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

2009/2119(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted by 555 votes to 28, with 52 abstentions, a decision on discharge to be granted to the Administrative Director of EUROJUST in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency. Furthermore, Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge to this Agency.

The main points are as follows:

  • performance: Parliament underlines that the lack of indicators, the deficits in measurement of user satisfaction and the lack of coordination between the budget and the work programme make it difficult to evaluate Eurojust’s performance. It, therefore, notes that, in the coming years, the discharge for the implementation of the budget for Eurojust should be further based on Eurojust's performance throughout the year;
  • carry-over of appropriations: noting that the carry-over of appropriations was still very high, Parliament calls on EUROJUST to take steps to avoid this situation recurring. It also notes that, on 31 December 2008, Eurojust's cash holdings amounted to EUR 4 612 878.47 and calls on the Commission to examine what scope there is for helping to ensure that the cash holdings are managed entirely on a needs-orientated basis in order to keep Eurojust's cash holdings permanently as low as possible;
  • weaknesses in procurement procedures: Parliament regrets that the Court of Auditors again found deficiencies in procurement procedures, as in the three previous years. It points out that this situation reveals severe weaknesses in the capacity of the various Eurojust departments involved. It, therefore, calls on Eurojust to inform the discharge authority of the measures it will take to remedy this situation;
  • human resources: expressing its concern at the fact that the Court of Auditors has again noted shortcomings in the planning and implementation of recruitment procedures, Parliament asks, in particular, that Eurojust should inform the discharge authority of its new recruitment procedure, launched in 2009, which, from now on, should ensure more transparency and no discrimination in the treatment of external and internal applicants;
  • internal audit: Parliament notes that none of the 26 recommendations made by the Internal Audit Service (IAS) has been fully implemented. It urges Eurojust, therefore, to put in place without delay the recommendations on human resources management and to make sure that the public procurement procedures are correctly implemented.

Noting that the Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2008 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament approves the closure of its accounts and refers to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2010/2007(INI) adopted in parallel).