PURPOSE: to grant discharge to the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2010/508/EU of the European Parliament on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

CONTENT: with the present decision, the European Parliament grants discharge to the Director of the Translation Centre for the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2008.

This decision is in line with the European Parliament’s resolution adopted on 5 May 2010 and comprises a series of observations that form an integral part of the discharge decision (please refer to the summary of the opinion of 5 May 2010).

A parallel Decision, adopted on the same day, approves the closure of the accounts of this EU agency.

The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 26, with 50 abstentions, a decision on discharge to be granted to the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008. The decision to grant discharge is also an approval of the closure of the accounts of this EU agency. Furthermore, Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge to this Agency.

The main points are as follows:

performance: Parliament congratulates the Centre on having developed an efficient IT tool, FLOSYSWEB; budget surplus contrary to the Regulation establishing the Centre: Parliament notes that, for several years, the Centre has had an accumulated budget surplus (EUR 26.7 million in 2008). It calls on the Centre to take more effective measures to remedy this constant rise in its surplus. It also notes that, on 31 December 2008, the Centre's cash holdings amounted to EUR 48 405 006.88 and asks the Commission to examine what scope there is for helping to ensure that the cash holdings are managed entirely on a needs-orientated basis. It calls on the Centre to offer its clients cost-covering services in future; pension contributions for staff: Parliament considers it very regrettable that, although this issue has been highlighted in discharge resolutions over many years, a solution concerning the conflict between the Centre and the Commission as to the employer's share of pension contributions for staff has still not been found. It notes with concern that this ongoing conflict with the Commission is costing the Centre several millions. It notes in particular that, in 2008, the Centre established a reserve of EUR 15.3 million to tackle the consequences of this conflict. Parliament calls therefore on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the progress of the negotiations and of staff costs (in relation to time and expenditure) incurred as a result of this conflict; human resources: Parliament observes that only 81% of the posts provided for were occupied by officials and temporary staff in December 2008. It notes that the Centre has justified this inadequate figure by pointing to a lack of office space, which made it impossible to recruit in accordance with the establishment plan. It considers, nonetheless, that the Centre should plan its recruitment procedures more realistically and effectively in order to respect the time limits and meet all the needs arising from an increase in the Centre's staff. It encourages the Centre to establish comprehensive training maps based on requisite staff skills and capabilities in order to maintain a high level of competence of its staff; internal audit: Parliament acknowledges that most of the recommendations of the Internal Audit Services (IAS) have now been implemented. It considers that it is highly important for the Centre to implement fully a policy on sensitive posts and staff mobility.

Noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2008 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, Parliament approves the closure of its accounts and refers to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2010/2007(INI) adopted in parallel).

The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted the report by Véronique MATHIEU (EPP, FR) on discharge to be granted to the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union, calling on the European Parliament to grant the Director of the Centre in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008.

Noting that the Centre’s annual accounts for the financial year 2008 are reliable, and the underlying transactions are legal and regular, MEPs approve the closure of the Centre’s accounts. However, they make a number of recommendations that need to be taken into account when the discharge is granted, in addition to the general recommendations that appear in the draft resolution on financial management and control of EU agencies (see 2010/2007(INI) :

performance : Members congratulate the Centre on having developed an efficient IT tool, FLOSYSWEB; budget surplus contrary to the Regulation establishing the Centre : Members note that for several years the Centre has had an accumulated budget surplus (EUR 26.7 million in 2008). They call on the Centre to take more effective measures to remedy this constant rise in its surplus. The also note that on 31 December 2008 the Centre's cash holdings amounted to EUR 48 405 006.88 and ask the Commission to examine what scope there is for helping to ensure that the cash holdings are managed entirely on a needs-orientated basis. They call on the Centre to offer its clients cost-covering services in future; pension contributions for staff : Members consider it very regrettable that, although this issue has been highlighted in discharge resolutions over many years, a solution concerning the conflict between the Centre and the Commission as to the employer's share of pension contributions for staff has still not been found. They note with concern that this ongoing conflict with the Commission is costing the Centre several millions. They note in particular that in 2008 the Centre established a reserve of EUR 15.3 million to tackle the consequences of this conflict. Members call therefore on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the progress of the negotiations and of staff costs (in relation to time and expenditure) incurred as a result of this conflict; human resources : Members observe that only 81% of the posts provided for were occupied by officials and temporary staff in December 2008. They note that the Centre has justified this inadequate figure by pointing to a lack of office space, which made it impossible to recruit in accordance with the establishment plan. They consider nonetheless that the Centre should plan its recruitment procedures more realistically and effectively in order to respect the time limits and meet all the needs arising from an increase in the Centre's staff. They encourage the Centre to establish comprehensive training maps based on requisite staff skills and capabilities in order to maintain a high level of competence of its staff; internal audit : Members acknowledge that most of the recommendations of the Internal Audit Services (IAS) have now been implemented. They consider that it is highly important for the Centre to implement fully a policy on sensitive posts and staff mobility.

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of the European Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2008, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and the Centre’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of the Centre discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, on the one hand, the Centre's annual accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position as at 31 December 2008 and the results of operations and cash-flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Centre's Financial Regulation, and that, on the other hand, the underlying transactions for the financial year ended on 31 December 2008 are, in all material respects, legal and regular.

However, the Council considers that observations made in the Court of Auditor’s report call for a certain number of observations to be taken into account when granting discharge, particularly on the following points:

high surplus : the Council notes with concern the persistently high surplus and urges the Centre to remedy this situation as soon as possible; recruitment procedures : the Council calls on the Centre to ensure, in line with the Court's observations, a better planning of recruitment procedures.

PURPOSE: to present the report by the Court of Auditors on the 2008 annual accounts of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT).

CONTENT: in the Court’s opinion, the Centre’s Annual Accounts present fairly, in all material respects, its financial position as of 31 December 2008 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended. The transactions underlying the annual accounts of the Centre are, in all material respects, legal and regular.

The Court of Auditor’s report includes a detailed section on the Agency’s expenditure and an analysis of the expenditure, as well as the Agency’s replies.

· The Court’s analysis of the accounts : in its report, the Court makes a series of comments notably as regards the budgetary and financial management. For the year 2008, the budgetary surplus was EUR 11.5 million, increasing the accumulated budgetary surplus to EUR 26.7 million, of which EUR 15.3 million is necessary to cover the still ongoing dispute with the Commission regarding the employer’s pension contributions for staff. The Centre should take the necessary measures to address the continuous increase in its surplus. The Court underlines the recurrent staffing issues. The 2008 establishment plan provided for 233 posts, 33 more than the 2007 establishment plan. However, in December 2008 only 189 posts (81%) had been filled with officials and temporary staff. This situation indicates weaknesses in the planning of recruitment procedures.

· The Centre’s replies : the Centre states that it is making every effort to improve the lack of precision in the forecasts for translation requests received from its clients. In mid-2009, the Centre therefore asked its clients to revise their forecasts for 2009, in order to precise the current budget. More importantly, the Centre is currently carrying out a cost analysis in order to improve its price structure. In 2009, after the adoption of the amending budget, the Centre will reimburse the budget surplus of EUR 11.45 million to its clients. Over the years and in 2008 in particular, the lack of office space did not permit to recruit in accordance with the establishment plan. In 2009, the Centre rented supplementary premises to accommodate additional staff. In addition, a new recruitment system has been introduced to make the recruitment procedure more efficient.

PURPOSE: to present the final accounts of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

CONTENT: this document sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the 2008 budget. It notes that the final budget amounted to EUR 59.94 million in 2008 (compared to EUR 46.12 million in 2007).

As regards the staffing policy, the Centre, which is based in Luxembourg, officially set out 233 posts in its establishment plan. 189 posts are currently occupied and are assigned to operational and administrative duties.

In 2008, the Centre’s main activities concentrated on translating texts from a number of bodies and institutions of the European Union.

In total, the Centre notes that in 2008 the number of pages translated amounted to 747 416 (an increase compared to 2007).

The number of pages translated by languages is as follows:

· official languages: 742 256;

· other languages: 5 160 (a large increase from 2007).

Lastly, the report notes the number of pages translated per client:

· bodies: 731 944;

· institutions: 15 472.

In 2008, the number of pages translated freelance amounted to 441 223 (compared to 226 822 pages in 2007).

The complete version of the final accounts may be found at the following address: http://www.cdt.europa.eu

PURPOSE: to present the final accounts of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

CONTENT: this document sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the 2008 budget. It notes that the final budget amounted to EUR 59.94 million in 2008 (compared to EUR 46.12 million in 2007).

As regards the staffing policy, the Centre, which is based in Luxembourg, officially set out 233 posts in its establishment plan. 189 posts are currently occupied and are assigned to operational and administrative duties.

In 2008, the Centre’s main activities concentrated on translating texts from a number of bodies and institutions of the European Union.

In total, the Centre notes that in 2008 the number of pages translated amounted to 747 416 (an increase compared to 2007).

The number of pages translated by languages is as follows:

· official languages: 742 256;

· other languages: 5 160 (a large increase from 2007).

Lastly, the report notes the number of pages translated per client:

· bodies: 731 944;

· institutions: 15 472.

In 2008, the number of pages translated freelance amounted to 441 223 (compared to 226 822 pages in 2007).

The complete version of the final accounts may be found at the following address: http://www.cdt.europa.eu