2007 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union CdT

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of the European Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2007, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and the Centre’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of the Centre discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2007.

In doing so, the Council confirms that EUR 2.8 million (95.8%) of the appropriations carried over from 2006 to 2007 (EUR 2.9 million) were used, that the appropriations carried over from 2007 to 2008 amount to EUR 3.9 million and that a total of EUR 12.9 million was cancelled.

Recalling that the Court of Auditors was able to obtain reasonable assurance that the Centre’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 granting discharge in respect of the implementation of the 2007 budget, particularly regarding the following points:

Carry-over rates: the Council notes with concern the persistently high carry-over rates and, in particular, cancellation rates. It urges the Centre to make necessary improvements in the Centre's financial and budgetary management and to remedy this situation as soon as possible;

Procurement procedures: the Council takes note of the Court's observation in respect of procurement procedures and encourages the Centre to strengthen its ex-ante control by ensuring that cost/benefit analysis becomes an integral part of such procedures;

Recruitment procedures: lastly, the Council calls on the Centre to ensure the full transparency of all recruitment procedures.