2004 discharge: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

PURPOSE : presentation of the final accounts of the European Agency for Safety and Health for the financial year 2004.

CONTENT : this document published in the Official Journal of the EU sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the 2004 budget, including the revenue and expenditure and the balance sheet for the year concerned.

According to this document, the final budget amounted to EUR 10,8 million (compared to EUR 14,6 million in 2003) of which 98% stems from a Community subsidy (DG Employment) and the remaining 2% from miscellaneous revenue.

As regards the staffing policy, the Agency whose headquarters are based in Bilbao, set out 38 posts in its establishment plan of which 29 are currently occupied. 22 other posts (auxiliary contracts, seconded national experts, local staff and employment-agency staff) are also occupied totalling 51 posts assigned to operational, administrative and mixed tasks.

Staffing expenditure represented EUR 3 379 000.

In 2004, the Agency concentrated on the development of its network. Approximately 850 partners participated in the development of the network through national focal points, 4 expert groups and 3 topic centres. A certain number of activities were carried out with the PHARE and EFTA countries.

In addition, one notes :

- European Week for Safety and Health at work: ‘building safety’;

- participation in 67 exhibitions/conferences;

- electronic media: bi-monthly newsletter, website (2,9 million visitors);

- paper based publications;;

- third programme for SMEs (2003-2004) with 40 projects finalised.

The total operating expenditure represented roughly EUR 5 million (of which an important part of the appropriations were carried over). The balance for the financial year 2004 presented a negative outturn of EUR 940 000.

The complete version of the final accounts may be found at the following address:

http://agency.osha.eu.int