2014 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Derek VAUGHAN (S&D, UK) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2014.

The parliamentary committee calls on the European Parliament to grant the Director of the Centre discharge in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2014.

Noting that the Court of Auditors issued a statement of assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions for the financial year 2014, Members call on 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 note the final budget of the Centre for the financial year 2014 was EUR 56 268 041, representing an increase of 7.81 % compared with 2013.

·         Budget and financial management: Members note that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2014 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 79.34 %, representing a decrease of 4.13 % compared to the year 2013. They highlight, moreover, that the payment appropriations execution rate was at 71.97 %, representing a decrease of 5.71 % compared to the year 2013. They also note that cash and short term deposits held by the Centre further increased from EUR 40 000 000 at the end of 2013 to EUR 44 000 000 at the end of 2014, resulting in a large budgetary surplus and reserves. They call on the Centre to reduce the price of its translations. The per page price for revision increased by 23% in 2014. They call on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the criteria which led to the establishment of prices during the financial year 2014.

Members also made a series of observations regarding procedures for payment transfers, contract awards, recruitment, internal control, prevention and management of conflict of interest, as well as about the Centre’s performance. In this regard, Members consider that the annual reports of the Centre could play an important role in compliance regarding transparency, accountability and integrity, closely linked to the issue of conflicts of interest.

Lastly, Members note with satisfaction the Centre’s adaptability project, started in 2014, which focuses on enhancing the adaptability of its staff and reducing detected skills gaps.