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2011 discharge: European Banking Authority (EBA)

2012/2207(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision on discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Banking Authority (EBA) in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2011. The vote on the decision to grant discharge covers the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex VI, Article 5(1) of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure).

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Authority for the financial year 2011 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted a resolution containing a number of recommendations that need to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

  • Financing, budget and financial management: Parliament recalls that 60% of the 2011 budget was financed by contributions from the Member States and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, and 40 % was financed by the Union budget. It also recalls that the annual accounts that the Authority's overall budget for 2011 amounted to EUR 12 865 000. Members note that the two rented offices, with a total area of 1 089 m2, incurred expenditure of EUR 1 016 512.64 and call on the Authority to ensure that office rentals and expenditure do not exceed normal local market prices (London). Given that the Authority is an integral part of the European System of Financial Supervisors and works in close cooperation with its sister authorities, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority, within a Joint Committee, and with the European Systemic Risks Board, Parliament calls on the Commission to evaluate the possibility of coming up with a proposal ensuring that the budgets of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) are fully funded by the Union budget.
  • Implementation rate of appropriations: Parliament observes that the Authority registered a budget execution ratio of 71% for commitments and of 59% for payments at the end of 2011. It calls on the Authority to inform the discharge authority of the measures taken to improve these rates, as the low execution rates shows difficulties in budget planning and implementation.
  • Recruitment procedures: Parliament takes note from the Court of Auditors that the Authority needs to improve the transparency of recruitment procedures and simplify its Staff Regulation.

Lastly, Parliament made a series of observations as regards the accounting system and procurement issues of this Agency.