The Parliament adopted the report by Daniel CASPARY (EPP-ED, DE) granting discharge to the European Data Protection Supervisor for 2005.
The Parliament makes a number of recommendations which should be taken into account when granting the discharge.
It notes that in 2005 the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) had available commitment appropriations amounting to a total of EUR 2 840 733 with a utilisation rate of 82.77 %. It notes that following the introduction of accrual accounting with effect from 1 January 2005 the EDPS's 2005 financial statements disclose a positive economic out-turn of EUR 211 631 and an excess of liabilities over assets of EUR 202 504.
2005 was the first year in which the EDPS was fully operational.
The EDPS submitted a budget for 2007 of EUR 5 080 699 representing an increase of 23 % over the 2006 final budget (EUR 4 147 378), reflecting a request for five new posts, an expansion in office space and an increase in translation costs;
The Parliament recalls that in June 2004 the Secretaries-General of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council signed, together with the EDPS, an administrative cooperation agreement to assist the EDPS for a start-up period of three years under which: the Commission's Accounting Officer and Internal Auditor have been appointed as the EDPS's Accounting Officer and Auditor; Commission departments provide assistance for all tasks concerning the management of persons linked to the institution (determination of entitlements, payment of salaries, reimbursement of medical costs, mission payments, etc.); Commission departments also help the EDPS in establishing and implementing the budget; the EDPS is installed in the premises of the European Parliament; the European Parliament's departments assist the EDPS as regards material facilities and know-how relating to his installation in the premises (security of the buildings, mail, computers, telephones, offices and supplies); the Council provides translation facilities.
On 7 December 2006 the administrative cooperation agreement was renewed for a further period of 3 years with effect from 16 January 2007. Further, in November 2006 the EDPS decided to set up an internal control structure appropriate to the Institution's activities and requirements.
The Parliament welcomes the decision by the EDPS and the assistant supervisor to publish, every year, a declaration of their economic and financial interests as soon as their new website is completed in early 2007; notes that in the meantime they have forwarded written statements concerning their financial interests for the years 2005 and 2006.
Lastly, the Parliament welcomes the readiness of the EDPS to join the interinstitutional agreement on OLAF and encourages him to take all necessary steps as soon as possible.