Memo: Protecting the EU budget and budget discharge procedure: Questions and Answers

On 4 April 2014, the European Commission published a memo on protecting the EU budget and budget discharge procedure.

The budget discharge is the final approval of the EU budget implementation for a given year. It is granted by the European Parliament, following a recommendation from the Member States in Council. The Parliament uses the Court of Auditors' report as the primary basis for this decision. Other sources of information are also examined, in particular the Annual Activity Reports of the Commission's Directors-Generals and the Commission's Communication on the protection of the EU Budget. Discharge equates to approval of how the Commission implemented the EU budget in that financial year and the closure of the accounts.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/947: Annual report of the European Court of Auditors – Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-947_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Commission steps up its efforts in fighting fraud against the EU budget http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-steps-up-its-efforts-in-fighting-fraud-against-the-eu-budget/

ESO: Background information: Protecting taxpayers’ money against fraud: Commission proposes European Public Prosecutor's Office and reinforces OLAF procedural guarantees http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-protecting-taxpayers-money-against-fraud-commission-proposes-european-public-prosecutors-office-and-reinforces-olaf-procedural-guarantees/

ESO: Background information: Protecting taxpayers' money: Commission proposes to strengthen use of criminal law against fraudsters http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-protecting-taxpayers-money-commission-proposes-to-strengthen-use-of-criminal-law-against-fraudsters/

---