Report on the annual accounts of the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit for the financial year 2014, together with Eurojust’s reply
Date: 2015-09-08
Institutions: European Court of Auditors
Subjects: Eurojust, administration of the Institutions, auditing, budgetary control, financial control








C_2015409EN.01031501.xml










9.12.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 409/315





REPORT
on the annual accounts of the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit for the financial year 2014, together with Eurojust’s reply
(2015/C 409/35)

INTRODUCTION









1.


The European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (hereinafter ‘Eurojust’), which is located in The Hague, was set up by Council Decision 2002/187/JHA (1) with a view to stepping up the fight against serious organised crime. Its objective is to improve the coordination of cross-border investigations and prosecutions between the Member States of the European Union, and between Member States and non-Member States (2).





INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE









2.


The audit approach taken by the Court comprises analytical audit procedures, direct testing of transactions and an assessment of key controls of Eurojust’s supervisory and control systems. This is supplemented by evidence provided by the work of other auditors and an analysis of management representations.










STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE









3.


Pursuant to the provisions of Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Court has audited:






(a)


the annual accounts of Eurojust, which comprise the financial statements (3) and the reports on the implementation of the budget (4) for the financial year ended 31 December 2014, and










(b)


the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying those accounts.










The management’s responsibility










4.


The management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the annual accounts of Eurojust and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions (5):






(a)


The management’s responsibilities in respect of Eurojust's annual accounts include designing, implementing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies on the basis of the accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer (6); making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances. The Administrative Director approves the annual accounts of Eurojust after its accounting officer has prepared them on the basis of all available information and established a note to accompany the accounts in which he declares, inter alia, that he has reasonable assurance that they present a true and fair view of the financial position of Eurojust in all material respects.










(b)


The management’s responsibilities in respect of the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions and compliance with the principle of sound financial management consist of designing, implementing and maintaining an effective and efficient internal control system comprising adequate supervision and appropriate measures to prevent irregularities and fraud and, if necessary, legal proceedings to recover funds wrongly paid or used.










The auditor’s responsibility










5.


The Court’s responsibility is, on the basis of its audit, to provide the European Parliament and the Council (7) with a statement of assurance as to the reliability of the annual accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions. The Court conducts its audit in accordance with the IFAC International Standards on Auditing and Codes of Ethics and the INTOSAI International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions. These standards require the Court to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the annual accounts of Eurojust are free from material misstatement and the transactions underlying them are legal and regular.












6.


The audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, which is based on an assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the accounts and material non-compliance by the underlying transactions with the requirements in the legal framework of the European Union, whether due to fraud or error. In assessing these risks, the auditor considers any internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the accounts, as well as the supervisory and control systems that are implemented to ensure the legality and regularity of underlying transactions, and designs audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. The audit also entails evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies, the reasonableness of accounting estimates and the overall presentation of the accounts. In preparing this report and Statement of Assurance, the Court considered the audit work of the independent external auditor performed on the Eurojust’s accounts as stipulated in Article 208 (4) of the EU Financial Regulation (8).












7.


The Court considers that the audit evidence obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for its statement of assurance.





Opinion on the reliability of the accounts









8.


In the Court’s opinion, Eurojust’s annual accounts present fairly, in all material respects, its financial position as at 31 December 2014 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.





Opinion on the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying the accounts









9.


In the Court’s opinion, the transactions underlying the annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014 are legal and regular in all material respects.














10.


The comments which follow do not call the Court’s opinions into question.





COMMENTS ON BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT









11.


The financial impact of salary adjustments and of the increase in the correction coefficient of the previous and the current years, both decided by the budgetary authorities in April 2014, were not included in the initial budget for the year 2014. The shortfall in salary budget of some 1,8 million euro required temporary cut-backs on operational expenditure, mainly for data processing and information management projects, as well as substantial transfers from administrative and operating budget lines at the year-end. At the end of November 2014, the shortfall was partly balanced by an amended budget providing additional 1,2 million euro to the agency and commitments were made to catch up with the implementation of the projects.












12.


The overall level of committed appropriations was high at 99 %. However, for title III (operating expenditure) the level of committed appropriations carried over to 2015 was high at 2,6 million euro, i.e. 35 % (2013: 2,3 million euro, i.e. 32 %). This mainly resulted from the temporary budget shortfall during the year where commitments could only be made late in the year (see paragraph 11) and from granting projects for ‘Joint Investigation Teams’ launched during the last months of 2014 for which payments were not due until 2015.





FOLLOW-UP OF PREVIOUS YEARS’ COMMENTS









13.


An overview of the corrective actions taken in response to the Court's comments from the previous years is provided in Annex I.





This Report was adopted by Chamber IV, headed by Mr Milan Martin CVIKL, Member of the Court of Auditors, in Luxembourg at its meeting of 8 September 2015.


For the Court of Auditors

Vítor Manuel da SILVA CALDEIRA

President





(1)  OJ L 63, 6.3.2002, p. 1.

(2)  Annex II summarises Eurojust’s competences and activities. It is presented for information purposes.

(3)  These include the balance sheet and the statement of financial performance, the cash flow table, the statement of changes in net assets and a summary of the significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

(4)  These comprise the budgetary outturn account and the annex to the budgetary outturn account.

(5)  Articles 39 and 50 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 (OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p. 42).

(6)  The accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer are derived from the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) issued by the International Federation of Accountants or, where relevant, the International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

(7)  Article 107 of Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013.

(8)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).


ANNEX I
Follow-up of previous years’ comments







Year


Court's comment


Status of corrective action
(Completed/Ongoing/Outstanding/N/A)




2011


In the report for the financial year 2010, the Court noted that there was scope to reconsider the definition of respective roles and responsibilities between the Director and the College of Eurojust in order to avoid the overlap of responsibilities, currently resulting from the Founding Regulation. No corrective measures were taken in 2011.


Ongoing (New Eurojust Regulation under preparation)




2013


The level of committed appropriations for the different titles varied between 99 % and 98 % of total appropriations, indicating that legal commitments were made in a timely manner. However, the level of committed appropriations carried over to 2014 was high for title III (operating expenditure) at 2 3 41  825 euro (32 %). This was mainly the result of delays associated with the handover of internal software management to a new service provider at the year-end. Also, reimbursements of expenditure from grant schemes which were used to support ‘Joint Investigation Teams’ were only due in 2014.


N/A




2013


In 2013, the Agency made 49 budget transfers affecting 101 budget lines. This indicates weaknesses in budget planning and implementation.


Completed







ANNEX II
European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit (The Hague)
Competences and activities







Areas of Union competence deriving from the Treaty


(Article 85 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union)



Eurojust’s mission is to support and strengthen coordination and cooperation between national authorities in the fight against serious cross-border crime affecting the European Union.





Competences of Eurojust


(as defined in Articles 3, 5, 6 and 7 of Council Decision 2002/187/JHA, as amended by Decision 2003/659/JHA and Decision 2009/426/JHA)




Objectives


Article 3 Eurojust Council Decision

In the context of investigations and prosecutions, concerning two or more Member States, of criminal behaviour referred to in Article 4 in relation to serious crime, particularly when it is organised, the objectives of Eurojust shall be:






(a)


to stimulate and improve the coordination, between the competent authorities of the Member States, of investigations and prosecutions in the Member States, taking into account any request emanating from a competent authority of a Member State and any information provided by any competent body by virtue of provisions adopted within the framework of the Treaties;










(b)


to improve cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States, in particular by facilitating the execution of requests for, and decisions on, judicial cooperation, including regarding instruments giving effects to the principle of mutual recognition;










(c)


to support otherwise the competent authorities of the Member States in order to render their investigations and prosecutions more effective.





Tasks


Article 5 Eurojust Council Decision







1.


In order to accomplish its objectives, Eurojust shall fulfil its tasks:






(a)


through one or more of the national members concerned in accordance with Article 6, or










(b)


as a College in accordance with Article 7:






(i)


when so requested by one or more of the national members concerned by a case dealt with by Eurojust, or










(ii)


when the case involves investigations or prosecutions which have repercussions at Union level or which might affect Member States other than those directly concerned, or










(iii)


when a general question relating to the achievement of its objectives is involved, or










(iv)


when otherwise provided for in this Decision.


















2.


When it fulfils its tasks, Eurojust shall indicate whether it is acting through one or more of the national members within the meaning of Article 6 or as a College within the meaning of Article 7.





Article 6 Eurojust Council Decision







1.


When Eurojust acts through its national members concerned, it:






(a)


may ask the competent authorities of the Member States concerned, giving its reasons, to:






(i)


undertake an investigation or prosecution of specific acts,










(ii)


accept that one of them may be in a better position to undertake an investigation or to prosecute specific acts,










(iii)


coordinate between the competent authorities of the Member States concerned,










(iv)


set up a joint investigation team in keeping with the relevant cooperation instruments,










(v)


provide it with any information that is necessary for it to carry out its tasks,










(vi)


take special investigative measures,










(vii)


take any other measure justified for the investigation or prosecution;














(b)


shall ensure that the competent authorities of the Member States concerned inform each other on investigations and prosecutions of which it has been informed;










(c)


shall assist the competent authorities of the Member States, at their request, in ensuring the best possible coordination of investigations and prosecutions;










(d)


shall give assistance in order to improve cooperation between the competent national authorities;










(e)


shall cooperate and consult with the European Judicial Network, including making use of and contributing to the improvement of its documentary database;










(f)


shall, in the cases referred to in Article 3(2) and (3) and with the agreement of the College, assist investigations and prosecutions concerning the competent authorities of only one Member State.














2.


The Member States shall ensure that competent national authorities respond without undue delay to requests made under this Article.





Article 7 Eurojust Council Decision







1.


When Eurojust acts as a College, it:






(a)


may in relation to the types of crime and the offences referred to in Article 4(1) ask the competent authorities of the Member States concerned, giving its reasons:






(i)


to undertake an investigation or prosecution of specific acts,










(ii)


to accept that one of them may be in a better position to undertake an investigation or to prosecute specific acts,










(iii)


to coordinate between the competent authorities of the Member States concerned,










(iv)


to set up a joint investigation team in keeping with the relevant cooperation instruments,










(v)


to provide it with any information that is necessary for it to carry out its tasks;














(b)


shall ensure that the competent authorities of the Member States inform each other of investigations and prosecutions of which it has been informed and which have repercussions at Union level or which might affect Member States other than those directly concerned;










(c)


shall assist the competent authorities of the Member States, at their request, in ensuring the best possible coordination of investigations and prosecutions;










(d)


shall give assistance in order to improve cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States, in particular on the basis of Europol's analysis;










(e)


shall cooperate and consult with the European Judicial Network, including making use of and contributing to the improvement of its documentary database;










(f)


may assist Europol, in particular by providing it with opinions based on analyses carried out by Europol;










(g)


may supply logistical support in the cases referred to in points (a), (c) and (d). Such logistical support may include assistance for translation, interpretation and the organisation of coordination meetings.














2.


Where two or more national members cannot agree on how to resolve a case of conflict of jurisdiction as regards the undertaking of investigations or prosecution pursuant to Article 6 and in particular Article 6(1)(c), the College shall be asked to issue a written non-binding opinion on the case, provided the matter could not be resolved through mutual agreement between the competent national authorities concerned. The opinion of the College shall be promptly forwarded to the Member States concerned. This paragraph is without prejudice to paragraph 1(a)(ii).










3.


Notwithstanding the provisions contained in any instruments adopted by the European Union regarding judicial cooperation, a competent authority may report to Eurojust recurrent refusals or difficulties concerning the execution of requests for, and decisions on, judicial cooperation, including regarding instruments giving effect to the principle of mutual recognition, and request the College to issue a written non-binding opinion on the matter, provided it could not be resolved through mutual agreement between the competent national authorities or through the involvement of the national members concerned. The opinion of the College shall be promptly forwarded to the Member States concerned.









Governance


(Articles 2, 9, 23, 28, 29 and 36 of Eurojust Decision 2002/187/JHA; Article 3 of the Rules of Procedure of Eurojust)




College

The College is responsible for the organisation and operation of Eurojust. The College is composed of National Members who are seconded by each Member State in accordance with its legal system and who are prosecutors, judges or police officers of equivalent competence. The College elects its President from among the National Members.

Director

The Administrative Director is appointed by the College by 2/3 majority.

The Joint Supervisory Body

Supervises the processing of personal data.

External audit

European Court of Auditors.

Discharge authority

European Parliament acting on a Recommendation from the Council acting by qualified majority.





Resources made available to Eurojust in 2014 (2013)





Final Budget

33,9(32,4) million euro including assigned revenue

Post holders as at 31 December 2014

National Members: 28 (of which 2 based in Member States) (28, of which 2 based in Member States)

Deputy National Members: 21 (of which 11 based in Member States) (20, of which 11 based in Member States)

Assistants to National Members: 21 (of which 9 based in Member States) (21, of which 8 based in Member States)

Temporary staff: 199 (203)

Contract staff: 27 (27)

Seconded National Experts: 24 (14)






Products and services in 2014 (2013)





Number of coordination meetings: 196 (206)



Total number of cases: 1  804(1  576)


Drug trafficking: 283 (239)
 (1)

Illegal immigration: 32 (25)
 (1)

Trafficking in human beings: 71 (84)
 (1)

Fraud: 560 (449)
 (1)

Cybercrime: 42 (29)
 (1)

Terrorism: 14 (17)
 (1)

(Mobile) Organised crime: 128 (257)
 (1)

PIF crimes: 76 (31)
 (1)

Corruption: 55 (52)
 (1)










(1)  The crime list used for the classification of the cases reflects the Eurojust priority crime types in 2014.

Source: Annex supplied by Eurojust.



EUROJUST’S REPLY






11.


Eurojust agrees with the comment and will in future include in the budget the anticipated salary adjustments and increases of the correction coefficient, which are likely to be decided after the adoption of the budget.










12.


Eurojust agrees with the comment.