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European Parliament
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2014 discharge: European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

2015/2187(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality discharge in respect of the implementation of the 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 Office’s annual accounts for the financial year 2014 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 508 votes to 125 with 3 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:

  • Institute’s financial statements: Parliament noted 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: Parliament noted 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.

Parliament also made a series of observations regarding commitments and carryovers, payments, contract award, recruitment and internal audit procedures. It pointed 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, Parliament noted 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. It noted, 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). It noted with satisfaction that the Institute is looking for synergies by pooling certain tasks and introducing shared services with other agencies.