Press Release: Commission welcomes EP positive vote on discharge for the 2011 EU budget

The European Commission welcomed the decision of 17 April 2013 by the European Parliament to grant discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the 2011 EU budget.

The budget discharge is the final approval of the EU budget implementation for a given year. It is granted by the European Parliament on a recommendation from the Member States in Council. The Parliament uses the Court of Auditors' report (statement of assurance) as the primary basis for this decision. Discharge equates to approval of how the Commission implemented the budget in that financial year and the closure of the accounts.