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opinion parliamentary committee draft, 13 November 2024

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section IX - European Data Protection Supervisor

Document LIBE-PA-765277 · (2024/2028(DEC))

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský

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AI:In short

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its opinion into the motion for a resolution on the 2023 budget discharge for the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). It notes the EDPS's 2023 operating budget of EUR 22 711 559, a 12% increase from 2022, with a 96% implementation rate of commitment appropriations, and highlights concerns about investigations, mission costs, and transparency.

Position. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs proposes that the Committee on Budgetary Control incorporate this opinion into its motion for a resolution, noting budget implementation and raising concerns about investigations and mission transparency.

Key points

  1. Notes the 2023 operating budget of the EDPS was EUR 22 711 559, up 12% from 2022, with a 96% implementation rate of commitment appropriations.
  2. Notes the EDPS conducted 82 formal legislative consultations, 54 opinions, and 26 formal comments in 2023, appreciating its contribution to legislative work.
  3. Emphasises the EDPS's role in supervising personal data processing by EU institutions and notes with concern that no investigation was closed in 2023.
  4. Welcomes the EDPS's focus on ensuring external contractors meet moral and ethical standards, particularly given previous use of companies operating in Russia.
  5. Expresses concern about the rise in EDPS staff mission costs from EUR 28 789 in 2021 to EUR 284 580 in 2023 and calls for an assessment of their appropriateness and effectiveness.
  6. Notes the EDPS stopped publishing the number of organiser-funded missions and unit participation, reducing transparency, and calls for reinstating this practice.

Who is affected

  • The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and its staff, who face calls to improve investigation efficiency and mission transparency.
  • External contractors of the EDPS, who must meet moral and ethical standards expected of EU institutions.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 22 711 559: EDPS operating budget for 2023.
  • 12%: increase in operating budget compared to 2022.
  • 96%: implementation rate of commitment appropriations in 2023.
  • 82 formal legislative consultations, 54 opinions, 26 formal comments in 2023.
  • EUR 28 789 (2021), EUR 176 903 (2022), EUR 284 580 (2023): EDPS staff mission costs.

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Full text

Opinion 6 paragraphs

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Notes that the 2023 operating budget of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) amounted to EUR 22 711 559 and compared to the 2022 final budget, the operating budget increased by 12 %; welcomes that, in 2023, the implementation rate of the commitment appropriations by the EDPS was 96 %;

2. Notes the increased number of legislative consultations by the EDPS, resulting in 82 formal legislative consultations, 54 opinions and 26 formal comments; appreciates the contribution of the EDPS to legislative work, including in cooperation with the European Data Protection Board;

3. Emphasises the role of the EDPS in supervising the processing of personal data by Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies; notes with concern the length of proceedings before the EDPS, as the EDPS did not close a single investigation in 2023;

4. Welcomes the EDPS's focus on ensuring that external contractors meet the necessary moral and ethical standards expected of all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, particularly in light of the previous use of external companies by EDPS that, according to Yale University's ranking, continue to operate in Russia;

5. Expresses concern about the significant increase in EDPS staff mission costs, from EUR 28 789 in 2021 and EUR 176 903 in 2022, to EUR 284 580 in 2023; calls on the EDPS to assess whether the resources spent on missions are being used appropriately and effectively; notes that the EDPS ceased making public the number of missions funded by organisers, as well as information on which unit or sector participated in each mission, thus reducing transparency regarding mission expenses; calls on the EDPS to reinstate this practice.