2001 discharge: European Centre on racism and xenophobia

PURPOSE : to present the Council recommendation on the discharge to be given to the Director of the European Monitoring Centre on racism and xenophobia in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and xenophobia for the financial year 2001. CONTENT : based on the remarks contained in the Court of Auditors report relating to the financial year 2001, the Council recommends that the Parliament give a discharge to the Director of the Centre in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2001. Recalling that the EUR 1,4 million in appropriations have been carried forward from the financial year 2001 to the financial year 2002 and EUR 0,1 million have been cancelled, the Council believes that that concerning the observations in the Court of Auditors' report in relation to the financial year 2001 calls for certain comments to be made. These are as follows. Firstly, the Council welcomes the fact that the Court of Auditors has been able to record a statement of assurance in respect of the reliability of the Centre's accounts for the financial year 2001, and in respect of the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions as a whole. Secondly, the Council shares the Court's view on the need to improve the quality and monitoring of the planning of the Centre's operational activities. It encourages the Centre to continue its efforts to adapt its internal rules with a view to ensuring that budgetary appropriations are implemented in accordance with initial plans. Lastly, the Council notes that the Centre has already taken appropriate steps to adapt its accounting programme so as to apply rules in force as regards fixed assets.�