ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

FINANCIAL YEAR 2007

Volume I

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND CONSOLIDATED REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET

(2008/C 287/01)

CONTENTS

Note accompanying the consolidated accounts

Principal events and key points

Implementing and accounting for the EU Budget

NOTE ACCOMPANYING THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS

The consolidated annual accounts of the European Communities for the year 2007 have been prepared on the basis of the information presented by the other institutions and bodies under Article 129.2 of the Financial Regulation. I hereby declare that they were prepared in accordance with Title VII of the Financial Regulation of the EC and with the accounting principles, rules and methods set out in annex to the financial statements.

I have obtained from the accounting officers of these institutions and bodies, who certified its reliability, all the information necessary for the production of the accounts that show the European Communities' assets and liabilities and the budgetary implementation.

I hereby certify that based on this information, and on such checks as I deemed necessary to sign off the accounts of the European Commission, I have a reasonable assurance that the accounts present a true and fair view of the financial position of the European Communities in all material aspects.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND KEY POINTS

The 2007 annual accounts of the European Communities are the third set of accounts to be prepared under the accrual-accounting based rules brought in by the European Communities in 2005. 2007 also saw the updating of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and the new version came into force on 1 May 2007.

As with any set of accounts, the Commission has been working to improve on what was previously published, aiming in particular to provide more understandable and relevant information to the reader.

With regard to the presentation of the 2007 accounts the following changes are highlighted:

Finally it should be noted that the scope of consolidation has been increased since 2006 — there are now three joint ventures compared to one in 2006, and there are now 26 agencies consolidated compared with 24 in 2006.

MAIN POINTS OF NOTE IN THE 2007 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

IMPLEMENTING AND ACCOUNTING FOR THE EU BUDGET

1.   ANNUAL BUDGET PREPARATION

The EU Budget finances a wide range of policies and programmes throughout the Union. In accordance with the priorities set by the Member States, the Commission carries out specific programmes, activities and projects in the field. These could range from supporting education projects for the mobility of students and teachers, to projects aimed at supporting better work environment for workers in the EU, to enhance the control of the external borders.

Nearly 95 % of the EU budget goes to funding such EU policies and activities, which have been agreed by all the Member States. The direct link between the annual budget and the EU policies is ensured through activity-based budgeting (ABB). The activity-based budget nomenclature, first introduced in the 2004 budget, allows for clear identification of the policy areas of the European Union and the total amount of resources allocated to each of these areas.

The 32 policy areas are subdivided into some 200 activities of which over 110 include operating budget headings and are thus reflected in the budget nomenclature as budget chapters. These policy areas are predominantly operational, since their core activities are aimed at benefiting a third-party beneficiary, each within their respective domains of activity. Other policy areas, however, are horizontal and assure the proper functioning of the Commission, such as ‘Coordination and legal advice’ and ‘Budget’. The activity structure provides the common conceptual framework for priority setting, planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting, with the principal aim of enhancing the efficient, economic and effective use of resources.

The internal procedure for the adoption of the draft budget starts with its preparation by the Commission before it is passed to the Council who can make amendments if they feel them necessary. The updated budget then goes to the European Parliament, who can themselves propose amendments or accept or reject the current draft. Once all amendments and updates are agreed (including, if necessary, an entirely new draft proposed by the Commission) the budget is adopted in mid-December by the Parliament. The President of Parliament declares the budget adopted and it can then be implemented.

2.   HOW IS THE EC FUNDED?

The EC has two main categories of funding: Own resources revenues and sundry revenues.

2.1.   Own resource revenues and receivables

Own resource revenue accrues automatically to the EU to enable it to finance its budget without the need for a subsequent decision by national authorities (in 2007 it is 93 % of total revenue). The overall amount of own resources needed to finance the budget is determined by total expenditure less other revenue. The total amount of own resources cannot exceed 1,24 % of the gross national income (GNI) of the EU. Own resources can be divided into the following categories:

With regard to payment of these amounts, separate accounts contain traditional own resources which, under Article 6(3)(b) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000, have been established by the Member States but not made available to the Communities as they have not yet been recovered or guaranteed or because they have been challenged. Each Member State sends the Commission a quarterly statement of these accounts, with the following particulars for each type of resource:

When the traditional own resources from the separate account are recovered, they must be made available to the Commission at the latest on the first working day following the 19th day of the second month following the month during which the entitlement was recovered.

A write-down of the entitlements in the separate account must be made to reflect the situations when actual recovery is unlikely. This write-down is based on estimations made by Member States themselves in accordance with Article 6(4)(b) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000 which states ‘Together with the final quarterly statement for a given year, Member States shall forward an estimate of the total amount of entitlements contained in the separate account at 31 December of that year for which recovery has become unlikely’.

Based on the estimations sent by Member States, a write-down is deducted from the item for receivables from Member States on the asset side of the balance sheet. However, this does not mean that the Commission is waiving recovery of the amounts covered by this value adjustment. Even where recovery looks very unlikely, if not virtually impossible, this does not necessarily mean that the amounts in question are lost to the Community budget as traditional own resources. This is because non-recovered entitlements are lost only if the Member State has exhausted all the avenues it is required to pursue in order to secure recovery. Where the Member State fails to do this, it is held financially liable and required to pay the amount into the Community budget in accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000.

2.2.   Sundry revenues

Sundry revenues arising from the activities of the European Communities are approximately 7 % of total revenue. These are, for instance, competition fines and recovery orders to private and public debtors with regard to the management of Community projects (as in the example above). Penalty payments imposed by the Court of Justice on Member States that fail to comply with a given judgment also fall into this category. The Commission manages hundreds of thousands of projects each year and needs to establish about 12 000 recovery orders per year. Any debt not paid at the due date is subject to default interest. Where debts of Community third parties other than Member States remain unpaid, Commission (and Council) decisions imposing the obligation to pay are directly enforceable in accordance with the rules of civil procedure in force in the territory where enforcement is to be carried out. Remaining debtors are chased up by the Legal Service with the help of external law firms.

3.   HOW THE COMMUNITY BUDGET IS MANAGED AND SPENT

3.1.   Primary operating expenditure

The European Communities' operating expenditure covers the various headings of the financial perspective and takes different forms, depending on how the money is paid out and managed. In accordance with the Financial Regulation, the Communities implement the general budget using the following methods:

The majority of the expenditure, this year EUR 90 billion (2006: EUR 91 billion), falls under the heading ‘Shared Management’ involving the delegation of tasks to Member States, covering such areas as agricultural spending and Structural Actions.

3.2.   The different financial actors

The College of Commissioners assumes collective political responsibility but has virtually no budget implementation powers. It delegates these tasks each year to individual civil servants accountable to the College and subject to the Staff Regulations. The staff concerned — generally Directors-General and Heads of Service — are known as ‘Authorising Officers by delegation’. They in turn may further delegate budget implementation tasks to ‘Authorising Officers by sub-delegation’.

The responsibility of the Authorising Officers covers the entire management process, from determining what needs to be done to achieve the policy objectives set by the institution to managing the activities launched from both an operational and budgetary standpoint, including signing legal commitments, monitoring performance, making payments and even recovering funds, if necessary. Authorising officers must also arrange for evaluations to be carried out to analyse the viability of their proposals (ex ante evaluation) and to gauge the success and cost-effectiveness of programmes already underway (interim and ex post evaluations). The results of these evaluations are used to help improve the decision-making process and increase the transparency, accountability and cost-effectiveness of Community intervention.

Sound financial management and proper accountability are assured within each DG by the separation of management control (in the hands of the authorising officers) from internal audit and compliance control with clear internal control standards (inspired by COSO international standards), exante and ex post controls, independent internal auditing on the basis of risk assessments, and regular reporting on activities to the individual Commissioners.

The Accounting Officer executes payment and recovery orders drawn up by authorising officers and is responsible for managing the treasury; laying down accounting rules and methods, validating accounting systems, keeping the accounts and drawing up the institution's annual accounts and consolidating them with those of the other consolidated entities. Furthermore, the Accounting Officer is required to sign the accounts declaring that they provide a true and fair view of the financial position.

The Internal Auditor, who is not a financial actor in the strict sense of the term, is appointed by an institution to verify the proper operation of budgetary implementation systems and procedures and to advise the institution on risk management issues. The Internal Auditor issues independent opinions on the quality of management and control systems and provides recommendations on how to improve operational procedures and promote sound financial management.

3.3.   Committing to spend the EU budget

Once the budget is approved, DG Budget makes funding available, via the Commission's accounting system, to the different Commission departments and the Institutions and other bodies in accordance with their policy responsibilities under a system called activity based budgeting. For example, the responsibility for managing budget lines to do with the environment would be delegated by the Commission to the head — or Director-General — of DG Environment (who in this context becomes known as the Authorising Officer by Delegation for the budget lines in question).

Before a legal commitment (for example a contract or grant agreement) can be entered into with a third party, there must be a budget line authorising the activity in question in the annual budget. There must also be sufficient funds on the budget-line in question to cover the expenditure. If these conditions are met, the funds required must be reserved in the budget by means of a budgetary commitment made in the accounting system.

Once the budgetary commitment is launched by the person responsible for the project, known as the ‘initiating agent’, it must follow a pre-set procedure — or ‘financial circuit’ — which is a paper and electronic trail involving a minimum of two people (the so-called ‘four eyes principle’), the initiator and the verifier. The financial circuits in place provide for financial and operational checks before the commitment is approved by the Authorising Officer responsible.

No money can be spent from the Community budget unless and until the Commission or another EC body and the possible recipient of Community money have entered into a written legal commitment. Under centralised direct management, this legal commitment takes the form of either a contract with a contractor or a grant agreement with a beneficiary.

Once approved, the budgetary commitment is recorded in the budgetary accounting system and the appropriations are consumed accordingly. This, however, has no effect on the general accounts (or general ledger) since no charge has yet been incurred. This is because the accounting system of the European Communities comprises two separate but linked elements:

The budget accounts chart the commitments and payments made on the 1 150 or so budget lines day by day. They are based on the modified cash accounting principle, whereby an item of expense or income is only recorded in the accounts when cash is committed, paid out or received. This type of accounting is typical of the public sector whose focus has, historically, tended to be on the budget and its implementation. The European Parliament, i.e. the institution to which the executive, the Commission, is accountable, is naturally keen to verify that the wishes it expressed in adopting the budget are being fulfilled by the executive. Each month the Commission publishes figures detailing the current state of budget implementation (spending) on the Europa website. The figures are given by financial perspective heading and by policy area.

The general accounts (or general ledger) use the double-entry method of bookkeeping to show all expenditure and revenue over the financial year (and thus the economic outturn) and to establish the financial position of the EC in the form of a balance sheet of assets and liabilities at 31 December of a given year.

3.4.   Making a payment

3.4.1.   General rules

No payment can be made unless a budgetary commitment has already been approved by the Authorising Officer dealing with the operation in question. When a payment needs to be made a compulsory workflow similar to that for a budgetary commitment has to be followed. This is done in the accounting system and with a parallel paper/electronic trail. Again the process is launched by the initiating agent and ultimately approved by the authorising officer by sub-delegation. Once the payment is approved, both the budgetary and the general accounts are automatically updated.

Once a payment is approved in the accounting system, the next step is for the transfer to be made to the beneficiary's account. The Commission, for example, through the treasury department of DG Budget, makes almost all of its payments by bank transfer. It has bank accounts with Member State Treasuries, Central Banks and commercial banks.

The Commission makes over one million payments a year. The Commission is a participant in SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). Each day at least one payment run, launched under the control of the treasury department of Directorate-General for Budget, translates the approved payment orders into payment instructions that are sent automatically to the Commission banks, in order to pay the designated beneficiaries.

3.4.2.   Pre-financing

Pre-financing is a payment intended to provide the beneficiary with a cash advance, i.e. a float. It may be split into a number of payments over a period defined in the particular pre-financing agreement. The float or advance is either used for the purpose for which it was provided during the period defined in the agreement or it is repaid — if the beneficiary does not incur eligible expenditures he has the obligation to return the pre-financing advance to the European Communities. Thus pre-financing paid is not a definitive expense until the relevant contractual conditions are met and so is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet when the initial payment is made. The amount of the pre-financing asset is reduced (wholly or partially) by the acceptance of eligible costs and amounts returned. When a pre-financing amount is fully or partially accepted by the Communities, following analysis of the eligibility of a cost claim received (see below), then the accepted amount of eligible expenditure is removed from the balance sheet and taken as an expense in the economic outturn account. This may clear the pre-financing amount in whole or in part.

Pre-financing is valued at its estimated recoverable amount, taking into consideration the existence of a related guarantee attached to the pre-financing. The expected irrecoverable pre-financing is recognised as a charge in the economic outturn account and a decrease in the pre-financing carrying value in the balance sheet. Interest is generally earned on pre-financing paid out (notable exceptions include amounts paid to Member States or as pre-accession aid). The ownership of this interest designates the two categories of pre-financing existing — European Communities and Third Party. The difference between the two categories is that the interest generated by ‘European Communities’ pre-financing amounts remains the property of the Communities and so must be returned to the Communities, while that earned on ‘Third Party’ pre-financing is the property of the beneficiary.

3.4.3.   Cost claims and eligibility of expenditure

Some time after the payment of the advance, or pre-financing, a cost claim will be received by the relevant EC body so as to justify how that pre-financing amount was spent by the beneficiary in accordance with the contract. The rhythm of these cost claims sent during the year is variable depending on the type of action being funded and the contractual conditions, and they are not necessarily received at year-end.

Cost statements received are registered immediately in the accounting system as a current payable with ‘Eligibility to be checked’ (a debit amount) the counterpart entry. This is known as a ‘Step 1 invoice’. An expense is only recognised in the general accounts once the ‘generating event’ has occurred — namely when the cost claim is validated. Thus at the ‘Step 1’ stage no expense is yet recognised. The member of staff responsible is required to perform checks on the claim received and may request further justification where necessary before verifying in the system and on paper that the claim is valid and that the payment can be made. Once satisfied that the claim is valid, an accounting entry is made that transfers the eligible amounts to the economic outturn account as an expense (‘Step 2 invoice’). The open pre-financing and creditor balances are also reduced by the validated amount. There is no impact on the budgetary accounts since the initial payment has already been recorded.

3.4.4.   Payment of further amounts

If an amount in excess of the initial payment is claimed and verified or if a second or final payment is required to be paid in accordance with the contract, then a new payment request is launched following the same rules as before. It is the authorising officer by delegation who gives final approval before the payment can be made. Eligibility criteria are defined in the basic act, in the calls for proposal, in other information documents for grant beneficiaries and/or in the contractual clauses of the grant agreements. After analysis, the eligible expenses are taken into charges and the beneficiary is informed about any non eligible amounts. ‘Eligibility to be checked’ amounts thus represent received cost claims for which the eligibility has not yet been checked and therefore where the event giving rise to the expense being realised has not yet been reached.

3.4.5.   Accounting treatment at year-end (cut-off)

With regard to open pre-financing amounts at year-end, these are valued at the original amount(s) paid less: amounts returned, eligible amounts cleared, estimated eligible amounts not yet cleared at year-end, and value reductions. Guarantees received related to pre-financing amounts are disclosed in the off-balance sheet as contingent assets.

Cost claims not yet received at year-end are taken into account in the year-end accounting cut-off procedures. In particular an assessment has to be made concerning eligible expenses incurred by beneficiaries of Community funds but not yet reported to the EC. Different methods are used depending on the type of activities and information available so as to arrive at the best estimate of these amounts. Following these cut-off entries, estimated eligible amounts are recorded as accrued charges, while the estimated non-eligible parts remain open on the ‘eligibility to be checked’ accounts. These amounts are shown under current liabilities so as not to overestimate assets and liabilities.

3.5.   Recovering undue payments

The eligibility of expenditure charged to the budget is verified by the relevant EC services, or in the case of shared management, by the Member States, on the basis of the supporting documents stipulated in the applicable rules or in the conditions of each grant. With the aim of optimising the relationship between the costs and the benefits of control systems, checks on the supporting documents for final claims tend to be more intense than those on interim claims, and thus may detect errors in interim payments which are corrected by adjustment of the final payment. Furthermore, the EC and/or the Member State has the right to verify the probity of the supporting documents by making checks on the claimant's premises, during the implementation of the action financed and/or afterwards (ex post). Errors found during the implementation period may be corrected by adjustment of subsequent claims. Errors found ex post will be the subject of a recovery order. See also Section E.6 for further information on this area.

4.   YEAR-END REPORTING

4.1.   Annual accounts

It is the Accounting Officer's responsibility to prepare the annual accounts and ensure that they present a true and fair view of the financial position of the EU. The annual accounts comprise the financial statements and the reports on implementation of the budget. They are adopted by the Commission and presented to the Court of Auditors for audit and finally to the Council and Parliament for discharge.

4.2.   Annual Activity reports

Each Authorising officer is required to prepare an Annual Activity Report (AAR) on the activities under his responsibility. In this AAR, he reports on policy results and on the reasonable assurance he may have that the resources assigned to the activities described in his report have been used for their intended purpose and in accordance with the principles of sound financial management, and that the control procedures put in place give the necessary guarantees concerning the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions.

5.   AUDIT AND DISCHARGE

5.1.   Audit

The EU's annual accounts and resource management are overseen by its external auditor, the European Court of Auditors, which draws up an annual report for the Council and the European Parliament. The Court's main task is to conduct an external, independent audit of the European Communities' annual accounts. As part of its activities, the Court of Auditors produces:

The Court of Auditors is entitled to access all documents required during the course of its audit. The Court audits all areas of EC activities, right down to examining the legality and regularity of individual transactions and payments. It also audits the annual accounts themselves, reviewing individual balance sheet and economic outturn accounts where necessary as well as the overall presentation of the financial statements. Thus the Court can offer its opinion not only on the figures presented, but also on the system and controls in place.

5.2.   Discharge

The final control is the discharge of the budget for a given financial year. The European Parliament is the discharge authority within the EC. This means that following the audit and finalisation of the annual accounts it falls to the Council to recommend and then to the Parliament to decide whether to grant discharge to the Commission and other EC bodies for executing the Communities' budget for the preceding financial year. This decision is based on a review of the accounts and the annual report of the Court of Auditors (which includes an official statement of assurance) and replies of the Commission, and also following questions and further information requests to the Commission.

The discharge represents the political aspect of the external control of budget implementation and is the decision by which the European Parliament, acting on a Council recommendation, ‘releases’ the Commission from its responsibility for management of a given budget by marking the end of that budget's existence. This discharge procedure may produce one of three outcomes: the granting, postponement or refusal of the discharge. When granting discharge the Parliament may highlight observations they consider important, often recommending actions that the Commission should take concerning these matters. The Commission sets out the measures taken in a follow-up report and an action plan which it sends to both the Parliament and the Council.

PART I

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

CONTENTS

A.   BALANCE SHEET

B.   ECONOMIC OUTTURN ACCOUNT

C.   CASHFLOW TABLE

D.   STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

E.   NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1.   LEGAL PROVISIONS AND THE FINANCIAL REGULATION

The accounts are kept in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 (OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1, last amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1995/2006 of 13 December 2006, OJ L 390, 30.12.2006) on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of this Financial Regulation, last modified on 28 March 2007.

Article 133 of the Financial Regulation states that the Accounting Officer of the Commission adopts the accounting rules and methods to be applied by all the institutions and bodies. Thus, he adopted the current Communities' accounting rules on 28 December 2004. These accrual-based accounting policies are derived from International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or by default, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as respectively issued by the International Public Sector Accounting Standard Board (IPSASB) and the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). These rules have been adopted by the Accounting Officer of the Commission after receiving the opinion of an Advisory Expert Group for Accounting Standards that provided professional guidance. The accounting rules are regularly reviewed and updated when necessary.

The valuation and accounting rules adopted by the Accounting Officer of the Commission are applied in all the European Institutions and bodies falling within the scope of consolidation in order to establish a uniform set of rules for accounting, valuation and presentation of the accounts with a view to harmonising the process for drawing up the financial statements and consolidation.

The Commission's Accounting Officer must submit the consolidated provisional accounts to the Court of Auditors for audit by 31 March of the following year. The Commission must adopt the final consolidated accounts by 31 July and they are then published in the Official Journal by 15 November together with the Court of Auditors' statement of assurance. Both the provisional and final annual accounts are presented as follows: Volume I contains the consolidated accounts and Volume II the Commission's accounts.

1.2.   ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

The objective of the financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and cashflows of an entity that is useful to a wide range of users. For a public sector entity such as the European Communities, the objectives are more specifically to provide information useful for decision making, and to demonstrate the accountability of the entity for the resources entrusted to it.

If they are to present a true and fair view, financial statements must not only supply relevant information to describe the nature and range of an Institution's and Agencies' activities, explain how it is financed and supply definitive information on its operations, but do so in a clear and comprehensible manner which allows comparisons between financial years. It is with these goals in mind that the present document has been drawn up.

The accounting system of the European Institutions and Agencies comprises general accounts and budget accounts. These accounts are kept in euro on the basis of the calendar year. The budget accounts give a detailed picture of the implementation of the budget. They are based on the modified cash accounting principle. The general accounts allow for the preparation of the financial statements as they show all charges and income for the financial year based on accrual accounting rules and are designed to establish the financial position in the form of a balance sheet at 31 December.

Article 124 of the Financial Regulation sets out the accounting principles to be applied in drawing up the financial statements:

1.3.   CONSOLIDATION

The scope of consolidation of the European Communities comprises 36 controlled entities, one associate and three joint ventures. The complete list of consolidated entities can be found in note E.10. In comparison with 2006, the scope of consolidation has been extended by two agencies and two joint ventures. The impact of these additions on the consolidated financial statements was not material.

Controlled entities

Controlled entities are all entities over which the European Communities have the power to govern the financial and operating policies so as to be able to benefit from these entities' activities. This power must be presently exercisable. The most common indicator of control, majority of voting rights, is in most of the cases not applicable for the European Communities as there are normally no capitalistic links between the entities.

The European Institutions falling within the scope of consolidation have been created through their founding treaties. They represent the basis of the organisational structure of the European Communities and contribute incontestably to the European Communities' objectives. These Institutions can therefore be considered as being under the exclusive control of the European Communities.

Under the same approach, the Communities Bodies and Executive Agencies created through a secondary act of legislation are considered as under the exclusive control of the European Communities and therefore are also included in the consolidation scope. It should be noted that the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Alicante) and the Community Plant Variety Office (Angers) do not receive any subsidies from the General Budget of the Communities. Also included in the scope of consolidation are two agencies of the 3rd pillar of the European Union that have received a subsidy from the General Budget of the European Communities (see also section E.10). Furthermore the European Coal and Steel Communities in Liquidation (ECSC) is also considered as a controlled entity.

Controlled entities are consolidated using the full consolidation method. All inter-company transactions and balances between European Communities' controlled entities are eliminated. Unrealised gains and losses on inter-entity transactions are not material and have therefore not been eliminated.

Associates

Associates are all entities over which the European Communities have significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20 % and 50 % of the voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for by the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost.

The European Communities' share of their associates' post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the economic outturn account, and their share of post-acquisition movements in reserves is recognised in reserves. The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. Distributions received from an associate reduce the carrying amount of the investment.

Unrealised gains and losses on transactions between the European Communities and their associate are not material and have therefore not been eliminated.

The accounting policies of associates may differ from those adopted by the European Communities for like transactions and events in similar circumstances. For practicable reasons, no adjustments were made to the associates' financial statements used in applying the equity method.

In cases where the European Communities hold 20 % or more of a venture capital fund, the Communities do not seek to exert significant influence. Such funds are therefore treated as financial assets available for sale and the equity method is not applied.

Joint ventures

A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby the European Communities and one or more parties (the ‘venturers’) undertake an economic activity which is subject to joint control. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control over an economic activity. Interests in jointly controlled entities are accounted for by the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost.

The European Communities' interest of the profits or losses of their jointly controlled entities is recognised in the economic outturn account, and their interest of movements in reserves is recognised in reserves. The cumulative movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the interest.

Unrealised gains and losses on transactions between the European Communities and their jointly controlled entity are not material and have therefore not been eliminated.

The accounting policies of joint ventures may differ from those adopted by the European Communities for like transactions and events in similar circumstances. For practicable reasons, no adjustments were made to the joint ventures' financial statements used in applying the equity method.

Non-consolidated entities

Not controlled by the European Communities and thus not consolidated in its accounts are the funds managed by the Communities on behalf of both the Sickness Insurance Scheme for staff of the European Communities, and the European Development Fund. At 31 December 2007 the total assets of both were EUR 287 million and EUR 1 350 million respectively — see note E.11.

1.4.   BASIS OF PREPARATION

1.4.1.   Currency and basis for conversion

Functional and reporting currency

The financial statements are presented in millions of euro, the euro being the European Communities' functional and reporting currency.

Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into euro using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.

Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of foreign currency transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the economic outturn account.

Year-end balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into euro on the basis of the exchange rates applying on 31 December:

EURO Exchange Rates

Different conversion methods apply to the following headings:

Changes in the fair value of monetary securities denominated in a foreign currency and classified as available-for-sale that relate to a translation difference are recognised in the economic outturn account. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognised in the economic outturn account. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets classified as available-for-sale are included in the fair value reserve.

1.4.2.   Use of estimates

In accordance with IPSAS and generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements necessarily include amounts based on estimates and assumptions by management based on the most reliable information available. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, amounts for employee benefit liabilities, provisions, financial risk on inventories and accounts receivables, accrued income and charges, contingent assets and liabilities, and degree of impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in the period in which they become known.

1.5.   BALANCE SHEET

1.5.1.   Intangible assets

Acquired computer software licences are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. The assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, being four years. Internally produced intangible assets are currently expensed in the economic outturn account.

Costs associated with developing or maintaining computer software programmes are recognised as expenses as incurred, as are scientific research and development costs.

1.5.2.   Property, plant and equipment

All property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset's carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the European Communities and its cost can be measured reliably. Repairs and maintenance are charged to the economic outturn account during the financial period in which they are incurred. As the European Communities do not borrow money to fund the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, there are no borrowing costs related to such purchases.

Land and works of art are not depreciated as they are deemed to have an infinite life. Assets under construction are not depreciated as these assets are not yet available for use. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost to their residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Depreciation rates

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds less selling expenses with the carrying amount of the disposed asset. These are included in the economic outturn account.

Leases

Leases of tangible assets, where the European Communities have substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership, are classified as financial leases. Financial leases are capitalised at the inception of the lease at the lower of the fair value of the leased asset and the present value of the minimum lease payments. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges so as to achieve a constant rate on the finance balance outstanding. The rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in other liabilities (long and short-term). The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the economic outturn account over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic interest rate on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The assets acquired under financial leases are depreciated over the shorter of the assets' useful life and the lease term.

Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and rewards inherent to ownership are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to the economic outturn account on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

1.5.3.   Impairment of non-financial assets

Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use.

Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date. An asset's carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset's carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

1.5.4.   Investments

Investments in Associates and interests in Joint Ventures

Investments in associates and interests in joint ventures are accounted for by using the equity method.

Investments in Venture Capital Funds

Classification and measurement

Investments in Venture Capital Funds are classified as available-for-sale assets and accordingly, are carried at fair value with gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value (including translation differences) recognised in the fair value reserve.

Fair value considerations

Since they do not have a quoted market price in an active market and in the absence of any other reliable valuation technique, investments in Venture Capital Funds are valued on a line-by-line basis at the lower of cost or attributable net asset value (NAV) as reported by the fund manager up to the balance sheet date, thus excluding any attributable unrealised gain that may be prevailing in the underlying investment portfolio. Investments in Venture Capital Funds in existence for less than two years at balance sheet date are valued based on the same principles, except in the case of unrealised losses due only to administrative expenses where, in view of the early stage of the underlying investment portfolio, these unrealised losses are not taken into account.

Under this method, the fair value of investments in Venture Capital Funds is achieved by applying the aggregated NAV concept, which implicitly assumes that if the NAVs of the funds can be considered as compliant with IAS 39, then the aggregation of the NAVs of all funds will itself be compliant with IAS 39.

In accordance with this method, the funds are classified into three categories:

For Categories I & II, unrealised gains resulting from the fair value measurement are recognised through reserves and unrealised losses are assessed for impairment so as to determine whether they are recognised as impairment losses in the economic outturn account or as changes in the fair value reserve.

The fair valued attributable NAV is determined through applying either the European Communities' percentage ownership in the fund to the NAV reflected in the most recent report or, to the extent available, the precise share value at the same date, submitted by the respective Fund Manager.

Investments belonging to category III are valued at cost less impairment losses (although no investments of this type are currently held).

Financial instruments

Classification

The European Communities classify their investments in the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss; loans and receivables; held-to-maturity investments; and available-for-sale financial assets. The classification of the investments is determined at initial recognition and re-evaluated at each balance sheet date.

(i)   Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

This category has two sub-categories: financial assets held for trading, and those designated at fair value through profit or loss at inception. A financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term or if so designated by the European Communities. Derivatives are also categorised as held for trading unless they qualify for hedge accounting. Assets in this category are classified as current assets if they are expected to be realised within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

(ii)   Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They arise when the Communities provide money, goods or services directly to a debtor with no intention of trading the receivable. They are included in non-current assets, except for maturities within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

(iii)   Held-to-maturity investments

Held-to-maturity investments are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments and fixed maturities that the European Communities has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity. During this financial year, the European Communities did not hold any investments in this category.

(iv)   Available-for-sale financial assets

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories. They are included in non-current assets unless the Communities intend to dispose of the investment within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

Initial recognition and measurement

Purchases and sales of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, held-to-maturity and available-for-sale are recognised on trade-date — the date on which the European Communities commit to purchase or sell the asset. Loans are recognised when cash is advanced to the borrowers. Investments are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs for all financial assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognised at fair value and transaction costs are expensed in the economic outturn account.

The fair value of a financial asset on initial recognition is normally the transaction price (i.e. the fair value of the consideration received). However, when a long-term loan that carries no interest or an interest below market conditions is granted, its fair value can be estimated as the present value of all future cash receipts discounted using the prevailing market rate of interest for a similar instrument with a similar credit rating.

In the case of loans to officials granted by the ECSC in liquidation, the transaction price is used as fair value at inception independently from any preferential interest rate granted, for practicable reasons and based on materiality considerations.

Financial instruments are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the investments have expired or have been transferred and the European Communities have transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership.

Subsequent measurement

Available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are subsequently carried at fair value. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the ‘financial assets at fair value through profit or loss’ category are included in the economic outturn account in the period in which they arise.

Changes in the fair value of monetary financial assets denominated in a foreign currency and classified as available-for-sale that relate to a translation difference are recognised in the economic outturn account. Changes in the fair value of non-monetary financial assets classified as available-for-sale are recognised in the fair value reserve. When financial assets classified as available-for-sale are sold or impaired, the cumulative fair value adjustments previously recognised in the fair value reserve are recognised in the economic outturn account.

Interest on available-for-sale financial assets calculated using the effective interest method is recognised in the economic outturn account. Dividends on available-for-sale equity instruments are recognised when the European Communities right to receive payment is established.

The fair values of quoted investments in active markets are based on current bid prices. If the market for a financial asset is not active (and for unlisted securities), the European Communities establish a fair value by using valuation techniques. These include the use of recent arm's length transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models and other valuation techniques commonly used by market participants.

In cases where the fair value of investments in equity instruments that do not have quoted market price in an active market cannot be reliably measured, these investments are valued at cost less impairment losses.

Loans and receivables and held-to-maturity investments are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. In the case of loans granted on borrowed funds, the effective interest method may not be applied separately to loans and borrowings, based on materiality considerations. The transaction costs incurred by the European Communities and then recharged to the beneficiary of the loan are directly recognised in the economic outturn account.

Impairment of financial assets

The European Communities assess at each balance sheet date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. A financial asset is impaired and impairment losses are incurred if, and only if, there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset that can be reliably estimated.

(i)   Assets carried at amortised cost

If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss on loans and receivables or held-to-maturity investments carried at amortised cost has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognised in the economic outturn account. If a loan or held-to-maturity investment has a variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss is the current effective interest rate determined under the contract.

The calculation of the present value of the estimated future cash flows of a collateralised financial asset reflects the cash flows that may result from foreclosure less costs for obtaining and selling the collateral, whether or not foreclosure is probable.

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed through the economic outturn account.

(ii)   Assets carried at fair value

In the case of equity securities classified as available-for-sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is considered in determining whether the securities are impaired. If any such evidence exists for available-for-sale financial assets, the cumulative loss — measured as the difference between the acquisition cost and the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset previously recognised in the economic outturn account — is removed from reserves and recognised in the economic outturn account. Impairment losses recognised in the economic outturn account on equity instruments are not reversed through the economic outturn account. If, in a subsequent period, the fair value of a debt instrument classified as available-for-sale increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, the impairment loss is reversed through the economic outturn account.

1.5.5.   Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The cost of finished goods and work in progress comprises raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and related production overheads (based on normal operating capacity). Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the costs of completion and selling expenses.

When inventories are held for distribution at no charge or for a nominal charge, they are measured at the lower of cost and current replacement cost. Current replacement cost is the cost the European Communities would incur to acquire the asset on the reporting date.

1.5.6.   Pre-financing amounts

Pre-financing is a payment intended to provide the beneficiary with a cash advance, i.e. a float. It may be split into a number of payments over a period defined in the particular pre-financing agreement. The float or advance is repaid or used for the purpose for which it was provided during the period defined in the agreement. If the beneficiary does not incur eligible expenditures, he has the obligation to return the pre-financing advance to the European Communities. The amount of the pre-financing is reduced (wholly or partially) by the acceptance of eligible costs and amounts returned.

At year-end, outstanding pre-financing amounts are valued at the original amount(s) paid less: amounts returned, eligible amounts cleared, estimated eligible amounts not yet cleared at year-end, and value reductions.

Interest on pre-financing is recognised as it is earned in accordance with the provisions of the relevant agreement. An estimate of the accrued interest revenue, based on the most reliable information, is made at the year-end and included in the balance sheet. Guarantees related to pre-financing amounts are disclosed in the off-balance sheet as contingent assets.

1.5.7.   Receivables

Receivables are carried at original amount less write-down for impairment. A write-down for impairment of receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the European Communities will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of receivables. The amount of the write-down is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the recoverable amount, being the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the market rate of interest for similar borrowers. The amount of the write-down is recognised in the economic outturn account. Also recognised is a general write-down in value of 20 % per year for outstanding recovery orders not already subject to a specific write-down.

See also note 1.5.13 below concerning the treatment of accrued income recognised at year-end.

1.5.8.   Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as short-term assets. They include cash at hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within financial liabilities under current liabilities on the balance sheet.

1.5.9.   Employee benefits

Pension obligations

The European Communities operate defined benefit pension plans. A defined benefit plan is a pension plan that generally defines an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation. Whilst staff contribute from their salaries one third of the expected cost of these benefits, the liability is not funded.

The liability recognised in the balance sheet in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the balance sheet date less the fair value of any plan assets. The defined benefit obligation is calculated by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension liability.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognised immediately in the economic outturn account. Past-service costs are recognised immediately in economic outturn account, unless the changes to the pension plan are conditional on the employees remaining in service for a specified period of time (the vesting period). In this case, the past-service costs are amortised on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Post-employment sickness benefits

The European Communities provide health benefits to its employees through the reimbursement of medical expenses. A separate fund (RCAM) has been created for the day-to-day administration. Both current employees, pensioners, widowers and their beneficiaries benefit from the system.

The benefits granted to the ‘inactives’ (pensioners, orphans, etc.) are classified as ‘Post-Employment Employee Benefits’. Given the nature of these benefits, an actuarial calculation is required. The liability in the balance sheet is determined on a similar basis as that for the pension obligations (see above).

1.5.10.   Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the European Communities have a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses. The amount of the provision is the best estimate of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date. Where the provision involves a large number of items, the obligation is estimated by weighting all possible outcomes by their associated probabilities (expected value method).

Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount of the provision is the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation. The discount rate used is a rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability but not the risks for which future cash flows estimates have been adjusted.

1.5.11.   Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities include borrowings and held for trading liabilities. Borrowings are composed of borrowings from credit institutions and debts evidenced by certificates. They are recognised initially at fair value, being their issue proceeds (fair value of consideration received) net of transaction costs incurred, then subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method; any difference between proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the redemption value is recognised in the economic outturn account over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. They are classified as non-current liabilities, except for maturities less than 12 months after the balance sheet date. In the case of loans granted on borrowed funds, the effective interest method may not be applied separately to loans and borrowings, based on materiality considerations. The transaction costs incurred by the European Communities and then recharged to the beneficiary of the loan are directly recognised in the economic outturn account.

Held for trading liabilities include derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting when their fair value is negative. They follow the same accounting treatment as held for trading assets, see note 1.5.4.

1.5.12.   Payables

A significant amount of the payables of the Communities are not related to the purchase of goods or services — instead they are unpaid cost claims from beneficiaries of grants or other Communities funding. They are recorded as payables for the requested amount when the cost claim is received and, after verification, accepted as eligible by the relevant financial agents. At this stage they are valued at the accepted and eligible amount.

Payables arising from the purchase of goods and services are recognised at invoice reception for the original amount and corresponding expenses are entered in the accounts when the supplies or services are delivered and accepted by the European Communities.

1.5.13.   Accrued and deferred income and charges

A critical element in accrual accounting is the exercise of ensuring that transactions are recorded in the accounting year to which they relate. This exercise is referred to as the cut-off exercise. In particular an assessment has to be made concerning eligible expenses incurred by beneficiaries of Communities' funds but not yet reported to the Communities (accrued charges). Different methods are used depending on the type of activities and information available so as to arrive at the best estimate of these amounts. Conversely, some payments made in current year relate to subsequent periods (deferred charges) and these have to be identified and included in the subsequent period(s).

According to the European Communities accounting rules, transactions and events are recognised in the financial statements in the period to which they relate. At the end of the accounting period, accrued expenses are recognised based on an estimated amount of the transfer obligation of the period. The calculation of the accrued expenses is done in accordance with detailed operational and practical guidelines issued by the Commission which aim at ensuring that the financial statements reflect a true and fair view.

Revenue is also accounted for in the period to which it relates. At year-end, if an invoice is not yet issued but the service has been rendered, the supplies have been delivered by the Commission or a contractual agreement exists (i.e. by reference to a treaty), an accrued income will be recognised in the financial statements.

In addition, at year-end, if an invoice is issued but the services have not yet been rendered or the goods supplied have not yet been delivered, the revenue will be deferred and recognised in the subsequent accounting period.

1.6.   ECONOMIC OUTTURN ACCOUNT

1.6.1.   Revenue

Non-exchange revenue

This makes up the vast majority of the Communities' revenue and includes mainly direct and indirect taxes and own resource amounts. In addition to taxes the European Communities may also receive payments from other parties, such as duties, fines and donations.

GNI based resources and VAT resources

Receivables and related revenues are recognised when the European Communities send out a call for funds to the Member States claiming their contribution. They are measured at their ‘called amount’. As VAT and GNI resources are based on estimates of the data for the budgetary year concerned, they may be revised as changes occur until the final data are issued by the Member States. The effect of a change in estimate is included when determining the net surplus or deficit for the period in which the change occurred.

Traditional own resources

Receivables and related revenues are recognised when the relevant monthly A statements (including duties collected and amounts due that are guaranteed and not contested) are received from the Member States. At the reporting date, revenue collected by the Member States for the period but not yet paid to the European Communities is estimated and recognised as accrued revenue. The quarterly B statements (including duties neither collected nor guaranteed, as well as guaranteed amounts that have been contested by the debtor) received from the Member States are recognised as revenue less the collection costs to which they are entitled (25 %). In addition, a value reduction is recognised for the amount of the estimated recovery gap in the economic outturn account.

Fines

Receivables and related revenues are recognised when the Communities' decision imposing a fine has been taken and it is officially notified to the addressee. If there are doubts about the undertaking's solvency, a value reduction on the entitlement is recognised. After the decision to impose a fine, the debtors have two months from the date of notification:

However, the principal of the fine must be paid within the time limit of three months laid down as the appeal does not have suspensory effect (Article 242 of the EC Treaty). The debtors have two options; pay the fine provisionally or present a bank guarantee for the amount.

If the undertaking appeals against the decision, and has already provisionally paid the fine, the amount is disclosed as a contingent liability. However, since an appeal against a Communities' decision by the addressee does not have suspensory effect, the cash received is used to clear the receivable. If a guarantee is received instead of payment, the fine remains as a receivable, and the guarantee is disclosed as a contingent asset.

If it appears probable that the Court of First Instance may not rule in favour of the Communities, a provision is recognised to cover this risk. If a guarantee had been given instead, then the receivable outstanding is written-down as required. The accumulated interest received by the European Communities on the bank accounts where received payments are deposited is recognised as revenue, and any contingent liability is increased accordingly.

Recovery of expenses

For operations giving rise to reimbursement of expenditures previously paid by the European budget to a final beneficiary, third country or a Member State, recovery orders are established and accounted for as follows:

Exchange revenue

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risk and rewards of ownership of the goods are transferred to the purchaser.

Revenue associated with a transaction involving the provision of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at the reporting date.

Interest income and expense

Interest income and expense are recognised in the economic outturn account using the effective interest method. This is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or a financial liability and of allocating the interest income or interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument (or, when appropriate, a shorter period) to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability. When calculating the effective interest rate, the European Communities estimate cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument (for example, prepayment options) but do not consider future credit losses. The calculation includes all fees and points paid or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs and all other premiums or discounts.

In the case of loans granted on borrowed funds, the effective interest method may not be applied separately to loans and borrowings, based on materiality considerations. The transaction costs incurred by the European Communities and then recharged to the beneficiary of the loan are directly recognised in the economic outturn account.

Once a financial asset or a group of similar financial assets has been written down as a result of an impairment loss, interest income is recognised using the rate of interest used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss.

Dividend income

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

1.6.2.   Expenditure

Exchange expenses arising from the purchase of goods and services are recognised when the supplies are delivered and accepted by the European Communities. They are valued at original invoice cost.

Non-exchange expenses are specific to the European Communities and account for the majority of its expenditure. They relate to transfers to beneficiaries and can be of three types: entitlements, transfers under agreement and discretionary grants, contributions and donations.

Transfers are recognised as expenses in the period during which the events giving rise to the transfer occurred, as long as the nature of the transfer is allowed by regulation (Financial Regulation, Staff Regulations, or other regulation) or a contract has been signed authorising the transfer; any eligibility criteria have been met by the beneficiary; and a reasonable estimate of the amount can be made.

When any request for payment or cost claim is received and meets the recognition criteria, it is recognised as an expense for the eligible amount. At year-end, incurred eligible expenses already due to the beneficiaries but not yet reported are estimated and recorded as accrued expenses.

1.7.   CONTINGENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Contingent assets

A contingent asset is a possible asset that arises from past events and of which the existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the European Communities. A contingent asset is disclosed when an inflow of economic benefits or service potential is probable.

Contingent assets are assessed at each balance sheet date to ensure that developments are appropriately reflected in the financial statements. If it has become virtually certain that an inflow of economic benefits or service potential will arise and the asset's value can be measured reliably, the asset and the related revenue are recognised in the financial statements of the period in which the change occurs.

Contingent liabilities

A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past events and of which the existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the European Communities; or a present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognised because: it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential will be required to settle the obligation or, in the rare circumstances where the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability.

A contingent liability is disclosed unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential is remote. While the EC is exposed to some risks due to the nature of its day-to-day activities (e.g. implementing and enforcing EU laws and standards), and like many public entities some of these risks are self-insured, no contingent liability is disclosed until a specific event has occurred, since until then the possibility of an outflow of resources is remote.

Contingent liabilities are assessed at each balance sheet date to determine whether an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential has become probable. If it becomes probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits or service potential will be required for an item dealt with as contingent liability, a provision is recognised in the financial statements of the period in which the change of probability occurs.

Commitments for future funding

A commitment for future funding represents a legal or constructive commitment, usually contractual, that the European Communities have entered into and which may require a future outflow of resources.

Guarantees

Guarantees are possible assets or obligations that arise from past events and whose existence will be confirmed by the occurrence or non-occurrence of the object of the guarantee. Guarantees thus qualify as contingent assets or liabilities. A guarantee is settled when the object of the guarantee no longer exists. It is crystallised when the conditions are fulfilled for calling a payment from the guarantor.

2.   NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

NON CURRENT ASSETS

2.1.   INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets are identifiable non-monetary assets without physical substance. To qualify for recognition as an asset, they must be controlled by the entity and generate future economic benefits for the European Communities. The amounts relate primarily to computer software.

2.2.   PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

2.2.1.   Land and buildings

In some countries the value of the land cannot be distinguished from the value of the building since both were purchased as a whole. The value of the land, which is not subject to depreciation, will not be evaluated separately unless it becomes necessary, i.e. for subsequent expenditure such as construction of a new property or a partial sale.

2.2.2.   Assets under construction

On 1 February 2007, the Council signed the contract for the acquisition of the LEX building for a final price of EUR 260 million. The related value at 31 December 2006 included under this heading of EUR 224 million has been transferred to ‘Land and Buildings’ in 2007. In October 2004 the Parliament signed a financial lease with a purchase option for a building complex in Brussels and the construction began during 2004. In November 2004 the first advance payment of EUR 40 million was paid. Until the signature of the provisional approval report the Parliament has the right to make additional advance payments and at 31 December 2007 EUR 318 million has been paid, reflecting the work done up to this date (at 31 December 2006 EUR 253 million had been paid).

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

Charges still to be paid in respect of finance leases and similar entitlements are shown in long-term and short-term liabilities in the balance sheet (see also notes E.2.15 and E.2.18.1). They break down as follows:

FINANCE LEASES

2.3.   LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

This heading covers investments made with a view to establishing permanent links and support of the activities of the European Communities. It also includes the net assets of the Guarantee Fund.

2.3.1.   Investments in associates: EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the European Union's financial institution specialising in providing risk capital and guarantees to SMEs. Under the Council Decision of 6 June 1994 the European Communities, represented by the Commission, subscribed for a total of ECU 600 million of the EIF's capital, being 600 shares or 30 % of the EIF's capital. As at 31 December 2006 the Commission had paid all the called-up capital, which amounted to 20 % of the total capital then, whilst its share of the non-called up capital (80 %) totalled EUR 480 million.

Council Decision 2007/247/EC of 19 April 2007 decided on the Communities participation in the capital increase of the EIF. Thus following this decision, during 2007 the Commission subscribed for 91 shares out of a total of 770 shares issued. The EC subscribed for a total nominal amount of EUR 91 million, of which 20 % of the nominal amount (EUR 18 million) and a total share premium of EUR 12 million were paid. The share premium was set by determining the new share price based upon the Net Asset Value per share as at 31 December 2006. As at 31 December 2007 the Commission had subscribed for a total amount of EUR 691 million (out of EUR 2 770 million) of the share capital of the EIF. This represents 24,95 % of the total EIF share capital. The Commission has paid in 20 %, the balance being uncalled corresponding to an amount of EUR 553 million as at 31 December 2007.

Under an agreement between the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed in 2005, the Commission is entitled to sell its shares at any time to the EIB at the price corresponding to the EIF valuation divided by the total number of issued shares. The value of the put option is close to nil since the formula used for determining the sale price of the shares is similar to the one used to determine the net equity of the EIF.

The equity method is used to value the Communities' share in the EIF, in accordance with the EC accounting rules. The shareholding is thus valued at 24,95 % of the EIF's net assets, which at 31 December 2007 amounted to EUR 246 million (2006: EUR 208 million), of which EUR 13 million concerns the result for 2007. A dividend of EUR 6 million relating to the financial year 2006 was received in 2007.

2.3.2.   Interests in joint ventures

Galileo

For the implementation of the development phase of the Galileo programme, a joint undertaking, within the meaning of Article 171 of the Treaty, was set-up by the Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 for a period of 4 years (2002 to 2006). The aim of this legal entity is to ensure the unity of the administration and the financial control of the Galileo programme for its development, and to this end to mobilise the funds assigned to that programme. The founding members were the European Communities, represented by the Commission, and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Commission, through grants given under the trans-European networks (TEN) budget, made available to the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) the requested funds to co-finance the related activities of the development phase.

The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), a Community Agency created in 2004, officially took over responsibility from the GJU on 1 January 2007, as the GJU was put into liquidation. While this new body was originally intended to operate the public private partnership, following a decision of the Council made in November 2007 the Galileo programme is now to be financed from the EU budget. At the end of 2007, despite the signature of agreements between the interested parties (GJU, European Space Agency, GSA), ownership of the projects' assets from the ESA to the EC had not been completely transferred. As there is some uncertainty and delay in the transfer of assets, for reasons of prudence the EC has not recognised the assets of the programme on its balance sheet. Once these transfer issues have been resolved it is intended that the assets will then be recognised.

The net assets of the GJU in liquidation at year-end amounted to EUR 0 million. Galileo is accounted for using the equity method. For 2007, the Commission's share of the loss of the joint undertaking was EUR 9 million. The value of the investment at 31 December 2007 was EUR 0 million, being the investment of EUR 585 million less the accumulated share of losses, EUR 585 million. EUR 53 million of the paid in capital was reimbursed to the European Communities in 2007.

SESAR

The aim of this Joint Undertaking is to ensure the modernisation of the European air traffic management system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in the EU. The SESAR Joint Undertaking has been established as from the day of publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union and shall cease to exist eight years after an endorsement by the Council of the European Air Traffic Master Plan.

The founding members of the SESAR Joint Undertaking are:

The members shall have votes in accordance with their respective contributions. Both founding members have the same budgeted contributions and thus intend to have the same number of votes, precluding control by one party.

The programme started at the end of 2007 and as at 31 December 2007, the Commission has made an initial investment of EUR 10 million. In the absence of available financial statements for 2007, the investment has been measured at cost.

ITER

The ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation (ITER) involves the European Communities and other venturers from China, India, Russia, Korea, Japan and USA. ITER was created to:

The Council is the principal organ of ITER and is composed of representatives of the members. Each member shall appoint up to four representatives to the Council. The main strategic decisions will be taken by unanimous vote. The respective weights of the votes of the Members reflects their contributions to ITER. The Communities have directly invested EUR 39 million in ITER as at 31 December 2007.

2.3.3.   Guarantee Fund

NET ASSETS OF THE GUARANTEE FUND (4)

The Guarantee Fund for external actions covers loans guaranteed by the Communities as a result of a Council Decision, in particular European Investment Bank (EIB) lending operations outside the European Union and loans under macro-financial assistance (MFA loans) and Euratom loans outside the European Union. The Fund is endowed by payments from the Communities' general budget equivalent to 9 % of the capital value of the operations, the proceeds from interest on investments made from the Fund's assets, and sums recovered from defaulting debtors for whom the Fund has had to activate its guarantee. Any yearly surplus arising shall be paid back to a special heading in the statement of revenue in the general budget of the European Communities.

The European Communities are required to include a guarantee reserve to cover loans to third countries. This reserve is intended to cover the requirements of the Guarantee Fund and, where necessary, activated guarantees exceeding the amount available in the Fund, so that these amounts may be charged to the budget.

This reserve of EUR 1 118 million corresponds to the target amount of 9 % of the loans outstanding at 31 December 2007. The net assets of the Fund at 31 December 2007 total EUR 1 152 million (before elimination of the MFA debt certificate). The difference between the net assets and the amount of the reserve corresponds to the surplus to be repaid to the budget, i.e. EUR 34 million.

The Guarantee Fund holds one floating rate note issued by the European Communities (MFA) for an amount of EUR 3 million, and so both the assets (GF) and liabilities (MFA) have to be eliminated in the Communities' accounts. Fair-value changes of the AFS debt security portfolio have been recognised in equity in 2007 totalling EUR (19) million (2006: EUR (32) million).

The financial risk management policies of the Guarantee Fund are described in section E.7.

2.3.4.   Other investments

2.3.4.1.   Available-for-sale assets

This heading includes investments and participations purchased to help beneficiaries develop their business activities.

Long-term Available-for-sale assets

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) investment

The Commission has subscribed to 3 % of the EBRD's total capital of EUR 20 billion. At balance sheet date, the called up amount was EUR 157 million, of which EUR 154 million has been paid. Payments outstanding on called up capital (EUR 3 million) are recorded under long-term liabilities and accounted for at amortised cost. Payments outstanding on non-called up capital amount to EUR 443 million and are included as contingent liabilities in the off-balance sheet. As the EBRD is not quoted on any stock exchange and in view of the contractual restrictions included in the EBRD's articles of incorporation relating, amongst others, to the sale of participating interests, capped at acquisition cost and only authorised to existing shareholders, the Commission's shareholding is valued at cost less any write-down for impairment.

Risk Capital Operations (RCO)

Under risk capital operations amounts are granted to financial intermediaries to finance equity investments. Although some of these contracts have the characteristics of loans, since the vast majority of these finance contracts do not have the basic and constituent characteristics of a loan (as there is no fixed reimbursement schedule or interest rate agreed for the principal consideration), the entire portfolio is treated as indirect equity investments. They are held at historic cost less any provisions for impairment, as there are no quoted market prices available in an active market and their fair value cannot currently be reliably measured.

Other investments

The most significant amounts concern the Growth & Employment programme and the MAP programme, under the trusteeship of the EIF, supporting the creation and financing of start-up SMEs by investing in suitable specialised venture capital funds (EUR 98 million). Also included is EUR 55 million relating to the European Fund for South East Europe, an investment company with variable share capital (SICAV). The overall objective of EFSE is to foster economic development and prosperity in South East Europe through the sustainable provision of additional development finance via local financial intermediaries. The current voting rights of the Communities amount to 16 %.

2.3.4.2.   Held for trading assets

The ECSC in liquidation (ECSC) entered into an interest rate swap agreement and combination of both interest rate swap and cross-currency interest rate swap agreement. The fair value of these interest rate swaps was obtained by discounting the net fixed cash flows using zero-coupon swap rates on the balance sheet date. This fair value (including accrued interests) of these swaps with final maturity of more than one year after the balance sheet date is EUR 13 million (2006: EUR 21 million).

2.4.   LOANS

This heading covers loan amounts owed to the European Communities maturing in over one year.

2.4.1.   Loans granted from the European Communities budget and the ECSC in liquidation

Loans with Special Conditions

Loans with special conditions are loans granted at preferential rates as part of co-operation with non-member countries. The effective interest rates on these loans vary between 7,39 % and 12,36 %.

Housing loans of the ECSC in liquidation (ECSC)

Housing loans are loans granted by the ECSC from its own funds in accordance with Articles 54 and 54.2 of the ECSC Treaty. These loans are granted at a fixed rate of 1 % and consequently, considered as loans at preferential rates. The effective interest rates on these loans are 2,806 %-22,643 %.

2.4.2.   Loans granted from borrowed funds

Macro Financial Assistance (MFA) loans

MFA is a policy-based financial instrument of untied and undesignated balance-of-payment and/or budget support to partner third-countries geographically close to the EU territory. It takes the form of medium/long-term loans or grants or an appropriate combination of both and generally complements financing provided in the context of an IMF-supported adjustment and reform programme.

Based on materiality considerations, the effective interest rate method is not applied separately to loans and borrowings. The transaction costs are directly expensed in the economic outturn account.

Euratom loans

Euratom is a separate legal entity of the European Union represented by the European Commission. The objective of this entity is to grant loans to Member States and non-Member States as follows:

Based on materiality considerations, the effective interest rate method is not applied separately to loans and borrowings. The transaction costs are directly expensed in the economic outturn account.

ECSC in liquidation loans

This item mainly includes loans granted by the ECSC in liquidation on borrowed funds in accordance with Articles 54 and 56 of the ECSC Treaty as well as two unquoted debt securities issued by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as substitute of a defaulted debtor. These debt securities will be held till their final maturity (2017 and 2019) in order to cover the service of related borrowings. The changes in carrying amount correspond to the change in accrued interests plus the amortisation of the year of premiums paid and transaction cost incurred at inception, calculated according to the effective interest rate method.

The effective interest rates (expressed as a range of interest rates) were as follows:

2.5.   LONG-TERM PRE-FINANCING

The most significant long-term pre-financing amounts relate to Structural Fund actions. As many of these projects are long-term in nature, it is necessary that the related advances are available for more than one year. Thus these pre-financing amounts are shown as long-term assets. The significant reduction in the shared management pre-financing amount comes from the Structural Funds, where the transactions relating to the 2000-2006 programmes have now been reclassified under short term pre-financing (see note E.2.9). This is because these programmes concern measures to be carried out up until the end of 2008. The corresponding pre-financing amounts will therefore either be cleared in the course of 2008, or as part of the year-end accounting closure exercise.

2.6.   LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES

Amounts to be received from Member States refer to amounts due to the ECSC in liquidation from former accession countries. The total contribution amounts to EUR 212 million (including Bulgaria and Romania) and is to be paid in four instalments up to 2012. The net present value of these contributions was EUR 144 million at year-end (2006: EUR 138 million), being split up between long-term receivables, EUR 93 million (2006: EUR 104 million) and short-term receivables, EUR 51 million (2006: EUR 34 million). At 31 December 2006 there was also an amount of EUR 168 million due from Member States related to a Commission decision of 2005 reducing the assistance granted from the ERDF to one Member State. This amount is now included as a short-term receivable as it falls due in 2008.

CURRENT ASSETS

2.7.   INVENTORIES

The stock of publications held and/or managed by the Publications Office is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, which is approximately zero. Additionally, publications distributed for free have been fully written down as their net realisable value is zero. These write downs total EUR 18 million and result in the zero carrying amount for publications shown above.

2.8.   SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Short-term investments consist of available-for-sale securities, which are purchased for their investment return or yield, or held to establish a particular asset structure or a secondary source of liquidity and may therefore be sold in response to needs for liquidity or changes in interest rates.

2.8.1.   Short-term available-for-sale assets

ECSC in liquidation

All investments are debt securities denominated in EUR and quoted in an active market. Details of the investment portfolio by issuer type and by rating are described in section E.7. At 31 December 2007 debt securities (expressed at their fair value) reaching final maturity in the course of 2008 amount to EUR 146 million (2006: EUR 135 million).

2.9.   SHORT-TERM PRE-FINANCING

The split of amounts outstanding between management types reflects the pre-financing payments made since 2005. The unallocated pre-financing amounts are those first included in the opening balance sheet of 2005 and are shown separately on a single line since no information on the split by budget management type is available before 31 December 2004.

Accrued charges represent the amount of eligible costs that were estimated to have been incurred by the beneficiaries of the outstanding pre-financing amounts at year-end, but not yet reported to the Communities. These amounts are taken as expenses in the economic outturn account.

The significant increase compared to 2006 is primarily due to the transfer of Structural Funds amounts from long-term to short-term (see note E.2.5 above). Although these amounts concern shared management, they are presented on the ‘unallocated amounts’ line as these are pre-financing payments made before 31 December 2004 (see above).

SHORT-TERM PRE-FINANCING AMOUNTS

2.10.   SHORT-TERM RECEIVABLES

2.10.1.   Current portion of long-term receivables

These amounts concern primarily loans with remaining final maturities less than 12 months after the balance sheet date (EUR 138 million, see note 2.4 above for more details).

2.10.2.   Current receivables

2.10.2.1.   Customers

These are recovery orders entered in the accounts at 31 December 2007 as established entitlements to be recovered and not already included under other headings on the assets side of the balance sheet. The largest portion of this balance relates to fines issued by the Commission, being a gross amount of EUR 3 650 million. These receivables are significantly higher than in 2006, when they totalled EUR 2 687 million.

2.10.2.2.   Receivables from Member States

EAGF Guarantee receivables

This item covers the amounts owed by beneficiaries of EAGF at 31 December 2007, as declared and certified by the Member States at 15 October 2007, and less 20 % of the amount, which the Member States are allowed to retain to cover administrative costs. An estimation has had to be made for the receivables arising after this declaration and up to 31 December 2007. The Commission also estimates a write-down for the amounts owed by beneficiaries that are unlikely to be recovered. The fact that this adjustment is entered in the accounts does not mean that the Commission is waiving future recovery of these amounts.

Own resources

It should be noted that Member States are entitled to withhold 25 % of traditional own resources as collection costs, thus the above figures are shown net of this deduction. Based on the estimations sent by Member States, a write-down of EUR 773 million has been deducted from receivables from Member States. However, this does not mean that the Commission is waiving recovery of the amounts covered by this value adjustment.

Other receivables from Member States

Other receivables from Member States include EUR 19 million of recovery of expenses and EAGF advances of EUR 227 million. This heading also includes EUR 168 million relating to a Commission decision of 2005 reducing the assistance granted from the ERDF to one Member State.

2.10.3.   Accrued income and deferred charges

The main amount under this heading is accrued income of EUR 6 129 million. The most significant accrued income amounts concern traditional own resources (agricultural duties, sugar levies and custom duties). At 31 December 2007 these amounted to EUR 2,7 billion. Other significant amounts are EUR 1,3 billion of agricultural assigned revenues for November and December 2007, EUR 1,5 billion from the temporary restructuring of the sugar sector, EUR 350 million relating to non-executed EAGF conformity correction decisions and EUR 82 million relating to foreseeable recoveries of expenses from the fisheries Structural Fund programme 1994-1999. Other amounts included as accrued income are late interest income, accrued bank interest and accrued interest on pre-financing amounts.

Also included are deferred charges totalling EUR 243 million of which the main amounts are anticipated payments of EUR 49 million for office rental and EUR 24 million for office transformation and EUR 57 million paid for bilateral fisheries agreements with third countries.

2.11.   CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

2.11.1.   Unrestricted cash

Unrestricted cash covers all the funds which the Commission keeps in its accounts in each Member State and EFTA country (treasury or central bank), as well as in current accounts, imprest accounts, short-term bank deposits and petty cash.

The relatively high balance with Treasuries and Central Banks is due to the fact that following the rectifying budget at year-end, EUR 5 889 million had to be repaid to Member States, which was done on the first working day of 2008. The related liability is shown under current payables — see also note 2.18.2 below.

2.11.2.   Restricted cash

Restricted cash refers to amounts received in connection with fines issued by the Commission for which the case is still open. These are kept in specific deposit accounts that are not used for any other activities.

Cash & cash equivalents include the following for the purposes of the cash flow statement:

NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

2.12.   EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

2.12.1.   Pensions — Staff

At 31 December 2007, the rules concerning the PSEO (Pension Scheme of European Officials) are defined by the latest version of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities (in force since 1 May 2004). The rules regarding the staff pensions are directly applicable in all Member States. The arrangement covers the various types of pensions and allowances (seniority, invalidity, survival).

In accordance with Article 83 of the Staff Regulations, the payment of the benefits provided for in the pension scheme constitutes a charge on the Communities' budget. The provision for this charge is not funded, but the Member States guarantee the payment of these benefits collectively according to the scale fixed for the financing of this expenditure. In addition, officials contribute one third to the long-term financing of this scheme via a compulsory contribution.

The liabilities of the PSEO were evaluated on the basis of the population at 31 December 2007 and the applicable rules in the statute at this date. This valuation covered the benefits connected with seniority, invalidity and survival (different types of pensions as well as invalidity allowance). It was carried out in accordance with the methodology of IAS 19. This accounting standard requires the employer to determine his actuarial commitment on an ongoing basis, taking into account both the promised benefits during the active lifetime of employees, and foreseeable increases in salaries.

The actuarial valuation method used to calculate this liability is known as the projected unit credit method. The main actuarial assumptions available at the valuation date and used on the valuation were as follows:

Liabilities cover the rights previously defined for the following persons:

The population of the PSEO at 31 December 2007 was extracted from the Commission database. The results obtained within the framework of this study were compared with the estimates based on the previous actuarial valuation on 31 December 2006.

The principal points to note are:

2.12.2.   Pensions — Others

This refers to the liability relating to the pension obligations towards members and former members of the Commission, the Court of Justice (and Court of First Instance) and the Court of Auditors, the Secretaries General of the Council, the Ombudsman, the European Data Protection Supervisor, and the European Union Civil Service Tribunal. Also included under this heading, for the first time, is a liability relating to the pensions of certain Members of Parliament.

2.12.3.   Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme

A valuation is also made for the estimated liability that the Communities have regarding its contributions to the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme in relation to its retired staff.

2.13.   LONG-TERM PROVISIONS

Legal cases

This is the estimate of amounts that will probably have to be paid out after 2008 in relation to a number of ongoing legal cases. The largest portion, EUR 277 million, concerns court cases pending at 31 December 2007 in relation to financial corrections for EAGF Guarantee expenditure and other court cases concerning agricultural expenditure.

Nuclear site dismantlement

In 2002 a consortium of independent experts conducted a study into the estimated costs of the decommissioning of the JRC nuclear facilities and waste management programme. Their estimate of EUR 1 145 million (including EUR 76 million as an estimate of the cost required for the ‘green field’ option, i.e. total destruction of all the buildings) is taken as the basis for the provision to be included in the financial statements. In accordance with the Communities' accounting rules, this provision is indexed for inflation (at a rate of 2,5 %) and then discounted to its net present value (using the Euro zero-coupon swap curve). At 31 December 2007, this resulted in a provision of EUR 960 million, less the costs incurred to date of EUR 138 million, giving EUR 822 million split between amounts expected to be paid in 2008 (EUR 78 million) and afterwards (EUR 744 million).

In view of the estimated duration of this programme (around 30 years), it should be pointed out that there is some uncertainty about this estimate, and the final cost could be different from the amounts currently entered.

Financial provisions

Under the SME Guarantee Facility 1998 and the SME Guarantee Facility 2001, the European Investment Fund (EIF) is empowered to issue guarantees in its own name but on behalf of and at the risk of the Commission. The financial risk linked to the drawn and undrawn guarantees is, however, capped. As at the balance sheet date, financial provisions correspond for both facilities to the payment obligations towards financial intermediaries minus the net payment demands made up to that date. Long-term financial provisions are discounted to their net present value (using the Euro zero-coupon swap curve).

Emergency Veterinary Fund provision

This provision concerns the estimates of the Communities' contributions to various Member States under the Emergency Veterinary Fund for certain animal disease outbreaks, totalling EUR 42 million (2006: EUR 35 million) split between amounts expected to be settled in 2008 (EUR 21 million) and afterwards (EUR 21 million). Amounts of EUR 9 million already agreed to be paid are included as a payable to Member States.

2.14.   LONG-TERM FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

2.14.1.   Borrowings

Split of borrowings between long-term & short-term

This heading includes borrowings due by the European Communities maturing in over one year (note that all figures are net of amounts held by the Guarantee Fund). Borrowings include debts evidenced by certificates amounting (after elimination) to EUR 1 344 million (2006: EUR 1 502 million). The changes in carrying amount correspond to the change in accrued interests plus, in the case of ECSC in liquidation's borrowings, the amortisation of the year of any material transaction costs incurred at inception, calculated according to the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rates (expressed as a range of interest rates) were as follows:

2.14.2.   Held for trading liabilities

See held for trading assets, note 2.3.4.2 above, for more details.

2.15.   OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

This item covers primarily leasing liabilities due in more than one year (see note 2.2 above) and amounts relating to certain buildings that the Commission bought, where the purchase price will be paid off in instalments. It is not a leasing contract since title passed to the Commission immediately.

CURRENT LIABILITIES

2.16.   SHORT-TERM PROVISIONS

This heading includes the portion of provisions which fall due for payment in less than one year's time.

2.17.   SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

This heading includes borrowings of EUR 131 million that mature during the 12 months following the balance sheet date (note 2.14.1) and EUR 4 million relating to held for trading liabilities (note 2.14.2).

2.18.   ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

2.18.1.   Current portion of long-term liabilities

2.18.2.   Current payables

Current payables concern mainly cost statements received by the Commission under the framework of the grant activities. They are credited for the amount being claimed from the moment the demand is received. If the counterpart is a Member State, they are classified as such. It is the same procedure for invoices and credit notes received under procurement activities.

The cost claims concerned have been taken into account for the year-end cut off procedures (see note 2.18.3 below). Following these cut off entries, estimated eligible amounts have therefore been recorded as accrued charges, while the non-eligible parts remain open on the ‘eligibility to be checked’ accounts. In order not to overestimate assets and liabilities, it has been decided to present the net amount to be paid under the current liabilities.

The large decrease seen under this heading is primarily due to a movement of amounts between the current payables and accrued charges headings. This arose due to an earlier closing of the accounting system at year-end, which resulted in less amounts being captured as payables in comparison with the prior year. It also meant that accrued charges were higher than in 2006, since amounts previously recorded as payables had to be recorded as accrued charges.

Member States

The primary amounts here related to EUR 6 287 million in unpaid cost claims for structural fund actions and also EUR 5 889 million due back to Member States following a rectifying budget made at the end of 2007 (2006: EUR 7 415 million).

Suppliers and other

As well as amounts relating to grant activities, also included under this heading are amounts owed following procurement activities. This heading also covers amounts payable to several public bodies (universities, institutes, chambers of commerce, United Nations, EIB, etc.) and non-consolidated entities, including the EDF.

Eligibility to be checked

Payables are reduced by EUR 633 million, being that part of the requests for reimbursement received, but not yet checked, that was considered to be ineligible. The most important amounts concern DG REGIO (EUR 229 million), DG EMPL (EUR 194 million), DG AGRI (EUR 109 million), DG ENV (EUR 20 million) and DG FISH (EUR 21 million).

A balance of EUR 18 million remains open as ‘invoices to be checked’ mainly in the framework of procurement activities. It concerns invoices received and requests for reimbursement for which the invoice has still to be checked with the delivered goods and services and requests for pre-financing.

2.18.3.   Accrued charges and deferred income

The most significant accrued charges amounts represent accrued charges relating to EAGF expenditure. At 31 December 2007 these amounted to EUR 45,5 billion compared to EUR 45,2 billion the previous year. The main amounts concerned were: EUR 28,6 billion (EUR 26,6 billion in 2006) cover expenses incurred between 16 October and 31 December 2007 which are declared by Member States and paid in January and February 2008, EUR 13,8 billion (EUR 16,7 billion in 2006) covering direct aid (this consists of entitlements incurred in 2007 with financial consequences in 2008), EUR 3,1 billion regarding the temporary restructuring of the sugar sector.

Another significant element was accrued charges concerning structural funds (this consists of eligible expenditure incurred by operators or the payment authorities up to 31 December 2007, for which no payment request was yet sent to the Commission). The main amounts were: EUR 6,7 billion concerning EARDF, EUR 16,9 billion for ERDF 2000-2006, ISPA, innovative actions (EUR 12,2 billion in 2006), EUR 7,8 billion for ESF (EUR 5,6 billion in 2006). The remaining accrued charges of EUR 3,9 billion cover other policies, the most significant of which is the research area with approximately EUR 1,2 billion accrued.

As mentioned in note 2.18.2 above, the increase in these amounts in comparison with 2006 is due to the earlier closing of the accounting system at year-end.

NET ASSETS

2.19.   RESERVES

2.19.1.   Fair value reserve

In accordance with the accounting rules, the adjustment to fair value of available-for-sale assets is accounted for through the fair value reserve.

2.19.2.   Other reserves

Guarantee Fund

See also note 2.3.3 concerning the operation of the Guarantee Fund. This reserve reflects the 9 % target amount of the outstanding amounts guaranteed by the Fund that is required to be kept as assets. As stated earlier, any surplus of the assets of the Fund above this 9 % target amount is repaid to the budget.

Revaluation reserve

The revaluation reserve comprises the revaluations of property, plant and equipment. The balance at the year-end of EUR 57 million relates to a revaluation of Commission land and buildings, which had already occurred before the transition to the new accounting rules.

Borrowing and lending activities reserve

These amounts comprise the reserves relating to the Communities' borrowing and lending activities. The main amount relates primarily to the ECSC in liquidation reserves, the largest of these being the reserve for the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. This reserve was created in the context of the winding-up of the ECSC, and totalled EUR 1 169 million at 31 December 2007.

2.20.   AMOUNTS TO BE CALLED FROM MEMBER STATES

This amount represents that part of the expenses already incurred by the Communities up to 31 December 2007 that must be funded by future budgets. Many expenses are recognised under accrual accounting rules in the year N although they may be actually paid in year N+1 and funded by using the budget of year N+1. The inclusion in the accounts of these liabilities coupled with the fact that the corresponding amounts are financed from future budgets, results in liabilities greatly exceeding assets at the year-end. The most significant amounts to be highlighted are the EAGF activities. The amount of payments due to the Member States for the period 16 October to 31 December 2007 was EUR 28,6 billion. The majority of the amounts to be called are in fact paid by the Member States in less than 12 months after the end of the financial year in question as part of the budget of the following year.

It is essentially only the employee benefits obligations of the Communities towards its staff which are paid out over a longer period, noting that the funding of the pension payments by the annual budgets is guaranteed by the Member States. For information purposes only, an estimate of the split of future employee benefit payments is given below:

It should also be noted that the above has no effect on the budget outturn — budget revenue should always equal or exceed budget expenditure and any excess of revenue is returned to Member States.

3.   NOTES TO THE ECONOMIC OUTTURN ACCOUNT

3.1.   OWN RESOURCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS REVENUE

Own resources revenue is the primary element of the European Communities' operating revenue. Thus the bulk of expenditure is financed by own resources as other revenue represents only a minor part of the total financing.

3.1.1.   Own resource revenue

There are three categories of own resources: traditional own resources, the VAT resource and the GNI resource. Traditional own resources, in turn, comprise agricultural duties, sugar levies and customs duties. A correction mechanism in respect of budgetary imbalances (UK Rebate) is also part of the own resources system. Member States retain, by way of collection costs, 25 % of traditional own resources, and the above amounts are shown net of this deduction.

VAT own resources derive from the application of a uniform rate, for all Member States, to the harmonised VAT base, a base which is capped at 50 % of GNI for all Member States. The GNI resource is a variable resource intended to supply the revenue required, in any given year, to cover expenditure exceeding the amount collected from traditional own resources, VAT resources and miscellaneous revenue. The revenue derives from the application of a uniform rate to the aggregate GNI of all the Member States.

The increase in these revenues can be directly linked to the increased budgeted revenue for 2007 compared to 2006 (a EUR 6 billion increase). More specifically, for customs duties an increase in imports in value terms, a growth in the average tariff and the accession of Bulgaria and Romania led to higher revenues. The VAT revenue increased following an increase in the VAT bases, offset by a slight decrease in the uniform rate. As the GNI resource covers the remaining revenue requirements, it too rose in line with the increased budgetary expenditure.

3.1.2.   Budgetary adjustments

The budgetary adjustments include the budget surplus from 2006 (EUR 1 848 million) which is indirectly refunded to Member States by deduction of the amounts of own resources they have to transfer to the Community in the following year — thus it is a revenue for 2007. According to Council Decision 2000/597/EC, Euratom on the system of the European Communities' own resources, the United Kingdom is granted a correction in respect of budgetary imbalances. As this amount is financed by the other Member States there should be no net effect on the budgetary or economic outturn. However, an amount of EUR 57 million was registered under this heading being the differences in the Euro rates used for budgetary purposes (see Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC, Euraton) No 1150/2000) and the rates in force at the time when those Member States not part of the EMU actually made their payments.

3.2.   OTHER OPERATING REVENUE

3.2.1.   Fines

These revenues relate to fines imposed by the Commission for infringement of competition rules. Receivables and related revenues are recognised when the Commission decision imposing a fine has been taken and it is officially notified to the addressee. Not included in the above is a fine of EUR 899 million notified by the European Commission in February 2008 to a software company for continued anti-competitive behaviour. The same company, which had previously been fined EUR 280 million in 2006 and EUR 497 million in March 2004, has appealed this current fine.

3.2.2.   Agricultural levies

These amounts concern milk levies of EUR 232 million (2006: EUR 436 million) and sugar levies of EUR 2 402 million (2006: EUR 1 259 million). Milk levies are in fact a market management tool aimed at penalising the milk producers who exceed their reference quantities. As it is not linked to prior payments by the Commission, it is in practice considered as revenue for a specific purpose. Sugar levies relate to the sugar restructuring fund, whereby the reform of the sugar sector has lowered the internal price of sugar in order to reduce the gap between the EU price and the international price. To encourage the less competitive sugar producers to leave the market, a self-financing restructuring fund was created, financed by revenue stemming from a temporary tax levied on sugar producers, which is treated as assigned revenue. The scheme is due to last for four years. It is considered as revenue for a specific purpose.

3.2.3.   Recovery of expenses

This heading represents the recovery orders issued by the Commission, and recorded in the Commission's accounting system, to recover expenditures previously paid out from the general budget, based on controls, closed audits or eligibility analysis, together with recovery orders issued by Member States to beneficiaries of EAGF expenditure. It also includes the variation of accrued income estimations from the previous year-end to the current. It does not, however, show the full extent of the recovery of EC expenditure, particularly for the significant spending areas of Structural Actions where specific mechanisms are in place to ensure the return of ineligible monies, most of which do not involve the issuance of a recovery order. Recovery of pre-financing amounts are also not included as revenue, in accordance with the EC accounting rules. For further information on recovery of undue payments see Section E.6.

Recovery of expenses: Shared management

The total of EUR 577 million included under this sub-heading is made up of EUR 500 million concerning the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and EUR 77 million for Structural Actions.

(a)   Agriculture, EAGF

In the framework of agriculture, amounts accounted for as revenue of the year under this heading are EUR 500 million, made up as follows:

At 31 December 2007 the amount of EAGF expenditure subject to future corrections following audits which were not yet finalised totals EUR 1,5 billion. This amount is disclosed as a contingent asset in the off-balance sheet (see note E.5.4.1).

(b)   Structural Actions

The recovery of expenditure under the Structural actions included under this heading amounted to EUR 77 million. Equivalent amounts for 2006 were EUR 483 million higher compared to the current year — this is due principally to a Commission decision reducing the assistance granted from ERDF to one Member State whereby EUR 418 million was accounted for as income in 2006.

This sub-heading includes recovery orders issued by the Commission to recover undue expenditure made in previous years, EUR 113 million, a recovery order for EUR 6 million related to the Solidarity Fund and the variation of the accrued income at year-end EUR (42) million. Recovery orders are issued only in the following cases:

Recovery orders issued in 2007 for the recovery of expenses, totalling EUR 119 million, can be split as follows: EUR 6 million for the Solidarity Fund, EUR 6 million for financial corrections decided in 2006, EUR 18 million for financial corrections decided in 2007 and EUR 89 million for recovery orders not classified as financial corrections. Other recovery orders issued under Structural Actions concern the recovery of pre-financing (EUR 35 million), of which EUR 20 million concern financial corrections decided in 2007. These amounts are not shown as revenue, but credited to the pre-financing heading on the balance sheet.

An amount of EUR 2,9 billion relating to potential financial corrections in the process of being recovered from Member States is disclosed as a contingent asset (see note E.5.4.1).

Recovery of expenses: Other management types

This sub-heading includes recovery orders issued by the Commission to recover undue payments made in previous years, EUR 194 million, and the variation of the accrued income at the year-end (EUR 52 million). Other recoveries under the other management types concern the recovery of pre-financing (EUR 162 million). These amounts are not shown as revenue, but credited to the pre-financing heading on the balance sheet.

3.2.4.   Revenue from administrative operations

This revenue arises from deductions from staff salaries and is made up primarily of two amounts — pension contributions and taxes on income.

3.2.5.   Miscellaneous operating revenue

An amount of EUR 296 million (2006: EUR 358 million) relates to amounts received from accession countries. One of the main reasons for the decrease in miscellaneous operating revenues compared with last year is that the prior year included a revenue of EUR 397 million relating to the decrease in the value reduction for EAGF receivables. Additionally the prior year also included an exceptional amount of EUR 778 million relating to pre-financing amounts included on the balance sheet for the first time, the counter-party of which appears under this heading — the largest amount, EUR 652 million, related to money paid out under the Schengen Facility. In 2007 the corresponding figure is EUR 33 million.

Exchange gains, except on financial activities dealt with in note 3.5 below, are also included under this heading. These arise from the everyday activities and related transactions made in currencies other than the euro, as well as the year-end revaluation required to prepare the accounts. They contain both realised and unrealised gains.

3.3.   ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

These are administrative expenses incurred as part of the activities of the Communities and include staff costs and costs relating to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment (such as depreciation, maintenance costs, etc).

3.4.   OPERATING EXPENSES

3.4.1.   Primary operating expenses

The European Communities' operating expenditure covers the various headings of the financial perspective and takes different forms, depending on how the money is paid out and managed. The majority of the expenditure, 87 %, falls under the heading ‘Shared Management’ involving the delegation of tasks to Member States, covering such areas as EAGF spending and Structural Actions.

Much of the decrease in operating expenditure can be attributed to the fact that since 2006 some projects being funded were in the process of winding down, while others were less advanced than foreseen in 2006. For shared management there was a decrease of EUR 4,5 billion for structural actions, principally ERDF, due mainly to the aforementioned reasons. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of EUR 3,3 billion in agriculture expenditure due to the introduction of a new fund for rural development, EARDF.

The decrease of EUR 2,7 billion in direct centralised management expenditure is partially offset by an increase of EUR 0,9 billion in joint management expenditure, caused by a better classification of these projects. The remaining decrease can also be explained by the above mentioned reasons, i.e. the winding down of some projects and some projects being less advanced than foreseen in 2006.

3.4.2.   Other operating expenses

Exchange losses, except on financial activities dealt with in note 3.6 below, occur on the everyday activities and related transactions made in currencies other than the euro, as well as the year-end revaluation required to prepare the accounts — they are both realised and unrealised.

The ‘other’ sub-heading includes pre-financing corrections and amounts written down/lost on realisation concerning Commission debtors. Also included is an amount of EUR 224 million in relation to a consolidated agency — this concerns the implementation of the CARDS programme in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.

3.5.   FINANCIAL REVENUE

The Communities' financial income consists of interest income derived from loans, either granted from the general budget or from borrowed funds, as well as from debt securities and derivative instruments. Interest is also earned on amounts held in bank accounts and short-term bank deposits.

3.6.   FINANCIAL EXPENSES

The main financial expense incurred by the European Communities consists of interest; primarily on financial lease contracts and on borrowings taken out to fund lending activities. In addition to losses on the sale and the write down in the value of financial assets, other financial expenses also include the adjustments made to financial provisions and the management fees paid to the fiduciaries.

3.7.   SHARE OF NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) OF ASSOCIATES & JOINT VENTURES

In accordance with the equity method of accounting, the Communities include in its economic outturn account its share of the net surplus of its associate, EIF, and its joint ventures (see also notes E.2.3.1 & E.2.3.2).

3.8.   SEGMENT REPORTING

The segment report gives the split of the operating revenues and expenses by policy area, based on the Activity Based Budget structure, within the Commission. These policy areas can be grouped under three larger headings — Activities within the European Union, Activities outside the European Union and Services & other.

‘Activities within the European Union’ is the largest of these headings as it covers the many policy areas within the European Union. ‘Activities outside the European Union’ concerns the policies operated outside the Union, such as trade and aid. ‘Services & other’ are the internal and horizontal activities necessary for the functioning of the Communities' Institutions and bodies.

The consolidated agencies are integrated into the different policy areas. Other Institutions, aside from the Commission are grouped in a specific policy area. The various policy areas represent gross figures before consolidation eliminations and the consolidation eliminations are done globally in one column.

Note that own resources and contributions are not split amongst the various activities as these are calculated, collected and managed by central Commission services. They are shown here so as to allow for comparison of the net result with the economic outturn account.

SEGMENT REPORTING — SUMMARY

SEGMENT REPORTING — ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE EU