EN Official Journal of the European Union C 317/2

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF AUDITORS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2015

(2016/C 317/02)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification of the accounts 3

Independent auditor’s report 4

Financial statements and explanatory notes 5-14

Balance Sheet 5

Statement of Financial Performance 6

Cash Flow Statement 7

Statement of changes in Net Assets 7

Accounting policies and notes to the financial statements 8-14

1. General 8

2. Legal basis and accounting rules 8-9

3. Notes to the Balance Sheet 10-12

4. Notes to the Statement of Financial Performance 12-13

5. Other significant disclosures 13-14

Budget information financial year 2015 15-16

A Computation of the budget result 15

B Reconciliation of economic result with budget result 16

Independent assurance report 17-18

CERTIFICATION OF THE ACCOUNTS

Certification for the annual accounts 2015 of the European Court of Auditors

The annual accounts of the European Court of Auditors for the year 2015 have been prepared in accordance with the Title IX of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Union, the accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s Accounting Officer and the accounting principles and methods adopted by myself.

I acknowledge my responsibility for the preparation and presentation of the annual accounts of the European Court of Auditors in accordance with art. 68 of the Financial Regulation.

I have obtained from the authorising officer, who certified its reliability, all the information necessary for the production of the accounts that show the European Court of Auditors’ assets and liabilities and the budgetary implementation.

I hereby certify that based on this information, and on such checks as I deemed necessary to sign off the accounts, I have a reasonable assurance that the accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position, the results of the operations and the cash-flow of the European Court of Auditors.

Luxembourg, 19 May 2016. Isidoro RODRÍGUEZ DE LAS PARRAS Accounting Officer of the European Court of Auditors

AUDIT REPORT To the Management of European Court of Auditors We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the European Court of Auditors, which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 December 2015, the statement of its financial performance, its cash flow statement and the statement of changes in net assets for the year then ended and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, and which starts on page 5 and ends on page 16. Management’s responsibility for the financial statements The Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union; and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 26 October 2012, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Financial Regulation’; and with the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of the Financial Regulation, and for such internal control as the Management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Responsibility of the ‘Réviseur d’entreprises agréé’ Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing as adopted for Luxembourg by the ‘Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier’. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the judgment of the ‘Réviseur d’entreprises agréé’, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the annual accounts, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the ‘Réviseur d’entreprises agréé’ considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the annual accounts in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the Management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the European Court of Auditors as of 31 December 2015, and of its financial performance, its cash flows and the changes in net assets for the year then ended in accordance with the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union; and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 26 October 2012 (the Financial Regulation); and with the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of the Financial Regulation. Luxembourg, 19 May 2016. PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative Represented by Rima ADAS

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES (1) Balance Sheet (euro) Note 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Non — Current Assets Intangible assets 3.1. 5 021 023 4 842 801 Property, plant and equipment 3.2. 83 145 082 88 591 910 Receivables — — 88 166 105 93 434 711 Current Assets Receivables 3.3. 604 313 757 924 Cash and cash equivalents 3.4. 7 215 048 10 183 273 7 819 361 10 941 197 Total Assets 95 985 466 104 375 908 Current Liabilities Provisions 3.5. 50 000 27 250 Payables 3.6. 6 982 008 7 028 142 7 032 008 7 055 392 Total Liabilities 7 032 008 7 055 392 Net Assets 88 953 458 97 320 516 Accumulated surplus/deficit 97 320 516 30 745 317 Economic result for the year (8 367 058 ) 66 575 199 Net Assets 88 953 458 97 320 516 Statement of Financial Performance (euro) Note 2015 2014 Funds transferred from the Commission to other institutions 4.1. 106 700 000 114 500 000 Revenue from administrative operations 4.2. 19 326 442 19 464 086 Other operating revenue 4.3. 90 141 25 213 Total operating revenue 4.4. 126 116 583 133 989 299 Staff expenses 4.5. (106 959 858 ) (104 431 815 ) Assets related expenses 4.6. (6 957 504 ) (6 543 584 ) Other administrative expenses 4.7. (20 519 950 ) (18 552 871 ) Operational expenses 4.8. (31 295 ) (23 621 ) Total operating expenses (134 468 607 ) (129 551 891 ) Surplus/(deficit) from operating activities (8 352 024 ) 4 437 408 Financial revenue 4.9. 14 4 947 Financial expenses 4.10. (15 048 ) (20 049 ) Movement in pensions (- expense, + revenue) 4.11. — 62 152 893 Surplus/(deficit) from non operating activities 4.12. (15 034 ) 62 137 791 Economic result of the year (8 367 058 ) 66 575 199 Cash Flow Statement (euro) 2015 2014 Economic result of the year (8 367 058 ) 66 575 199 Operating activities — Adjustments Amortisation 831 765 550 630 Depreciation 6 120 197 7 122 924 Increase/(decrease) in Provisions 22 750 (1 199 957 ) (Increase)/decrease in Receivables 153 611 (368 750 ) Increase/(decrease) in Payables (46 134 ) (7 252 677 ) Net cash flow from operating activities (1 284 869 ) 65 427 369 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (-) (1 688 898 ) (1 367 492 ) Proceeds from property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (+) 5 542 18 520 Net cash flow from investing activities (1 683 356 ) (1 348 972 ) Increase/(decrease) in Employee benefits — (66 374 932 ) Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (2 968 225 ) (2 296 535 ) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 10 183 273 12 479 808 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 7 215 048 10 183 273 Statement of changes in Net Assets (euro) Net Assets 2015 2014 Balance at the start of the year 97 320 516 30 745 317 Economic result of the year (8 367 058 ) 66 575 199 Balance at the end of the year 88 953 458 97 320 516 Accounting policies and notes to the financial statements 1. General The European Court of Auditors (hereafter the ‘Court’) was established by the Treaty of Brussels of 22 July 1975 and started operating in October 1977, with its headquarters in Luxembourg. Mission of the European Court of Auditors The European Court of Auditors’ mission is to contribute to improving EU financial management, promote accountability and transparency, and act as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union. The ECA’s role as the EU’s independent external auditor is to check that EU funds are correctly accounted for, are raised and spent in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations and have achieved value for money. The ECA checks if the budget of the European Union has been implemented correctly, and that EU funds have been raised and spent legally and in accordance with the principles of sound financial management. The ECA is the EU institution for auditing the EU’s finances and is committed to being an efficient organisation at the forefront of developments in public audit and administration. The financial year of the Court runs from 1 January to 31 December. 2. Legal basis and accounting rules 2.1. Basis of presentation The financial statements of the Court are drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (1) hereinafter referred to as the ‘Financial Regulation’ and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 (2) laying down detailed rules of application of this Financial Regulation. 2.2. Accounting principles The financial statements are prepared on the basis of accrual-based accounting rules that are based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). These EU Accounting Rules are adopted by the Accounting Officer of the Commission after a consultation of the other institutions. The accounting principles to be followed when preparing the financial statements are laid down in EU accounting rule 1 ‘Financial Statements’ and are the same as those described in IPSAS 1, that is: fair presentation, accrual basis, going concern, consistency of presentation, aggregation, offsetting and comparative information. The qualitative characteristics of financial reporting according to article 144 of the Financial Regulation are relevance, reliability, understandability and comparability. In accordance with IPSAS and generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements necessarily include amounts based on estimates and assumptions by management based on the most reliable information available. 2.3. Currency and basis for conversion The financial statements are presented in euro, the euro being the EU’s functional and reporting currency. Foreign currency transactions are translated into euro using the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of foreign currency transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the statement of financial performance. Year-end balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into euro on the basis of the exchange rates on 31 December. 2.4. Intangible assets Acquired computer software licences are stated at historical cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. The assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over four years. Internally developed intangible assets are capitalised when the relevant criteria of the EU accounting rules are met. The costs that can be capitalised include all directly attributable costs necessary to create, produce, and prepare the asset to be capable of operating in the manner intended by the Court management. Costs associated with research activities, not capitalised development costs and maintenance costs are recognised as expenses as incurred. 2.5. Property, plant and equipment All property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition or construction of the asset. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits or service potential associated with the item will flow to the Court and its cost can be measured reliably. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to the statement of financial performance during the financial period in which they are incurred. As the Court does not borrow money to fund the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, there are no borrowing costs related to such purchases. Assets that are subject to depreciation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. Land and works of art are not depreciated as they are deemed to have an indefinite useful life. Assets under construction are not depreciated as these assets are not yet available for use. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost to their residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows: Buildings 25 years or expected useful life Plant, machinery and tools 4, 8 years Furniture and vehicle fleet 4, 8, 10 years Computer hardware 4 years Fittings specific to leased buildings the duration of the lease Other fixtures and fittings 4, 6, 8 years 2.6. Provisions Provisions are recognised when the Court has a present legal or constructive obligation towards third parties as a result of past events, it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses. The amount of the provision is the best estimate of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date. 2.7. Recognition of expenses According to the EU accounting rules, transactions and events are recognised in the financial statements in the period to which they relate. At the end of the accounting period, accrued expenses are recognised based on an estimated amount of the transfer obligation of the period. The calculation of accrued expenses is done in accordance with detailed operational and practical guidelines issued by the Accounting Officer which aim at ensuring that the financial statements reflect a true and fair view. 3. Notes to the Balance Sheet NON-CURRENT ASSETS 3.1. Intangible assets The movements in intangible assets during the year 2015 were: (euro) Gross carrying amounts 1 January 2015 Additions Disposals Transfer Gross carrying amounts 31 December 2015 Accumulated amortisation and impairment 31 December 2015 Net carrying amounts 31 December 2015 Computer Software 3 213 902 1 009 987 3 443 712 7 667 601 (2 646 578 ) 5 021 023 Intangible assets under development 3 443 712 (3 443 712 ) — — Total 6 657 614 1 009 987 — — 7 667 601 (2 646 578 ) 5 021 023 In 2015 no costs associated with research activities were recognised. 3.2. Property, Plant and Equipment The movements in Property, plant and equipment during the year 2015 were: (euro) Gross carrying amounts 1 January 2015 Additions Disposals Transfer Gross carrying amounts 31 December 2015 Accumulated depreciation and impairment 31 December 2015 Net carrying amounts 31 December 2015 Land 776 631 776 631 776 631 Buildings 124 335 198 5 470 124 340 668 (46 453 274 ) 77 887 394 Plant and equipment 834 462 60 063 (8 942 ) 885 583 (641 813 ) 243 770 Computer hardware 3 812 765 375 119 (95 489 ) 4 092 395 (2 847 133 ) 1 245 262 Furniture and vehicle 4 724 324 207 304 (49 954 ) 4 881 674 (2 480 284 ) 2 401 390 Other fixtures and fittings 2 312 582 31 656 (82 259 ) 2 261 979 (1 671 344 ) 590 635 Total 136 795 962 679 612 (236 644 ) — 137 238 930 (54 093 848 ) 83 145 082 CURRENT ASSETS 3.3. Receivables (euro) 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Current receivables mainly due to the transfer of national pension rights by staff 3 795 2 577 Sundry receivables mainly related to payroll and mission advances 66 833 180 210 Deferred charges for building rentals and IT contracts 533 685 564 853 Receivables from EU entities — 10 284 Total 604 313 757 924 3.4. Cash and cash equivalents (euro) 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Petty cash 1 000 1 000 Bank current account 180 564 659 601 Fiduciary account 7 033 484 9 522 672 Total 7 215 048 10 183 273 A fiduciary account was opened on 27 January 2010 by the European Court of Auditors with the Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg. This fiduciary account allowed the Court to manage the budget granted by the budgetary authority in relation to the K3 building project. On 14 March 2014, the Court requested the European Parliament and Council to allow the use of the estimated remaining budget of the K3 project (7 million euro) for the necessary and compulsory technical upgrade of the Court’s K2 building. This proposal was approved by the European Parliament and Council on 1 April 2014. On 23 March 2015, the Court announced to the European Parliament and Council that the final remaining budget of the K3 project amounted to 9,4 million euro and, as the estimated cost for the K2 upgrade was 7 million euro, on 12 May 20152,4 million euro were returned to the EU budget. CURRENT LIABILITIES 3.5. Provisions This is the estimate of amounts that will probably have to be paid in relation to an on-going legal case. 3.6. Payables (euro) 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Current payables 61 781 15 571 Sundry payables related to payroll and staff (30 952 ) (16 315 ) Accrued charges 6 791 296 6 808 292 Accounts payable to consolidated EU entities mainly to the European Council and Parliament 159 883 220 594 Total 6 982 008 7 028 142 4. Notes to the Statement of Financial Performance 4.1. ‘Funds transferred from the Commission to other institutions’: the amount corresponds to the monthly calls for funds made by the Court to the Commission to replenish its bank account. 4.2. ‘Revenue from administrative operations’: for the most part, this heading is made up of deductions from the salaries of members and staff in respect of tax and social contributions. 4.3. ‘Other operating revenue’ arises among others from exchange rate gains. 4.4. Revenues were generated from exchange and non-exchange transactions as follows: (euro) 2015 2014 Revenue from exchange transactions 90 155 30 160 Revenue from non-exchange transactions 126 026 442 133 964 086 Total revenue 126 116 597 133 994 246 4.5. ‘Staff expenses’ include the salaries of members, statutory staff, contractual agents and temporary staff. 4.6. The ‘Assets related expenses’ consist of the depreciation/amortisation of the tangible and intangible assets. 4.7. The most significant items of the ‘other administrative expenses’ were: — Buildings’ rental and associated charge — IT and telecommunications — Missions expenses — Cleaning and security services. 4.8. ‘Operational expenses’ arise among others from exchange rate losses. 4.9. ‘Financial revenue’ consists of bank interest earned on the Court’s current and fiduciary accounts. 4.10. ‘Financial expenses’ are bank charges levied on the Court’s current and fiduciary accounts. 4.11. The expenditure related to the pensions of Members was transferred to the Commission section in the 2015 budget and, consequently, the movements in pensions are reflected in the Commission’s accounts. 4.12. The exceptional variation between the economic results of 2014 and 2015 is due to the exceptional surplus generated in 2014 by the transfer to the Commission’s accounts of the Member’s pension liability (66 374 932 euro). 5. Other significant disclosures 5.1. Contingent assets The following bank guarantees have been given by suppliers following contractual obligations: (euro) 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Renovation building 80 353 2 500 Project management building K3 110 339 2 299 801 Insurance company 1 361 1 361 Telecommunication 20 000 20 000 EMAS methodological support 4 680 4 680 Total 216 733 2 328 342 5.2. Commitments for future funding (euro) 31 December 2015 31 December 2014 Operational lease for Buildings 797 500 807 500 Operational lease for IT material, cars and other equipment 1 350 635 2 914 006 Subtotal 2 148 135 3 721 506 Commitments against appropriations not yet consumed — RAL (‘Restant à liquider’) —, after deduction of accruals for 2015 7 253 338 4 956 357 Total 9 401 473 8 677 863 The RAL is an element of budgetary accounting representing the value of outstanding commitments. This is the difference between commitments entered into and payments, which is due to the time-lag between entering into a commitment and proceeding to the related payment. 5.3. The Court’s buildings projects The Court occupied its headquarters building (the ‘K1’ building) in 1988 and purchased it and the land it stands on outright in 1990. In 1999, the Court signed a framework agreement with the Luxembourg State through which it was given the right to use a second parcel of land for 49 years (renewable once) for the construction of an extension (the ‘K2’ building) in return for a payment of one euro. However for the second extension, the ‘K3’ building, due to different arrangements for carrying out the project it was necessary that the Luxembourg State and the Court concluded a new framework agreement on 22 February 2008. As regards the two pieces of land relative to the two extensions (‘K2’ and ‘K3’) mentioned above, the state has sold these to the Court for a symbolic one euro. For its part should the Court ever consider ceding one or other of the buildings to a third party other than the Union body or institution, the Court will return the land to the ownership of the State in return for a symbolic one euro, the latter disposing also of an option to buy the building at a price to be determined by an independent expert. In case the state decides not to exercise this option, it would provide a right to use the land to the purchasers of the building. 5.4. Contingent liabilities (3) There are no contingent liabilities. (1) The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. (1) OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1. (2) OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1. (3) EU Accounting Rule No 10 Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets.

BUDGET INFORMATION FINANCIAL YEAR 2015 A. Computation of the budget result The budget result of the year is computed based on the figures of the budgetary implementation. (euro) Payments on appropriations of the year 2015 (121 911 131 ) Payments made from carry over of payment appropriations (7 114 562 ) Payments on appropriation related to earmarked revenue (40 653 ) Recovery orders of the year, cashed during the year 2015 19 410 932 Budgetary recovery orders issued before 2015 and cashed in the year 2015 13 574 Adjustment on recovery orders from previous years — Payment appropriations carried over to 2015 (9 313 572 ) Appropriation carried over from previous years 7 715 416 Adjustment for carry-over from previous year of appropriations available at 31.12 arising from assigned revenue 56 685 Budget result (111 183 311 ) There were no supplements nor reductions between the original and the final budget. B. Reconciliation of economic result with budget result (euro) Economic result of the year (8 367 058 ) Adjustment for items included in the economic result but not in the budget result (92 312 970 ) Difference between accruals end of previous year and end of current year 891 224 Amount from liaison account with the Commission booked in the Economic Outturn Account (106 700 000 ) Unpaid invoices at year end but booked in charges (class 6) (824 755 ) Amortisation/Depreciation of intangible and tangible assets 7 129 586 Provisions — Value reductions — Recovery orders issued in 2015 in class 7 not yet cashed (1 038 ) Payments made from carry over of payment appropriations 7 114 562 Other 71 103 Exchange rate differences 6 348 Adjustment for items included in the budget result but not in the economic result (10 503 283 ) Asset acquisitions (paid during the year) (1 860 980 ) Budgetary recovery orders issued before 2015 and cashed in the year 13 574 Payment appropriations carried over to 2015 (9 313 572 ) Cancellation of unused carried over payment appropriations from previous year 600 854 Adjustment for carry-over from previous year of appropriations available at 31.12 arising from assigned revenue 56 685 Payments for pensions (they are budgetary payments but booked against provisions) Other 156 Budget result (111 183 311 )