2017 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2017 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2017 of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Centre for the financial year 2017, accompanied by the Centre's replies to the Court's comments, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Director of the Centre in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2017.

The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that the Centre's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Centre's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, the following observation was made:

- performance: the Council expressed concern that due to an increasing use of in-house and other alternative solutions for translation by several EU agencies and bodies, the Centre's capacity is not used to the greatest possible extent and that there is a duplication of systems development and running costs at European level. In addition, the Council took note with concern that the Centre's business model could be at risk. The Council urged the Centre to take appropriate measures to address these issues and it calls on the Centre to inform the Council regularly of all progress made;

- accounting: the Council regretted the deficiencies found by the Court in the Centre's accounting environment. It called on the Centre to take appropriate actions mainly to ensure the accounting officer's independence.