PURPOSE : Council Recommendation on the implementation of the EU's budget for the European Training Foundation covering the financial year 2002.
CONTENT : Noting that the European Court of Auditor's Report gives a positive assessment to the European Training Foundation's annual accounts, the Council recommends that the European Parliament grant a discharge to the Director of the Foundation in respect of the budget's implementation for the financial year 2002.
The Council recalls that for the financial year 2001 to 2002, EUR 3.1 million (or 89%) of the EUR 3.5 million has, been carried forward in appropriations. Further, for the financial year 2002-2003, EUR 3.4 million in appropriations has been carried forward with EUR 0.6 million cancelled. In view of this development the Council attaches certain comments on the current situation, attached to its Recommendation.
Firstly, the Council stresses the importance of the principle of annuality and asks the Foundation to reduce the volume of the carry-overs of the operating appropriations.
Secondly, it invites the Foundation to mention its agreements in the budget as recommended by the Court of Auditors.
Thirdly, the Council urges the Foundation to apply the procedures recommended by the Court of Auditors in its previous year's Report in respect to the management of the PHARE and TACIS programmes.
Fourthly, the Council invites the Foundation to ensure that double recording of expenditure is not used.
Lastly, concerning unemployment allowances to former employees, the Council asks the Foundation to ensure that the appropriate control procedures are in place.�