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2011 discharge: Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

2012/2210(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 Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the financial year 2011.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approve the closure of the Agency’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 overall budget of the Agency for 2011 was EUR 4.8 million whereas the contribution of the Union to the budget of the Agency for 2011 amounted to EUR 4.362 million;
  • Implementation rate of appropriations and carryovers: Members note that appropriations were committed at a rate of 67 %, while payments reached a level of 74 % of the total appropriations managed in its first operational year. They also note the high level of appropriations not used and of carryovers, as well as the low level of payments which are at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality.

Lastly, Members made a series of observations as regards the Agency’s recruitment system, as well as some irregular payments paid to staff.