COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 14 March 2006

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Ninth EDF) for the financial year 2004

(2006/223/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000(1),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of Community aid under the Financial Protocol to ACP-EC Partnership Agreement(2) setting up, amongst others, the Ninth European Development Fund (Ninth EDF), and in particular Article 32(3) of that Agreement,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 27 March 2003 applicable to the Ninth European Development Fund(3), and in particular Articles 96 to 103 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the Ninth EDF as of 31 December 2004 and the Court of Auditors' report concerning the financial year 2004 together with the Commission's replies(4),

Whereas pursuant to Article 32(3) of the said Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the Ninth EDF is to be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council;

Whereas the overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the Ninth EDF during the financial year 2004 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the Ninth EDF for the financial year 2004.

Done at Brussels, 14 March 2006.

For the Council

The President

K.-H.

GRASSER

(1)  

OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3

.

(2)  

OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 355

.

(3)  

OJ L 83, 1.4.2003, p. 1

.

(4)  

OJ C 301, 30.11.2005, p. 249

.