2015 discharge: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2015.

The vote on the decision on discharge covers the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex IV, 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 Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2015 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 510 votes to 110 with 8 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.

These recommendations may be summarised as follows:

• Centre’s financial statements: Parliament noted that the Centre’s final budget for the financial year 2015 was EUR 18 356 560, representing an increase of 6.27 % compared to 2014. Its entire budget derives from the Union budget.
• Performance: Parliament also noted that the Centre cooperates closely with the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) and that that cooperation is formalised in cooperation agreements between those agencies as well as in previously agreed annual work programmes. It acknowledged the fact that the Centre actively contributed to a number of Union agencies’ performance development network activities, such as the working group on “activity-based budgeting, costing and management”, cooperating with other Union agencies to collect good practices and developing a toolkit for activity-based management in the Union agencies.

Parliament made a series of observations regarding budget and financial management, commitment and carry-overs, transfers, internal controls and audits, the prevention and management of conflicts of interests, procurement and recruitment procedures.

Centre’s building: Parliament noted that the building provided to the Centre by the Greek authorities is constructed on an active fault line, which resulted in structural damage to the building. It acknowledged the fact that the repair works on the building were finalised in December 2015. It noted that the Centre is addressing various safety issues related to the construction of the building. It also noted with satisfaction that the recent crack meter readings conducted in April 2016 demonstrated the repair works as effective.

Members called on the Centre to assess whether the recurring problems with the current building call into question not only its economic viability, but more importantly the safety and security of its personnel and whether relocation to a new building would be a more preferable solution.

Centre’s priority actions: lastly, Parliament welcomed the Centre’s focus on competences and skills which among other objectives helps to better match vocational training to labour market demands and particularly welcomed the first European skills and jobs survey as well as the launch of the new skills panorama.