2013 discharge: European Railway Agency (ERA)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2013 and the balance sheet at 31 December 2013 of the European Railway Agency (ERA), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2013, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2013.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts fairly present the financial position as at 31 December 2013 and the results of operations and cash flows for 2013, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation and the accounting rules adopted by the Commission's accounting officer, and that the underlying transactions for 2013 are legal and regular.

Nevertheless, the Council has made some observations which may be summarised as follows:

• procurement: the Council invites the Agency to improve the accuracy and documentation of information used in the Agency's procurement procedures;
• recruitment: the Council urges the Agency to ensure that the procedures for the recruitment of temporary agents are in line with the provisions of its founding regulation;
• headquarters: the Council encourages the Agency to pursue its efforts in order to conclude a headquarters agreement with the host Member State.