The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Véronique MATHIEU (EPP, FR) on discharge to be granted to the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union, calling on the European Parliament to grant the Director of the Centre in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008.
Noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2008 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, MEPs approve the closure of the Centre’s accounts. However, they make a number of recommendations that need to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2010/2007(INI):
- performance: Members congratulate the Centre on having developed an efficient IT tool, FLOSYSWEB;
- budget surplus contrary to the Regulation establishing the Centre: Members note that for several years the Centre has had an accumulated budget surplus (EUR 26.7 million in 2008). They call on the Centre to take more effective measures to remedy this constant rise in its surplus. The also note that on 31 December 2008 the Centre's cash holdings amounted to EUR 48 405 006.88 and ask the Commission to examine what scope there is for helping to ensure that the cash holdings are managed entirely on a needs-orientated basis. They call on the Centre to offer its clients cost-covering services in future;
- pension contributions for staff: Members consider it very regrettable that, although this issue has been highlighted in discharge resolutions over many years, a solution concerning the conflict between the Centre and the Commission as to the employer's share of pension contributions for staff has still not been found. They note with concern that this ongoing conflict with the Commission is costing the Centre several millions. They note in particular that in 2008 the Centre established a reserve of EUR 15.3 million to tackle the consequences of this conflict. Members call therefore on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the progress of the negotiations and of staff costs (in relation to time and expenditure) incurred as a result of this conflict;
- human resources: Members observe that only 81% of the posts provided for were occupied by officials and temporary staff in December 2008. They note that the Centre has justified this inadequate figure by pointing to a lack of office space, which made it impossible to recruit in accordance with the establishment plan. They consider nonetheless that the Centre should plan its recruitment procedures more realistically and effectively in order to respect the time limits and meet all the needs arising from an increase in the Centre's staff. They encourage the Centre to establish comprehensive training maps based on requisite staff skills and capabilities in order to maintain a high level of competence of its staff;
- internal audit: Members acknowledge that most of the recommendations of the Internal Audit Services (IAS) have now been implemented. They consider that it is highly important for the Centre to implement fully a policy on sensitive posts and staff mobility.