# L_2006340EN.01007001.xml

| 6.12.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 340/70 |
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6.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 340/70

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DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 27 April 2006

on the closure of the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004

(2006/823/EC)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

| — | having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004 (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004 (1),

1

| — | having regard to the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004, together with the Foundation's replies (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004, together with the Foundation's replies (2),

2

| — | having regard to the Council's recommendation of 14 March 2006 (5972/2006 — C6-0093/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Council's recommendation of 14 March 2006 (5972/2006 — C6-0093/2006),

| — | having regard to the EC Treaty, and in particular Article 276 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the EC Treaty, and in particular Article 276 thereof,

| — | having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (3), and in particular Article 185 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (3), and in particular Article 185 thereof,

3

| — | having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (4), and in particular Article 16 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (4), and in particular Article 16 thereof,

4

| — | having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5), and in particular Article 94 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5), and in particular Article 94 thereof,

5

| — | having regard to Rule 71 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 71 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the Report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A6-0093/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A6-0093/2006),

| 1. | Notes the following figures for the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial years 2004 and 2003:
  Revenue and expenditure account for the financial years 2004 and 2003







  (1000 EUR) |
| --- | --- |
| | 2004 | 2003 |
| Revenue |
| Commission subsidies | 18 000 | 17 090 |
| Miscellaneous revenue | 85 | 47 |
| Financial revenue | 0 | 35 |
| Total revenue (a) | 18 085 | 17 172 |
| Expenditure |
| Staff— Title I of the budget |
| Payments | 8 606 | 8 927 |
| Appropriations carried over | 132 | 109 |
| Administration — Title II of the budget |
| Payments | 1 267 | 968 |
| Appropriations carried over | 489 | 224 |
| Operating activities — Title III of the budget |
| Payments | 5 056 | 3 733 |
| Appropriations carried over | 2 522 | 2 817 |
| Total expenditure (b) | 18 072 | 16 778 |
| Outturn for the financial year (a — b) | 13 | 394 |
| Balance carried over from the previous financial year | -1 296 | -1 836 |
| Appropriations carried over and cancelled | 35 | 118 |
| Sums from the previous financial year for reuse that were not used | 17 | 19 |
| Exceptional result from previous years | 2 | 0 |
| Phare appropriations carried over and cancelled | 8 | 0 |
| Phare revenue collected | 0 | 639 |
| Phare revenue to be collected | 0 | 361 |
| Phare expenditure | 0 | -1 000 |
| Exchange-rate differences | - 4 | 9 |
| Balance for the financial year | -1 225 | -1 296 |

1.

Notes the following figures for the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial years 2004 and 2003:

Revenue and expenditure account for the financial years 2004 and 2003

(1000 EUR)

2004

2003

Revenue

Revenue

Commission subsidies

18 000

17 090

Miscellaneous revenue

85

47

Financial revenue

0

35

Total revenue (a)

Total revenue (a)

18 085

18 085

17 172

17 172

Expenditure

Expenditure

Staff— Title I of the budget

Staff— Title I of the budget

Payments

8 606

8 927

Appropriations carried over

132

109

Administration — Title II of the budget

Administration — Title II of the budget

Payments

1 267

968

Appropriations carried over

489

224

Operating activities — Title III of the budget

Operating activities — Title III of the budget

Payments

5 056

3 733

Appropriations carried over

2 522

2 817

Total expenditure (b)

Total expenditure (b)

18 072

18 072

16 778

16 778

Outturn for the financial year (a — b)

Outturn for the financial year (a — b)

13

13

394

394

Balance carried over from the previous financial year

-1 296

-1 836

Appropriations carried over and cancelled

35

118

Sums from the previous financial year for reuse that were not used

17

19

Exceptional result from previous years

2

0

Phare appropriations carried over and cancelled

8

0

Phare revenue collected

0

639

Phare revenue to be collected

0

361

Phare expenditure

0

-1 000

Exchange-rate differences

- 4

9

Balance for the financial year

Balance for the financial year

-1 225

-1 225

-1 296

-1 296

| 2. | Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004; |
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2.

Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004;

| 3. | Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors and to have it published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series). |
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3.

Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors and to have it published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

Official Journal of the European Union

The President

Josep BORRELL FONTELLES

The Secretary-General

Julian PRIESTLEY

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(1)  
  OJ C 269, 28.10.2005, p. 40.

1

(2)  
  OJ C 332, 28.12.2005, p. 82.

2

(3)  
  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

3

(4)  
  OJ L 139, 30.5.1975, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1111/2005 (OJ L 184, 15.7.2005, p. 1).

4

(5)  
  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 72. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1261/2005 (OJ L 201, 2.8.2005, p. 3).

5

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RESOLUTION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

with comments forming an integral part of the decision on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

| — | having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004 (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004 (1),

1

| — | having regard to the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004, together with the Foundation's replies (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2004, together with the Foundation's replies (2),

2

| — | having regard to the Council's recommendation of 14 March 2006 (5972/2006 — C6-0093/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Council's recommendation of 14 March 2006 (5972/2006 — C6-0093/2006),

| — | having regard to the EC Treaty, and in particular Article 276 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the EC Treaty, and in particular Article 276 thereof,

| — | having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (3), and in particular Article 185 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (3), and in particular Article 185 thereof,

3

| — | having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (4), and in particular Article 16 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (4), and in particular Article 16 thereof,

4

| — | having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5), and in particular Article 94 thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5), and in particular Article 94 thereof,

5

| — | having regard to Rule 71 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 71 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A6-0093/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A6-0093/2006),

| A. | whereas the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2004 were reliable and that the underlying transactions, taken as a whole, were legal and regular, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the Court of Auditors stated that it had obtained reasonable assurance that the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2004 were reliable and that the underlying transactions, taken as a whole, were legal and regular,

| B. | whereas the Court of Auditors states that it has obtained reasonable assurance from all the agencies, excepting the express reservations in respect of the 2004 financial year concerning the European Agency for Reconstruction, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Training Foundation, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the European Food Safety Authority, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the Court of Auditors states that it has obtained reasonable assurance from all the agencies, excepting the express reservations in respect of the 2004 financial year concerning the European Agency for Reconstruction, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Training Foundation, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the European Food Safety Authority,

| 1. | Recalls that, under Article 185 of the Financial Regulation, Parliament shall give discharge for the implementation of the budgets of the bodies set up by the Communities and having legal personality which actually receive grants charged to the budget; points out, however, that not all of these bodies are fully, or even partially, funded via grants charged to the budget; emphasises that the discharge decision therefore covers both the budget and the non-budget funding of these bodies; considers it unacceptable that some of the bodies set up by the Union are accountable for the expenditure of income received from sources other than the budget whilst others, which do not receive a subsidy from the budget, are not; affirms the principle that all Community agencies, whether or not they are subsidised, are subject to discharge by Parliament, even when another discharge authority intervenes in accordance with their basic texts; takes the view that there is a need to review all texts that go against this principle; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Recalls that, under Article 185 of the Financial Regulation, Parliament shall give discharge for the implementation of the budgets of the bodies set up by the Communities and having legal personality which actually receive grants charged to the budget; points out, however, that not all of these bodies are fully, or even partially, funded via grants charged to the budget; emphasises that the discharge decision therefore covers both the budget and the non-budget funding of these bodies; considers it unacceptable that some of the bodies set up by the Union are accountable for the expenditure of income received from sources other than the budget whilst others, which do not receive a subsidy from the budget, are not; affirms the principle that all Community agencies, whether or not they are subsidised, are subject to discharge by Parliament, even when another discharge authority intervenes in accordance with their basic texts; takes the view that there is a need to review all texts that go against this principle;

| 2. | Finds table 1 of the Court of Auditors' report, introduced for the first time during the 2003 discharge exercise, which summarises the Foundation's powers and responsibilities, governance, resources, activities and services provided, of great value; notes that the information contained in table 1 is supplied by the Foundation; asks the Court of Auditors to verify the contents of table 1; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Finds table 1 of the Court of Auditors' report, introduced for the first time during the 2003 discharge exercise, which summarises the Foundation's powers and responsibilities, governance, resources, activities and services provided, of great value; notes that the information contained in table 1 is supplied by the Foundation; asks the Court of Auditors to verify the contents of table 1;

| 3. | Insists that as well as spending money properly, agencies should also strive to spend money as efficiently and effectively as possible; invites the Court of Auditors to consider the possibility of extending its specific annual reports on the agencies to include an examination of performance and achievement of objectives; in this context and in line with its resolutions on the 2003 discharge, insists that the following aspects be taken into account: that duplication of work among the agencies must be avoided as much as possible and that measures designed to improve transparency and communication with the public must be clarified, along with Community affirmative action measures at all levels of recruitment, training and the assignment of responsibilities; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Insists that as well as spending money properly, agencies should also strive to spend money as efficiently and effectively as possible; invites the Court of Auditors to consider the possibility of extending its specific annual reports on the agencies to include an examination of performance and achievement of objectives; in this context and in line with its resolutions on the 2003 discharge, insists that the following aspects be taken into account: that duplication of work among the agencies must be avoided as much as possible and that measures designed to improve transparency and communication with the public must be clarified, along with Community affirmative action measures at all levels of recruitment, training and the assignment of responsibilities;

| 4. | Notes that Community agencies do not always have a good image or good press and that many of them do not deserve such a negative image; points out that EU citizens should be made aware of this, with appropriate means being used to explain as often as is necessary the raisons d'être and achievements of the agencies; calls on the Commission to act accordingly, using whatever means it considers necessary; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Notes that Community agencies do not always have a good image or good press and that many of them do not deserve such a negative image; points out that EU citizens should be made aware of this, with appropriate means being used to explain as often as is necessary the raisons d'être and achievements of the agencies; calls on the Commission to act accordingly, using whatever means it considers necessary;

| 5. | Notes that the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 has affected the structures and operating arrangements of the Community agencies in many ways, and that several of the agencies draw attention to these effects in their activity reports, focusing in particular on the increase in the number of administrators; calls on the Commission to assess the real or supposed problems encountered and to recommend the regulatory changes required; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Notes that the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 has affected the structures and operating arrangements of the Community agencies in many ways, and that several of the agencies draw attention to these effects in their activity reports, focusing in particular on the increase in the number of administrators; calls on the Commission to assess the real or supposed problems encountered and to recommend the regulatory changes required;

| 6. | Notes that the Commission has made a commitment to harmonising the way in which activity reports concerning its directorates-general are presented; calls for a similar approach to be taken in respect of the activity reports of the Communities' agencies, which differ significantly in terms of content; calls on the Commission to point out to the Communities' agencies the information and activity indicators that they must provide; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Notes that the Commission has made a commitment to harmonising the way in which activity reports concerning its directorates-general are presented; calls for a similar approach to be taken in respect of the activity reports of the Communities' agencies, which differ significantly in terms of content; calls on the Commission to point out to the Communities' agencies the information and activity indicators that they must provide;

| 7. | Notes the Court of Auditors' finding that 37 % of appropriations carried over into 2005 related to commitments entered into in December 2004 and that the majority of these related to contracts for studies to be carried out in 2005; reminds the Foundation of the principle of budget annuality and urges it to respect this principle in order to allow correct and transparent implementation of the budgets set by the budgetary authority; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Notes the Court of Auditors' finding that 37 % of appropriations carried over into 2005 related to commitments entered into in December 2004 and that the majority of these related to contracts for studies to be carried out in 2005; reminds the Foundation of the principle of budget annuality and urges it to respect this principle in order to allow correct and transparent implementation of the budgets set by the budgetary authority;

| 8. | Welcomes the steps taken by the Foundation to improve the completeness and sound management of the inventory in response to the Court of Auditors' findings; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Welcomes the steps taken by the Foundation to improve the completeness and sound management of the inventory in response to the Court of Auditors' findings;

| 9. | Calls on the Commission to help the agencies follow as closely as possible the work plan agreed for the year ahead, allowing activities to be properly planned and implemented, and particularly to avoid major, last-minute changes to the work load; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Calls on the Commission to help the agencies follow as closely as possible the work plan agreed for the year ahead, allowing activities to be properly planned and implemented, and particularly to avoid major, last-minute changes to the work load;

| 10. | Asks the Commission to improve synergies between agencies by making cooperation more effective, avoiding duplication of work and addressing shortcomings, in particular as regards common areas such as training, the implementation of Community policies across the board, the use of the latest management systems and solving problems relating to sound management of the budget. |
| --- | --- |

10.

Asks the Commission to improve synergies between agencies by making cooperation more effective, avoiding duplication of work and addressing shortcomings, in particular as regards common areas such as training, the implementation of Community policies across the board, the use of the latest management systems and solving problems relating to sound management of the budget.

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(1)  
  OJ C 269, 28.10.2005, p. 40.

1

(2)  
  OJ C 332, 28.12.2005, p. 82.

2

(3)  
  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

3

(4)  
  OJ L 139, 30.5.1975, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1111/2005 (OJ L 184, 15.7.2005, p. 1).

4

(5)  
  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 72. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1261/2005 (OJ L 201, 2.8.2005, p. 3).

5

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