2018 discharge: European Training Foundation (ETF)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF) 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 604 votes to 86 with 3 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:

Foundation’s financial statements

The final budget of the Foundation for the financial year 2018 was EUR 20 144 018, representing almost the same amount as in 2017 (with a very slight decrease).

Budget and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2018 resulted in a high budget implementation rate of 99.99 %, representing a slight increase of 0.06 % compared to 2017. The payment appropriations execution rate was 98.07 %, representing an increase of 0.10 % compared to 2017.

Other observations

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

In particular, they noted that:

- the Foundation achieved a 91 % activity completion rate of which 94% were completed on time;

- on 31 December 2018, the establishment plan was 98.84 % executed, with 85 temporary agents appointed out of 86 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;

- although gender balance has been achieved on the management board a better gender balance is needed among senior managers (3 men and 1 woman); notes with satisfaction, however, that gender balance has been achieved on the management board (14 men and 14 women);

- 2018 was the first full year of implementation of the Foundation’s 17 Internal Control Principles and the development of a methodology and set of indicators to support and strengthen the regular monitoring and annual assessment of internal controls;

- further use of innovative digital solutions, including e-procurement should be made.