2016 discharge: Euratom Supply Agency

2017/2168(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director-General of the Euratom Supply Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2016, 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 agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2016 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 559 votes to 110 with 28 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:

  • Agency’s financial statements: the final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2016 remained stable at EUR 125 000. EUR 119 000 (95.2 %) of the budget of the Agency derives from the Union budget and EUR 6 000 (4.8 %) from its own revenues (bank interest on the paid-up capital). The Agency had 17 staff at the end of 2016, all being Commission officials;
  • Budget and financial management: budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2016 resulted in a commitment appropriations execution rate of 94.34 %, representing a decrease of 4.58 % compared to 2015.

Members noted that the Agency processed 344 transactions in 2016, including contracts, amendments and notifications in order to ensure the security of supply of nuclear materials. The Agency advisory committee gave its positive opinion on a draft proposal for its updated rules, in order to bring them up-to-date with current market practices. Members noted that, before entering into force, the proposed Rules must be approved by the Commission. However, the approval process was still not finalised at the beginning of 2017.