What changed

1. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

P10_TA(2026)0134

on discharge in respect of the implementationDischarge of2024: theEU general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section IX –- European Data Protection Supervisor

(2025/2154(DEC))

Committee on Budgetary Control

PE778.066

1. European Parliament decision of 29 April 2026 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor (2025/2154(DEC))

The European Parliament,

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the resolution forming an integral part of it to the European Data Protection Supervisor, the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Auditors, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Ombudsman and the European External Action Service, and to arrange for their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

2. European Parliament resolution of 29 April 2026 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor (2025/2154(DEC))

with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor

(2025/2154(DEC))

The European Parliament,

Communication

60. Notes that the budget for public communication and promotional activities in 20232024 amounted to EUR 425 000, which represented an increase of approximately 9,20 % compared to 2023;

61. Notes with satisfaction that the EDPS organised and participated in several communication events online as well as in presence in 2024, aimed at raising awareness to EDPS’ role and mission among a wider public and the importance of respecting Union data protection rules, such as Data Protection Day, the EDPS Trainees’ conference (twice a year), the EDPS Civil Society Summit and the Global Privacy Assembly;

63. Notes that the pilot project of the platforms EU Voice and EU Video (free and open-source social media networks, privacy-oriented and based on Mastodon and PeerTube software) came to an end in 2024; notes that the EDPS facilitated the smooth migration of EUIBAs who wished to retain their accounts, ensuring continuity for users; notes that, building on the pilot’s success, preparations were made to resume Mastodon in 2025; welcomes in that context the EDPS’ contribution to the Union's strategy on data and digital sovereignty in order to promote Union's independence in the digital world and compliance with the data protection legal framework.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

3.12.2025

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

for the Committee on Budgetary Control

on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Data Protection Supervisor for the financial year 2024

(2025/2154(DEC))

Rapporteur for opinion: Evin Incir

OPINION

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Notes that the 2024 European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) operating budget amounted to EUR 24 329 460, reflecting an increase of 7% compared to the final budget for 2023; welcomes that, in 2024, the implementation rate of the commitment appropriations by the EDPS was 96%;

2. Notes the increased role of the EDPS in multiple new legislative acts, including the Artificial Intelligence Act, under which EDPS becomes the competent authority for the Union institutions, agencies, offices and bodies, where the EDPS has been delegated further tasks; emphasizes that these additional responsibilities, delegated by the co-legislators, require adequate resources to ensure the EDPS can effectively fulfil its obligations;

3. Emphasises the role of the EDPS in supervising the personal data processing operations of European Union institutions, bodies, and agencies (EUIBA); expresses concern about the time it takes the EDPS to handle complaints; recalls the European Ombudsman’s Decision of 7 November 2024 in case 1888/2023/TM, in which the EO found that six years for the EDPS to complete its assessment of a complaint does not constitute a reasonable timeframe and that the EDPS’s approach constituted maladministration; notes that the Ombudsman found that the EDPS also failed to keep the complainant informed on the progress of the case;

4. Welcomes that in 2024, the EDPS finalised 77 admissible complaint cases, which represents an increase of 33% compared to 2023; notes that it is not clear when these complaints were submitted, therefore calls on the EDPS to improve procedural transparency and to publish data on the number of admissible complaints received each year, average time taken to investigate and resolve them, and reasons for significant delays; urges the EDPS to reflect on its KPIs and ensure that they cover complaint handling as well as set targets for handling complaints and inquiries, similarly to the practice of the European Ombudsman;

5. Welcomes the decrease in EDPS staff mission costs and the number of staff missions from 246 in 2023 to 218 in 2024; calls on the EDPS to keep assessing whether the resources spent on missions are being used appropriately and contribute to protection of personal data in EUIBA; notes that in 2024 the EDPS engaged in a number of events, including commercial events and that in line with EDPS speaking engagement policy, the EDPS “would normally expect the organisers to cover the cost of travel and accommodation”; expresses concern regarding the fact that the EDPS still does not provide information about the number of missions funded by organisers or other third parties, thus reducing transparency regarding EDPS mission expenses; strongly urges EDPS to improve its policies and practises regarding transparency of mission expenses;

6. Notes that in 2024, the EDPS concluded a single investigation, in comparison to no investigations concluded in 2023, issued 25 opinions, a decrease in comparison to 54 opinions issued in 2023 and carried out three audits, a drop in comparison to five audits in 2023; urges the EDPS, to make a clear distinction between actual audits and visits in its KPI.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she included in her opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE