2014 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)

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 Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2014.

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

·         Agency’s financial statements: Members note the final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2014 was EUR 9 217 150 and the entire budget of the Agency derives from the Union budget.

·         Budget and financial management: Members note budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2014 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.09 %, attaining the Agency's target and representing an increase of 0.45 % compared to 2013.

Members also made a series of observations regarding commitments and carryovers, prevention and management of conflicts of interest, internal audit and the Agency’s performance.

They note the efforts made by the Agency in order to train Union inspectors, Member States and third countries officials. This has led to a considerable rise in the number of trained officials participating in inspections coordinated by the Agency within the framework of joint development plans. Moreover, they note that there was an increase in such inspections to around 12 700, with more than 700 suspected infringements detected during 2014.

Lastly, they acknowledge the important contribution to implementation of the objectives of the reformed common fisheries policy made by the Agency. They welcome the Agency's close engagement with the Member States to organise the monitoring of the landing obligation by improving the control and surveillance of fisheries activities.