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2015 discharge: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

2016/2164(DEC)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDD) in respect of the implementation of the Centre’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 518 votes to 104 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.

These recommendations may be summarised as follows:

  • Centre’s financial statements: Parliament noted that the final budget of the European Monitoring Centre for the financial year 2015 was EUR 18 519 843, representing an increase of 18.15 % compared to 2014. This increase was mainly due to the Centre’s own revenue, including the sale of premises, of EUR 5 million and the assigned revenue (IPA 5) of EUR 600 000. The payment appropriations execution rate was 97.35 %, representing an increase of 2.42 % compared to 2014.
  • Financial and budget management: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2015 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.83 % and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 97.35 %, representing an increase of 2.42 % compared to 2014.

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

It evoked the anti-fraud strategy and stated that the Centre adopted in June 2016 an anti-fraud strategy which develops the measures that were already in place for awareness raising on staff ethics and on gifts and hospitality offered by third parties.

It noted with satisfaction the Centre’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with other Union agencies, particularly those working in Justice and Home Affairs and in the health field.

Detecting new drugs: Parliament emphasised the important role of the Centre in detecting new trends, assessing threats posed by drugs to the health and security of young Europeans, and developing prevention strategies. It welcomed the notification of 98 new psychoactive substances. It encouraged sustained efforts to monitor the use of the internet as a vehicle for drug supply.