5.9.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 266/166

—

having regard to the final annual accounts of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2012,

—

having regard to the Court of Auditors’ report on the annual accounts of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2012, together with the Centre’s replies (1),

—

having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 18 February 2014 (05849/2014 - C7-0054/2014),

—

having regard to Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (2), and in particular Article 185 thereof,

—

having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (3), and in particular Article 208 thereof,

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2965/94 of 28 November 1994 setting up a Translation Centre for Bodies of the European Union (4), and in particular Article 14 thereof,

—

having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5),

—

having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 of 30 September 2013 on the framework financial regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 208 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), and in particular Article 108 thereof,

—

having regard to its previous discharge decisions and resolutions,

—

having regard to Rule 77 of, and Annex VI to, its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A7-0205/2014),

A.

whereas according to its financial statements, the final budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (‘the Centre’) for the financial year 2012 was EUR 48 292 749, representing a decrease of 5,86 % compared to 2011,

B.

whereas the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2012 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular,

1.

Notes that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2012 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 87,45 % and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 90,23 %;

2.

Notes with concern that according to the Court of Auditors’ report, the Centre held cash and short term deposits amounting to EUR 35 million at the end of 2012; notes that the Centre cannot adjust prices during the year in order to balance income and expenditure, although it has occasionally refunded its clients in order to reduce the surplus; calls on the Centre, together with the Commission, to propose a remedy to this situation;

3.

Acknowledges that the Court of Auditors’ annual audit has found no notable issues as regards the level of carry-overs in 2012; commends the Centre for adhering to the principle of annuality and for the timely execution of its budget;

4.

Notes with satisfaction that according to the annual activity report, as well as the Court of Auditors’ audit findings, the level and nature of transfers in 2012 have remained within the limits of the financial rules; commends the Centre for its good budgetary planning;

5.

Notes that for the year 2012, neither sampled transactions nor other audit findings have led to any comments on the Centre’s procurement procedures in the Court of Auditors’ annual audit report;

6.

Notes that the Court of Auditors in its annual audit report for 2012 made no comments as regards the Centre’s recruitment procedures;

7.

Acknowledges that the Centre will assess its policy on the prevention and management of conflicts of interests on the basis of the Commission’s Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest in EU Decentralised Agencies; calls on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the assessment results once available;

8.

Observes that the CVs and declarations of interests of the Management Board members, the Executive Director and senior management are not publicly available; calls on the Centre to remedy the situation as a matter of urgency;

9.

Requests that the agency communicate the results and impact its work has on European citizens in an accessible way, mainly through its website;

10.

Refers, in respect of the other observations accompanying its Decision on discharge, which are of a horizontal nature, to its resolution of 3 April 2014 (7) on the performance, financial management and control of the agencies.