The European Parliament adopted a decision on discharge to be granted to the European Data Protection Supervisor in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008.
Furthermore, Parliament adopted a resolution with observations which are an integral part of the decision to grant discharge.
Parliament notes that in 2008 the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) had commitment appropriations available amounting to a total of EUR 5.3 million (2007: EUR 5 million), with a utilisation rate of 86.14%, below the average of the other institutions (95.67%).
Parliament notes the continuous increase in permanent posts allocated to the EDPS. However, it also points out that the expenditure under article "Other staff" demonstrates the implementation rate below the average (51.98%).
Noting that the Court of Auditors indicated in its annual report that the audit did not give rise to any significant observations as regards the EDPS, Parliament recalls the evaluation performed by the EDPS Internal Audit Service (that is, the Commission's internal auditor on the basis of the Administrative Cooperation Agreement) had demonstrated the functionality and efficiency of the internal control system and its ability to provide reasonable assurance for the achievement of the institution’s objectives.
Parliament welcomes the annual publication of declarations of financial interests of the elected Members of the institution (EDPS and Assistant Supervisor). It requests that the EDPS includes in its next activity report (financial year 2009) a chapter providing a detailed account of the follow-up during the year to Parliament's earlier discharge decisions.