2017 discharge: Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC Office)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Management Committee of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for the financial year 2017 and to approve the closure of the accounts for the financial year in question.

Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Office’s annual accounts for the financial year 2017 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 507 votes to 124 with 5 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 draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

Office’s financial statements

The final budget of the Office for the financial year 2017 was EUR 4 246 000, the same amount as in 2016.

Budget and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.94 %, representing an increase of 3.74 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was at 86.92 %, representing a notable increase of 9.73 % compared to 2016. The cancellations of carryovers from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 20 412, representing 2.53 % of the total amount carried forward, showing a decrease of 4.76 % in comparison to 2016.

Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, staff policy, procurement, conflicts of interest and internal controls.

In particular, they noted that:

- on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 100 % fulfilled, with 14 temporary agents appointed out of 14 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;

- the Office was negatively affected with the highest possible rate of cut of 12.5%, according to the ECA report on the implementation of the 5% reduction of staff posts, published on 21 December 2017;

- in 2017 the average employment period in the Office was only 2.7 years which is reflected in a high staff turnover. This is due to the low salary correction coefficient of the host country (74.9 %);

- the Office should take into account the importance of ensuring gender balance when presenting their nominations for members of the Board;

- the Office did not have internal rules on whistleblowing in place on 31 December 2017. However, the Office plans to adopt these by the end of 2018;

- unlike most other Agencies, the Office did not carry out a comprehensive analysis of the likely impact of the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union on its organisation, operations and accounts. Such an analysis should be undertaken.