2015 discharge: European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)

The European Parliament decided to grant the Executive Director of the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) discharge 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 Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2015 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 504 votes to 111 with 10 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 that the final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2015 was EUR 67 559 100, representing an increase of 13.77 % compared to the year 2014, entirely derived from the Union budget.
• Comments on the legality and regularity of transactions: Parliament stated that the Court’s report highlighted problems regarding procurement, in particular the use of a negotiated procedure with an estimated value of EUR 20 million without a delegation by the authorising officer. Overall, it noted that the Agency entered into contractual agreements or engaged in negotiations with a single contractor without precisely defining the services requested. It expressed deep concern as regards the cost-effectiveness of such procurements.
• Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2015 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.68 % and that the payment appropriations execution rate was high at 99.4 %. It also noted that the Agency had not resolved the issue of financial contributions from Schengen Associated Countries to the Agency’s budget.
• Commitments and carry-overs: Parliament noted that the committed appropriations for administrative expenditure carried over amounted to EUR 9 million (50 % of committed appropriations), compared to EUR 15 million (87%) in 2014. These were mainly due to a large contract for the extension of the Agency’s Strasbourg building and services provided under multi-annual contracts. It acknowledged that the Agency deployed a considerable effort in planning and coordination of activities.

Parliament also made a series of observations regarding internal controls and audits and the prevention and management of conflicts of interests.

It also took note of the fact that, in light of the reform of the Dublin system and as provided in the European Agenda on Migration, the Agency performed an initial assessment of the possible impact of the reform on the management of the Eurodac system. It acknowledged the growing importance of the Agency for the functioning of the Schengen area and called on the Agency to closely monitor its financial and human resources and, if needed, to submit timely and justified requests for adjustments.

Lastly, Parliament welcomed that, at the end of 2014, the Agency concluded the negotiations and signed the headquarters agreement with Estonia for its seat in Tallinn and with France for its operational site in Strasbourg.