2002 Discharge: European Centre on Racism and Xenophobia

PURPOSE: Council Recommendation on the implementation of the EU's budget for the European Monitoring Centre on racism and xenophobia covering the financial year 2002. CONTENT: Noting that the European Court of Auditor's Report gives a positive assessment to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia's annual accounts, the Council recommends that the European Parliament grant a discharge to the Director of the Centre in respect of the budget's implementation for the financial year 2002. However, the Council would like to make some observations, in relation to the fact that for the financial year 2001-2002 only EUR 1.3 million, or 93%, of the EUR 1.4 million in appropriations were carried forward. Similarly, for the financial year from 2002 to 2003 EUR 1.5 million in appropriations were carried forward with EUR 0.3 million having to be cancelled. Specifically, the Recommendation notes that the amount of appropriations carried-over remains high. The Council, therefore, urges the Centre to take appropriate measures to improve the implementation of the budget, in respect to the principle of annuality. The Council notes with satisfaction that the Centre has already taken measures to avoid low level payment appropriations received and the delayed payment of subsidies. Lastly, concerning the management of contracts, the Council proposes that the Centre could benefit from some rationalisation in order to make it more efficient and economical.�