2018 discharge: European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for the financial year 2018 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 2018 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 605 votes to 83 with 5 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 2018 was EUR 106 777 232.65 representing an increase of 23.76 % compared to 2017. The increase was mainly related to the enhanced mandate of the Agency.
Budget and financial management
The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2018 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.02%, representing a slight increase of 0.98% compared to 2017 and a payment appropriations execution rate of 92.84%, representing a decrease of 3.41%.
Other observations
Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, staff policy, procurement and internal controls.
In particular, they noted that:
- the delay in the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operations linked to European cooperation on coast guard functions due to technical challenges and continuing difficulties in obtaining from national authorities the permits to fly led to a budget amendment reducing the EU subsidy and to the return of EUR 6 000 000 in payment appropriations to the Commission.. This reduction proved insufficient due to further delays caused by technical problems and bad weather, leading to lower consumption of payment appropriations;
- the Agency should exploit to the full, and if necessary to adapt, the operational possibilities offered by drones, high altitude pseudo satellites and satellites with a view to combatting illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, people smuggling and unlicensed fishing;
- on 31 December 2018, the establishment plan was 98.58 % filled, with 209 officials and temporary agents appointed out of 212 officials and TAs authorised under the Union budget;
- the gender imbalance at management level should be reviewed;
- the Agency did not systematically check prices and uplifts charged with supplier’s quotes and invoices issued to the framework contractor for the acquisition of software licences.