OPINION No 7/2005

on a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 as regards the post of accounting officers of executive agencies

(2005/C 249/01)

THE COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 248(4) thereof,

Having regard to the request by the Commission’s Director-General for Budget (1) of an opinion on a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 as regards the posts of accounting officers of executive agencies,

Whereas Article 30 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies (2) provides that the management board of an executive agency shall appoint an accounting officer, who is an official subject to the Staff Regulations,

Whereas, having encountered problems in finding among officials appropriate candidates to be seconded to the posts of accounting officers of executive agencies, the Commission proposes to amend Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004, so as to allow the appointment of members of temporary staff as accounting officers of executive agencies,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION:

The Court has no observations on the proposal of the Commission. The Court invites, however, the Commission to consider including in Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 the qualifications required for an accounting officer, as in Article 55 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the Financial Regulation (3).

(1)  Letter of 1 June 2005 to the President of the Court of Auditors.

(2)  OJ L 297, 22.9.2004, p. 6.

(3)  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.