32003H0180

Council Recommendation

of 7 March 2003

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (1995) (Eighth EDF) for the financial year 2001

(2003/180/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention, signed at Lomé on 15 December 1989, as amended by the Agreement signed at Mauritius on 4 November 1995,

Having regard to Council Decision 91/482/EEC of 25 July 1991 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community(1), as revised in the interim by Decision 97/803/EC(2),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of Community aid(3), signed in Brussels on 20 December 1995, and in particular Article 33(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 16 June 1998 applicable to the Eighth European Development Fund(4), and in particular Articles 69 to 74 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the European Development Fund (1995) (Eighth EDF) as at 31 December 2001 and the Court of Auditors' report relating to the financial year 2001 together with the Commission's replies(5),

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 33(3) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the management of the European Development Fund (1995) (Eighth EDF) must be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on a recommendation from the Council.

(2) The overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the European Development Fund (1995) (Eighth EDF) during the financial year 2001 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (1995) (Eighth EDF) for the financial year 2001.

Done at Brussels, 7 March 2003.

For the Council

The President

N. Christodoulakis

(1) OJ L 263, 19.9.1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 329, 29.11.1997, p. 50.

(3) OJ L 156, 29.5.1998, p. 108 and Corrigendum OJ L 173, 18.6.1998, p. 54.

(4) OJ L 191, 7.7.1998, p. 53.

(5) OJ C 295, 28.11.2002, p. 289.