2013 discharge: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

The European Parliament adopted by 557 votes to 127, with 5 abstentions, a decision to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for the financial year 2013.

The vote on the discharge decision approved the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex VI, Article 5(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament).

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2013 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 577 votes to 105, with 7 abstentions, a resolution containing a number of recommendations that form an integral part of the discharge decision and as well as the general recommendations that appear in the resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

• Agency’s financial statements: Parliament noted that the final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2013 was EUR 107 270 800. It received Union subsidies of EUR 7.632 million from the Commission and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance pre-financing amounting to EUR 103 524, as well as other contributions and funding from the Commission amounting to EUR 920 900.
• Commitments and carry-overs: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2013 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 98.64% and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 86.18%. It noted with concern that the level of committed appropriations carried over to 2014 remained high at 46% mainly due to the multiannual nature of planned IT development projects.

Parliament also made a series of observations on procurement procedures, recruitment and internal control.

Furthermore, it noted with concern that the Agency’s Executive Director made a reservation regarding his declaration of assurance for the year 2013, since the Agency's mandate does not include controls or inspections at national level and therefore, no confirmation could be given that only registered or authorised substances and products, for which a fee was paid to the Agency, were circulating on the Union market.

Parliament asked again that the Agency make clear in its internal and external communication that it receives funds from the general budget of the Union ("Union subsidy") instead of a "Commission" or "Community" subsidy.

Implementation of REACH: Lastly, Parliament stated that the appointment of a small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) ambassador who advocates the interest of smaller enterprises externally and internally within the Agency. It noted furthermore that the Agency’s priority is to provide intensive support so that SMEs will be able to comply with the requirements as well as the introduction of the authorisation process as part of the REACH Regulation, in order to encourage the substitution of the most hazardous chemicals and innovation by swapping them for safer alternatives.