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Document 52015TA1209(07)
Report on the annual accounts of the Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency for the financial year 2014 together with the Agency’s reply
Report on the annual accounts of the Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency for the financial year 2014 together with the Agency’s reply
Report on the annual accounts of the Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency for the financial year 2014 together with the Agency’s reply
OJ C 409, 9.12.2015, p. 56–66
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
9.12.2015 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 409/56 |
REPORT
on the annual accounts of the Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency for the financial year 2014 together with the Agency’s reply
(2015/C 409/07)
INTRODUCTION
1. |
The Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency (hereinafter ‘the Agency’) was set up on 1 January 2005 (Public Health Executive Agency — PHEA — from 2005 to 2008, Executive Agency for Health and Consumers — EAHC — from 2008 to 2013 and Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency — Chafea — as from 1 January 2014 (1)). The Agency, which is located in Luxembourg, was established for a period ending 31 December 2024. It implements the EU Health programme, the Consumer programme and the Better Training for Safer Food initiative (BTSF) (2). |
INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE
2. |
The audit approach taken by the Court comprises analytical audit procedures, direct testing of transactions and an assessment of key controls of the Agency’s supervisory and control systems. This is supplemented by evidence provided by the work of other auditors (where relevant) 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
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10. |
The comments which follow do not call the Court’s opinions into question. |
COMMENTS ON BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT
11. |
Carry-overs for Title III (Expenditure linked to the Agency’s operations) are high at 0,9 million euro (2013: 1,0 million euro), i.e. 50 % (2013: 43 %) of committed appropriations. Although such a high level of carry-over is at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality, it is related to services received in 2014 (0,6 million euro) and annual contracts covering part of 2015 (0,3 million euro). |
FOLLOW-UP OF PREVIOUS YEAR’S COMMENTS
12. |
An overview of the corrective actions taken in response to the Court’s comments from the previous year is provided in Annex I. |
This Report was adopted by Chamber IV, headed by Mr Milan Martin CVIKL, Member of the Court of Auditors, in Luxembourg at its meeting of 8 September 2015.
For the Court of Auditors
Vítor Manuel da SILVA CALDEIRA
President
(1) Commission Decision 2013/770/EU (OJ L 341, 18.12.2013, p. 69).
(2) Annex II summarises the Agency’s competences and activities. It is presented for information purposes.
(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, the budget implementation reports and notes on budget implementation.
(5) Articles 38 to 42 of the Financial Regulation of the Agency.
(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) Articles 87 to 92 of the Financial Regulation of the Agency.
ANNEX I
Follow-up of previous year’s comments
Year |
Court's comment |
Status of corrective action (Completed/Ongoing/Outstanding/N/A) |
2013 |
Of the 1,1 million euro carried over from 2012, 0,23 million euro, or 21 %, was cancelled in 2013. Such a high level of cancellations indicates weaknesses in budget planning, particularly in forecasting costs for meetings with external participants. |
N/A |
2013 |
The overall level of committed appropriations was relatively low at 94 %. The 2013 payment rates against committed appropriations were satisfactory for Titles I and II at 97 % and 87 % respectively. Although carry-overs for Title III are high at 1,0 million euro, or 43 % of committed Title III appropriations, they reflect the multiannual nature of the Agency’s activities and payments were planned and made according to operational needs. |
N/A |
ANNEX II
Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency (Luxembourg)
Competences and activities
Areas of Union competence deriving from the Treaty (Article 168 and 169 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) |
A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities. Union action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to human health. Such action shall cover the fight against the major health scourges, by promoting research into their causes, their transmission and their prevention, as well as health information and education and monitoring, early warning of and combating serious cross border threats to health. The Union shall complement the Member States’ action in reducing drugs-related health damage, including information and prevention. In order to promote the interests of consumers and to ensure a high level of consumer protection, the Union shall contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic interests of consumers, as well as to promoting their right to information, education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests. |
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Competences of the Agency |
Objectives
Tasks The Agency is responsible for the following programme-related tasks, as defined both in its act of establishment and in the delegation act last amended on 17 and 19 December 2014.
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Governance |
Steering Committee Comprises five members appointed by the European Commission. The members of the Steering Committee are appointed for two years. It adopts the Agency’s annual work programme after approval by the European Commission. In addition, it adopts the administrative budget of the Agency and its annual activity report. Director Appointed by the European Commission for four years. External audit European Court of Auditors. Discharge authority European Parliament, following a recommendation from the Council. |
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Resources made available to the Agency in 2014 (2013) |
Final budget The Agency’s administrative budget for 2014 amounted to 7,25(7,23) million euro. Staff at 31 December 2014 On 31 December 2014, the Agency employed 48 (50) statutory staff members, including 12 (11) temporary staff and 38 (38) contract staff. |
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Products and services 2014 |
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(1) OJ C 171, 6.6.2014, p. 10.
(2) http://ec.europa.eu/chafea/health/projects.html and http://ec.europa.eu/chafea/health/grants.html
(3) http://ec.europa.eu/health/programme/how_does_it_work/call_for_proposals/index_en.htm
Source: Annex supplied by the Agency.
THE AGENCY’S REPLY
11: |
The Agency accepts the Court’s comments. The Agency shall continue its efforts to further reduce the carry-overs for Title III (Expenditure linked to the Agency’s operations) through early planning and close monitoring of contracts. |