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2014 discharge: European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

2015/2174(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) 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 Agency’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 11 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:

  • Agency’s financial statements: Parliament noted the final budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2014 was EUR 52 403 276, representing a decrease of 9.37 % compared to 2013.
  • Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2014 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 94.78 %.
  • Parliament also made a series of observations regarding commitments and carryovers, preventing and managing conflicts of interest, as well as on contract award, recruitment and internal audit procedures.
  • Performance: Parliament welcomed the fact that the Agency is developing medium-term objectives and action plans to improve its performance towards the achievement of the strategic goals set in the 5-year strategy adopted by the Administrative Board in 2013. It regretted, in this context that the multi-annual financial framework of the Union for the period 2014-2020, in clear contrast with the new legal remit for the Agency, may impose an adaptation of the strategy of the Agency due to financial constraints.

Parliament noted with satisfaction that the Agency actively sought potential synergies with other agencies. It noted in particular that the Agency is sharing its Business Continuity Facility in Madrid with the Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy and with the European Fisheries Control Agency. It also cooperates with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in the area of human resources and ICT.

Lastly, Parliament highlighted the Agency’s contribution to maritime safety, the prevention of ship pollution in Europe, and the assistance provided to Member States and the Commission under international and Union law. It deplored the fact that, while extending its competences, staff reduction and budgetary cuts became applicable in 2014. It welcomed and encouraged the Agency's collaboration with other European Agencies regarding the refugee crisis and reaffirm that the Agency has to be given the financial, material and human resources it needs to perform its tasks effectively, including when dealing with critically important activities outside its mandate, that is, its contribution in the form of know-how and operational support, through its staff, to managing the refugees crisis.