MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014

3.6.2015 - (2015/2699(RSP))

further to Questions for Oral Answer B8‑0553/2015, B8-0554/2015 and B8‑0555/2015
pursuant to Rule 128(5) of the Rules of Procedure

Inés Ayala Sender on behalf of the S&D Group

B8‑0542/2015

European Parliament resolution on the OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014

(2015/2699(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999[1],

–       having regard to its decision of 29 April 2015 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013, Section III – Commission and executive agencies[2],

–       having regard to its decision of 3 April 2014 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012, Section III – Commission and executive agencies[3],

–       having regard to the 2014 Annual Activity Report of the OLAF Supervisory Committee (hereinafter ‘the SC’),

–       having regard to OLAF’s response to the SC Report 2014, the compendium of OLAF’s replies to the opinions and other documents included in the SC’s 2014 Activity Report,

–       having regard to the questions to the Commission on the OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014 (O-000060/2015 – B8‑0553/2015, O-000061/2015 – B8-0554/2015 and O-000066/2015 – B8‑0555/2015),

–       having regard to Rules 128(5) and 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.     whereas OLAF’s mandate is based on Article 325 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and whereas OLAF is part of the Commission, with a special independent status for conducting anti-fraud investigations;

B.     whereas the SC’s role is to guarantee and reinforce OLAF’s independence, as outlined in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, in the proper exercise of the competences conferred upon it;

C.     whereas on this occasion the Committee for Budgetary Control did not invite the OLAF Director-General to the meeting of 4 May 2015 at which the SC presented its 2014 Annual Activity Report;

D.     whereas OLAF’s replies to the opinions and other documents included in the 2014 activity report of the SC were not included in the official documentation for the Budgetary Control Committee’s agenda;

1.      Strongly deplores the fact that for the first time no official invitation was sent by the Budgetary Control Committee to the OLAF Director-General, despite the relevance of the SC’s 2014 Annual Activity Report, and despite the strong debate between both bodies;

2.      Regrets the fact that the Budgetary Control Committee is not according the same relevance, or proper attention, to the presentation of the OLAF 2014 annual report, which was released a few weeks after the presentation of the SC’s annual report, on 2 June 2015;

3.      Stresses the importance of a fair debate on both 2014 annual activity reports in order to ensure that Parliament can take into consideration all available relevant information on such an important policy of the European Union;

4.      Regrets the fact that, once again, an incomplete debate is being pushed forward to the plenary agenda, as was previously the case with the tobacco agreements during the part‑session of 18-21 May 2015, with valuable resources being spent and without the plenary having the chance to deliver a proper and fully informed opinion;

5.      Calls for more efficient debates, with respect for transparency and full disclosure to Parliament and EU citizens;

6.      Urges the Commission to facilitate the negotiations between OLAF and the SC with a view to amending the Working Arrangements to clarify the SC’s role and its range of action;

7.      Welcomes the fact that OLAF and the SC are looking for an agreement in order to improve the information OLAF can provide to the SC;

8.      Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

• [1]  OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1.
• [2]  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0118.
• [3]  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0287.