2011 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency (EFSA)

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 Fisheries Control Agency (EFSA) in respect of the implementation of the Agency’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 Agency for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approve the closure of EFSA’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 Agency's overall budget for 2011 was EUR 12.85 million, which represents an increase of 16.7%.
• Implementation rate of appropriations and carryovers: the Agency committed 98.3% of the subsidy granted and paid 85.6% of available payment appropriations. A significant number of appropriations were carried over or cancelled.

Lastly, Members made a series of observations as regards the Agency’s procurement and recruitment procedures, internal audit, performances, accounting systems and governance.