2017 discharge: Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI Joint Undertaking)

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2016 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2016 of the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2016, accompanied by the Joint Undertaking's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking 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, the Joint Undertaking's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations, its cash flows, and the changes in net assets for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Undertaking's Financial Rules, and that the underlying transactions for 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, one observation was made.

The Council called on the Joint Undertaking to consider limiting the number of proposals per topic by defining an indicative budget at topic level in the calls for proposals.