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2012 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

2013/2214(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies (CdT) of the European Union in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2012. The vote on the discharge decision approved the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex VI, Article 5(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Centre for the financial year 2012 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 523 votes to 70, with 9 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations that form an integral part of the discharge decision and as well as the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

These recommendations are summarised as follows:

  • Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2012 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 87.45% and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 90.23%. It noted that the Centre held cash and short term deposits amounting to EUR 35 million at the end of 2012. It also noted that the Centre cannot adjust prices during the year in order to balance income and expenditure, although it has occasionally refunded its clients in order to reduce the surplus. The Centre was called upon to propose a remedy to this situation.
  • Performance: Parliament requested that the Centre communicate the results and impact its work has on European citizens in an accessible way, mainly through its website.

It also made a series of observations on transfers, procurement and recruitment procedures as well as comments on internal controls.

Lastly, it acknowledged that the Centre will assess its policy on the prevention and management of conflicts of interests on the basis of the Commission's Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest in EU Decentralised Agencies. It called on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the assessment results once available.