2016 discharge: European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

2017/2170(DEC)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2016 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2016 of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Institute for the financial year 2016, accompanied by the Institute's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Director of the Institute in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2016.

The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Institute's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2016 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Institute's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for 2016 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, the following observations were made:

  • carry-overs: the Council acknowledged the multiannual nature of the Institute's expenditure in relation to studies and called on the Institute to consider the Court's suggestion to use differentiated appropriations to address the high level of commitments carried over. It also called on the Institute to continue monitoring its budget implementation in order to reduce the level of commitments carried over to the following financial year to the minimum strictly necessary, in line with the budgetary principle of annuality;
  • procurement: the Council regretted the deficiencies found by the Court in the Institute's procurement procedures, which could have had an impact on the choice of the economically most advantageous offer. It urged the Institute to take the appropriate actions to ensure the effectiveness of its procurement procedures, as well as full transparency and equal treatment of tenderers.