2015 discharge: European Training Foundation (ETF)

2016/2171(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF) in respect of the implementation of the agency’s 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 Foundation’s annual accounts for the financial year 2015 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 502 votes to 114 with 6 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:

  • Foundation’s financial statements: Parliament noted that the final budget of the Foundation for the financial year 2015 was EUR 20 153 042, representing a decrease of 0.02 % compared to 2014. The entire budget of the Foundation derives from the Union budget.
  • Commitments and carry-overs: Parliament noted that the carry-overs for administrative expenditure represent a considerable decrease of 20.1 % compared to the previous year.
  • Financial and budgetary management: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2015 resulted in a high budget implementation rate of 99.89 %, indicating that commitments were made in a timely manner, and that the payment appropriations execution rate was high at 96.04 %.

Parliament also made a series of observations regarding the budget and financial management, the prevention and management of conflicts of interests, internal audits and transfers.

Lastly, Parliament welcomed the Foundation’s continued contribution to modernising the education and training systems and to strengthening the human capital of partner countries, including the support provided to the Union’s migration dialogue and Mobility Partnerships with neighbourhood countries. It also welcomed the collaboration between the Foundation and the partner countries in order to analyse the “NEETs” phenomenon (Young people Not in Employment, Education or Training).