Disciplinary proceedings and administrative investigations - Ombudsman

Opinion of 17 October 2007on the notification for prior checking regarding the "disciplinary proceedings and administrative investigations" dossier (Case 2007-413)

The European Ombudsman has adopted general implementing provisions (GIP) governing disciplinary proceedings and administrative investigations relating to disciplinary proceedings and they became applicable as from 1 May 2004.

The EDPS has examined the personal data processing and has concluded that it does not appear to involve any infringement of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 provided that a number of recommendations are taken into account, specifically that: a general instruction is adopted to ensure that only adequate and necessary data are processed in the course of administrative investigations and disciplinary proceedings; a procedure is clearly established for the conduct of any tapping of electronic communications; anyone receiving and processing data in the context of an administrative investigation or disciplinary proceedings within the European Ombudsman's Office processes them solely within the framework of administrative investigations or disciplinary proceedings; the period of storage of data in the personal file and in the disciplinary file is reviewed in the light of Article 4(1)(e) of the Regulation; right of access and right of rectification are also granted to all persons mentioned in the investigation report or disciplinary file, within the limits of the exemptions set out in Article 20; and provision is made for the supply of general information on the processing of personal data in the context of administrative investigations and disciplinary proceedings and for the supply of specific information on the processing of data in the context of a specific administrative investigation or specific proceedings within the limits of Article 20 of Regulation No 45/2001.