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2013 discharge: Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

2014/2123(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted by 550 votes to 125, with 4 abstentions, a decision to grant discharge to the Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for the financial year 2013. 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 2013 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 566 votes to 104, with 7 abstentions, a resolution containing a number of recommendations that form an integral part of the discharge decision and as well as the general recommendations that appear in the resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

  • Agency’s financial statements: Parliament noted that the final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2013 was EUR 11 930 220, representing an increase of 64.74% compared to 2012, which can be explained by the Agency’s recently established nature and as a result of the implementation of the REMIT Regulation (Regulation No 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency).
  • Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2013 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 97.53%, and that the payment appropriations execution rate was low at 55%, below the Agency’s target of 70%, mainly due to the late receipt of EUR 2 989 000 through an amended budget approved on 31 October 2013.
  • Carry-overs: Parliament also noted that the carry-overs for Title III appropriations amounted to EUR 3.1 million, representing 91% of the total appropriations under this title. Those carry-overs are related to the REMIT Regulation. It acknowledged from the Agency that a series of measures have been implemented in order to improve the budged planning processes. It called on the Agency to inform the discharge authority on the progress and results of those measures.

Lastly, Parliament also made a series of observations on the prevention and management of conflicts of interests, recruitment and internal control.