2011 discharge: European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex)
The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ADLE, NL) on discharge to be granted to the Executive Director of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX) in respect of the implementation of the Agencys budget for the financial year 2011.
Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of FRONTEX for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approve the closure of the Agencys 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: FRONTEXs 2011 budget amounted to EUR 118.2 million, including aan initial contribution of the Union of EUR 111 million. Members acknowledge, however, that the Agency's 2011 budget was subject to three amending budgets, in order to cope with developments following events in North Africa;
- Implementation rate of appropriations and carryovers: Members observe that the Agencys budgetary execution rate for operational expenditure 2011 stood at 58% and call on the Agency to implement specific measures to improve its budgeting process and execution rate of payment in the case of administrative and operational expenditure;
Lastly, Members made a series of observations as regards the Agencys supervisory and control systems and the follow-up on the 2010 discharge recommendations.