Resolution (EU) 2019/1489 of the European Parliament of 26 March 2019 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2017

L 249/240 EN Official Journal of the European Union 27.9.2019 RESOLUTION (EU) 2019/1489 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT of 26 March 2019 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2017 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, — having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2017, — having regard to Rule 94 of and Annex IV to its Rules of Procedure, — having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A8-0139/2019), A. whereas, according to its statement of revenue and expenditure (1), the final budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (the ‘Centre’) for the financial year 2017 was EUR 15 828 389, representing an increase of 2,64 % compared to 2016; whereas the budget of the Centre derives mainly from the Union budget; B. whereas the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’), in its report on the annual accounts of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2017 (the ‘Court's report’), states that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the Centre's annual accounts are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular; Budget and financial management 1. Notes with appreciation that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 100 %, representing a slight increase of 0,05 % compared to 2016; notes that the payment appropriations execution rate was 94,70 %, representing a decrease of 0,94 % compared to the previous year; Cancellation of carry-overs 2. Notes that the cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 18 245, representing 3,90 % of the total amount carried forward, showing an increase of 0,15 % compared to 2016; Performance 3. Notes with satisfaction that the Centre measures the achievement of its 68 annual targets with 50 key performance indicators, which are divided into eight strategic objectives, to assess the added value provided by its activities, and to improve its budget management; 4. Acknowledges that the Centre has reached 90 % of the annual targets set for 2017 and that it successfully implemented the first year of its Strategy 2025; 5. Notes with appreciation that the Centre shares synergies with the European Maritime Safety Agency in corporate and support services and the management of common premises in Lisbon; acknowledges that operational synergies have been put in place with other Union agencies in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs and Health; Staff policy 6. Notes that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 93,51 % executed, with 72 officials or temporary agents appointed out of 77 officials and temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 79 authorised posts in 2016); notes that in addition, 29 contract agents and 1 seconded national expert worked for the Centre in 2017; 7. Notes that the Centre has general provisions on building and sustaining a working culture based on dignity and respect in place to prevent and fight against harassment; acknowledges that it enables confidential counselling; (1) OJ C 25, 24.1.2018, p. 1.27.9.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 249/241 8. Welcomes the suggestion of the Court to publish vacancy notices also on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office in order to increase publicity; notes that, according to the Centre's reply, it is committed to assessing the cost-benefit of this action and in addition plans to publish all future vacancies in the inter-agency job board developed by the EU Agencies Network; Procurement 9. Notes with appreciation that the Centre put in place a procurement plan which was successfully executed in close collaboration with all units; 10. Notes that, according to the Court's report, by the end of 2017 the Centre was not yet using any of the tools launched by the Commission aimed at introducing a single solution for the electronic exchange of information with third parties participating in public procurement procedures (e-procurement); notes that, according to the Centre's reply, the Centre has set up the tools required for ‘e-invoicing’ and has planned the preparatory operations required to be able to use ‘e-tendering’ and ‘e-submission’ from October 2018 as required by the relevant legal framework; calls on the Centre to report to the discharge authority on the progress made; Prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and transparency 11. Notes that, according to the Court's report, there is a need to strengthen the accounting officer's independence by making him directly responsible to the Centre's Director and management board; notes that, according to the Centre's reply, in its view the current organisational setting has not affected the independence of the accounting officers; notes furthermore that the Centre is however ready to follow up on the recommendation of the Court; Internal controls 12. Notes that the Commission's Internal Audit Service (IAS) outlined the importance of undertaking an analysis of the needs of data collection, validation and quality assurance processes and to review its data quality management framework and its alignment with the Centre's Strategy 2025; observes that the Centre adopted an action plan to address these recommendations in December 2017; calls on the Centre to report to the discharge authority on the developments made in this regard; 13. Notes with regret that one of the recommendations, graded as ‘important’, included in the 2013 IAS audit on ‘Budget and Monitoring’ is still not fully implemented; notes with concern that, according to the Court's report, several recommendations included in the 2015 IAS audit on IT project management are only partly implemented and still ongoing; calls on the Centre to report to the discharge authority on the implementation of these recommendations; 14. Refers, for other observations of a cross-cutting nature accompanying its decision on discharge, to its resolution of 26 March 2019 (2) on the performance, financial management and control of the agencies. (2) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0254. See page 361 of this Official Journal.