the Joint Undertaking's Accounting Officer to validate
them without delay;
- it calls on the Joint Undertaking to set up as soon as
possible the methodology to be used for the evaluation of in-kind
contributions to projects;
- the Council encourages the Joint Undertaking to
complete its Financial Rules.