Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

2007 discharge: European Food Safety Authority EFSA

2008/2267(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2007. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency.

Furthermore, the Parliament adopted by 406 votes to 12, with 19 abstentions, a resolution with observations which form an integral part of the decision to grant discharge.

The Parliament notes that:

  • EUR 8.6 million were carried over to 2008 and EUR 4.8 million were cancelled, which indicate serious weaknesses in the Authority’s programming and budgeting;
  • the rate of carry-over (17-18%) decreased in comparison to 2006 (22%); according to the Authority, the actual amount of carry-over increased from EUR 7.9 million in 2006 to EUR 8.6 million in 2007.

In this context, the Parliament calls on the Authority to speed up budget implementation and to specify the follow-up measures taken in the Authority's annual activity report for 2008.

Moreover, the Parliament notes that: (i) the Authority treated a contribution received from the Commission in order to prepare for the accession of Croatia and Turkey as a normal subsidy, although it should have been treated as assigned revenue; (ii) number of missions was very high.

As regards the follow-up to previous discharge exercises, the Parliament congratulates the Authority on having succeeded in filling 273 of the 300 posts provided for in its establishment plan after having had difficulties in recruiting highly-skilled scientific staff in Parma for several years. It requests that the Authority align its recruitment procedures to the rules as a matter of urgency.

The Parliament also notes weaknesses in terms of procurement and calls on the Authority to pay particular attention to compliance with procurement rules.

Lastly, noting that the Authority’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 Authority’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.