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2008 discharge: The European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit EUROJUST

2009/2119(DEC)

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of EUROJUST for the financial year 2008, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and EUROJUST’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of EUROJUST discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, on the one hand, Eurojust's annual accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position as at 31 December 2008 and the results of operations and cash-flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of Eurojust's Financial Regulation, and that, on the other hand, the underlying transactions for the financial year ended on 31 December 2008 are, in all material respects, legal and regular.

However, the Council considers that observations made in the Court of Auditor’s report call for a certain number of observations to be taken into account when granting discharge, particularly on the following points:

  • carry-over of appropriations: the Council notes with satisfaction that the level of appropriations carried forward to the following financial year was lower than before, but urges Eurojust to further reduce carry-overs in order to prevent the cancellation of important amounts carried forward, but not used, at the end of the following year;
  • recruitment procedures: the Council also encourages Eurojust to further accelerate its recruitment procedures and to fill vacant posts in accordance with the available budget appropriations, avoiding the need to employ interim staff. In addition, the Council asks Eurojust to ensure full transparency in staff selection procedures and the non-discriminatory treatment of candidates;
  • procurement activities: the Council calls on Eurojust to remedy the persisting weaknesses identified in the monitoring of contracts and the programming of procurement activities.