BETA


2018/2193(DEC) 2017 discharge: European Union Agency for Railways

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead CONT SARVAMAA Petri (icon: PPE PPE) KADENBACH Karin (icon: S&D S&D), CZARNECKI Ryszard (icon: ECR ECR), ALI Nedzhmi (icon: ALDE ALDE), STAES Bart (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), KAPPEL Barbara (icon: ENF ENF)
Committee Opinion TRAN LEONTINI Innocenzo (icon: PPE PPE)
Lead committee dossier:

Events

2019/09/27
   Final act published in Official Journal
2019/03/26
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2019/03/26
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2019/03/26
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways in regard to the implementation of the agency’s budget for the 2017 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 2017 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 498 votes to 131 with 3 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 draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies :

Agency’s financial statements

The final budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2017 was EUR 30 732 000, representing an increase of 11.57 % compared to 2016.

Budget and financial management

The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.99 %, representing an increase of 0.79 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 87.30 %, representing a decrease of 4.27 % compared to 2016.

Parliament noted that the Agency is now authorised to charge fees for some of its new competences. A charging regime for issuing certificates, authorisations and approvals was introduced, with the aim of being fully operational in 2019 and the requirement of implementing a new resources system and internal procedures within the Agency to ensure statutory and fee-based tasks are identified and tracked. The Agency should report to the discharge authority on the implementation of this new system.

The cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 69 473, representing 3.40 % of the total amount carried over, showing a decrease of 1.12 % in comparison to 2016.

Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, procurement and staff policy.

In particular, they noted that:

- the Agency's role in the follow-up of the development, testing and implementation of European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), as well as in evaluating the specific ERTMS projects was welcomed;

- the Agency met its target of 95 % achievement of timely delivery of issuing reports, advice and opinions;

- progress has been made towards an increased cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in order to develop a common safety culture;

- on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 92.09 % executed, with 128 temporary agents appointed out of 139 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 135 authorised posts in 2016);

- the Agency had still not set up rules on whistleblowing but that they were to be adopted by the end of 2018;

- by the end of the transitional period (16 June 2019), the Agency will transform from a mere policy preparation and dissemination role into an authority working directly for the industry as regards authorisations for safety certifications and rolling stock;

- despite numerous contacts with French authorities, this has not resulted in the signature of the Agency’s headquarter agreement. Members regretted that the Management Board has been unable in 2017 to unanimously adopt implementing rules for the language arrangements for the Agency, leading to extra costs and delays, e.g. during recruitment;

- the agency continues to operate in two locations. Members called for the Agency to relocate all activities to its headquarters and operate only from that site;

- regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and its potential effect on the Agency’s staff, intensive exchange with the UK rail sector has confirmed their interest in staying in the “European System”.

Documents
2019/03/26
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2019/03/04
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency (now European Union Agency for Railways) for the financial year 2017.

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 2017.

Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2017 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

Members noted that the final budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2017 was EUR 30 732 000, representing an increase of 11.57 % compared to 2016.

Budget and financial management

The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.99 %, representing an increase of 0.79 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 87.30 %, representing a decrease of 4.27 % compared to 2016.

Members noted that the Agency is now authorised to charge fees for some of its new competences. A charging regime for issuing certificates, authorisations and approvals was introduced, with the aim of being fully operational in 2019 and the requirement of implementing a new resources system and internal procedures within the Agency to ensure statutory and fee-based tasks are identified and tracked. The Agency should report to the discharge authority on the implementation of this new system.

The cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 69 473, representing 3.40 % of the total amount carried over, showing a decrease of 1.12 % in comparison to 2016.

Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, procurement and staff policy.

In particular, they noted that:

- the Agency's role in the follow-up of the development, testing and implementation of European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), as well as in evaluating the specific ERTMS projects was welcomed;

- on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 92.09 % executed, with 128 temporary agents appointed out of 139 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 135 authorised posts in 2016);

- the Agency had still not set up rules on whistleblowing but that they were to be adopted by the end of 2018;

- by the end of the transitional period (16 June 2019), the Agency will transform from a mere policy preparation and dissemination role into an authority working directly for the industry as regards authorisations for safety certifications and rolling stock;

- despite numerous contacts with French authorities, this has not resulted in the signature of the Agency’s headquarter agreement. Members regretted that the Management Board has been unable in 2017 to unanimously adopt implementing rules for the language arrangements for the Agency, leading to extra costs and delays, e.g. during recruitment;

- the agency continues to operate in two locations. Members called for the Agency to relocate all activities to its headquarters and operate only from that site;

- regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and its potential effect on the Agency’s staff, intensive exchange with the UK rail sector has confirmed their interest in staying in the “European System”.

Documents
2019/02/20
   EP - Vote in committee
2019/01/31
   CSL - Supplementary non-legislative basic document
Details

Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2017 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2017 of the European Railway Agency (ERA), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2017, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2017.

The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations, its cash flows, and the changes in net assets for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects.

Nevertheless, the following observations were made:

- accounting : the Council regretted the deficiencies found by the Court in the Agency's accounting environment. It called on the Agency to take all necessary actions mainly to ensure the accounting officer's independence and the segregation of duties between the accounting officer and the authorising officer;

- procurement : deficiencies were found by the Court in purchasing of IT services where in one case the Agency has made a purchase without any required competitive procedure or prior market research. The Council called on the Agency to ensure competitive procurement and purchase procedures, fully aligned with the Agency's Financial Regulation.

Documents
2019/01/31
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2019/01/22
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/12/10
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/10/15
   EP - LEONTINI Innocenzo (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in TRAN
2018/09/18
   CofA - Court of Auditors: opinion, report
Details

PURPOSE: presentation of the EU Court of Auditors’ report on the annual accounts of the European Railway Agency for the year 2017, together with the Agency’s reply.

CONTENT: the Court of Auditors carried out the audit on the annual accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA).

In brief, the Agency’s task is to enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and to develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety.

Statement of assurance and reliability of the accounts

The Court considered that:

- the Agency’s annual accounts present fairly, in all material respects, its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of its Financial Regulation and the accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer;

- the transactions underlying the annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects.

The report also makes a series of observations on the budgetary and financial management of the Agency, accompanied by the latter’s response. The main observations may be summarised as follows:

The Court’s observations

Financial management

Concerning a framework contract for the acquisition of IT hard and software and the provision of maintenance and support (IT services), the Court noted that while most of these IT services and related prices were defined in the framework contract resulting from the competitive procurement procedure, it also allowed the purchase of IT services not specifically mentioned. In the case of one audited payment amounting to some EUR 47 000 the Agency purchased, through the contractor, IT services without any competitive procedure or prior market research. In 2017, total payments to the contractor amounted to EUR 1.1 million.

The Agency’s reply

Financial management

As recognised by the Court the contract was used according to the relevant contractual provisions. Any further considerations as regards sound financial management shall be notified to the contract manager, namely DG DIGIT.

Lastly, the Court of Auditors’ report contains a summary of the Agency’s key figures in 2017:

Budget

EUR 31 million.

Staff

164 including officials, temporary and contract staff and seconded national experts.

2018/09/11
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2018/07/26
   EP - SARVAMAA Petri (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in CONT
2018/06/28
   EC - Non-legislative basic document
Details

PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2017, as part of the 2017 discharge procedure.

Analysis of the accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA) .

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 2017 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 cash flows of the EU institutions and bodies with a view to granting discharge.

Discharge procedure : the final step of a budget lifecycle is the discharge . It is the decision by which the European Parliament ‘ releases ’ the Commission from its responsibility for management of a given budget by marking the end of that budget's existence. It is granted by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

The decision is based in particular on the European Court of Auditors reports, in particular its annual report, in which the Court provides a Statement of Assurance (DAS) on the legality and regularity of transactions (payments and commitments).

The procedure results in the granting, postponement or refusal of 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.

All EU institutions and other agencies, bodies and joint undertakings are subject to their own discharge procedures.

The European Railway Agency : the Agency, which is located in Lille-Valenciennes (FR), was created by Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Its aim is to enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety.

As regards the Agency’s accounts , these are presented in detail in the document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for 2017:

Commitment appropriations :

available: EUR 32 million; made: EUR 31 million.

Payment appropriations :

available: EUR 34 million; made: EUR 29 million.

For further details on expenditure, please refer to the final accounts of the ERA .

2018/06/27
   EC - Non-legislative basic document published
Details

PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2017, as part of the 2017 discharge procedure.

Analysis of the accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA) .

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 2017 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 cash flows of the EU institutions and bodies with a view to granting discharge.

Discharge procedure : the final step of a budget lifecycle is the discharge . It is the decision by which the European Parliament ‘ releases ’ the Commission from its responsibility for management of a given budget by marking the end of that budget's existence. It is granted by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

The decision is based in particular on the European Court of Auditors reports, in particular its annual report, in which the Court provides a Statement of Assurance (DAS) on the legality and regularity of transactions (payments and commitments).

The procedure results in the granting, postponement or refusal of 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.

All EU institutions and other agencies, bodies and joint undertakings are subject to their own discharge procedures.

The European Railway Agency : the Agency, which is located in Lille-Valenciennes (FR), was created by Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Its aim is to enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety.

As regards the Agency’s accounts , these are presented in detail in the document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for 2017:

Commitment appropriations :

available: EUR 32 million; made: EUR 31 million.

Payment appropriations :

available: EUR 34 million; made: EUR 29 million.

For further details on expenditure, please refer to the final accounts of the ERA .

Documents

Votes

A8-0158/2019 - Petri Sarvamaa - Résolution 26/03/2019 17:53:52.000 #

2019/03/26 Outcome: +: 498, -: 131, 0: 3
DE ES IT FR RO AT NL SE PT BG HU BE CZ LT SI FI HR SK LU MT EE LV IE EL DK CY PL GB
Total
89
48
67
57
19
17
24
18
21
17
13
20
17
8
8
11
9
13
6
6
5
7
7
8
8
1
47
60
icon: PPE PPE
181

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
3

Greece PPE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
158

Netherlands S&D

3

Czechia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Croatia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
60

Romania ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Lithuania ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Italy GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

France GUE/NGL

Against (1)

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (2)

3

Greece GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
36

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

Against (1)

1

Italy NI

For (1)

1

France NI

2

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

3
icon: ENF ENF
30

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

United Kingdom ENF

2
icon: ECR ECR
66

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Sweden ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Belgium ECR

3

Czechia ECR

2

Finland ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

A8-0158/2019 - Petri Sarvamaa - Résolution #

2019/03/26 Outcome: +: 498, -: 131, 0: 3
DE ES IT RO FR AT NL SE PT BG HU BE CZ LT SI FI HR SK LU MT EE LV IE EL DK CY PL GB
Total
89
48
67
19
58
17
24
18
21
17
13
20
17
8
8
11
9
13
6
6
5
7
7
8
8
1
47
60
icon: PPE PPE
181

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
3

Greece PPE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
158

Netherlands S&D

3

Czechia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Croatia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
60

Romania ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Lithuania ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Italy GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

France GUE/NGL

Against (1)

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (2)

3

Greece GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
36

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

Against (1)

1

Italy NI

For (1)

1

France NI

2

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

3
icon: ENF ENF
31

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

United Kingdom ENF

2
icon: ECR ECR
66

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Sweden ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Belgium ECR

3

Czechia ECR

2

Finland ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
17 2018/2193(DEC)
2018/12/18 TRAN 9 amendments...
source: 632.105
2019/01/31 CONT 8 amendments...
source: 634.509

History

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

docs/0
date
2018-06-28T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Non-legislative basic document
body
EC
events/0/date
Old
2018-06-28T00:00:00
New
2018-06-27T00:00:00
events/5/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-8-2019-03-26-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
committees/0/shadows/3
name
DE JONG Dennis
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.803
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CONT-PR-626803_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE629.772&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TRAN-AD-629772_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:[%SECTOR]2019[%DESCRIPTOR]05825:EN:NOT
New
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=5825%2F19&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE634.509
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CONT-AM-634509_EN.html
events/1/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/3/type
Old
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
New
Committee report tabled for plenary
events/4
date
2019-03-26T00:00:00
type
Debate in Parliament
body
EP
events/4
date
2019-03-26T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=32350&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
events/4/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20190326&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
events/5
date
2019-03-26T00:00:00
type
Debate in Parliament
body
EP
events/5
date
2019-03-26T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0275_EN.html title: T8-0275/2019
summary
events/6
date
2019-03-26T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0275_EN.html title: T8-0275/2019
summary
events/6/type
Old
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Decision by Parliament
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.803
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.803
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE629.772&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE629.772&secondRef=02
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=5825%2F19&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:[%SECTOR]2019[%DESCRIPTOR]05825:EN:NOT
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE634.509
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE634.509
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2019-0158_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2019-0158_EN.html
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20190326&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20190326&type=CRE
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0275_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0275_EN.html
events/7
date
2019-09-27T00:00:00
type
Final act published in Official Journal
procedure/final
title
OJ L 249 27.09.2019, p. 0252
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2019:249:TOC
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
New
Procedure completed
docs/0
date
2018-09-18T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Court of Auditors: opinion, report
body
CofA
docs/0
date
2018-09-18T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Court of Auditors: opinion, report
body
CofA
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2019-0158&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2019-0158_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0275
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0275_EN.html
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgetary Control
committee
CONT
rapporteur
name: SARVAMAA Petri date: 2018-07-26T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgetary Control
committee
CONT
date
2018-07-26T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: SARVAMAA Petri group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
shadows
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
rapporteur
name: LEONTINI Innocenzo date: 2018-10-15T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
date
2018-10-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: LEONTINI Innocenzo group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
date
2018-10-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: LEONTINI Innocenzo group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
date
2018-10-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: LEONTINI Innocenzo group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
activities
  • date: 2018-06-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0521/COM_COM(2018)0521_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0521 type: Non-legislative basic document published celexid: CELEX:52018DC0521:EN body: EC commission: type: Non-legislative basic document published
  • date: 2018-09-11T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin group: ALDE name: ALI Nedzhmi group: GUE/NGL name: DE JONG Dennis group: Verts/ALE name: STAES Bart group: EFD name: VALLI Marco group: ENF name: KAPPEL Barbara responsible: True committee: CONT date: 2018-07-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Budgetary Control rapporteur: group: EPP name: SARVAMAA Petri body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Transport and Tourism committee: TRAN
commission
  • body: EC dg: Budget commissioner: OETTINGER Günther
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgetary Control
committee
CONT
date
2018-07-26T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: SARVAMAA Petri group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
CONT
date
2018-07-26T00:00:00
committee_full
Budgetary Control
rapporteur
group: EPP name: SARVAMAA Petri
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
date
2018-10-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: LEONTINI Innocenzo group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Transport and Tourism
committee
TRAN
docs
  • date: 2018-09-18T00:00:00 docs: url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2018:434:TOC title: OJ C 434 30.11.2018, p. 0001 title: N8-0012/2019 summary: PURPOSE: presentation of the EU Court of Auditors’ report on the annual accounts of the European Railway Agency for the year 2017, together with the Agency’s reply. CONTENT: the Court of Auditors carried out the audit on the annual accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA). In brief, the Agency’s task is to enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and to develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety. Statement of assurance and reliability of the accounts The Court considered that: - the Agency’s annual accounts present fairly, in all material respects, its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of its Financial Regulation and the accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer; - the transactions underlying the annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects. The report also makes a series of observations on the budgetary and financial management of the Agency, accompanied by the latter’s response. The main observations may be summarised as follows: The Court’s observations Financial management Concerning a framework contract for the acquisition of IT hard and software and the provision of maintenance and support (IT services), the Court noted that while most of these IT services and related prices were defined in the framework contract resulting from the competitive procurement procedure, it also allowed the purchase of IT services not specifically mentioned. In the case of one audited payment amounting to some EUR 47 000 the Agency purchased, through the contractor, IT services without any competitive procedure or prior market research. In 2017, total payments to the contractor amounted to EUR 1.1 million. The Agency’s reply Financial management As recognised by the Court the contract was used according to the relevant contractual provisions. Any further considerations as regards sound financial management shall be notified to the contract manager, namely DG DIGIT. Lastly, the Court of Auditors’ report contains a summary of the Agency’s key figures in 2017: Budget EUR 31 million. Staff 164 including officials, temporary and contract staff and seconded national experts. type: Court of Auditors: opinion, report body: CofA
  • date: 2018-12-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.803 title: PE626.803 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2019-01-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE629.772&secondRef=02 title: PE629.772 committee: TRAN type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2019-01-31T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=5825%2F19&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 05825/2019 summary: Having examined the revenue and expenditure accounts for the financial year 2017 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2017 of the European Railway Agency (ERA), as well as the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2017, accompanied by the Agency's replies to the Court's observations, the Council recommended the European Parliament to give a discharge to the Executive Director of the Agency in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2017. The Council welcomed the Court's opinion that, in all material respects, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly its financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the results of its operations, its cash flows, and the changes in net assets for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that the underlying transactions for 2017 are legal and regular in all material respects. Nevertheless, the following observations were made: - accounting : the Council regretted the deficiencies found by the Court in the Agency's accounting environment. It called on the Agency to take all necessary actions mainly to ensure the accounting officer's independence and the segregation of duties between the accounting officer and the authorising officer; - procurement : deficiencies were found by the Court in purchasing of IT services where in one case the Agency has made a purchase without any required competitive procedure or prior market research. The Council called on the Agency to ensure competitive procurement and purchase procedures, fully aligned with the Agency's Financial Regulation. type: Supplementary non-legislative basic document body: CSL
  • date: 2019-01-31T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE634.509 title: PE634.509 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2018-06-28T00:00:00 type: Non-legislative basic document published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0521/COM_COM(2018)0521_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0521 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2018&nu_doc=0521 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: presentation by the Commission of the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2017, as part of the 2017 discharge procedure. Analysis of the accounts of the European Railway Agency (ERA) . 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 2017 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 cash flows of the EU institutions and bodies with a view to granting discharge. Discharge procedure : the final step of a budget lifecycle is the discharge . It is the decision by which the European Parliament ‘ releases ’ the Commission from its responsibility for management of a given budget by marking the end of that budget's existence. It is granted by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council. The decision is based in particular on the European Court of Auditors reports, in particular its annual report, in which the Court provides a Statement of Assurance (DAS) on the legality and regularity of transactions (payments and commitments). The procedure results in the granting, postponement or refusal of 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. All EU institutions and other agencies, bodies and joint undertakings are subject to their own discharge procedures. The European Railway Agency : the Agency, which is located in Lille-Valenciennes (FR), was created by Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Its aim is to enhance the level of interoperability of railway systems and develop a common approach to safety in order to contribute to creating a more competitive European railway sector with a high level of safety. As regards the Agency’s accounts , these are presented in detail in the document on the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for 2017: Commitment appropriations : available: EUR 32 million; made: EUR 31 million. Payment appropriations : available: EUR 34 million; made: EUR 29 million. For further details on expenditure, please refer to the final accounts of the ERA .
  • date: 2018-09-11T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2019-02-20T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2019-03-04T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2019-0158&language=EN title: A8-0158/2019 summary: The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency (now European Union Agency for Railways) for the financial year 2017. 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 2017. Noting that the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2017 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 Members noted that the final budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2017 was EUR 30 732 000, representing an increase of 11.57 % compared to 2016. Budget and financial management The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.99 %, representing an increase of 0.79 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 87.30 %, representing a decrease of 4.27 % compared to 2016. Members noted that the Agency is now authorised to charge fees for some of its new competences. A charging regime for issuing certificates, authorisations and approvals was introduced, with the aim of being fully operational in 2019 and the requirement of implementing a new resources system and internal procedures within the Agency to ensure statutory and fee-based tasks are identified and tracked. The Agency should report to the discharge authority on the implementation of this new system. The cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 69 473, representing 3.40 % of the total amount carried over, showing a decrease of 1.12 % in comparison to 2016. Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, procurement and staff policy. In particular, they noted that: - the Agency's role in the follow-up of the development, testing and implementation of European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), as well as in evaluating the specific ERTMS projects was welcomed; - on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 92.09 % executed, with 128 temporary agents appointed out of 139 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 135 authorised posts in 2016); - the Agency had still not set up rules on whistleblowing but that they were to be adopted by the end of 2018; - by the end of the transitional period (16 June 2019), the Agency will transform from a mere policy preparation and dissemination role into an authority working directly for the industry as regards authorisations for safety certifications and rolling stock; - despite numerous contacts with French authorities, this has not resulted in the signature of the Agency’s headquarter agreement. Members regretted that the Management Board has been unable in 2017 to unanimously adopt implementing rules for the language arrangements for the Agency, leading to extra costs and delays, e.g. during recruitment; - the agency continues to operate in two locations. Members called for the Agency to relocate all activities to its headquarters and operate only from that site; - regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and its potential effect on the Agency’s staff, intensive exchange with the UK rail sector has confirmed their interest in staying in the “European System”.
  • date: 2019-03-26T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20190326&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2019-03-26T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0275 title: T8-0275/2019 summary: The European Parliament decided to grant discharge to the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways in regard to the implementation of the agency’s budget for the 2017 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 2017 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament adopted by 498 votes to 131 with 3 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 draft resolution on performance, financial management and control of EU agencies : Agency’s financial statements The final budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2017 was EUR 30 732 000, representing an increase of 11.57 % compared to 2016. Budget and financial management The budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 99.99 %, representing an increase of 0.79 % compared to 2016. Payment appropriations execution rate was 87.30 %, representing a decrease of 4.27 % compared to 2016. Parliament noted that the Agency is now authorised to charge fees for some of its new competences. A charging regime for issuing certificates, authorisations and approvals was introduced, with the aim of being fully operational in 2019 and the requirement of implementing a new resources system and internal procedures within the Agency to ensure statutory and fee-based tasks are identified and tracked. The Agency should report to the discharge authority on the implementation of this new system. The cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 69 473, representing 3.40 % of the total amount carried over, showing a decrease of 1.12 % in comparison to 2016. Members also made a series of observations regarding performance, procurement and staff policy. In particular, they noted that: - the Agency's role in the follow-up of the development, testing and implementation of European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), as well as in evaluating the specific ERTMS projects was welcomed; - the Agency met its target of 95 % achievement of timely delivery of issuing reports, advice and opinions; - progress has been made towards an increased cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in order to develop a common safety culture; - on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 92.09 % executed, with 128 temporary agents appointed out of 139 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 135 authorised posts in 2016); - the Agency had still not set up rules on whistleblowing but that they were to be adopted by the end of 2018; - by the end of the transitional period (16 June 2019), the Agency will transform from a mere policy preparation and dissemination role into an authority working directly for the industry as regards authorisations for safety certifications and rolling stock; - despite numerous contacts with French authorities, this has not resulted in the signature of the Agency’s headquarter agreement. Members regretted that the Management Board has been unable in 2017 to unanimously adopt implementing rules for the language arrangements for the Agency, leading to extra costs and delays, e.g. during recruitment; - the agency continues to operate in two locations. Members called for the Agency to relocate all activities to its headquarters and operate only from that site; - regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and its potential effect on the Agency’s staff, intensive exchange with the UK rail sector has confirmed their interest in staying in the “European System”.
  • date: 2019-03-26T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Rules of Procedure EP 159
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    CONT/8/14303
    New
    • CONT/8/14303
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Awaiting committee decision
    New
    Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 8.70.03.02 2017 discharge
    New
    8.70.03.02
    2017 discharge
    activities/1
    date
    2018-09-11T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    CONT/8/14303
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    New
    Awaiting committee decision
    committees/0/date
    2018-07-26T00:00:00
    committees/0/rapporteur
    • group: EPP name: SARVAMAA Petri
    committees/0/shadows
    • group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
    • group: ALDE name: ALI Nedzhmi
    • group: GUE/NGL name: DE JONG Dennis
    • group: Verts/ALE name: STAES Bart
    • group: EFD name: VALLI Marco
    • group: ENF name: KAPPEL Barbara
    activities
    • date: 2018-06-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0521/COM_COM(2018)0521_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0521 type: Non-legislative basic document published celexid: CELEX:52018DC0521:EN body: EC type: Non-legislative basic document published commission:
    committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Budgetary Control committee: CONT
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Transport and Tourism committee: TRAN
    links
    other
      procedure
      stage_reached
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
      subject
      8.70.03.02 2017 discharge
      type
      DEC - Discharge procedure
      reference
      2018/2193(DEC)
      title
      2017 discharge: European Union Agency for Railways