Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
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Lead | CONT | STAES Bart (Verts/ALE) | SARVAMAA Petri (EPP), LIBERADZKI Bogusław (S&D), MARIAS Notis (ECR), ALI Nedzhmi (ALDE), DE JONG Dennis (GUE/NGL), VALLI Marco (EFD), KAPPEL Barbara (ENF) |
Opinion | ENVI | VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana (EPP) |
Activites
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2018/04/18
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
- Debate in Parliament
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T8-0144/2018
summary
The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA) in regard to the implementation of the agency’s budget for the 2016 financial year and to approve the closure of the accounts for the financial year in question. Noting that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the agency’s annual accounts for the financial year 2016 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 562 votes to 128 with 4 abstentions, a resolution containing a series of recommendations, which form an integral part of the decision on discharge and which add to the general recommendations set out in the resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies: Agency’s financial statements: the final budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2016 was EUR 50 509 265, representing an increase of 2.75 % compared to 2015. The Agency’s budget derives mainly from the Union budget. Budget and financial management: the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2016 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.9 % and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 89.8 %. Commitments and carry-overs: Members took note that the carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 were at EUR 4 203 111, representing a decrease of EUR 741 628 compared to the previous year (EUR 4 944 739 in 2015). Carry-overs may often be justified and do not necessarily indicate weaknesses in budget planning and implementation. Members also made a series of observations regarding procurement, staff policy and internal audits and controls. They emphasised the fact that the continuing staff reduction poses a risk for the Agency in limiting its capacity to respond to policy developments, underlining that the limitation of staff resources contributed to the lower delivery rate observed in some strategic areas. With regard to preventing conflicts of interest, Parliament welcomed the implementation of agency’s guidelines on whistleblowing. However, it emphasised the need to establish an independent body with sufficient budgetary resources to support whistleblowers wishing to disclose information on possible irregularities negatively impacting on the Union’s financial interests, while ensuring their confidentiality is protected. Lastly, it recalled that, according to the Court’s report, in 2014, the Commission had signed, on behalf of more than 50 EU institutions and bodies a framework contract (FWC) with one contractor for the acquisition of software, licences and the provision of related IT maintenance and consultancy services. Members expressed their concern that, in this specific instance, there was no justification for the use of the FWC which resulted in an unnecessary uplift cost.
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2018/03/23
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A8-0090/2018
summary
The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2016. The committee called on the European Parliament to grant the Executive Director of the Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2016. Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2016 were reliable and that the underlying transactions were legal and regular, Members called on Parliament to approve 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: Agency’s financial statements: the final budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2016 was EUR 50 509 265, representing an increase of 2.75 % compared to 2015. The Agency’s budget derives mainly from the Union budget. Budget and financial management: the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2016 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.9 % and that the payment appropriations execution rate was 89.8 %. Commitments and carry-overs: Members took note that the carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 were at EUR 4 203 111, representing a decrease of EUR 741 628 compared to the previous year (EUR 4 944 739 in 2015). Carry-overs may often be justified and do not necessarily indicate weaknesses in budget planning and implementation. Members also made a series of observations regarding procurement, staff policy and internal audits and controls. They stressed that the Commission, in line with the Better Regulation Agenda, initiated in 2016 an evaluation of the Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET), covering the period between mid-2012 and end-2016, the findings of which will be used to assess how well the Agency is performing.
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A8-0090/2018
summary
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2018/03/20
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
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2017/09/13
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2017/06/26
Non-legislative basic document published
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COM(2017)0365
summary
PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2016, as part of the 2016 discharge procedure. Analysis of the accounts of the European Environment Agency (EEA). CONTENT: the organisational governance of the EU consists of institutions, agencies and other EU bodies whose expenditure is included in the general budget of the Union. This Commission document concerns the EU's consolidated accounts for the year 2016 and details how spending by the EU institutions and bodies was carried out. The consolidated annual accounts of the EU provide financial information on the activities of the institutions, agencies and other bodies of the EU from an accrual accounting and budgetary perspective. It is the responsibility of the Commission's Accounting Officer to prepare the EU's consolidated annual accounts and ensure that they present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position, the result of the operations and the cashflows of the EU institutions and bodies, including the EEA, with a view to granting discharge. Discharge procedure: the final step of a budget lifecycle is the discharge of the budget for a given financial year. It represents the political aspect of the external control of budget implementation and is the decision by which the European Parliament, acting on a Council recommendation, "releases" the Commission (and other EU bodies) from its responsibility for management of a given budget by marking the end of that budget's existence. The European Parliament is the discharge authority within the EU. The discharge procedure may produce three outcomes: (i) the granting; (ii) postponement or; (iii) the refusal of the discharge. The final discharge report including specific recommendations to the Commission for action is adopted in plenary by the European Parliament and are subject to an annual follow up report in which the Commission outlines the concrete actions it has taken to implement the recommendations made. Each agency is subject to its own discharge procedure, including the European Environment Agency (EEA). The European Environment Agency: the Agency, which is located in Copenhagen (DK) was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90, is responsible for setting up an observation network to provide the Commission, the Parliament, the Member States and, more generally, the public with reliable information on the state of the environment. This information should, in particular, enable the European Union and the Member States to take action to safeguard the environment and assess the effectiveness of such action. As regards EEA’s accounts, these are presented in detail in the document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for 2016: Commitment appropriations: available: EUR 69 million; made: EUR 64 million. Payment appropriations: available: EUR 74 million; made: EUR 50 million. For further details on expenditure, please refer to the 2016 final accounts of the EEA.
- DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/budget_en', 'title': 'Budget'}, OETTINGER Günther
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COM(2017)0365
summary
Documents
- Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2017)0365
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A8-0090/2018
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T8-0144/2018
Amendments | Dossier |
19 |
2017/2151(DEC)
2017/12/13
ENVI
6 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need to identify the financial allocations for Natura 2000 with a view to quantifying and measuring the impact of investments on the achievement of the specific objectives;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls that, since its creation, the Agency, together with its European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET), has been an information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating Union environment and climate policies, as well as sustainable development policies, and also been an information source for the general public; recommends that all this information should also be made available to those suffering from dyslexia and other such difficulties with the written word, through full audio and audio-visual access;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights that the continuing staff reduction poses a risk for the Agency to deliver its multiannual work programme for 2014-2020 to the full, and limits its capacity to respond to policy developments; stresses that it has become increasingly difficult for the Agency to manage the risks associated with the decrease in resources; notes that the limitation of staff resources contributed to the lower delivery rate observed in some strategic areas; points out, however, that the continuing staff reduction may make it possible to reduce the Agency’s budget and thus to reduce the contribution from the general budget of the European Union, a budget whose impact on public finances in the Member States is far too high;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the fact that approximately 77 % of all staff are dedicated to operational activities, although this percentage could still be increased further; takes note of the Agency’s occupancy rate for temporary agents of 99,2 % with 129 staff against 130 posts available, the last post being reserved for a known reduction in the establishment plan in 2017;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Takes note of the adoption of the Agency’s guidelines on whistleblowing, and encourages it to adhere strictly to these guidelines;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Welcomes that the Court of Auditors has announced that the transactions underlying the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2016 were legal and regular in all material respects; commends the Agency on the implementation of all recommended corrective actions for the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive;
source: 615.426
2018/03/02
CONT
13 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Takes note that the Commission’s IAS carried out an audit on data/information management, including an IT component, which was finalised in 2015; acknowledges that, in order to address the recommendations of the IAS in relation to that audit, an action plan was drawn up covering the coming years; notes with satisfaction that in 2017 the majority of the recommendations have been closed by the IAS, demonstrating that appropriate measures have been implemented to ensure proper handling of a higher volume of data;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Notes with concern from the Court’s report that,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Recalls with concern that from the Court’s report
Amendment 2 #
Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 3 #
Proposal for a decision 2 Paragraph 1 1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Environment Agency for the financial year
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses, however, the need to reduce as far as possible the level of committed appropriations to be carried over to the following year, by means of all available measures, for example by adopting best practices used in other agencies;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes with
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes with concern a significant and unacceptable gender imbalance in the Agency’s senior management team
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the work-life balance should be part of the staff policy of the Agency and that the budget spent on well- being activities amounts to approximately EUR 560 per staff, corresponding to two working days; observes that the average sick leave amounts to 13,8 days per member of staff, which amounts to an average of almost three working weeks; calls on the Agency as a matter of urgency to examine this issue with a view to ascertaining and addressing the major causes, to establish in particular whether workplace stress plays any role;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that two complaints were lodged on the basis of Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulation (21 December 2016 and 8 March 2017) against the Appointing Authority’s (AIPN) decision to terminate a contract during the probationary period and not to confirm a contract at the end of the probationary period;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Expresses the need to establish an independent disclosure, advice and referral body with sufficient budgetary resources, in order to help whistle-blowers use the right channels to disclose their information on possible irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union, while protecting their confidentiality and offering needed support and advice;
source: 618.245
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