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2013 discharge: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

2014/2089(DEC)

The European Parliament adopted by 563 votes to 111, 17 abstentions, a decision to grant discharge to the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) 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 578 votes to 102, with 6 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 Centre for the financial year 2013 was EUR 21 348 510, representing an increase of 4.77% compared to 2012.
  • Carry-overs: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2013 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 100%, and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 70.27%. It noted that the high overall level of committed appropriations indicated that commitments were made in a timely manner. Members were concerned, however, that that the level of committed appropriations carried over to 2014 was high at 27 % for administrative expenditure and at 69 % for operating expenditure, due to the purchase of IT goods and services.

Parliament also made a series of observations on procurement and recruitment procedures, prevention and conflicts of interest and internal audits.

As regards transparency, Parliament reiterated the request to all agencies and joint undertakings to systematically annex a standardised template regarding the publication of their final annual accounts which shall include the data presented in their reports on the implementation of the budget and in their reports on the budgetary and financial management. Lastly, Parliament urged the Agency to harmonise the presentation of its annual accounts with those of other Union Agencies.