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

2011 discharge: European Police College (CEPOL)

2012/2199(DEC)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ADLE, NL) on discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Police College (CEPOL) in respect of the implementation of the College’s budget for the financial year 2011.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the College for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approve the closure of CEPOL’s accounts. However, they make a number of recommendations that need to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

  • Financing, budget and financial management: the budget of the College for 2011 was EUR 8.341 million. They stress that financial management inefficiencies such as the use of payments on incorrect budget lines within chapter or titles took place in 2011. They call on the College to provide the discharge authority, as soon as possible, with further details on the issue, including the amounts and budget lines involved and the measures implemented in order to remedy the situation.
  • Implementation rate of appropriations and carryovers: Members take note that for operational expenditure, 93.31% of the appropriations were committed and that 55.98% of payment appropriations were consumed. 22% of appropriations were carried over to 2012. They call on the College to inform the discharge authority of the actions taken to address this deficiency as the high level of carryovers indicate shortcomings in budget planning and implementation and it is at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality.

Lastly, Members made a series of observations as regards the College’s procurement and recruitment procedures, internal audit and performances. They also believe that common elements between the College and the European Police Office should be explored further. Members request that the Commission come up with a proposal for the relocation of the College to The Hague (NL) where the European Police Office is located in order to share facilities and services and benefit from synergies, without jeopardising both agencies' core tasks and autonomy. They emphasise that a swift decision on the relocation of the College would diminish the uncertainty that might pose adverse effects on staff and recruitment procedures.