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2015 discharge: Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC Office)

2016/2190(DEC)

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Inés AYALA SENDER (S&D, ES) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for the financial year 2015.

The committee called on the European Parliament to grant the Management Committee of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications discharge in respect of the implementation of the Body’s budget for the financial year 2015.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts of the Office for the financial year 2015 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Members called on Parliament to approve the closure of the Agency’s accounts. They made, however, a number of recommendations that needed to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

  • Office’s financial statements: Members noted that the final budget of the Office for the financial year 2015 was EUR 4 017 244, representing a decrease of 3.5 % compared to 2014.
  • Budget and financial management: Members noted budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2015 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 95.65 %, representing a decrease of 2.26 % compared to the year 2014.

Members also made a series of observations regarding commitments, carry-overs, transfers, procurement, recruitment procedures, the prevention and management of conflicts of interests and internal audits.

Lastly, Members noted that a draft regulation was issued by the Commission in September 2016 in which the Commission proposed to turn the Office into a fully-fledged Agency with expanded responsibilities. They underlined that any reforms implemented upon the conclusion of the legislative process must ensure maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as the highest possible level of transparency and protection against conflicts of interest.