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2012 discharge: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

2013/2211(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in respect of the implementation of the budget of the 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 503 votes to 66, with 13 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:

  • Financing, budget and financial management: Parliament recalled that the budget of the Centre for the financial year 2012 was EUR 16.3 million. It noted at the same time that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2012 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.74 %.
  • Carryovers: it commended the Centre for adhering to the principle of annuality and for the timely execution of its budget.
  • Seat: Parliament noted with concern from the Court of Auditors’ annual audit report that the Centre currently bears the annual cost of about EUR 200 000 for unused office space in its former building and in the new headquarters. It called on the Centre, as a matter of priority, to seek adequate solutions for this unused office space, and to report to the discharge authority, within the framework of the 2012 discharge follow-up, on the steps taken.
  • 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.

Parliament 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 review 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 on the assessment results once available.