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2014 discharge: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

2015/2169(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) 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 505 votes to 119 with 2 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 Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2014 was EUR 17 256 026, representing a decrease of 1.17 % compared to 2013.
  • Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2014 resulted in the budget implementation rate of 98.65 %, and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 75.59 %. It noted, however, that the level of committed appropriations carried over to 2015 for administrative expenditure was at EUR 443 412 or 34 % of this budget heading.

Parliament also made a series of observations regarding the prevention and management of conflicts of interest, payment transfers, as well as on contract award, recruitment and internal audit and control procedures.

Parliament noted that the Agency’s move to its new premises was completed late in 2013 but fully implemented in 2014 and welcomed the fact that the move has resulted in substantial savings on rent. It welcomed the fact that the seat agreement with the Spanish authorities secures the Agency’s home in the long term.

Lastly, Parliament noted that 2014 was the first year of the of the Agency’s new multiannual strategic programme for the years 2014 to 2020. It appreciated the positive indications regarding the Agency's achievements during the first year of the strategy in regard to its priority areas. In this regard, Parliament recognised the key role of the Agency for the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014 to 2020.