2011 discharge: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2011 and the balance sheet at 31 December 2011 of the European Environment Agency, as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2011, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2011.

The observations in the Court of Auditors' report in relation to the financial year 2011 call for some comments by the Council, which may be summarised as follows:

• the Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2011 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for that financial year are legal and regular;
• the Council notes the Court's observation that the Agency's Executive Director was a member of the organisation's board of trustees until April 2011 and that this constitutes an apparent conflict of interest. It notes that this was rectified. The Council emphasises once again its importance in order to avoid any further problems in the future;
• lastly, the Council encourages the Agency to continue implementing the Court's recommendations aiming at correcting any outstanding weaknesses in the Agency's staff selection practices.