2012 discharge: European Training Foundation (ETF)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2012 and the balance sheet at 31 December 2012 of the European Training Foundation, as well as

the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Foundation for the financial year 2012, accompanied by the Foundation's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Director of the Foundation in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2012.

The observations in the Court of Auditors' report call for certain comments by the Council which can be summarised as follows:

• in general, the Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Foundation'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 the Foundation's Financial Regulation and that the underlying transactions for that financial year are legal and regular.
• Carry-overs of appropriations: notwithstanding this favourable finding, while noting improvements in carry-overs, the Council notes, however, that a high level of commitment appropriations was still carried over to 2013. The Council recalls that, in line with the budgetary principle of annuality, excessive carry-overs should be strictly limited.