2009 discharge: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights FRA

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency for the financial year 2009, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and the Agency’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of the Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2009.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, on the one hand, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position as at 31 December 2009 and the results of operations and cash-flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that, on the other hand, the underlying transactions for the financial year ended on 31 December 2009 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 appropriations: the Council is concerned about the high amount of appropriations carried over by the Agency to the next financial year. It calls upon the Agency to improve its budgetary and recruitment planning with a view to reducing carry-overs;
• procurement procedures: the Council also calls on the Agency to ensure that its procurement procedures are properly planned and implemented in order to ensure transparency, equal treatment and efficient use of financial resources.