PURPOSE: to grant discharge to the European Commission, in the context of the Court of Auditors’ special reports on the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2009.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Resolution of the European Parliament on the Court of Auditors’ special reports in the context of the 2009 Commission discharge.

CONTENT: the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Court of Auditors' special reports in the context of the 2009 Commission discharge.

The resolution points out that these special reports are of great importance when reflecting on and changing and/or adapting programmes and projects because they can result in a more efficient use of human and budgetary resources.

Parliament welcomes the positive attitude of the Commission in regard to these procedures and its willingness to act rapidly to remedy the majority of shortcomings highlighted by the Court of Auditors in these reports.

In general, the Parliament invites, once again, the competent bodies to adapt the rules in such a way that the competent committee can decide - based on the gravity of the findings of the Court of Auditors - whether there is a need to draw up an initiative report for plenary outside the quota set for own- initiative reports.

The European Parliament adopted by 623 votes to 4 against, with 27 abstentions a resolution on the Court of Auditors’ special reports in the context of the 2009 Commission discharge.

Parliament recalls that the Court’s special reports provide information on problems relating to the implementation of the funds and are useful to Parliament in the role that it exercises as discharge authority. It points out that the conclusions on the special reports form an integral part of its resolution relating to the general discharge procedure on the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for 2009, section III – Commission.

On the whole, Parliament welcomes the fact that the Court of Auditors has managed to produce, every year, more and better special reports but it regrets the fact that, unfortunately, these do not always get the political attention they deserve because of the rules applicable in Parliament.

It points out that those special reports are of great importance when reflecting on and changing and/or adapting programmes and projects because they can result in a more efficient use of human and budgetary resources.

It welcomes the positive attitude of the Commission in regard to these procedures and its willingness to act rapidly to remedy the majority of shortcomings highlighted by the Court of Auditors in these reports.

It, once again, calls upon Parliament’s competent bodies to adapt the rules in such a way that the competent committee can decide - based on the gravity of the findings of the Court of Auditors - whether there is a need to draw up an initiative report for plenary outside the quota set for own- initiative reports .

Lastly, Parliament returns to each of the special reports one by one and makes a certain number of recommendations with a view to improving the utilisation of Community funds.

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS (ALDE, DE) on the Court of Auditors’ special reports in the context of the 2009 Commission discharge.

Members recall that the Court’s special reports provide information on problems relating to the implementation of the funds and are useful to Parliament in the role that it exercises as discharge authority. They point out that the conclusions on the special reports form an integral part of its resolution relating to the general discharge procedure on the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for 2009, section III – Commission.

Overall, Members welcome the fact that the Court of Auditors has managed to produce, every year, more and better special reports but they regret the fact that, unfortunately, they do not always get the political attention they deserve because of the rules applicable in Parliament.

They point out that those special reports are of great importance when reflecting on and changing and/or adapting programmes and projects because they can result in a more efficient use of human and budgetary resources.

They welcome the positive attitude of the Commission in regard to these procedures and its willingness to act rapidly to remedy the majority of shortcomings highlighted by the Court of Auditors in these reports.

They, once again, call upon Parliament’s competent bodies to adapt the rules in such a way that the competent committee can decide - based on the gravity of the findings of the Court of Auditors - whether there is a need to draw up an initiative report for plenary outside the quota set for own initiative reports.

Members then deal with each of the special reports one by one and make a certain number of recommendations with a view to improving the utilisation of Community funds.

In accordance with the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting on 8 May 2000, the Council preparatory bodies responsible for monitoring the areas covered by the Court's special reports have been able at this stage to examine special reports mentioned by the Court in its annual report, under the procedure established by the Permanent Representatives Committee.

The special reports focus on the following issues:

Special report No 8/2009 : "Networks of excellence" and "Integrated projects" in Community Research policy: did they achieve their objectives?" Special report No 15/2009 : "EU assistance implemented through United Nations organisations: decision-making and monitoring" Special report No 16/2009 : "The European Commission's management of pre-accession assistance to Turkey" Special report No 17/2009 : " Vocational training actions for women co-financed by the European Social Fund" Special report No 18/2009 : "Effectiveness of EDF support for Regional Economic Integration in East Africa and West Africa" Special report No 1/2010 : "Are simplified customs procedures for imports effectively controlled?" Special report No 2/2010 : "The effectiveness of the Design Studies and Construction of New Infrastructures support schemes under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research" Special report No 3/2010 : "Impact Assessments in the EU institutions: do they support decision-making?" Special report No 4/2010 : "Is the design and management of the mobility scheme of the Leonardo da Vinci programme likely to lead to effective results?" Special report No 6/2010 : "Has the reform of the sugar market achieved its main objectives?" Special report No 7/2010 : "Audit of the clearance of accounts procedure".

For each of these reports, the Council makes a certain number of recommendations to be taken into account when granting discharge to the European Commission on the implementation of budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009 (please refer to the general discharge procedure DEC/2010/2142 ).

These recommendations shall be presented to the European Parliament.

Court of Auditors