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 (Eighth EDF) for the financial year 2004

(2006/222/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention, signed at Lomé on 15 December 1989, as amended by the Agreement signed at Mauritius on 4 November 1995,

Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of the Community aid under the Second Financial Protocol to the fourth ACP-EC Convention(1), setting up, amongst others, the Eighth European Development Fund (Eighth EDF), and in particular Article 33(3) of that Agreement,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 16 June 1998 applicable to development finance cooperation under the Fourth ACP-EC Convention(2), and in particular Articles 66 to 74 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the Eighth EDF as of 31 December 2004, and the Court of Auditors' report concerning the financial year 2004 together with the Commission's replies(3),

Whereas pursuant to Article 33(3) of the said Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the Eighth 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 Eighth 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 Eighth EDF for the financial year 2004.

Done at Brussels, 14 March 2006.

For the Council

The President

K.-H.

GRASSER

(1)  

OJ L 156, 29.5.1998, p. 108

.

(2)  

OJ L 191, 7.7.1998, p. 53

.

(3)  

OJ C 301, 30.11.2005, p. 249

.