2016 discharge: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

PURPOSE: to grant discharge to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the financial year 2016.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2018/1427 of the European Parliament on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2016.

CONTENT: the European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2016.

This decision is accompanied by a resolution of the European Parliament containing the observations which form an integral part of the discharge decision in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016 (please refer to the summary dated 18.4.2018).

In this resolution, Parliament noted that the Agency recognises the financial risks due to Brexit as the potential loss of financial resources could impact the Agency's operational activities. It noted that the Agency could possibly reduce the impact of this financial loss due to the fact that its operational research activities will not include the United Kingdom. However, the financial loss is expected to be higher than the savings from the limitation of research activities.

Parliament also noted that the Agency recognises the operational risks due to Brexit and the resulting potential loss of competition as a number of operational related contractors are based in the United Kingdom and loss of skilful British national staff members. It called on the Agency to work in close cooperation with the Commission regarding Brexit negotiations in order to be sufficiently prepared to minimise any negative operational or financial impact that may occur.

Lastly, Parliament welcomed the fact that the Agency continued its research on the situation of Roma in the Union.