2017 discharge: European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office (Europol) for the financial year 2017.

The committee called on the European Parliament to grant the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation discharge in respect of the implementation of the Europol’s budget for the financial year 2017.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts of the Office for the financial year 2017 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Members called on Parliament to approve the closure of Europol’s accounts.

They made, however, a number of recommendations that needed to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

Financial statements of Europol

Members noted that the final budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (‘Europol’) for the financial year 2017 was EUR 119 234 720, representing an increase of 14.35 % compared to 2016. The increase was due to additional tasks expanding its mandate.

Budget and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a high budget implementation rate of 99.72 %, representing a slight decrease of 0.03 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 89.01 %, indicating a decrease of 1.97 % compared to 2016.

Following the growth prognosis for Europol an additional permanent building will be required as of 2023, Members asked Europol to consider to be vigilant in relation to the additional costs.

The cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 834 972, representing 9.08 % of the total amount carried over, showing a notable decrease of 6.35 % compared to 2016.

Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, staff policy, procurement, conflicts of interest and internal controls.

In particular, they noted that:

- Europol achieved 78 % of the targets set for performance indicators (86 % in 2016) and that it progressed in the implementation of 80 % of the actions contained within the 2017 Work Programme (76 % in 2016);

- on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 97.27 % executed, with 535 temporary agents appointed out of 550 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget. Europol is called on to refrain from relying too heavily on contract agents and to not replace permanent staff by more expensive contract agents;

- four formal procedures in the form of administrative inquiries were opened with regard to sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour during the course of 2017;

- proactive measures were taken against four potential conflict of interest cases identified in 2017.