1994 discharge: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training ECDVT budget

In adopting the report by Mr Edward KELLETT-BOWMAN (PPE, UK), Parliament gave discharge to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Thessaloniki) in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1994 and 1995 financial years. However the agreement entered into between Cedefop and the Greek State concerning the construction and purchase of buildings in Thessaloniki raised concern, in particular because of the lack of transparency implicit in the terms of the agreement. It was also concerned that Cedefop had advanced half the purchase price of its new headquarters before its construction began and would advance a further quarter at a very early stage in the work without there being any obligation of this type. It therefore asked Cedefop to report to it at six-monthly intervals, starting in June 1997, on the progress of the construction work and to provide information on the final cost of the work. It also considered that the difficulties associated with the transfer of staff from Berlin to Thessaloniki, mainly attributable to the Council, must be resolved during 1997 and stressed in passing that the difficulties involved in achieving a full staff complement for the new headquarters (and the problems of staff motivation following from the move to Thessaloniki) had severely impaired Cedefop's operations. Lastly, it stated that in general Cedefop provided products of quality and played a clear and coherent role within the policies of the Community on vocational training. �