2003 discharge: EC general budget, European Ombudsman

 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.