2011 discharge: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ADLE, NL) on discharge to be granted to the Director of the Centre for the Development of Vocational Training in respect of the implementation of the 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 Centre for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approve the closure of the Centre’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: Members recall that the contribution of the Union to the Centre's budget for the financial year 2011 was EUR 16 987 000, which represents a slight increase from 2010. They also note that the Centre receives annual contributions from two third countries which benefit from its work.
• Implementation rate of appropriations: Members acknowledge from the annual accounts that EUR 900 000 was carried over to 2012 and call on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the actions taken to address this deficiency as the excessive level of carryovers for Title II is at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality.

Lastly, Members made a series of observations as regards grants, transfers, recruitment of this Agency as well as on its performance and its internal audit systems. Members also welcome the cooperation with the European Training Foundation.