2012 discharge: European Railway Agency (ERA)

PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2012, as part of the 2012 discharge procedure.

Analysis of the accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA).

CONTENT: this Commission document sets out the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2012 as prepared on the basis of the information presented by the institutions, organisations and bodies of the EU, in accordance with Article 129 (2) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the EU's General Budget, including the European Railway Agency (ERA).

In 2012, the tasks and budget of this agency were as follows:

• description of ERA's tasks: ERA, which is located in Lille-Valenciennes, was created by Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Its aim is to : (i) enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and; (ii) develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety;
• ERA's budget for the 2012 financial year: the Agency’s budget for 2012, as presented in the Commission document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union, gives the following figures:

§         Commitment appropriations :

- committed : EUR 26 million;

- paid : EUR 25 million;

- carried-over : 0.

§         Payment appropriations :

- committed : EUR 30 million;

- paid : EUR 26 million;

- carried-over : EUR 2 million.

Please refer also to the final accounts of the ERA.