2016 discharge: European Police Office (Europol)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2016 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2016 of the European Police Office (Europol), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of Europol for the financial year 2016, accompanied by Europol's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of Europol in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2016.

The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, Europol's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2016 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of Europol's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for 2016 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, the following observation was made:

• financial programming: the Council called on Europol to continue improving its financial programming in order to reduce the level of commitments carried over to the next financial year in line with the budgetary principle of annuality.