2013 discharge 2013: European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2013 and the balance sheet at 31 December 2013 of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2013, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommends the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2013.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2013 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation and the accounting rules adopted by the Commission's accounting officer, and that the underlying transactions for that financial year are legal and regular.

Nevertheless, the Court has made some observations. They may be summarised as follows:

• public procurement: the Council regrets the deficiencies found by the Court in the Agency's procurement procedures and urges the Agency to take appropriate actions in order to ensure the effectiveness of the process, as well as the full transparency and equal treatment of tenders;
• carry-overs: while welcoming the Agency's actions to implement the Court's previous recommendations, the Council notes, however, that a high level of commitment appropriations was still carried over to 2014. The Council encourages the Agency to continue improving its financial management by systematically scrutinising carry-overs of appropriations to the following budgetary year and by limiting them to the minimum necessary;
• headquarters: the Council also invites the Agency to pursue its efforts to conclude a headquarters agreement with the host Member State.