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2007 discharge: European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit Eurojust

2008/2263(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Administrative Director of EUROJUST in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2007. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency.

In parallel, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge.

Parliament states that:

  • structural problems remain in the areas of EUROJUST’s budget implementation, procurement and recruitment planning;
  • because of EUROJUST’s rapid growth and the resulting need for new headquarters, the agency required additional office space in cooperation with the host state which is committed to providing suitable new premises by 2012 (in this regard, Parliament requests EUROJUST to include information about progress in the negotiations in its 2008 annual report).

As far as the high level of appropriations carried over is concerned, Parliament notes, like the Court of Auditors, that of the EUR 18 million, EUR 5.2 million were carried over, a matter that is of concern to it. It welcomes the fact that EUROJUST has introduced a carry-over reduction strategy in 2008.

On the matter of procurement procedures, Parliament regrets that the Court of Auditors still found weaknesses, as in the two previous financial years. It welcomes the fact that EUROJUST has defined a general procurement plan for 2008.

As far as recruitment is concerned, Parliament notes the Court’s finding that the establishment plan for 2007 provided for 147 posts compared to 112 in 2006, and that, at the end of 2006, only 87 posts had been filled. Although concerned that the Court found that EUROJUST did not manage to recruit the 60 staff necessary to fill the establishment plan in 2007, they welcome the fact that, in 2008, efforts were made to fill the posts (of the 175 posts planned for 2008, 130 had been filled by the end of the 2008 financial year). It also welcomes the adoption of a new recruitment policy describing the legal framework, principles, selection process, roles and actors involved.

Regarding the follow-up to the 2006 discharge exercise, Parliament calls on EUROJUST to follow up on the Court's recommendations, in particular in the areas of budget implementation, procurement and recruitment. It welcomes the conclusion of the Practical Arrangement on arrangements of cooperation between EUROJUST and OLAF on 24 September 2008.

Lastly, noting that EUROJUST’S annual accounts for the financial year 2007 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, the Parliament approves the closure of its accounts and refers, for other observations accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies - see 2008/2207(INI) - adopted in parallel.