2004 discharge: EC general budget, Economic and Social Committee ESC

 The committee adopted the report by Nils LUNDGREN (IND/DEM, SE) proposing that discharge be granted to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for 2004. In its accompanying comments, the committee noted that in 2004 the EESC changed its internal rules so as to designate a vice-president to be responsible for budgetary matters and for relations with Parliament. It also welcomed the fact that the EESC had forwarded the annual activity report, including a report by the internal auditor and accompanied by the statement of assurance by the authorising officer by delegation.

On buildings policy, the committee said that the Court of Auditors should carry out an audit on the Montoyer building renovation in addition to the audits pending on the buildings shared by the CoR and the EESC. It concluded that renting buildings would significantly reduce the risks involved for small institutions and that  "this solution should be considered as a serious alternative for future building projects".

Lastly, the report welcomed the fact that the EESC's annual activity report included the results of ex-post controls in accordance with Article 52 of Commission Regulation No. 2342/2002 on the implementation of the Financial Regulation, and said that "in this respect the EESC's example could be usefully followed by other institutions".