2007 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 (EMEA) for the financial year 2007, 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 2007.

In doing so, the Council confirms that EUR 28.3 million (96.1%) of the appropriations carried over from 2006 to 2007 (EUR 29.4 million) were used, that the appropriations carried over from 2007 to 2008 amount to EUR 32 million and that a total of EUR 4 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 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, in particular for administrative expenditure, and urges the Agency to follow the Court's recommendations and to make every effort to comply fully with the provisions of the Financial Regulation, in particular those regarding the annuality principle;
• Procurement: the Council notes the Court's findings on weaknesses in the tendering procedures and calls on the Agency to continue its efforts to improve the quality of its public procurement procedures.