Brussels, 10/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 February, the Council of Ministers of the EU recommended that the European Parliament grants a discharge to the Commission for the execution of the European Communities' budget for the 2007 tax year. The Council regrets, nevertheless, that the Declaration of Assurance (DAS) by the European Court of Auditors still contains reservations concerning “a significant part of the budget” for the financial year 2007, in spite of the initiatives taken by the Commission in the course of the recent years to the improvement of control and management procedures.
The Council regrets that the Court's opinion for “Cohesion”, “Research, energy and transport”, “External aid, development and enlargement”, “Education and citizenship” and “Agriculture and natural resources” remains qualified, while noting with satisfaction that the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) continues to be effective, where properly implemented, and that certain improvements in all policy areas have been identified. The Council invites the Commission to make proposals aiming at simplification of the procedures including the general rules governing the programmes and specific rules concerning the particular characteristics of the programmes.
The Council recalls that the Commission shall implement the budget, in accordance with the provisions of the regulations made pursuant to Article 279 of the EC treaty, on its own responsibility and with the limits of the appropriations, having regard to the principle of sound financial management. Member states shall continue to cooperate with the Commission to ensure that the appropriations are used in accordance with the principle of sound financial management.
The Council notes that for the 2007 tax year, no reimbursements were made as a result of the implementation off the legislation relating to the 2007-13 programming period, and thus the effect of the refined and strengthened control provisions is yet to be seen. The Council reiterates its satisfaction that the Court identified only a few cases of possible fraud in its audit work. (L.C./transl.rh)