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Document 52016TA1201(31)
Report on the annual accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2015, together with the Foundation’s reply
Report on the annual accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2015, together with the Foundation’s reply
Report on the annual accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2015, together with the Foundation’s reply
OJ C 449, 1.12.2016, p. 168–172
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
1.12.2016 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 449/168 |
REPORT
on the annual accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2015, together with the Foundation’s reply
(2016/C 449/31)
INTRODUCTION
1. |
The European Training Foundation (hereinafter ‘the Foundation’, aka ‘ETF’), which is located in Turin, was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90 (1) (recast (EC) No 1339/2008). The Foundation’s task is to support the reform of vocational training in the European Union’s partner countries. To do this, it assists the Commission in the implementation of various programmes (e.g. IPA, FRAME, GEMM). |
2. |
The table presents key figures for the Foundation (2). Table Key figures for the Foundation
|
INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE
3. |
The audit approach taken by the Court comprises analytical audit procedures, direct testing of transactions and an assessment of key controls of the Foundation’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
The management’s responsibility
The auditor’s responsibility
Opinion on the reliability of the accounts
Opinion on the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying the accounts
|
FOLLOW-UP OF PREVIOUS YEARS’ COMMENTS
11. |
An overview of the corrective actions taken in response to the Court’s comments from previous years is provided in the Annex. |
This Report was adopted by Chamber IV, headed by Mr Baudilio TOMÉ MUGURUZA, Member of the Court of Auditors, in Luxembourg at its meeting of 13 September 2016.
For the Court of Auditors
Vítor Manuel da SILVA CALDEIRA
President
(1) OJ L 131, 23.5.1990, p. 1.
(2) More information on the Foundation’s competences and activities is available on its website: www.etf.europa.eu
(1) Staff includes officials, temporary and contract staff and seconded national experts.
Source: data provided by the Foundation.
(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 Delegated 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
Follow-up of previous years’ comments
Year |
Court's comment |
Status of corrective action (Completed/Ongoing/Outstanding/N/A) |
2013 |
At the end of 2013, the Foundation had 7,5 million euro in accounts at a single bank with a low credit rating (F3, BBB) (1). |
Ongoing |
2014 |
Cancellations of appropriations carried over from 2013 were high for Title I (15,9 %) and Title II (7,6 %) which indicates an over-estimation of financial needs. |
N/A |
2014 |
The overall level of committed appropriations was high at 99,9 %. The level of committed appropriations carried over to 2015 was high for Title II (administrative expenditure) at 0,75 million euro, i.e. 36,2 % (2013: 0,55 million euro, i.e. 30 %). The main reason was planned purchases made at the end of 2014 for the renewal of office furniture (0,37 million euro), software (0,14 million euro) and hardware (0,1 million euro). |
N/A |
2014 |
In 2005 new EU Staff Regulations entered into force, including provisions that future remunerations of officials recruited before 1 May 2004 should not be less than under the previous EU Staff Regulations. The Court’s audit revealed that this was not complied with and, in the case of two of the 96 temporary agents employed at that time, this led to a total underpayment of 14 745 euro (salary cost for ETF) for the period 2005 to 2014. The Foundation has made the supplementary salary payments in June 2015. |
Completed |
(1) Amount reduced to 1,8 million euro.
THE FOUNDATION’S REPLY
The Foundation has taken note of the Court’s report.