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

2013/2216(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Administrative Director of Eurojust discharge in respect of the implementation of Eurojust’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 had obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of Eurojust for the financial year 2012 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 479 votes to 74, with 17 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 Eurojust for the financial year 2012 was EUR 33.33 million and that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2012 resulted in a high budget implementation rate.
  • Legality and regularity of operations: Parliament was concerned that a framework contract for security services was signed in 2008 and amended in 2009, and that the amended formula to calculate prices progressively increased them by 22%, whereas the original framework contract had provided for a maximum increase of 4 %. It expressed concern that such a significant increase may undermine the transparency and fairness of the initial procurement procedure and distort competition.
  • Rate of implementation and carryovers: Parliament acknowledged that the Court of Auditors' annual audit had found no notable issues as regards the level of carry-overs in 2012, and commended Eurojust for adhering to the principle of annuality and for the timely execution of its budget.
  • Performance: Parliament requested that Eurojust 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 ontransfers, procurement and recruitment procedures as well as comments on internal controls.

Lastly, Parliament acknowledged Eurojust's arrangements for the prevention and management of conflicts of interests. It called on Eurojust to inform the discharge authority of its intention to review its arrangements on the basis of the Commission's Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest in EU Decentralised Agencies.