2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Ombudsman
This report grants the European Ombudsman discharge for implementing its budget in 2023. It reviews the Ombudsman's financial management and administrative operations for that year. The European Ombudsman's office is affected by this report. The report examines the institution's budget, staff, and operational efficiency. Key changes include a review of the Ombudsman's budget, which increased by 8.1% in 2023, mainly due to salary adjustments and new staff. The report notes the Court of Auditors found no significant issues with the Ombudsman's financial management. The report highlights efforts to improve efficiency, such as reducing staff mission costs through videoconferencing and implementing an electronic invoicing system. It also notes an increase in the Ombudsman's workload, with more complaints and inquiries handled in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Analysis
The European Parliament grants the European Ombudsman discharge for the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2023.
What changes
- The Ombudsman's budget increased by EUR 990,339 (8.1%) in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to salary adjustments and two additional posts.
- IT expenditure increased by 41% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching EUR 224,698.
- The total number of staff increased by 11% in 2023, reaching 82, with increases in contract and temporary staff.
Expected impact
- The European Parliament stresses the importance of strengthening democratic legitimacy through transparency, accountability, and performance-based budgeting.
- The Court of Auditors identified no significant issues concerning the Ombudsman in its 2023 report.
- Administrative spending for the Ombudsman is considered low risk, with human resources and buildings being the main components.
Limitations
- The document focuses on the discharge procedure for the European Ombudsman's 2023 budget and does not contain detailed information on the broader EU budget implementation for other sections.
- Specific financial figures for all expenditure categories are not exhaustively detailed, with some data presented as percentages or comparisons to previous years.
Some data sources haven't been updated in over 48 hours.