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REPORT (2023/2142(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2022

A-9-2024-0082

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa

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Parliament's committee report grants the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union discharge for the 2022 budget and approves the closure of the Centre's 2022 accounts. It sets out observations on the Centre's budget and financial management, performance, efficiency, staff policy, procurement, conflicts of interest, internal control and other matters. It notes the Court of Auditors' qualified opinion on the legality and regularity of payments, based on irregular payments totalling EUR 1,3 million. It asks the Centre to work towards gender balance and to publish all management board members' declarations of interests and CVs.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes that Parliament grant the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union discharge for the 2022 budget and approve the closure of the 2022 accounts, while setting out observations in an accompanying resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament grants the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union discharge for the 2022 financial year and approves the closure of the Centre's 2022 accounts.
  2. The final 2022 budget was EUR 49 839 955, a decrease of 6,02 % from 2021, with 95,80 % from direct contributions from institutions, other agencies and bodies.
  3. The Court of Auditors gave a qualified opinion on payments because irregular payments totalling EUR 1,3 million exceeded the materiality threshold.
  4. Budget implementation was 89,08 % for commitment appropriations and 83,50 % for payment appropriations; the work programme implementation rate fell to 89,6 % from 93,4 % in 2021.
  5. The number of pages translated, modified, edited and revised fell by 5,2 % to 348 070, and EU trade mark pages fell by 12,6 % to 239 964.
  6. The Centre developed a 2024-2027 strategy, served a new client (the European Public Prosecutor's Office), upgraded IATE and EurTerm and its translation technology, and kept 2023 prices stable.
  7. The Centre reduced office space by 33 %, introduced Commission tools (ABAC, SYSPER, MIPS, ARES) and Systal, and joined the 'Joint EU Forces on AI' initiative.
  8. The Centre lacks an EMAS certificate but is studying registration; it applies EMAS principles and ISO 14001 and took measures to cut gas and electricity use from 1 November 2022 to 31 March 2023.
  9. On 31 December 2022 the establishment plan was 93,78 % implemented, with 46 officials and 135 temporary agents appointed out of 51 and 142 authorised, plus 20 contract agents.
  10. Parliament asks the Centre to work towards gender balance at staff, senior and middle management and board level, and asks the Commission and member states to consider gender balance in board nominations.
  11. Parliament notes concern at the rise in approved overtime hours from 112 to 252 and at procurement weaknesses, including contracts signed without prior publication and a global ceiling of EUR 1 million not monitored, leading to EUR 0,5 million paid irregularly in excess.
  12. Parliament urges the Centre to publish all management board members' declarations of interests and CVs, and notes the Centre's internal control follow-up, anti-fraud plan and quality audits.

Who is affected

  • The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union: receives discharge, must address observations on procurement, gender balance and transparency.
  • The Centre's Director: granted discharge and responsible for forwarding the decision.
  • The Commission and member states: asked to consider gender balance when nominating management board members.
  • The Centre's management board: its members' declarations of interests and CVs should be published.

Figures and deadlines

  • Final budget for 2022: EUR 49 839 955, a decrease of 6,02 % compared to 2021.
  • 95,80 % of the Centre's budget derives from direct contributions from institutions, other agencies and bodies.
  • Irregular payments totalling EUR 1,3 million, of which EUR 0,6 million and EUR 0,7 million, accounting for 2,4 % of payment appropriations.
  • Budget implementation rate of current year commitment appropriations: 89,08 %; payment appropriations execution rate: 83,50 %.
  • Initial budget for 2022: EUR 49,0 million; budget outturn carried forward in 2023: deficit of EUR 1,2 million.
  • Work programme implementation rate: 89,6 % in 2022, 93,4 % in 2021, 82,4 % in 2018.
  • Pages translated, modified, edited and revised: 348 070 in 2022, a decrease of 5,2 % from 367 264 in 2021; EU trade mark pages: 239 964, down 12,6 % from 274 706.
  • Overtime hours rose from 112 to 252, an increase of 125 %; staff turnover was 7 %.

Legal basis: Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union