The European Parliament decided
to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European
Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) in regard to the
implementation of the agencys budget for the 2016 financial
year and to approve the closure of the accounts for the financial
year in question.
Noting that the Court of Auditors
has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the
agencys annual accounts for the financial year 2016 are
reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and
regular, Parliament adopted by 554 votes to 126 with 9
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:
- Colleges financial statements: the final budget of the European Police College
for the financial year 2016 was EUR 10 291 700, representing an
increase of 17.34 % compared to 2015 due to the grant agreement
with the Commission on the EU/MENA Counter-Terrorism Training
Partnership. The entire budget of the College derives from the
Union budget.
- Budget and financial management: the budget monitoring efforts during the financial
year 2016 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 95.95
%, representing an increase of 0.44 % compared to 2015.
Following the signature of the grant agreement with the Commission
in 2005 on EU/MENA Counter-Terrorism Training Partnership, a budget
of EUR 2 490 504 was agreed, out of which a second instalment of
EUR 1 243 891 became available for commitments and payments. 89 %
of the available credits have been committed and 48 % of the
available credits have been paid.
- It should be noted that a number of staff brought a
legal claim against the College disputing the conditions in which
the relocation was carried out and its financial impact on their
income. An amicable settlement has been reached with some members
of staff and the payments were made to this end in 2015 and
2016.
- Commitments and carry-overs: Members observed that a total of EUR 1 477 288 was
carried over to 2017, amounting to 17 % of the overall 2016
budget. The level of carryovers of committed appropriations was
high for expenditure for support activities at EUR 140 055, i.e. 30
% (compared to EUR 212 456, i.e. 49 %, in 2015). These carry-overs
mainly refer to IT consulting and IT related goods and services
ordered late in the year. Members noted that carry-overs are often
justified and do not necessarily indicate weaknesses in budget
planning and implementation.
- Staff policy: Members
noted with satisfaction the gender balance achieved by the posts
occupied in 2016, since the ratio is 50 % female to 50 % male.
However, the gender balance ratio of 69 % to 31 % in the management
board. They highlighted that, as a consequence of
the Colleges relocation from the United Kingdom to
Hungary, and due to the significantly lower correction
coefficient applied to staff salaries in the new location,
the number of resignations has increased. Although a number of
mitigating actions have been implemented, the low grading of posts
combined with low correction coefficient does not encourage
foreigners (especially from West and Northern Europe) to move to
Hungary, and that as a result, the geographical balance
of staff is not ensured. In 2016, 30% of all College staff
were Hungarian, which is a disproportionate number.
- Conflicts of interest: the declarations of interest of senior
management and of the Management Board Members have been published
on the Colleges website. Members called on the College to
report to the discharge authority on the measures taken to publish
the declarations of interest on the conflicts of interest and the
confidentiality of external remunerated experts. They noted
with satisfaction that rules on fraud reporting and the protection
of whistleblowers are embedded in the Colleges
anti-fraud strategy.
Members also made a series of
observations regarding transfers, procurement, the prevention and
management of conflicts of interests and internal audits and
controls.
On performance, Members
noted with satisfaction that for the sixth year in a row the
outreach of the College has increased, resulting in the College
training 18 009 law enforcement professionals in 2016 compared to
12 992 in 2015, representing an increase of over 38 %.
Members noted that the five-year
external evaluation of the College (2011-2015) was completed by the
external evaluator in January 2016. It was concluded that the
College is efficient. However, there is a clear need for a
significant reinforcement of the College with both human and
financial resources and improve the online visibility of the
College.
Lastly, Members noted with
concern that for the time being the College does not have
sufficient information to allow a thorough preparation for carrying
out future activities after Brexit.
Brexit will limit the Colleges
access to United Kingdom law enforcement expertise and its ability
to organise training with United Kingdom officials. These aspects
might negatively impact the development of common practices,
information exchange and ultimately cross-border cooperation on
fighting and prevention of crime. Members recommended that measures
be implemented to maintain - at the least - the current level of
cooperation.