2012 discharge: European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2012 and the balance sheet at 31 December 2012 of Eurojust, as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of Eurojust for the financial year 2012, accompanied by Eurojust's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Administrative Director of Eurojust in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2012.

The observations in the Court of Auditors' report in relation to the financial year 2012 call for some comments by the Council, which may be summarised as follows:

• in general, the Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, Eurojust's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2012 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of Eurojust's Financial Regulation and the accounting rules adopted by the Commission's accounting officer, and that the underlying transactions for that financial year are legal and regular.
• Procurement procedures: the Council calls on Eurojust to ensure that the principles of transparency and fairness are applied to all procurement procedures. While taking into consideration Eurojust's comments, the Council considers that any distortion of competition should be avoided and calls on Eurojust to take measures in this direction.
• Recruitment procedures: the Council takes note of the improvements reported by the Court regarding Eurojust's recruitment procedures and encourages Eurojust to continue to address the remaining weaknesses in this area.