Výbor pro rozpočtovou kontrolu. ZÁPIS ze schůze konané dne 11. prosince 2014 od 9:00 do 12:30 BRUSEL

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1 EVROPSKÝ PARLAMENT Výbor pro rozpočtovou kontrolu CONT_PV(2014)1211_1 ZÁPIS ze schůze konané dne 11. prosince 2014 od 9:00 do 12:30 BRUSEL Schůze byla zahájena ve čtvrtek 11. prosince 2014 v 9:10 a předsedala jí Ingeborg Gräßleová (předsedkyně). 1. Přijetí pořadu jednání CONT_OJ PE544205v01-00 Pořad jednání byl přijat. 2. Sdělení předsedkyně 3. Schválení zápisů ze schůzí konaných ve dnech: listopadu 2014 PE v listopadu 2014 PE v listopadu 2014 PE v01-00 Zápisy byly schváleny. 4. Zvláštní zpráva č. 13/2014 (absolutorium 2013) Podpora EU na obnovu po zemětřesení na Haiti CONT/8/00500 Zpravodaj: Jens Geier (S&D) DT PE v01-00 společná prezentace výborů CONT a DEVE, jíž společně předsedaly Ingeborg Gräßleová a Linda McAvanová a jíž byl přítomen příslušný člen Evropského účetního dvora Hans Gustaf Wessberg projednání pracovního dokumentu Vystoupili: PV\ doc PE v01-00 Jednotná v rozmanitosti

2 Ingeborg Gräßle, Hans Gustaf Wessberg (člen Evropského účetního dvora), Linda McAvan, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Jens Geier, Paul Rübig, Vincenzo Caputo (externí konzultant), Jolita Butkeviciene (ředitelka GŘ DEVCO), Jonathan Arnott, Inés Ayala Sender. 5. Absolutorium 2013: souhrnný rozpočet EU Evropská komise CONT/8/01478 Zpravodajka: Ingeborg Gräßle (PPE) příslušný místopředseda výboru CONT: Igor Šoltes (Verts/ALE) výměna názorů se členem Evropské komise odpovědným za mezinárodní spolupráci a rozvoj Nevenem Mimicou za přítomnosti příslušné členky Evropského účetního dvora Danièle Lamarqueové Vystoupili: Ingeborg Gräßle, Danièle Lamarque (členka Evropského účetního dvora), komisař Neven Mimica (mezinárodní spolupráce a rozvoj), Christian Danielsson (generální ředitel, GŘ ELARG), Fernando Frutuoso de Melo (generální ředitel, GŘ DEVCO), Bogusław Liberadzki. 6. Absolutorium 2013: souhrnný rozpočet EU 8., 9. a 10. Evropský rozvojový fond CONT/8/ /2077(DEC), COM(2014)0487 C8-0146/2014 Zpravodajka: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) Věcně příslušný výbor: CONT výměna názorů se členem Evropské komise odpovědným za mezinárodní spolupráci a rozvoj Nevenem Mimicou za přítomnosti příslušné členky Evropského účetního dvora Danièle Lamarqueové CONT Vystoupili: Ingeborg Gräßle, Danièle Lamarque (členka Evropského účetního dvora), Martina Dlabajová, komisař Neven Mimica (mezinárodní spolupráce a rozvoj), Fernando Frutuoso de Melo (generální ředitel, GŘ DEVCO), Inés Ayala Sender. 7. Zvláštní zpráva č. 9/2014 (absolutorium 2013) Je podpora EU na investiční a propagační opatření pro odvětví vína dobře řízena a lze její výsledky z hlediska konkurenceschopnosti vín z EU doložit? CONT/8/00504 Zpravodajka: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) DT PE v02-00 výměna názorů a projednání pracovního dokumentu za přítomnosti příslušného člena Evropského účetního dvora Jana Kinšta Vystoupili: Ingeborg Gräßle, Jan Kinšt (člen Evropského účetního dvora), Martina Dlabajová, Tomáš Zdechovský, Inés Ayala Sender, Joachim Zeller, Joost Korte (zástupce generálního ředitele, GŘ AGRI). PE v /15 PV\ doc

3 8. Různé Předsedkyně členy výboru CONT informovala, že po schůzi výboru dne 8. ledna 2015 bude podáváno občerstvení, na něž jsou zváni. 9. Příští schůze 8. ledna 2015 od 9:00 do 12:30 (Brusel) Schůze skončila ve 12:50. PV\ doc 3/15 PE v01-00

4 ПРИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/PREZENČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESENHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/ LISTE DE PRÉSENCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELENCO DI PRESENZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELENLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTENDENZA/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/ LISTĂ DE PREZENŢĂ/PREZENČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/DELTAGARLISTA Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*) Ingeborg Gräßle (Chair), Derek Vaughan (1st Vice-Chair), Martina Dlabajová (3nd Vice-Chair), Dan Nica (4th Vice-Chair) Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Μέλη/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/Nariai/ Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter Nedzhmi Ali, Louis Aliot, Jonathan Arnott, Inés Ayala Sender, Jens Geier, Bogusław Liberadzki, Verónica Lope Fontagné, Claudia Schmidt, Michael Theurer, Tomáš Zdechovský, Joachim Zeller. Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/supleanţi/náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter Iris Hoffmann, Louis-Joseph Manscour, Julia Pitera. 200 (2) 206 (3) Enrique Guerrero Salom, Linda McAvan, Paul Rübig, 53 (6) (Точка от дневния ред/punto del orden del día/bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/ημερήσια Διάταξη Σημείο/Agenda item/point OJ/Točka dnevnog reda/punto all'ordine del giorno/darba kārtības punkts/darbotvarkės punktas/napirendi pont/punt Aġenda/Agendapunt/Punkt porządku dziennego/ponto OD/Punct de pe ordinea de zi/bod programu schôdze/točka UL/Esityslistan kohta/föredragningslista punkt) PE v /15 PV\ doc

5 Наблюдатели/Observadores/Pozorovatelé/Observatører/Beobachter/Vaatlejad/Παρατηρητές/Observers/Observateurs/Promatrači/ Osservatori/Novērotāji/Stebėtojai/Megfigyelők/Osservaturi/Waarnemers/Obserwatorzy/Observadores/Observatori/Pozorovatelia/ Opazovalci/Tarkkailijat/Observatörer По покана на председателя/por invitación del presidente/na pozvání předsedy/efter indbydelse fra formanden/auf Einladung des Vorsitzenden/Esimehe kutsel/με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chair(wo)man/Sur l'invitation du président/ Na poziv predsjednika/su invito del presidente/pēc priekšsēdētāja uzaicinājuma/pirmininkui pakvietus/az elnök meghívására/ Fuq stedina taċ-'chairman'/op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/na zaproszenie Przewodniczącego/A convite do Presidente/La invitaţia preşedintelui/na pozvanie predsedu/na povabilo predsednika/puheenjohtajan kutsusta/på ordförandens inbjudan Съвет/Consejo/Rada/Rådet/Rat/Nõukogu/Συμβούλιο/Council/Conseil/Vijeće/Consiglio/Padome/Taryba/Tanács/Kunsill/Raad/ Conselho/Consiliu/Svet/Neuvosto/Rådet (*) Giuliano Catellan Комисия/Comisión/Komise/Kommissionen/Kommission/Euroopa Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*) Neven Mimica - Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Jolita Butkeviciene - Director - DG DEVCO Fernando Frutuoso de Melo - Director-General DG DEVCO Joost Korte - Deputy Director-General, DG AGRI Manfred Kraff - Deputy Director General DG BUDG Други институции/otras instituciones/ostatní orgány a instituce/andre institutioner/andere Organe/Muud institutsioonid/ Άλλα θεσμικά όργανα/other institutions/autres institutions/druge institucije/altre istituzioni/citas iestādes/kitos institucijos/ Más intézmények/istituzzjonijiet oħra/andere instellingen/inne instytucje/outras Instituições/Alte instituţii/iné inštitúcie/muut toimielimet/andra institutioner/organ European Court of Auditors Hans Gustaf Wessberg - Member of the European Court of Auditors Danièle Lamarque - Member of the European Court of Auditors Jan Kinšt - Member of the European Court of Auditors Други участници/otros participantes/ostatní účastníci/endvidere deltog/andere Teilnehmer/Muud osalejad/επίσης Παρόντες/Other participants/autres participants/drugi sudionici/altri partecipanti/citi klātesošie/kiti dalyviai/más résztvevők/parteċipanti ohra/andere aanwezigen/inni uczestnicy/outros participantes/alţi participanţi/iní účastníci/drugi udeleženci/muut osallistujat/övriga deltagare Vincenzo Caputo - External Consultant PV\ doc 5/15 PE v01-00

6 Секретариат на политическите групи/secretaría de los Grupos políticos/sekretariát politických skupin/gruppernes sekretariat/ Sekretariat der Fraktionen/Fraktsioonide sekretariaat/γραμματεία των Πολιτικών Ομάδων/Secretariats of political groups/secrétariat des groupes politiques/tajništva klubova zastupnika/segreteria gruppi politici/politisko grupu sekretariāts/frakcijų sekretoriai/ Képviselőcsoportok titkársága/segretarjat gruppi politiċi/fractiesecretariaten/sekretariat Grup Politycznych/Secr. dos grupos políticos/secretariate grupuri politice/sekretariát politických skupín/sekretariat političnih skupin/poliittisten ryhmien sihteeristöt/ Gruppernas sekretariat PPE S&D ALDE ECR Verts/ALE GUE/NGL EFDD NI Balázs Széchy, Jonas Kraft, Laure de Montagne Maddalena Cremascoli, Codruta-Liliana Filip Dominykas Mordas Kamila Wrzesinska, Peter O'Broin Andreas Wehr Maria Barabara Gatto Кабинет на председателя/gabinete del Presidente/Kancelář předsedy/formandens Kabinet/Kabinett des Präsidenten/Presidendi kantselei/γραφείο Προέδρου/President's Office/Cabinet du Président/Ured predsjednika/gabinetto del Presidente/Priekšsēdētāja kabinets/pirmininko kabinetas/elnöki hivatal/kabinett tal-president/kabinet van de Voorzitter/Gabinet Przewodniczącego/Gabinete do Presidente/Cabinet Preşedinte/Kancelária predsedu/urad predsednika/puhemiehen kabinetti/talmannens kansli Кабинет на генералния секретар/gabinete del Secretario General/Kancelář generálního tajemníka/generalsekretærens Kabinet/ Kabinett des Generalsekretärs/Peasekretäri büroo/γραφείο Γενικού Γραμματέα/Secretary-General's Office/Cabinet du Secrétaire général/ured glavnog tajnika/gabinetto del Segretario generale/ģenerālsekretāra kabinets/generalinio sekretoriaus kabinetas/ Főtitkári hivatal/kabinett tas-segretarju Ġenerali/Kabinet van de secretaris-generaal/gabinet Sekretarza Generalnego/Gabinete do Secretário-Geral/Cabinet Secretar General/Kancelária generálneho tajomníka/urad generalnega sekretarja/pääsihteerin kabinetti/ Generalsekreterarens kansli Генерална дирекция/dirección General/Generální ředitelství/generaldirektorat/generaldirektion/peadirektoraat/γενική Διεύθυνση/ Directorate-General/Direction générale/glavna uprava/direzione generale/ģenerāldirektorāts/generalinis direktoratas/főigazgatóság/ Direttorat Ġenerali/Directoraten-generaal/Dyrekcja Generalna/Direcção-Geral/Direcţii Generale/Generálne riaditeľstvo/generalni direktorat/pääosasto/generaldirektorat DG PRES DG IPOL DG EXPO DG EPRS DG COMM DG PERS DG INLO DG TRAD DG INTE DG FINS DG ITEC DG SAFE Anne Vitrey, Niels Fisher Fabia Jones Eszter Balazs Auke Baas PE v /15 PV\ doc

7 Правна служба/servicio Jurídico/Právní služba/juridisk Tjeneste/Juristischer Dienst/Õigusteenistus/Νομική Υπηρεσία/Legal Service/ Service juridique/pravna služba/servizio giuridico/juridiskais dienests/teisės tarnyba/jogi szolgálat/servizz legali/juridische Dienst/ Wydział prawny/serviço Jurídico/Serviciu Juridic/Právny servis/oikeudellinen yksikkö/rättstjänsten Ulrich Rosslein Секретариат на комисията/secretaría de la comisión/sekretariát výboru/udvalgssekretariatet/ausschusssekretariat/komisjoni sekretariaat/γραμματεία επιτροπής/committee secretariat/secrétariat de la commission/tajništvo odbora/segreteria della commissione/ Komitejas sekretariāts/komiteto sekretoriatas/a bizottság titkársága/segretarjat tal-kumitat/commissiesecretariaat/sekretariat komisji/ Secretariado da comissão/secretariat comisie/sekretariat odbora/valiokunnan sihteeristö/utskottssekretariatet Carmen Castillo del Carpio, Mauro de Oliveira, Christian Ehlers, Philippe Godts, Tereza Pinto de Rezende, Olivier Sautière, Hrvoje Svetic, Michal Czaplicki Сътрудник/Asistente/Asistent/Assistent/Assistenz/Βοηθός/Assistant/Assistente/Palīgs/Padėjėjas/Asszisztens/Asystent/Pomočnik/ Avustaja/Assistenter Cinti Torrens Bermo * (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair(wo)man/Président/Predsjednik/Priekšsēdētājs/ Pirmininkas/Elnök/'Chairman'/Voorzitter/Przewodniczący/Preşedinte/Predseda/Predsednik/Puheenjohtaja/Ordförande (VP) = Заместник-председател/Vicepresidente/Místopředseda/Næstformand/Stellvertretender Vorsitzender/Aseesimees/Αντιπρόεδρος/ Vice-Chair(wo)man/Potpredsjednik/Vice-Président/Potpredsjednik/Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks/pirmininko pavaduotojas/alelnök/ Viċi 'Chairman'/Ondervoorzitter/Wiceprzewodniczący/Vice-Presidente/Vicepreşedinte/Podpredseda/Podpredsednik/ Varapuheenjohtaja/Vice ordförande (M) = Член/Miembro/Člen/Medlem./Mitglied/Parlamendiliige/Μέλος/Member/Membre/Član/Membro/Deputāts/Narys/Képviselő/ Membru/Lid/Członek/Membro/Membru/Člen/Poslanec/Jäsen/Ledamot (F) = Длъжностно лице/funcionario/úředník/tjenestemand/beamter/ametnik/υπάλληλος/official/fonctionnaire/dužnosnik/ Funzionario/Ierēdnis/Pareigūnas/Tisztviselő/Uffiċjal/Ambtenaar/Urzędnik/Funcionário/Funcţionar/Úradník/Uradnik/Virkamies/ Tjänsteman PV\ doc 7/15 PE v01-00

8 MEETING THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER public meeting József Antall 4Q1 1. AGENDA Follow CONT meeting on the web CONT committee website Direct access to meeting documents The draft agenda (in EN) was ed to Members on 2 December 2014 and is in the file for this meeting. 2. CHAIR S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman draws attention to the following points: LANGUAGES AVAILABLE FR, DE, IT, NL, EN, DA, ES, FI,, PL, SL, HU emeeting Meeting documents: In light of the European Parliament's paperless project please bear in mind that only a very limited number of paper dossiers will be available in the meeting room. WEBSTREAMING The CONT meeting is webstreamed on the Europarl website. Please be aware that each time a speaker activates the microphone to make an intervention, the camera will be automatically directed to the speaker. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF CONT MEETINGS: The following minutes are published on the CONT website: 5-6 November 2014, which was ed to CONT Members on 4 December November 2014, which was ed to CONT Members on 2 December 2014 and PE v /15 PV\ doc

9 20 November 2014, which was ed to CONT Members on 1 December 2014; If no objections are received before the end of the meeting, the minutes will be deemed to be approved. Please be aware that the summary of the recommendations concerning the CONT Coordinators' meeting held on 6 November 2014 is attached to the corresponding minutes and were endorsed by the Committee by written procedure. THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER public meeting Rapporteur: Jens Geier (S&D) Administrator: Olivier Sautière Joint presentation CONT/DEVE cochaired by Ingeborg Gräßle and Linda McAvan, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Hans Gustaf Wessberg Consideration of a working document CONT Timetable: Consideration of draft report on 2013 Commission Discharge - Part II - ECA Special Reports: 23/02/2015 Deadline for amendments: 03/03/2015 Adoption in CONT: 23/03/2015 Plenary vote: April II SPECIAL REPORT NO 13/2014 (2013 DISCHARGE) "EU SUPPORT FOR REHABILITATION FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI" Haiti is one of the most fragile states in the world and the earthquake which hit the country in January 2010 dramatically exacerbated the situation. It claimed a heavy death toll, caused massive destruction, had a grave impact on the national economy and reduced the already weak administration's capacity to provide basic services to the population. Likewise the EU delegation was also severely affected both at human and operational level. The European Union (EU) was a main donor. it made a single pledge amounting to 1,23 billion euro. This included pledges for rehabilitation and development of the country from the Commission (460 million euro) 1, 18 Member States (759 million euro) and the European Investment Bank (16 million euro). Over the period , the Commission also provided humanitarian aid trough Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) which allocated in total 232 million euro. 1 This pledge, which consists mainly of funds, was later increased to 522 million euro PV\ doc 9/15 PE v01-00

10 The overall objective of the Court was to examine whether EU support for rehabilitation in Haiti following the earthquake was well designed and implemented. In particular, the Court carried out its assessment on the basis of three main questions: - did the Commission address priority rehabilitation needs? - did the Commission ensure linkage between relief, rehabilitation and development? - did the Commission ensure effective implementation of EU support for rehabilitation? The Court's audit found that the majority of the programmes that were examined (10 out of 13) had delivered (or were likely to do so) their planned outputs, albeit almost all with delays. Though the Commission did not sufficiently manage some significant risks in the implementation and achievement of its programme objectives. Programmes were monitored on the basis of an appropriate framework but the Commission and the European External Action Service did not take timely action to strengthen the resources of the EU delegation in Haiti. The Rapporteur welcomes the observations of the Special Report and also takes note of the outcome of the evaluation of the EU's cooperation with the Republic of Haiti carried out on behalf of the Commission (the main conclusions will be presented in this CONT meeting). He first reiterates the overall satisfaction with the work carried out by the Commission's services and the EU delegation' staff in a very critical situation. He insists however on the issue of traceability and accountability of EU funds and recalls that 'State Building' should be the cornerstone of the EU development strategy in any such crisis situation. Beyond the Haitian situation, the Rapporteur invites the Commission to develop new approaches and measures to strengthen the policy framework of intervention as well as disaster risk reduction and resilience-building. The Rapporteur's working document (EN) is available on the CONT website. The Rapporteur's conclusions will form part of the Commission's discharge report for the financial year Amendments may be tabled in this context and the deadline will be the same as the Commission's discharge: 3 March PE v /15 PV\ doc

11 Rapporteur: Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP) CONT Vice-Chair responsible: Igor Šoltes (Greens/EFA) Administrator: Mickal Czaplicki Exchange of views with the Member of the European Commission responsible for International Cooperation & Development, Neven Mimica, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Danièle Lamarque CONT Timetable: Consideration of draft report on 2013 Commission Discharge: 23/02/2015 Deadline for amendments: 03/03/2015 Adoption in CONT: 23/03/2015 Plenary vote: April II DISCHARGE 2013: EU GENERAL BUDGET - EUROPEAN COMMISSION An exchange of views will take place with the Member of the European Commission responsible for International Cooperation & Development, Neven Mimica, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Danièle Lamarque on the European Commission discharge The transactions subject to audit by the ECA in 2013 represent 6019 million euro. According to the findings of the ECA the most likely error rate is 2,6%, a systemic error in clearing expenditure by DG ELARG represents 150 million euro and the examined systems at EuropeAid are assessed as partially effective. The documents of particular relevance for the exchange of views as regards the 2013 Commission discharge are: - The ECA's 2013 Annual Report - Chapters 1, 7 and The Commission's follow-up report COM (2014)607 final and SWD (2014) 285 and The respective Annual Activity Report of the Director General. These documents are available on the meeting documents page of the CONT website. In accordance with the timetable for the discharge procedure, the written questions for this meeting were sent to the Commission on 25 November 2014 and ed to Members on the same day. The answers from the Commission are expected on 8 December pursuant to the practical arrangements and will be ed to Members immediately. The "practical arrangements" agreed with the Commission on the discharge procedure are attached to this newsletter for convenience. It is proposed that today's hearing with the Commissioner shall proceed as follows: - Introduction by the Member of the European Court of Auditors, who will present the findings of the respective chapters of the Annual Report 2012, - Commissioner in charge will reply to this introduction, - CONT Rapporteur will put questions to the PV\ doc 11/15 PE v01-00

12 Commissioner and the Court, - Other Members will question the Commissioner and/or the Court, - Closing remarks by the CONT Rapporteur. Rapporteur: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) 6. DISCHARGE 2013: EU GENERAL BUDGET - 8TH, 9TH AND 10TH EDFS Administrator: Olivier Sautière Exchange of views with the Member of the European Commission responsible for International Cooperation & Development, Neven Mimica, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Danièle Lamarque CONT Timetable: Consideration of draft report : 23/02/2015 Deadline for amendments: 03/03/2015 Adoption in CONT: 23/03/2015 Plenary vote: April II 2015 The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for providing European Union aid for development cooperation to the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and Overseas Countries and Territories. The EDF's are funded by the Member States, governed by their own financial regulations and managed outside the framework of the EU general budget. The transactions subject to audit by the ECA in 2013 represent 2.6 billion euro. According to the findings of the ECA, the most likely error rate was 3.4%. Non-compliance with procurement rules is the main area responsible for around half of the estimated error rate. Errors were also detected in budget support transactions where fulfilment of conditions had been wrongly measured. The examined control systems in EuropeAid are assessed as being partially effective. The documents of particular relevance for the exchange of views as regards the 2013 Commission discharge are: - The ECA's 2013 Annual Report - Annual report on the activities funded by the 8th, 9th and 10th European development funds (EDFs). - The Commission's follow-up report COM (2014)607 final and SWD (2014) 285 and The Annual Activity Report of the Director General. Following the usual procedure, Members were asked to PE v /15 PV\ doc

13 submit questions related to the 2013 EDF discharge to the Rapporteur by 17 November In accordance with the timetable for the 2013 discharge procedure, the written questions for this item were sent to the Commission on 21 November 2014 and ed to Members on the same day. In conformity with the 'practical arrangements', written answers to these questions were sent to Members on 5 December. The relevant background documents are available on CONT webpage. Rapporteur: Martina Dlabajová (ALDE) Administrator: Mauro de Oliveira 7. SPECIAL REPORT NO 9/2014 (2013 DISCHARGE) "IS THE EU INVESTMENT AND PROMOTION SUPPORT TO THE WINE SECTOR WELL MANAGED AND ARE ITS RESULTS ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF EU WINES DEMONSTRATED?" Exchange of views and consideration of a working document, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Jan Kinšt CONT Timetable: Consideration of draft report on 2013 Commission Discharge - Part II - ECA Special Reports: 23/02/2015 Deadline for amendments: 03/03/2015 Adoption in CONT: 23/03/2015 Plenary vote: April II 2015 The European Union (EU) is the world s biggest wine producer. Since 1 August 2008, market intervention measures, such as distillations, export refunds and storage measures, have been gradually reduced and ended on 31 July In the National Support Programmes (NSPs), for the programming period , promotion and investment measures each represent 10 % of the budget, i.e. 522 and 518 million euro respectively. Contribution to promotion activities shall not exceed 50% of the eligible expenditure and the maximum aid rate for investment measure is 40% of the eligible investment costs. The Court of Auditors' performance audit assessed whether the investment and promotion support measures to the wine sector are well managed and whether its results on the competitiveness of EU wines are demonstrated. The ECA audit that focused on the first 3 years of the implementation of the reform (projects funded between wine years 2008/09 and 2010/11) arrived at the PV\ doc 13/15 PE v01-00

14 conclusion that there is a risk that the budget to the promotion measure is set at too high a level compared to the funds spent in the previous programming period. The audit also found that the management of investment and promotion support to the wine sector during the initial years was adversely affected by design and implementation weaknesses. In addition the investment measure is a source of complexity, created administrative obstacles and in some Member States resulted in implementing delays or in an excessively restrictive scope of the eligible investments. In her working document the Rapporteur, Martina Dlabajová, expresses concerns about the unsuccessful efforts to attract more small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) for EU investment and promotion support to the wine sector and considers that the co-financing rates should be revised thereby benefiting SME's. The Rapporteur fully endorses that the aid scheme should be rationalised and the Commission should periodically monitor the absorption of funds. She underlines the absolute need that the investment measure should be business and result oriented and that best practice models should be encouraged. The Rapporteur welcomes the Court's Special Report and in particular stressed the key importance that an appropriate policy mix between investment and promotion is available and calls for the Commission and Member States to be more efficient in the application of the measures and ensure that the results of the promotion actions should be assessed at beneficiary level rather than for the entire EU wine sector. The Rapporteur's working document is available on the CONT website. The Rapporteur's conclusions will form part of the Commission's discharge report for the financial year Amendments may be tabled in this context and the deadline will be the same as the Commission's discharge: 3 March PE v /15 PV\ doc

15 Follow us on Twitter NEXT MEETING (BRUSSELS) 8 January 2015, PV\ doc 15/15 PE v01-00