2017 discharge: Eurojust, European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit
The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Administrative Director of the Eurojust 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 507 votes to 105 with 21 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:
Eurojust’s financial statement
Eurojust’s final budget for the financial year 2017 was EUR 48 689 237, representing an increase of 11.83 % compared to 2016. The budget increase relates mainly to transition of Eurojust to its new premises.
Budget and financial management
The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.97 %, representing a slight increase of 0.08 % compared to 2016 and including EUR 11 130 000 that was ring-fenced for the new building. Payment appropriations execution rate was 83.95 %, representing an increase of 3.53 % compared to 2016.
As for the cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017, these amount to EUR 234 228, representing 2.96 % of the total amount carried over, a decrease of 2.64 % compared to 2016.
Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, staff policy and internal controls.
In particular, they noted that:
- Eurojust implemented an in-depth reorganisation of its administration, with more resources being devoted to reinforcing support to operational work, which has created synergies and efficiency gains;
- Eurojust contributed to counter-terrorism projects of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and other justice and home affairs partners and furthermore participated in two joint tender procedures with Europol;
- Eurojust intends to develop a procurement strategy aimed at further reaping the benefits of inter-agency and inter-institutional joint procurement procedures;
- on 31 December 2017 the establishment plan was 97.2 % executed, with 202 temporary agents, appointed out of 208 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;
- a mechanism was set up to ensure that any violation of fundamental rights be detected and reported;
- Eurojust successfully completed the move to its new premises in June 2017 with no loss of operational capacity and that all necessary financial, security, legal and other practical arrangements were made in a timely manner. Regarding the investments in the new premises planned for 2017, EUR 11 130 000 were committed and EUR 8 790 000 (79 %) had been paid by 31 December 2017.