Having examined the
revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2011 and
the balance sheet at 31 December 2011 of the European Fisheries
Control Agency, as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the
annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2011,
accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations,
the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge
to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the
implementation of the budget for the financial year 2011.
The observations in the Court of Auditors' report in
relation to the financial year 2011 call for some comments by the
Council, which may be summarised as follows:
- the Council
welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the
Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as
at 31 December 2011 and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of
the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying
transactions for that financial year are legal and regular;
- nevertheless, the
Council urges the Agency to improve its procurement and
accounting procedures in line with the Court's
recommendations;
- it fully supports
the Court's observations on the need to further improve staff
selection procedures and urges the Agency to thoroughly address its
deficiencies in this area;
- lastly, it regrets
that the regulations governing appointments to key posts were
contravened in the course of the procedure concerning the post of
Executive Director.