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2012 discharge: European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

2013/2218(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency'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 Agency for the financial year 2012 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 498 votes to 70, with 14 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:

  • Legality and regularity of transactions: Parliament recalled that the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2012 was EUR 55 million. It noted with concern that the Court of Auditors’ annual audit has found a budget commitment amounting to EUR 800 000 which was not related to an existing legal commitment and was thus irregular.
  • Budget implementation and carryovers: Parliament noted that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2012 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 94 % and it commended the Agency for adhering to the principle of annuality and for the timely execution of its budget. It reminded the Agency that it has a duty to ensure all possible efficient savings and an intelligent use of existing administrative structures so that it can carry out its newly assigned competences without an undue budget increase.
  • Performance: it requested that the Agency communicate the results and impact its work has on the European citizens in an accessible way, mainly through its website.

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

Lastly, it acknowledged that the Agency adopted a policy for the avoidance of conflicts of interests in safety assessment and inspection activities in April 2012, as well as a conflicts of interests policy for the members of the Administrative Board in November 2013.