2021 discharge: European Training Foundation (ETF)

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF) for the financial year 2021 and to approve the closure of the accounts for that year.

Noting that the Court of Auditors had stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the Agency's annual accounts for the financial year 2021 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Parliament adopted, by 565 votes to 53 with 7 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations which form an integral part of the discharge decision and which complement the general recommendations set out in the resolution on the performance, financial management and control of EU agencies.

Foundation's financial statements

The Foundation's final budget for the year 2021 was EUR 21 402 739, representing an increase of 2.13 % compared to 2020.

Budgetary and financial management

Budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2021 resulted in a high budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations of 99.91 %, representing a slight increase of 0.04 % compared to 2020. Payment appropriations execution rate was 86.23 %, representing a decrease of 9.43 % compared to 2020.

Other observations

Parliament also made a series of observations concerning performance, staff policy, public procurement and digitalisation.

In particular, it noted that:

- the Foundation’s work programme for 2021 was 95.58 % completed, the highest in the last five years, with a timely completion rate of 91.15 %;

- on 31 December 2021, the establishment plan was 102.3 % implemented, with 88 temporary agents appointed out of 86 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared to 86 authorised posts in 2020);

- the Foundation is urged to consider with utmost priority geographical balance in its recruitment procedures and report any developments in this regard to the discharge authority;

- the e-submission of procurement tenders became the norm in the Foundation;

- the Foundation has accelerated the digitalisation of internal processes, such as human resources, financial workflows electronic signature, and procurement management, as well as external interaction, such as the use of online digital tools for exchanges, meetings;

- in 2021, the Foundation successfully engaged in media partnerships for a campaign on the future of work and on the future of learning, resonating with a wide public audience.