OBJECTIVE: granting of discharge for implementing the EU’s general budget for 2003 –European Ombudsman.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2005/537/EC of the European Parliament concerning the discharge for implementing the general budget of the EU for the 2003 financial year (Section VIII– Ombudsman).

CONTENT: With this Decision, the European Parliament grants discharge to the European Ombudsman for the implementation of the budget for the 2003 financial year.

This decision is in line with the European Parliament’s resolution adopted on 12 April 2005 and comprises a series of observations that form an integral part of the discharge decision (please refer to the summary of the opinion of 12/04/2005).

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Alexander STUBB (EPP-ED, FI) g ranting the Ombudsman discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the 2003 financial year. The Ombudsman administered a budget of EUR 4 438 653, of which 91.29% was committed and 87.65 % spent. Parliament noted that the Ombudsman’s explanation that the lower level of budget execution in 2003 was caused by the transition period following the retirement of the former Ombudsman and the election of the new Ombudsman. Parliament welcomed the fact that the Ombudsman has willingly provided the authorising officer's and the internal auditor's annual reports, including a statement of assurance.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Alexander STUBB (EPP-ED, FI) g ranting the Ombudsman discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the 2003 financial year. The Ombudsman administered a budget of EUR 4 438 653, of which 91.29% was committed and 87.65 % spent. Parliament noted that the Ombudsman’s explanation that the lower level of budget execution in 2003 was caused by the transition period following the retirement of the former Ombudsman and the election of the new Ombudsman. Parliament welcomed the fact that the Ombudsman has willingly provided the authorising officer's and the internal auditor's annual reports, including a statement of assurance.

EP: decision of committee responsible, 1st reading/single reading

The committee adopted the report by Alexander STUBB (EPP-ED, FI) granting discharge to the Ombudsman for the 2003 financial year. In its accompanying remarks, the committee noted that the Court of Auditors did not make any observations regarding the execution of the budget and asked how the Court intended to evaluate such execution in future. However, it also noted that Parliament gave a favourable opinion on the work of the Ombudsman on the basis of his annual report. It further pointed out that 75% of the complaints received fell outside the Ombudsman's mandate and that he only dealt with 363 enquiries although the overall caseload amounted to 2611.

Follow-up of the 2002 discharge procedure had been good, with the Ombudsman supplying comprehensive information to the committee.

Lastly, the report congratulated the Ombudsman on the swift transposition of the provisions of the Financial Regulation, despite the enormous strain this had placed on his administration.

PURPOSE : to present the Court of Auditors’ report on the budget implementation for the financial year 2003 (Other institutions – European Ombudsman).

CONTENT : in its 27 th Annual Report on the 2003 financial year, the Court states that, on the whole, the institutions have made a considerable effort to adapt their supervisory systems and controls to the requirements of the new Financial Regulation. Nevertheless, most of them have not succeeded to implement the changes necessary and weakness have been stated in terms of the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions. These discrepancies do not however jeopardise the positive character of the State of Assurance (DAS) on the implementation of the budget for the other institutions.

Concerning the expenditure, the Court highlights that there were no significant discrepancies. It does note that the new supervisory systems and controls should have been better applied by all the institutions in order to respect the rules of the new Financial Regulation.

Lastly, it should be noted that in 2003, the authorising officers by delegation have presented for the first time annual activity reports which provide very useful information on the working of the control systems. The Court would like these report to be more comprehensive so that they can be used in the framework of the annual DAS.

PURPOSE : to present the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet concerning the activities of the budget for the financial year 2003 (European Ombudsman).

CONTENT : this document sets out the amount of expenditure and the balance sheet for the other institutions of the Union (except the Commission) for the financial year 2003, in particular, the European Ombudsman.

The appropriations entered in the final budget 2003 amount to EUR 4 438 653 committed to the amount of 91.3%.

In 2003, the year of the appointment of the new European Ombudsman, the implementation of the budget was marked by several transfers of appropriations between posts in particular as regards:

- the reinforcement of the allocation of “stages” given that the number of “stages” within the Ombudsman keeps increasing;

- the readjustment of the allocation of posts in order to take account of the Ombudsman’s new requests;

- the strengthening of positions within the publications sector given that the new Ombudsman wishes to increase the dissemination of brochures concerning the Ombudsman’s role in the new Member States;

- the increase of appropriations for translation (notably for the Ombudsman’s Annual Report);

- the increase of certain specific posts such as “agents” in order to take account of the recruitment of new staff.

It should be noted that the Ombudsman regrets that the position “mission costs”, which was strengthening by a transfer of appropriations in 2003, was not as sufficiently funded as it should have been. It wishes therefore that its allocation be strengthened.

PURPOSE : to present the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet concerning the activities of the budget for the financial year 2003 (European Ombudsman).

CONTENT : this document sets out the amount of expenditure and the balance sheet for the other institutions of the Union (except the Commission) for the financial year 2003, in particular, the European Ombudsman.

The appropriations entered in the final budget 2003 amount to EUR 4 438 653 committed to the amount of 91.3%.

In 2003, the year of the appointment of the new European Ombudsman, the implementation of the budget was marked by several transfers of appropriations between posts in particular as regards:

- the reinforcement of the allocation of “stages” given that the number of “stages” within the Ombudsman keeps increasing;

- the readjustment of the allocation of posts in order to take account of the Ombudsman’s new requests;

- the strengthening of positions within the publications sector given that the new Ombudsman wishes to increase the dissemination of brochures concerning the Ombudsman’s role in the new Member States;

- the increase of appropriations for translation (notably for the Ombudsman’s Annual Report);

- the increase of certain specific posts such as “agents” in order to take account of the recruitment of new staff.

It should be noted that the Ombudsman regrets that the position “mission costs”, which was strengthening by a transfer of appropriations in 2003, was not as sufficiently funded as it should have been. It wishes therefore that its allocation be strengthened.