2014 discharge: European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

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 European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2014.

The parliamentary committee calls on the European Parliament to grant the Director of the Institute 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 Institute’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:

·         Institute’s financial statements: Members note that the final budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2014 was EUR 7 340 081, representing a decrease of 3.08 % compared to 2013.

·         Budget and financial management: Members note that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2014 resulted in a high budget implementation rate of 99.04 % indicating that commitments were made in a timely manner. The payment appropriations execution rate was 71.91 %, representing an increase of 1.75 % compared to the previous year

Members also made a series of observations regarding commitments and carryovers, payments, contract award, recruitment and internal audit procedures. They point out that the Institute must scrutinise conflict-of-interest declarations by its members, administrative staff and experts and publish the report concerned without delay.

Lastly, Members note that the Institute regularly consults Parliament’s Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality on defined topics, through direct contacts with its members or via liaisons. They note, furthermore, that the Institute takes part in the Commission (Eurostat) working groups and works closely with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) which reflects the Institute’s wish to find synergies in particular by pooling certain tasks and introducing shared services with other agencies.