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2007 discharge: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC

2008/2268(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted by 583 votes to 11, with 41 abstentions, a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in respect of the implementation of the Centre’s 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:

  • in 2006, the carry-over rate was nearly 45 %, and that no major improvement was made in 2007, when it was close to 43 %, which shows the Centre´s difficulties in implementing its budget;
  • the level of budget amendments revealed weaknesses in the monitoring of budget implementation;
  • the Centre disbursed EUR 500 000 on renovation works on the buildings rented for its premises, and that, as in 2006, these works were decided upon by direct agreement between the Centre and the owner without specifying the nature of the works and the deadlines and payment conditions;
  • according to the ECA, (this practice did not comply with the financial regulation and was at odds with the principle of economy).

Parliament calls on the Centre to align its practices with the financial regulation.

As regards the follow-up to previous discharge exercises, Parliament notes that, as in 2006, the Court of Auditors detected weaknesses as regards budget implementation, in particular a high level of appropriations carried over. It calls on the Centre to follow up on the Court's recommendations, in particular as regards budget implementation, and to report on the action taken and the results achieved in its forthcoming annual report 2008.

Lastly, noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2007 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, the Parliament approves the closure of the Centre’s 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.