Activites

• 2014/04/03 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T7-0309/2014 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a decision concerning the discharge to be granted to the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012. The vote on the discharge decision approved the closure of the accounts (in accordance with Annex VI, Article 5(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament. Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2012 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 503 votes to 66, with 16 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations that form an integral part of the discharge decision and as well as the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies. These recommendations are summarised as follows: Budget and financial management: Parliament noted that the budget implementation rates for the year 2012 were satisfactory but the rate of committed appropriations carried over was high due to the multiannual nature of significant IT development projects and the start of two new activities, Biocides and PIC in the second half of 2012. It recalled that the Agency received Union subsidies of EUR 4.2 million from the Commission, as well as a pre-financing sum of EUR 500 000 from DG Environment as contractual compensation for undertaking preparatory activities for the Regulation on Biocide Products and IPA pre-financing amounting to EUR 0.2 million. It noted that for the second consecutive year, the Agency did not receive any contribution from the Union budget in 2012 in compliance with the REACH and CLP Regulation and that budgetary revenue from fees and charges in terms of cash received amounted to EUR 26.6 million. Performance: Parliament expected that the Agency provides the Commission, Parliament and the Council with a detailed analysis on possible measures to improve the implementation of REACH in order to: (i) reduce administrative burden for businesses, (ii) reduce uncertainty in the authorisation process, i.e. measures that will make the outcome of REACH procedures more predictable, (iii) improve the proportionality of REACH procedures including considerations on limiting the scope of analyses of alternative substances, (iv) ensure confidence in REACH procedures, including considerations on the avoidance of retroactive charging in the context of joint submissions and lead registrants, (v) improve legal clarity, including considerations on the definition of criteria for the admissibility of joint submissions. Parliament also requested that the Agency communicate the results and impact its work has on European citizens in an accessible way, mainly through its website. Parliament also made a series of observations on transfers, procurement and recruitment procedures as well as comments on internal controls. Lastly, it acknowledged that the Agency will include information and statistics on the management of conflicts of interests in its 2013 annual activity report.

• 2014/04/02 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2014/03/21 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • A7-0229/2014 summary

    The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) in which it recommended the European Parliament to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012. Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2012 are reliable, and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Members approved the closure of the Agency’s accounts. They made, however, a number of recommendations that needed to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies. Budget and financial management: Members noted that the budget implementation rates for the year 2012 were satisfactory but the rate of committed appropriations carried over was high due to the multiannual nature of significant IT development projects and the start of two new activities, Biocides and PIC in the second half of 2012. Members recalled that the Agency received Union subsidies of EUR 4.2 million from the Commission, as well as a pre-financing sum of EUR 500 000 from DG Environment as contractual compensation for undertaking preparatory activities for the Regulation on Biocide Products and IPA pre-financing amounting to EUR 0.2 million. Members also made a series of observations on transfers, procurement and recruitment procedures as well as comments on internal controls. Lastly, they acknowledged that the Agency will include information and statistics on the management of conflicts of interests in its 2013 annual activity report.

• 2014/03/17 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
• 2013/10/22 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2013/07/26 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(2013)0570 summary

    PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2012, as part of the 2012 discharge procedure. Analysis of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). CONTENT: this Commission document sets out the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2012 as prepared on the basis of the information presented by the institutions, organisations and bodies of the EU, in accordance with Article 129 (2) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the EU's General Budget, including the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). In 2012, the tasks and budget of this agency were as follows: description of ECHA's tasks: ECHA, located in Helsinki, was set up by Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council and its main tasks are to : (i) help businesses comply with the legislation in force; (ii) promote the safe use of chemicals; (iii) provide information on chemicals; (iv) assess hazardous substances; ECHA's budget for the 2012 financial year: the Agency’s budget for 2012, as presented in the Commission document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union, gives the following figures: §         Commitment appropriations : - committed : EUR 99 million; - paid : EUR 96 million; - carried-over : 0. §         Payment appropriations : - committed : EUR 113 million; - paid : EUR 94 million; - carried-over : EUR 15 million. Please refer also to the final accounts of the ECHA.

  • DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/', 'title': 'Budget'}, ŠEMETA Algirdas

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2013)0570
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0229/2014
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0309/2014

Amendments

Dossier

26

2013/2233(DEC) 2013/12/18 ENVI 10 amendments... Amendment 1 # Jutta HAUG Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Notes that for the second consecutive year the European Chemicals Agency did not receive any contribution from the general EU budget in 2012 in compliance with the REACH and CLP regulation; draws attention to the fact that budgetary revenue from fees and charges in terms of cash received amounted to EUR 26.611.825; for preparatory actions with regard to the implementation of the biocides and PIC activities an amount of EUR 4.184.040 was provided by the general EU budget; likes to stress that this amount representes 0.003% of the overall EU budget; points out that 447 of 470 available posts had been occupied and 65 contract agents and seconded national experts were employed by the end of 2012; Amendment 10 # Julie GIRLING Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recommends on the facts available that that discharge canshould not be granted to the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2012. Amendment 2 # Anna ROSBACH Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. RecogniStresses the two comments made by the Court of Auditors which focus on the physical inventory and on the budgetary management; is at the same time also aware of the Agency's reply; points out that the carry-overs derive partly from the multi-annual nature, of IT development projects, partly from translations not delivered by year-end and the start of new biocides and PIC activities in the second half of the year; reminds however the Agency to respect the annuality principle of the budget as close as possible; asksinsists that the Agency to completes as soon as possible the asset inventory exercise and to enforce the asset inventory management with the new version for ABAC assets; recognises at the same time that some shortfalls are legacy driven and arise from the set-up stage of the Agency when laptops and computers were provided through Commission framework contracts and have been used by Commission staff seconded to the Agency at that time; would like to mention that according to the Agency the untraced laptops from the early days have an overall residual value of EUR 5000; Amendment 3 # Antonyia PARVANOVA Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recognises the two comments made by the Court of Auditors which focus on the physical inventory and on the budgetary management; is at the same time also aware of the Agency's reply; points out that the carry-overs derive partly from the multi-annual nature, of IT development projects, partly from translations not delivered by year-end and the start of new biocides and PIC activities in the second half of the year; and welcomes therefore the agency's attempts to maximise the synergies between its tasks by making the best possible use of IT tools; reminds however the Agency to respect the annuality principle of the budget as close as possible; asks the Agency to complete as soon as possible the asset inventory exercise and to enforce the asset inventory management with the new version for ABAC assets; recognises at the same time that some shortfalls are legacy driven and arise from the set-up stage of the Agency when laptops and computers were provided through Commission framework contracts and have been used by Commission staff seconded to the Agency at that time; would like to mention that according to the Agency the untraced laptops from the early days have an overall residual value of EUR 5000; Amendment 4 # Julie GIRLING Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. RecogniStresses the two comments made by the Court of Auditors which focus on the physical inventory and on the budgetary management; is at the same time also aware of the Agency's reply; points out that the carry-overs derive partly from the multi-annual nature, of IT development projects, partly from translations not delivered by year-end and the start of new biocides and PIC activities in the second half of the year; reminds however the Agency to respect the annuality principle of the budget as close as possible; asksinsists that the Agency to completes as soon as possible the asset inventory exercise and to enforce the asset inventory management with the new version for ABAC assets; recognises at the same time that some shortfalls are legacy driven and arise from the set-up stage of the Agency when laptops and computers were provided through Commission framework contracts and have been used by Commission staff seconded to the Agency at that time; would like to mention that according to the Agency the untraced laptops from the early days have an overall residual value of EUR 5000; Amendment 5 # Anna ROSBACH Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Is satisfied withAknowledges the operation of the Agency in implementing the Union’s chemicals' legislation within its legal role and responsibilities; is aware that the reserve amounting to EUR 230.198.367 in 2012 (EUR 280.565.807 in 2011) deriving from fee income will be used up in 2015 at the latest as envisaged by the REACH and CLP regulation; takes note that the reserve is managed through service level agreements with two different banks (EIB and Central Bank of Finland) in accordance with standards agreed by the Agency's Management Board; Amendment 6 # Julie GIRLING Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Is satisfied withAcknowledges the operation of the Agency in implementing the Union’s chemicals' legislation within its legal role and responsibilities; is aware that the reserve amounting to EUR 230.198.367 in 2012 (EUR 280.565.807 in 2011) deriving from fee income will be used up in 2015 at the latest as envisaged by the REACH and CLP regulation; takes note that the reserve is managed through service level agreements with two different banks (EIB and Central Bank of Finland) in accordance with standards agreed by the Agency's Management Board; Amendment 7 # Anna ROSBACH Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Believes that the discharge decision should be based upon OECD guidelines to ensure high quality internationally recognised accounting, audit and financial disclosure standards; invites the European institutions to incorporate and commit to introducing OECD guidelines within a common framework for all European institutions and bodies; Amendment 8 # Julie GIRLING Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Believes that the discharge decision should be based upon OECD guidelines to ensure high quality internationally recognised accounting, audit and financial disclosure standards; invites the European institutions to incorporate and commit to introducing OECD guidelines within a common framework for all European institutions and bodies; Amendment 9 # Anna ROSBACH Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recommends on the facts available that discharge canshould not be granted to the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2012. source: PE-526.142 2014/02/26 CONT 16 amendments... Amendment 1 # Petri SARVAMAA Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012; Amendment 10 # Ryszard CZARNECKI, Andrea ČEŠKOVÁ, Marta ANDREASEN, Derk Jan EPPINK, Philip BRADBOURN Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 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 Agency for its good budgetary planning; Amendment 11 # Monica MACOVEI Motion for a resolution Subheading 4 a (new) Prevention and management of conflicts of interests and transparency Amendment 12 # Monica MACOVEI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Notes that following the recommendation of the discharge authority, the Agency will include information and statistics on the management of conflicts of interests in its 2013 annual activity report; Amendment 13 # Monica MACOVEI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Observes that the CVs and Declarations of Interests of certain members of the Management Board are not publicly available; notes from the Agency that the missing CVs mainly concern members in the process of being replaced but emphasises that no explanation has been provided for the missing Declarations of Interests; calls on the Agency to remedy the situation as a matter of urgency; Amendment 14 # Ryszard CZARNECKI, Andrea ČEŠKOVÁ, Marta ANDREASEN, Derk Jan EPPINK, Philip BRADBOURN Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. RegretsExpresses concern that physical inventory results show serious weaknesses in the safeguarding and tracking of fixed assets and that there is no tracking procedure for software and internal components (2 370 items out of the 5 878 ICT fixed assets recorded); expresses concernis appalled, moreover, that 306 items could not be found, of which 93 were laptops and 29 were computers; calls ondemands that the Agency to remedy this situation and to duly follow this up before initiating the 2013 discharge procedure; Amendment 15 # Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY, Chris DAVIES, Jan MULDER Motion for a resolution Subheading 6 a (new) Performance Amendment 16 # Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY, Chris DAVIES, Jan MULDER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Requests that the Agency communicate the results and impact its work has on European citizens in an accessible way, mainly through its website, ; Amendment 2 # Ryszard CZARNECKI, Andrea ČEŠKOVÁ, Marta ANDREASEN, Derk Jan EPPINK, Philip BRADBOURN Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012; Amendment 3 # Karin KADENBACH Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2012; Amendment 4 # Petri SARVAMAA Proposal for a decision 2 Paragraph 1 1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012; Amendment 5 # Ryszard CZARNECKI, Andrea ČEŠKOVÁ, Marta ANDREASEN, Derk Jan EPPINK, Philip BRADBOURN Proposal for a decision 2 Paragraph 1 1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012; Amendment 6 # Karin KADENBACH Proposal for a decision 2 Paragraph 1 1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012 / Postpones its decision on the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012; Amendment 7 # Elena BĂSESCU Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) – having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament, Amendment 8 # Monica MACOVEI Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas, according to its financial statementsthe Court of Auditors' report, the final budget of the European Chemicals Agency (‘"the Agency’") for the financial year 2012 was EUR 32 912 70898 900 000, representing an increase of 6,12 % compared to 2011, Amendment 9 # Monica MACOVEI Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the Agency received Union subsidies of EUR 4 184 040 from the Commission, as well as a pre-financing sum of EUR 500 000 from DG Environment as contractual compensation for undertaking preparatory activities for the Regulation on Biocide Products and IPA pre- financing amounting to EUR 185 676, source: PE-521.765

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)