2018 discharge: Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for the financial year 2018 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 2018 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 604 votes to 84 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 resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies:

Agency’s financial statements

The final budget of the Agency for the financial year 2018 was EUR 13 562 000, representing an increase of 2.18 % compared to 2017.

Budget and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2018 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.26 %, exceeding the Agency’s planned target and representing an increase of 0.54 % compared to 2017. The payment appropriations execution rate was at 79.73 %, representing an increase of 3.92 % compared to 2017.

Other observations

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

In particular, they noted that:

- the Agency has been successful in implementing Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency and in accompanying and monitoring the shift in the implementation of the already adopted network codes in electricity and gas;

- on 31 December 2018, the establishment plan was 95.52 % executed, with 64 temporary agents appointed out of 67 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget;

- the Agency has expressed concerns about the inadequate additional resources envisaged for the implementation of the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package, in terms of staff numbers, timing and grades. It will not be able to properly fulfil its extended mandate without the assignment of additional resources;

- concern was expressed regarding the lack of gender and geographical balance;

- all of the necessary tools to manage procurement procedures should be introduced by Agency;

- the Agency adopted its own internal control framework in December 2018;

- a formal analysis in 2018 was carried out concerning the likely impact of the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the Union on its organisation, operations and accounts.