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2011 discharge: European Environment Agency (EEA)

2012/2187(DEC)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted, by 14 votes to 13, with 0 abstentions, the report Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ADLE, NL) on discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA) in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2011. Members call on the Parliament to postpone its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2011.

However, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies, Members make a number of observations which support their decision to postpose the discharge decision.  

The main reasons for this decision are as follows:

  • conflict of interest as regards a payment to an international environmental organisation amounting to EUR 6 061 which was related to the participation of Agency staff in expeditions organised by that organisation in 2011. It was found that that the Agency's Executive Director was a member of the international environmental organisation’s board of trustees until April 2011 and that this could constitute a conflict of interest;
  • transparency issues are regards certain procurement procedures.

Other weaknesses were found in the recruitment procedures and the overall performances of the Agency.