2017 discharge: European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) 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 Agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2017 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 510 votes to 118 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:

Agency’s financial statements

The final budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training for the financial year 2017 was EUR 10 524 359 representing an increase of 2.26 % compared to 2016.

Budget and financial management

The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 97.09 %, representing an increase of 1.14 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 84.02 %, representing an increase of 5.17 % compared to the previous year. Parliament regretted the high level of cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017, amounting to EUR 189 154, representing 12.81 % of the total amount carried forward, showing a slight decrease of 1.44 % in comparison with 2016.

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

In particular, they noted that:

- the changed management plan of the Agency concerning the necessary preparations for operating under its new extended mandate was implemented at a rate of 83 %;

- the Agency is geographically located far from Europol, which undermines the possibility of finding synergies with this other agency specialised in police matters;

- on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 96.77 % executed, with 30 temporary agents appointed out of 31 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;

- as a consequence of its relocation from the United Kingdom to Hungary and the resulting lower correction coefficient applied to staff salaries, the staff turnover was high and geographical balance is not always ensured as applications from other Member States than the host country has decreased. Some members of staff have an outstanding legal dispute regarding the relocation. This may impact business continuity and the Agency’s ability to implement activities;

- unlike most of the other agencies, the Agency 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;

- although it does not have a carbon off-setting scheme in place, it is considering introducing such a scheme.