The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2015.
The vote on the decision on discharge covers the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex IV, Article 5 (1)(a) to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure).
Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2015 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 495 votes to 113 with 13 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations, which form an integral part of the decision on discharge and which add to the general recommendations set out in the resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.
These recommendations may be summarised as follows:
Parliament also made a series of observations regarding commitments and carry-overs, procurement and recruitment procedures, the prevention and management of conflicts of interests and internal audits and controls.
On conflicts of interest, Parliament noted with concern that the Agency has not provided for any specific initiative to improve transparency in its contacts with lobbyists and stakeholders and called on the Agency to enact a proactive lobby transparency policy.
Lastly, it noted that the Agency has continued to emphasise the advantages of relocating the Agency to the single office in Athens. It noted that the estimated cost regarding the relocation of the remaining 14 members of staff in Heraklion as well as of all the furniture is approximately EUR 360 000. It encouraged the Greek authorities, the Commission and the Agency to find a solution for the issue of the Agency’s two locations as soon as possible in order to ensure a much more efficient use of Union funds.