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2013 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

2014/2101(DEC)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT) for the financial year 2013.

It called on the European Parliament to grant the Director of the Centre discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre’s budget for the financial year 2013.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Centre for the financial year 2013 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members called on the Parliament to approve the closure of the Centre’s accounts. They made, however, a number of recommendations that needed to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

  • Centre’s financial statements: Members noted that the final budget of the Centre for the financial year 2013 was EUR 52 193 667, representing an increase of 8.08% compared to 2012.
  • Commitments and carry-overs: Members noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2013 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 83.47%, and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 77.68%. They acknowledged that the Court’ report mentions no notable issues as regards the level of carry-overs in 2013

Members also made a series of observations on transfers, procurement and recruitment procedures, prevention and conflicts of interest and internal controls.

They noted that the Centre concluded 472 framework contracts with translation services for a maximum four-year period in 2008, and that in 2012 the Centre participated in the Commission's procurement procedure for translation services, but no agreement on the contract terms could be reached with the Commission. As a consequence, the Centre extended its existing framework contracts for an additional year. However, such an extension was not in compliance with the implementing rules for the Centre's financial regulation.

Lastly, the committee noted that the Centre became operational in 1994 and has, since then, worked on the basis of correspondence and exchanges with Luxembourg. The Centre's negotiations with the country regarding its headquarters had reached the final phase, and it had signed the headquarters agreement with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.