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

2015/2170(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies (CdT) in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2014. The vote on the decision on discharge covers the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex V, Article 5 (1)(a) to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2014 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 510 votes to 116 with 9 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations, which form an integral part of the decision on discharge and which add to the general recommendations set out in the resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

  • Centre’s financial statements: Parliament noted 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: Parliament noted 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. It highlighted, moreover, that the payment appropriations execution rate was at 71.97 %, representing a decrease of 5.71 % compared to the year 2013. It also noted 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. It called on the Centre to reduce the price of its translations. The per page price for revision increased by 23% in 2014. It called on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the criteria which led to the establishment of prices during the financial year 2014.

Parliament 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.

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

Lastly, Parliament noted with satisfaction the synergies created by the Centre through sharing services with other agencies and commended in particular, the cooperation agreement established between the Centre and the European Railway Agency (ERA), by which the Centre hosts ERA's disaster recovery system, allowing the generation of savings as well as the provision of a higher security level to both bodies.