2006 discharge: European Medicines Agency EMEA

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2006, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and the Agency’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of the Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2006.

In doing so, the Council confirms that EUR 16.7 million (89%) of the appropriations carried over from 2005 to 2006 (EUR 18.8 million) was used, that the appropriations carried over from 2006 to 2007 amount to EUR 29.4 million and that a total of EUR 2.5 million was cancelled.

Recalling that the Court of Auditors was able to obtain reasonable assurance that the Agency’s annual accounts were, in all material aspects, reliable, the Council believes that there is a certain number of observations that must be taken into consideration when providing the discharge on the implementation of the 2006 budget, particularly regarding the following points:

• Carry-overs: the Council notes with concern the remaining high rates of carry-overs, particularly for administrative expenditure (Title II), and calls on the Agency to rectify this situation and to comply in the short term  with the principle of annuality;
• Fees: the Council notes the Court’s observation concerning the lack of an objective and documented basis on which to review the fees owed to the Agency, in line with article 12 of the Fee Regulation. In this context, the Council encourages the Agency to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the relevant national authorities, to make a comprehensive analysis of the costs incurred by Member States’ rapporteurs.