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2014 discharge: European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA)

2015/2178(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) 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 472 votes to 162 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:

  • Agency’s financial statements: Parliament noted the final budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security for the financial year 2014 was EUR 9 708 297, representing an increase of 0.39 % compared to 2013.
  • Commitments and carryovers: Parliament noted that the total amount of committed appropriations carried over to 2015 amounted to EUR 1 332 421 (15 % of total appropriations). Noting considerable carryovers, Members highlighted that these related to investments in IT infrastructure ordered as planned near the year end for the Agency’s two offices.

Parliament also made a series of observations regarding payment transfers, as well as contract award, recruitment and internal audit and control procedures.

It acknowledged that the Agency adopted internal policies in order to improve cost effectiveness and the environmental friendliness of its facilities and that an important step towards satisfying both requirements was the adoption of a “paperless” platform serving as workflow and storage of internal documents. Thus the Agency has practically eliminated all paper-based workflows, including financial transactions and human resources files and documents, and replaced them with electronic documents and workflows in an effort to achieve a paperless office environment.

It acknowledged that, as a follow up from the 2013 discharge of the Agency, according to the lease agreement between the Greek authorities, the Agency and the landlord, rent for the offices in Athens is paid by the Greek authorities. It is concerned by the constant late payment of rent, which continued in 2014 and 2015 and which presents significant reputational, financial and business-continuity risks for the Agency. It urged the Commission, the Agency and the Greek authorities to find a solution for this issue in order to reduce significantly the risks to which the Agency is exposed.