The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for the financial year 2020 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.
Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurance that the Agency's annual accounts for the financial year 2020 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 550 votes to 51 with 36 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations contained in the resolution on the performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.
Agency’s financial statements
The Agency's final budget for the year 2020 was EUR 17 297 383, representing an increase of 7.12 % compared to 2019.
Budgetary and financial management
The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2020 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 98.83 %, exceeding the Agency’s planned target of 95 %, representing a decrease of 0.44 % compared to 2019. The payment appropriations execution rate was 83.35 %, representing an increase of 0.09 % compared to 2019.
Other observations
Parliament also made a series of observations on performance, procurement, staff policy and Covid-19.
In particular, it noted that:
- despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the objectives of the 2020 work programme were largely met;
- on 31 December 2020, the establishment plan was 100 % implemented, with 71 temporary agents appointed out of 71 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared to 67 authorised posts in 2019). Gender balance is still a matter for concern;
- the Agency was reorganised following the arrival of the Agency’s new Director, aiming to increase synergies in the Agency by creating clusters (data excellence, legal service);
- 185 procurement procedures were concluded in 2020, compared to 79 in 2019;
- following measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, the Agency made recourse to teleworking as its normal operational mode;
- the Agency should speed up the development of its cybersecurity policy and inform the discharge authority on its completion.