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2012 discharge: European GNSS Agency (GSA)

2013/2231(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency in respect of the implementation of the Authority'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 477 votes to 67, with 24 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 100% and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 99.99%.
  • Commitments and carryovers: Parliament noted that the carry-over of committed appropriations was relatively high for administrative expenditure at EUR 1.7 million (38%). This was partly due to events beyond the Authority's control, such as the relocation of its seat to Prague in September 2012 (EUR 400 000) and the setting-up of the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (EUR 400 000) which necessitated the provision of certain goods and services in the last quarter of the year.
  • Prevention and management of conflicts of interests and transparency: Parliament regretted that the Agency did not answer questionnaire on the management and prevention of conflicts of interests. It urged the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the actions it has implemented to become in line with the Court of Auditors' Special Report No 15/2012 and Parliament's recommendations that all agencies develop and implement comprehensive independence policies and procedures.
  • Performance: Parliament requested that the Agency 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.