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European Parliament
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2014 discharge: European Medicines Agency (EMA)

2015/2171(DEC)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2014 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2014 of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2014, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended 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 2014.

The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2014 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 that the underlying transactions for 2014 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, the Council has made some observations which may be summarised as follows:

  • fees: the Council noted the Court's observation that the Agency did not ensure that the due dates for the collection of fees and the related payments to the National Competent Authorities were respected. It encouraged the Agency to pursue its efforts to comply with the Agency's own fee regulation; 
  • management control: the Council welcomed the Agency's corrective measures, but regretted the deficiencies found by the Court in the Agency's management control. It urged the Agency to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken;
  • procurement procedures: lastly, the Council encouraged the Agency to further improve its procurement procedures in order to ensure their effectiveness.