2011 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency (EFSA)

The European Parliament adopted a decision 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. The vote on the decision to grant discharge covers the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex VI, Article 5(1) of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure).

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, Parliament adopted a resolution containing 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: Parliament recalls that the Agency's overall budget for 2011 was EUR 12.8 million, which represents an increase of 16.7%.
• Implementation rate of appropriations and carryovers: It states that 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.
• Governance: Parliament acknowledges from the Court of Auditors that in the course of the appointment procedure of the Executive Director, a member of the Administrative Board contravened the regulations governing appointments to key posts by announcing the candidate the Commission intended to vote for. It stresses, however, that the Executive Director is not responsible for the proceedings.

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