L 146/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.5.98 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION of 31 March 1998 giving discharge to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Develop- ment of Vocational Training in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1996 financial year (98/332/EC) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, — Having regard to the EC Treaty and in particular Article 206 thereof, — Having regard to the statement of accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and the report of the Court of Auditors on this subject (C4-0051/98) ("), — Having regard to the Council Recommendation of 9 March 1998 (C4-0164/98), — Having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the A. Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0092/98), Whereas the Court of Auditors finds that the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 1996 are reliable and the underlying transactions are, as a whole, legal and regular, Notes the following figures for the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training: 1996 Financial Year (ECU) Revenue 13 535 466,17 1. Subsidy from the Commission 13104 862,25 2. Bank interest 286 485,76 3. Exchange rate gains 0,00 4. Other 47 983,16 5. Iceland subsidy 5546,25 6. Norway subsidy 90 588,75 Expenditure 1. Final budget appropriations 14 821 135,00 2. Commitments 13 535 466,17 3. Unused appropriations 1285 668,83 4. Payments 11 384 417,74 5. Carry-overs from 1995 4824 787,76 6. Payments against appropriations carried over 4209 062,76 7. Appropriations carried over and cancelled (5-6) 615725,00 8. Carry-overs to 1997 2151 048,43 9. Cancellations (1-4-8) 1285 668,83 Asks the Commission’s Financial Controller to re-examine the contracting practices of the Centre in the light of the Court of Auditors’ comments in order to clarify when it is necessary for it to launch formal specific calls for tender; Emphasises that the Centre must obtain compensation from the owner of its temporary premises for improvements carried out at the Centre’s expense; asks the director to report to the budgetary authority and to the Court of Auditors on this subject upon expiry of the current rental agreement; () OJ C 393, 29. 12. 1997, p. 1.