2007 discharge: European Environment Agency EEA

PURPOSE: to present the report of the Court of Auditors on the 2007 accounts of the European Environment Agency (EEA).

CONTENT: the Court of Auditor’s report includes a detailed section on the Agency’s expenditure and an analysis of the expenditure, as well as the Agency’s replies.

• Analysis of the accounts by the Court: in its report, the Court of Auditors makes a series of observations, particularly with regard to weaknesses in the Agency’s recruitment procedures and the choice of candidates considered for further evaluation. The Court also highlights irregularites in certain tendering procedures (including when awarding certain contracts, calling into question the transparency of the procedures). Lastly, the Court highlights weaknesses in certain grant agreements with consortia of institutions (called European Topic Centres (ETC)) as well as in terms of checking the documentation provided by the Centres to the Agency;
• The Agency’s replies: the Agency notes that, in future recruitments, it will better document the selection of the short-listed candidates. In relation to the direct awards of services, the Agency notes that the Authorising Officer approved them due to the significant benefits to be accrued to the Agency. However, the Agency notes that it will manage future similar cases fully in line with the Financial Regulation. Moreover, the Agency states that it has already introduced new procedures for new topic centres in line with the Financial Regulation, including verification visits to ETC lead organisations and selected partners as well as other detailed checks prior to final payments.