The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 26, with 50 abstentions, a decision on discharge to be granted to the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency. Furthermore, Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge to this Agency.
The main points are as follows:
- performance: Parliament congratulates the Centre on having developed an efficient IT tool, FLOSYSWEB;
- budget surplus contrary to the Regulation establishing the Centre: Parliament notes that, for several years, the Centre has had an accumulated budget surplus (EUR 26.7 million in 2008). It calls on the Centre to take more effective measures to remedy this constant rise in its surplus. It also notes that, on 31 December 2008, the Centre's cash holdings amounted to EUR 48 405 006.88 and asks the Commission to examine what scope there is for helping to ensure that the cash holdings are managed entirely on a needs-orientated basis. It calls on the Centre to offer its clients cost-covering services in future;
- pension contributions for staff: Parliament considers 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. It notes with concern that this ongoing conflict with the Commission is costing the Centre several millions. It notes in particular that, in 2008, the Centre established a reserve of EUR 15.3 million to tackle the consequences of this conflict. Parliament calls 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: Parliament observes that only 81% of the posts provided for were occupied by officials and temporary staff in December 2008. It notes 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. It considers, 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. It encourages 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: Parliament acknowledges that most of the recommendations of the Internal Audit Services (IAS) have now been implemented. It considers that it is highly important for the Centre to implement fully a policy on sensitive posts and staff mobility.
Noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2008 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament approves the closure of its accounts and refers to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2010/2007(INI) adopted in parallel).